I experienced God this month through children, Cruz, and comfort.
I cannot believe month one is over! I will look back on Guatemala with awesome memories and experiences. It definitely had its challenges – living in community with 55 people (and 3 showers), sleeping in a tent city with our tents just inches apart from each other, struggling with seeing how effective my ministry was, and getting a ton of bug/tick bites everyday.
I saw God this month through children. My ministry this month was at a children’s day care. If you would have asked me what ministry I wanted to work with on the race children would not have been one of them. After this month, I am excited for more opportunities on race to work with children and are hoping we get to in Nicaragua. It was exhausting but filled with so much joy. I loved getting to know their personalities, putting a smile on their face by throwing them up in the air or letting them sit on your lap or braiding their hair. I saw God through their joy, unconditional love every time we entered the daycare, and the simplicity of showing and receiving love from them.
The wall mural my team completed at the day care center this month!
But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these." Luke 18:16
I saw God this month through me favorite little four year old, Cruz. The first day we went to the daycare were assigned classrooms to serve in. I was assigned to the four year olds room and remember Cruz on the first day with his little bull hair cut and large white turtle neck. He quickly became my favorite, his smile was adorable and contagious. I looked forward to seeing him at ministry and being greeted with a hug and smile from him everyday. I was not looking forward to our last day of ministry, saying goodbye to the staff and children, and especially Cruz. I was upset when Cruz wasn’t there on the last day for me to say good-bye. He had been there every day that month so I was expecting him to be there for one last hug and goodbye. I wondered if he would even remember me or notice when we wouldn’t be there the following day. The next morning two of teammates saw Cruz in town and said hello to him. And he asked them, “Donde esta Lorena?” He asked where I was. When they told me this it brought tears to my eyes that he asked about me and remembered me.
I am determined to find a little mushroom head boy in every country this year, but I have hard time believing they will fill Cruz’s place in my heart! I am excited to see what other children and people God has in store for me to connect with and build relationships with on the race.
I saw God this month through comfort. I applied for the World Race out of obedience to God. I was excited to travel and serve God, but I was not someone who had a constant excitement for the race. I pictured it hard, challenging, and pretty much miserable all of the time – living in a third world country away from all of my comforts from home. But this month was filled with so much comfort and peace – something I did not expect to feel on the race. I am thankful that God blessed me with an amazing first month. I know every month will have its challenges and ups and downs. I am thankful for the challenges from this month and what God taught me. The sense of comfort and peace I felt gave me great confirmation that God has me exactly where I should be. Even when times get hard on the race and in life it is important to remember and appreciate the times God blesses you with His peace that surpasses all understanding. Even when stressful situations and challenges arose I could feel a sense of underlying peace. I can give God all of the glory for comfort and peace from this month. Previous to Guatemala if you would have told me I would feel peace and joy sleeping in a tent, living with 55 people, only having (slow) wifi at a cafe, getting bug bites every night, surviving crazy chicken bus rides, and working with children all day I would have thought no way.
The past week our squad has been having debrief in Granada, Nicaragua. My team will be traveling to our ministry location in Nicaragua on Thursday. I will post updates about our ministry when we arrive there. Please pray for safe travels as we begin month two!
