I write this now from our debrief time in Granada, Nicaragua. As I have reflected back on my time in month one, Guatemala here are my 10 take away’s…
10. Flushing toilet paper is a big NO NO!
9. Futbol (soccer) is a universal language and connector! Guatemalans LOVE their futbol and are good at playing too….not that a few of my squadmates and I got beat 4-10 by some 8 year olds! HA!! (I blamed the altitude!)
8. Living in a tent for a month isn’t as bad as I thought….despite the rainy season conditions my stuff stayed dry and ant free, and I slept really well!
7. Non verbal communication helps a ton with communicating across the language barrier…I found I was able to effectively communicate for the most part with the locals despite my limited amount of Spanish….plus google translate helped in learning new words/phrases!
6. You can’t just grab an apple from the market and eat it….might have an ameba on it! AH! Basically clean ALL fresh food to make sure it is safe for eating ?
5. Kids are kids! Even kids who speak a different language can melt my heart! (And also test my patience with their behavior!) The last day at the daycare, my 4 year olds class and teacher, Zoraya, gave me a thank you card and Guatemalan hair clip….it was such a sweet way to end my time with them! I also wrote a thank you letter to them in Spanish and had it read to them!
Here is a video from my teammate Margeaux Cronce that can give you more insight into our ministry at the daycare!
Guatemala Update #1 from Margeaux Cronce on Vimeo.
4 . It goes a long way with the locals when you learn the basics of the culture and language in that country…. They appreciate the attempt at communication and meeting them where they are at in your interaction with them.
3. Embrace the unexpected as God’s ways and plans are higher than ours – Isaiah 55:8-9 (see my blog post about this!) There is purpose in it!
2. God is my comforter and healer…. after being very sick and in pain from a GI infection I experienced His love, care, and healing through my squad and medicine!
1. We serve a God who is known, loved, worshipped, and served all OVER the planet!! May we acknowledge that about Him!!! Hosea 6:3
***Below is the MURAL we completed by our team and the Relentless Hope team as part of our ministry at the daycare!
See my teammate Taylor White’s (http://taylorwhite.theworldrace.org/) last blog about the impact this mural had on our team!!
Our team scrapped the pre-existing paint off, painted it white, designed this mural and painted it! Praise GOD!!!!
Team Surrendered
Thanks friends….onward to Nicaragua and REAPGranada ministry (http://reapgranada.com/)
Lauren
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Psalm 104:33-34
