As soon as the plane touched the ground I heard Christ say “welcome home!” I was flooded with joy as I looked around the same airport I arrived in when I went on my first mission trip four years ago. There is something about the people of Guatemala that is just plain beautiful! My journal entries from my past visit was filled with everything I saw was beautiful. The people, the buildings, the flowers, the food, the community, the gorgeous black eyes that sparkled. I just love everything here!! So blessed to be back HOME!
My team was partnered up with the Geronimo team and we were blessed with a beautiful house that our host rented for us! It’s only a mile away from a grocery store and it has bunk beds!! Yesterday we visited the the poorest neighborhood (zone 18) of Guatemala City. We were able to visit the three schools that we will be teaching English in and walked around the neighborhood meeting the families. Though the neighborhood is full of violence and poverty the people were so welcoming and friendly. We met a beautiful elderly woman who welcomed us in her home (which was built by our host ministry) and prayed a blessing over us. We were told that she wakes up every morning and prays for the States. This beautiful women of Christ wakes up and prays for us! She lives in a house with 3 rooms and shares it with her children and grandchildren (at least 10 people) on the edge of a dump. She has nothing compared to us! When have you stopped and prayed for Guatemala? She is not the only one either! So humbling.
I have to admit that I have been struggle some since I have been here. I just feel a strong oppression. I constantly struggle to focus and even feel joy at times. I am struggling with that thoughts that I am not worthy of this calling and I am not the one for this job. I am so thankful for Christ undying love for me and how he confirms that I am the one he chose for his ministry here, right now! Please pray that I will continue to lean on christ and constantly focus on Christ.
Prayer request:
That God would open up the doors so that we may share the gospel to our students and the people we meet on the streets.
That God would loosen our tongues and give us the tongue of the language (Spanish)
That we will hold strong to him as we are already facing spiritual war.
Please pray for peace and strength for me as I am feeling uneasy and an oppression in my spirit.
I will update y’all on the ministry I am working with the next time I am able to post. This was a last minutes stop so I was unprepared for a post. Thank you all again for your love and prayers!!
God bless,
Leah Finlay
