Guatemala
“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed, says the Lord, who has compassion on you. O afflicted city, lashed by storms and not comforted, I will build you with stones of turquoise, your foundations with sapphires. I will make your battlements of rubies, your gates of sparkling jewels, and all your walls of precious stones. All your sons will be taught by the Lord, and great will be your children’s peace.” – Isaiah 54:10-13
The hills of Guatemala were shaken with earthquakes, mudslides removed parts of their hills, and their cities were lashed by the storms of the hurricane in October 2005. The people obviously suffer: their houses are gone; some have lost their family, their friends; New Agers and Hippies fill their country in search of more powers; their churches are devided; and people are torn between their ancient Mayan beliefs and Christianity.
But God gave them a promise. A promise of upliftment, hope, unfailing love, peace and beauty. They just need to hear it.
My time in Guatemala was blessed. The Lord did great things through me and for me, but my teammates and I could only reach a few of the unreached. We could only give God’s amazing promise of love to the limited amount of people we met. The rest of the Guatemalans are still dying in spirit, desperately searching for love and hope, some still homeless and without the living water which quenches every thirst. And they are not the only nation. The WORLD needs God. And God needs YOU. I will pray that God will give you a heart for the nations and a longing to follow Him wholeheartedly, be it His will. If the Lord speaks to you now, answer Him. Tell Him “Here I am. Send me.”, and go out to where He leads you to change lives radically. You do not need experience, I am only 18 years old. You do not need training, you’ve got the best Trainer in your heart. All you need is God and willingness to serve God.
Wonderful things happened in Guatemala: lives were changed, houses were built and brokenness were healed. And God were pleased. In Isaiah 52:7 it is written, “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation…”
In return for pleasing God, He blessed me with His holy joy and peace. In 2005 He gave me a scripture which came alive for me in Guatemala. “You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.” – Isaiah 55:12.
When walking in the streets of Guatemala because God sent me there, I did not merely see people, nature and buildings. I saw His faithfulness in a person’s face, His blinding glory in the sun, His amazing greatness in the mountains and volcanos. I felt His precense in the wind, sensed His love for me in the secret moments where He unlocked a piece of heaven to show me. I felt His anger as He and I looked upon a perfect baby who was abandoned and is now in an orphanage. He shared His joy with me as we touched people in our ministry and gave them God’s love.
I will miss Guatemala. The colourful country with its breathtaking nature and friendly people I will keep in my heart and I will treasure it.
“Offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. ” – Romans 12:1-2. Renew your commitment to God and follow Him where He sends you. You will be blessed by God if you live in His will. God blessed me so much in Guatemala, and I can’t even describe in words the love, peace and joy that He put in my heart.
