The bright yellow walls and green floral carpet are etched in my mind. The fragrance of the fruit-filled Lime tree lingers in the air. The secret place I carved out for me and Jesus in one of their well manicured gardens holds a special place in my heart. These are the memories of Agape in Action. A place where medical teams, and radical world travelers such as ourselves, call ‘home’ in Guatemala.
Typically, each World Race team splits up and lives at their ministry location. But L-Squad has been dubbed ‘the experimental squad’. Our coach (and AIM founder) Seth, felt the Lord say that our whole Squad should live together during month 1, and travel out each day to separate ministry sites. This task proved quite a feat as 65 crazy young adults can be a lot to take on. But Agape in Action was not afraid! No doubt they have seen the hand of God move incredible mountains and beat insurmountable odds in the past and trusted Him with this new venture.
Because of their willingness to take us on, we stand today on a pile of rubble. The walls that once bound our fearful hearts now lay in pieces underfoot. The chains that once held our hearts back, now smashed to dust. The layers we used to hide our nakedness, torn to shreds. As a squad, we came together daily in worship services and teachings that challenged us, stretched us, and caused us to risk everything! People shared things they have never said out loud before, and saw their brokenness met with arms of love and acceptance. Girls and Boys, once defined by their pasts became Men and Women of God, defined by their Creator, and by the Blood of Jesus that covers them.
What a beautiful way to start our year! In full brokenness and abandon, running hard after God. Learning how we need Him more each day. Thank You Agape in Action for being the landing pad for what God unleashed in us this month!
Another way we learned to lean on God is through sickness. With 65 Gringos in one place, off of American soil for the first time, sickness ran rampant. More than 75% of the squad has been sick with one thing or another. Living at Agape in Action meant that our week American stomachs and immune systems were cared for by the most attentive, and loving doctors we ever could have asked for. Time and time again they would end their day in the clinics and hospital and tend to the broken and weary ones back home. They eased our pain, calmed our fears, and knew just what we needed.
I was one of the ones who got sick. While we slept in tents for the month, it was such a blessing to get out of the rain and cold and sleep inside when we were sick. In most other places, if we are in tents, there is no inside solace to take. What a blessing to have American toilets, a normal kitchen, and a bed to use! These amenities really eased the pain of being so sick, so far from everything we know.
Thank You Agape in Action for loving us so well!!
