As my time here in Guatemala comes to a close, I couldn’t be more thankful for the time spent here. I will hold every memory and moment close to my heart for the rest of my life. Sitting here in my bed, in the house that I have called a home for 3 months, I can not even fathom driving away from this home for the last time.
When you ask me to describe Santo Domingo Xenacoj and my time spent in Guatemala in one word, I know exactly what to say. Home. Xenacoj is my home.
Walking down the streets, I know which stores, or tiendas, to stop in. The same guys work in them every day, and I know which one’s will charge me extra just because I am white. I know where to go in town to buy the best muffins and smoothies, which are obviously world race essentials.
Every day when I walk by the house that is under construction on the main road, I know the two boys that are always there to whistle at me and then hide behind the door. On Saturdays the same local boys always show up to play basketball. And I can never walk down the street passing by the meat market without saying hola to the guys that work there everyday.
I never want to forget the friends I’ve made here, but more importantly, the family. God has blessed my time here in Guatemala way more than I ever imagined, and He did that through our host family. All the night spent playing basketball and then sitting at the fountain looking up at the stars with Emily. All the moments spent helping Susie in the kitchen where we are actually laughing more than we are cooking. All the Saturdays we spent shopping in San Lucas then having movie nights and dance parties with Natalie and Emily. These moments have made me feel apart of the family here. And even just the day German told me that Emily wanted to get baptized made the entire three months spent here worth it.
German, Susie, Oscar, Luis, Natalie, Emily, Dylan and Gracia, I can’t thank you enough for how well you have loved me.
Ultimately, I can’t thank God enough for how much He has loved me. He is a good, good father that has given and continues to give to me greater than I ever deserved. In my time spent here I’ve learned that God has given me a heart for Guatemala and it’s people. I am thankful for every way He has shown up, taught me, fought for me, loved me, and cared for me.
I am thankful that God has used Guatemala to glorify Him and show me just how good of a Father He is.
