Journal Entry: February Week 1

Journal Entry Blog: February, week 1

2.1.21

 We carried pallets on our backs up a goat hill. Yes, I’m serious. Today we started ministry with some painting in the home One Way is based out of. After helping do a second coat of paint on the floor of one of the rooms, some of the Volunteers asked me to come help them and other girls from my team take down a chicken coop at a house in the community. We eventually got all the pallets used for a half wall for the chicken coop all in a pile to be taking somewhere at the time we didn’t know we would be taking them to a home at the higher portion of the community on the mountain. After rolling up the chicken wire fence, Pablo explained that we would be carrying these pallet up the goat path in the community. At first we thought that they were joking but they were not haha, but that was okay because it was a challenge that we weren’t alone in. So me and my teammates all grab a pallet and try to figure out the best way to carry it the distance to the house. Most of us carried them on our backs which was difficult but definitely was easier then using only our arms. We start walking, no time to procrastinate, and I instantly was praying “Lord give me strength because I have no idea if I can carry this thing that far.” We start going up the path and my heart is racing, my breathing was faster than ever, I just wanted to be at the top already and set the pallet down. I started to be reminded of the community and many of the women carry things on their heads or backs every single day. Man, God humbled me in that very moment, I was grateful to not have to do this every day but I was also empowered by the women and men that do this everyday just to provide for their families. 

2.2.21

Tuesdays we usually have deep dives after breakfast but this morning we didn’t. Today for ministry I was with Kenneth and Pablo from One Way, we were going out in the community to visit some of the boys in the soccer program. I started praying as soon as we left to walk to the first home, because I knew I wasn’t going to have a translator for most the day of ministry. This is something I’ve tried to embrace more then wince at, God can do and speak just as much with or without a translator when I visit these homes. I for sure can’t do it without Him though. It was super sweet to visit more kids and families that I hadn’t yet met. Most of the time I was asked to pray at the end before we would leave the household, I usually can pick up on somethings that the families talk about. Many families are struggling with finding work, kids being able to go to school, or health in the wake of the pandemic. I am always honored to pray for these families because God wants us to speak life and love into these broken homes. 

2.3.21  

Wednesdays we visit the community of Comalapa which is about an hour drive from Chimaltenango. Once we get to the community we unload the soccer gear for sports ministry and any food bags of supplies we have to give out to the families during house visits. After a few moments we split up in two teams usually and go out in the community to meet new families. This community is special because they have deeper roots of indigenous languages, many areas of Guatemala still speak an indigenous language or combined Spanish. This makes it a little harder to talk and reach some families but doesn’t stop us from giving them food, pray, or serving them in some way. This is only about the eighth time One way has visited this community which is a huge honor to help them build a foundation in this new community. Bringing love and light into these communities is so beautiful and full of joy. 

2.4.21

Thursdays are Church Activation days for the squad, we listen to a teaching/session given by one of the Adventures Guatemala Staff followed by ATL (Ask The Lord) out in the community of Parramos (where our home/Guatemala base is). Todays teaching was on misconceptions in ministry, given by Jr. a local Pastor and logistics coordinator for the Guatemala base. This session really got to the root of a big expectation that many people have, including myself haha. “We are waiting for a divine moment to happen for us to say yes to what God is calling us to”

2.5.21

Deep dive morning number 2, and we are in the book of Luke in chapter 4, wow y’all need to read it! Deep dives are were we come together as a squad and go verse by verse in a book/chapter of the Bible. Its one of my favorite things to do since learning about it in training camp. It gives us the opportunity to think outloud a bit, what stands out in the verse, we ask a lot of why’s, we look for connections between other scripture and what is being conveyed through that. Creating a space to further our knowledge of scripture is essential to diving into the Word of God!! After our time doing deep dive we head to ministry which also happens to be egg collection day, visiting the homes the have the chicken given to them by one way. The first home we visited I was asked to hand her a bible and give her words of encouragement and prayer. I was super tired that day and we hadn’t even started ministry but when we started walking to this home I asked God as soon as we got to the door of the home what he said about this family. Immediately He said “I am their stronghold” such beautiful statement but he continued to tell me more to share with this family as I walked in. I had not met this family nor heard their story yet. Little did I know God was moving through me so much in this visit. At the beginning of the visit I handed her the Bible and shared what the lord had put on my heart for her, then afterwards they asked her to share her story. As she shared what she was going through my eyes were opened. I realized that the few sentences I said were attacking these battles that she was going through, I was speaking truth into her circumstances. I felt her heart in such a vulnerable place with no defense, and the lord spoke over her that he was going to Guard her heart. How amazing is that?? Like wow, the Lord seeks us out to speak truth and life over our lives!!

2.6.21

Saturday= Antigua Day. I went to Antigua, I always chose who I’m with last minute lol but its all good! I usually end up with the guys from my squad because they want to do the same things as me. We first went to fat cat Cafe for wifi cause a lot of us needed to sit at a coffee shop to talk to people back home and stuff. I ended up catching up with so many friends from home, which was crazy to be texting so many different people at once so I could have a decent amount of time to talk to them. After a couple hours there we went to lunch at Zocalos, it was sooooo good, my plate of nachos was huge! We all enjoy a nice filling lunch then headed towards the market thrift shops to look for some clothes. I got some pants which fit perfectly by the grace of God! After a little time there, me and my squamate Eli headed to the rock climbing place that we went to last weekend. Its a pretty cool place here in Antigua, its a indoor rock climbing place where you can climb for about 70q (9ish US dollars) for climbing and shoes. We climb for about 2 hours when we go, its also climbing without ropes, the walls are just tall enough to have a lot of room to climb up and across, with mats across the entire floor (incase we fall or jump from the wall down haha). This has definitely become a favorite activity for me on the weekend to try something new and clear my head at the same time. After rock climbing we met up with some others from the squad and hung out at a shop till it was time to head back to the base. Saturdays are probably my favorite because I get to see more of Antigua each time, visiting new coffee shops because there’s so many haha, going the wrong way to a place so we end up walking more parts of Antigua, or just enjoying the view of beautiful Guatemala 🙂

2.7.21

Sundays are Sabbath days but we can also chose if we would like to do things on our own time and money. I have started to go to Shoreline City Church here in Antigua which has been super sweet! One because almost my entire ministry goes to this church, most of the Guatemala adventures staff, and others connected to One way and WR also attend. Second, I love love love going to church on Sunday, I truly miss it so having the opportunity to go here has been blessing. Shoreline City has such a beautiful mission to spread kingdom and community with others, welcoming a cross-cultural body of believers! After going to the English service (planing to try the Spanish service next weekend) me and my squadmate Kayla, enjoy some peaceful time at a coffee shop before heading back to base. It has been so amazing to feel such at home in a country considered “foreign” to me. I have fallen in love with just sitting at coffee shops, I could care less about getting the coffee or wifi, man the views at theses coffee shops are special. Looking out the windows and doors to see a world a people going about their way. I cherish these sweet moments that I get to spend just resting in the beauty of God’s creation.