A Grateful Heart

We said goodbye to Guatemala this morning and it was so bittersweet. Bright eyed and bushy tailed we loaded our bus at 3:45 AM and by 4 the bus was pulling away from our hostel. Quiet, because it was early but also because no matter how exciting the next adventure is, goodbyes are rarely fun. 

I am in absolute awe of everything that happened this month. 

This past week we have been in Antigua spending time as an entire squad processing everything that happened in Guatemala and getting ready for Honduras. Our leadership team from the states consisting of our squad mentor, Cami an alumni racer and our coaches Keith and Karen, we like to think of them as our squad parents, we’re also able to join us. We spent time in trainings, resting, recharging, exploring the city, pouring into and loving on each other and genuinely just processing and preparing our hearts. It was an incredible experience. 

Our ministry this month was so filled with church services, home visits, serving Casa, children’s ministry events and Beauty for Ashes women’s events.

Home visits took up a lot of our days and while at first I was definitely out of my comfort zone I grew to love and look forward to each one. The people of Mixco are some of the kindest people I have ever met. It was no different when it came to their hospitality. People with so little welcomed us into their homes with open arms and grateful hearts. We always took with us food for their family. It was so incredible to see the faith some of these people possessed in spite of their circumstances. They are an inspiration to me in my own faith. We also got to see people asking Jesus into their hearts in a new/deeper way. In those moments I was reminded we are always growing in our faith and God is ALWAYS longing to know us better, no matter who we are or where we are at in our relationship with him.

The two Beauty for Ashes events we were able to put on for the women of Mixco were by far my favorite days of ministry this month. I could so clearly feel God moving. Women were being set free, asking for forgiveness, offering forgiveness, accepting Jesus as their personal Lord and savior, and overall just healing. It was an incredible experience to be a part of. During our second event I was doing a teaching and as I was speaking over the women I heard God’s voice telling me that just as much as this was true for the rest of the women in the room it was true for me. I had chills as I continued to share the gospel. Romans 8:17 says”Now if we are children, then we are heirs- heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ.” After I read it I explained the context. You see, God loves me and you and all of his children on earth just as much as he does his very own son, Jesus. While I could never be any bit as good and wonderful as Jesus is, God loves me and Jesus the same. No matter what I have ever done or could ever do God loves me the same. I am not too much and I am already enough. I suddenly understood it better than I ever had before and in that moment I was brought closer once again to God. What a good God he is, as I attempted to pour into those women he used it as an opportunity to pour into me. 

Aside from ministry, our month was consumed with wonderful moments big and small, all filled with Gods presence and goodness. We were loved so well in Mixco. Our host pastor Alex and his family were an absolute joy to be around. Their love for Jesus and each other was a good example of how to love well. Alex gave us some of the most delicious coffee to drink all month. He says, “We know Jesus loves us because he gave us coffee.” I’m pretty sure he’s not wrong. Our translator Ivana was an unexpected and very appreciated blessing we had this month. She quickly became one of our team. Where ever we went there she was bringing with her, her kind heart, lighthearted humor, playful spirit and rock solid faith. We even made some beautiful friendships with her family. Finally our host family; Glenda, Lewis, Paula and Valeria. I don’t know if I have the words to accurately describe just how amazing they were to us. From boiling water for our showers, cooking delicious meals for us daily, soup when we were sick, to always giving us the best hugs when we missed home. They opened their home to us and made us feel so very loved.

Leaving Mixco came with many tears. I didn’t expect the goodbyes to be so hard after only a month. It’s hard to say goodbye to people you love, especially my Guatemalan mama Glendi! After driving away I expected to feel sad once again just as I had after leaving home in the States but the this time instead of sadness I was overwhelmed white gratitude. My heart felt happy to have had such special people that made saying goodbye so hard the first place. 

This past week the my gratitude has only grown. As I processed the past month and walked the streets of beautiful Antigua I can’t help but feel anything other than grateful! God answered my childhood dreams. Except I asked for good and he delivered incredible! I didn’t even know how to pray for something this amazing and yet he answered my prayers. He knows my heart even better than I do. This month I got to experience God’s abundant love for me on new ways. With only one month down and ten more to go I can’t wait to see what God has in store for for me this month. 

Speaking of this month, as I write this we are still on the bus, in Honduras but not yet to our destination. It’s nearing 9:30 PM and we still have a couple hours to go. Our bus is tiny, we are packed in like sardines, there is no AC it’s 91 degrees outside and yet I am so at peace. The views are incredible, we’ve passed through the lush mountains and along side the ocean. The windows are open and the air is fresh. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere or with anyone else.

This month we will be living on top of a mountain, doing manual labor and living in our tents. I am so excited for this new and completely different month of ministry. We are ready for you Honduras.

As always, thank you friends and family for your continued support, prayers and love. I love and miss you all!