Thank you so much for checking out my blog! I am so thankful for all the support back home! I literally would not be here if it weren’t for your prayers, donations and encouragement! I have gotten some questions from you all and hope to answer them all! If you have additional questions or just want to chat, please reach out and we can schedule a video call! God has truly been working so much in my life and I have been learning so much from Guatemalan culture and spiritually.
What does ministry look like?
We are working with REINDOM (Spanish for kingdom). They are a children’s ministry that pours into the nearby village of Santa Marta. The villages are even more isolated from modern amenities like water and most of the children never get a chance to leave the village. If you have been keeping up with my pictures, then you saw that the children got to go to a children’s day celebration at an amusement park in Guatemala City. This was such an amazing experience! Even just on the bus, the students were wide eyed with amazement and appreciation! When we got there they were elated and were so gracious and well behaved. This was truly a day they won’t soon forget and it was an honor to be a part of it! On a day to day basis we teach English, bible classes and do a feeding program for the students. We also do home visits regularly and give food and supplies to the families and pray with them. (If you have ever done a meal packing, a lot of the meals we give out are those rice bags!) When we get off the bus and walk into the village we are greeted with the most beautiful sight of smiles, hugs and sometimes straight up kids jumping on us. They make us feel so loved and I just pray they feel that love from us!
Once a week we also do a feeding program in the town we live in, Sumpango. There we cook a meal, do worship and give a message to two groups. Upstairs we feed the widows and it is so sweet to see the community they have built together and how much they love that time together. In the downstairs we serve the men. We walk around prior and invite all of the homeless and drunk men from the streets to hear a message. It has been amazing to see how accepting and loving everyone is to the men that come in dirty and often smelling of booze. We got to see one man come in one week super drunk and he fell to his knees and had a moment with the Lord. I honestly couldn’t understand what he was saying but I know God did something because next week he came in sober and cleaned up.
Overall I have loved ministry and am so thankful I get to be a part of what this locally run ministry is doing to help the community. Please keep Reindom’s leaders Loyda, Oliver, Daniella and Lillian as well as all of their volunteers in your prayers as they are all in their twenties and have taken on a lot! They are such an inspiration of young people changing their communities with the love of the Lord. They don’t just talk about doing something but meet the needs of their community! They sacrifice a lot of time, energy and resources to bring God’s kingdom to Earth.
Lessons from Guatemalan Culture:
- How The Guatemalans Treat Gringos (Foreigners)- They are so kind and helpful. One day we were on the chicken bus headed back from a new town and it was dark and raining and we didn’t really understand the bus system yet. All the people on the bus were like “Sumpango aqui” and directed us to get off at the correct spot, it was so kind and helpful. It seemed a little counterculture to how foreigners are sometimes treated in America and it was amazing to be in situations where we were uncomfortable and confused and be treated with such empathy, kindness and support. They truly went above and beyond to help us when they could have even just minded their own business and we would have been lost.
- The Pace of Life- Guatemalans are on “Guatemalan Time” meaning that they don’t directly live by the clock but are a lot more laid back and don’t rush around with crammed schedules. It has been so refreshing to feel like we do the same amount of things. We teach class and cook for the students about the same time as we would in an American school but with siestas and staying up later for “after dinner coffee time” (another wonderful practice here) it just feels like we have more time. I still have a very similar schedule to back home but the slower pace and less urgency for things that ultimately don’t matter has really been peaceful.
- Meals- Mealtime is such a special and revered time in Guatemalan culture. It is important for families to spend time together around a table for lunch and dinner. Businesses close from 12-4pm for the siesta time of lunch, family time and for others a nap (we normally pray or worship). It has been so amazing to see how this time can really create connections. Meals here are also a little backwards in size to America. Here they have their big family meal at lunch and then a smaller meal at dinner followed with a hot beverage (normally coffee). This allows more time to digest the big lunch meal and the nice hot beverage before bedtime is so relaxing while chatting and goofing around with our “family”.
- Don’t take offense easily- Guatemalans are very uh “real” with their comments and observations. For example they may call their friend “gorda” (which means fat) but its not laced with offense, it’s just straight up an observation and they don’t get body image issues about it or anything it kind of just is what it is. Also they call foreigners “gringos/gringas” which I originally thought was offensive but they explained it just means you’re not from here. It’s just the truth and not a big deal; they still love you and just acknowledge the difference. I can not imagine this being a thing in America with the current culture but it has honestly been powerful in making me not take things too seriously or be easily offended.
- Schools- There is no state testing in Guatemala! (I could stop there!) It is so amazing to see how emotionally mature students are here. There are still your usual kid behavior problems like messing around especially with the language barrier but nothing to the extreme outbursts of what I have experienced in the United States. Students don’t spend much time at all testing and there is no anxiety about school, it is a place they really seem to love and are appreciative to be there. They also have less to no screen time and I wonder if this may be an influence.
- Simplicity- There are so many things that we think we need in America and living in a third world country will definitely teach you all the things that are frivolous and unnecessary. There is so much more joy and contentment in the little things when you don’t have them on a regular basis.
- The Importance of Family- Guatemalans are very close with their families and often live with their whole family until they get married if not longer. They are so close (literally with often smaller houses) and in relationship. The children really value the advice of their parents and have a deep respect and honor for them and spending time together.
- The Power of Prayer- I am not sure if this is a Guatemalan thing or more of just our hosts’ thing but they are so serious about prayer and it is such a sweet daily time of connection with the Lord. They worship, pray and cry out to the Lord in such an intimate and beautiful way that has been so inspiring. Their prayers are majorly thanks to God and not a list of suggestions for him to do but instead reverence to what He already has done and reverence to their dependence on Him.
- Legalism- Guatemala has a strong catholic influence and a lot of legalism in the church. Meaning that some places get very caught up in “the rule” instead of the relationship. The rules were meant to show us that no one can perfectly implement them and that is why we need Jesus. I have been learning how to respect some of the more extreme things, like not dancing, having tattoos pierced ears etc. while not taking offense and knowing God’s heart for me. Funny story… we went Guatemalan Tik Tok famous for dancing (for like 3 minutes in a goofy manner) at a local festival. Context- We live in a small town that does not get many if any tourists so we are the only gringas in our town besides a girl in the peace corps and a pair of Mormon missionaries, so just the sight of us is sometimes an attraction. Additionally, apparently “Christians don’t dance in public”. My flesh wanted to be aggressive at this statement but the Lord has been teaching me that everyone’s convictions are different (Romans 14:22-23) and I can respect them while knowing that we were not wrong (I mean David in the bible liked to dance). And my job is to just love the people and honor their own convictions. This is definitely not unique to Guatemala and legalism is definitely present in the United States too and part of why I ran from God for so long. There is such comfort in knowing that God looks at our heart and loves us and our job is not to judge others.
- Coffee is important! Enough said! They grow it here, go get a bag of Guatemalan coffee and think of me!
Lessons That God has been Teaching:
- How to handle conflict in a Christ-like manner.- Shocker, there has been a little conflict with 5 other girls from all over the U.S. sharing one room together and spending pretty much every second of the day together! Honestly it has been more peaceful than I imagined and it is amazing how well God unites us when we walk in the spirit. God has been so sweet to reveal that conflict is a tool that the enemy uses to divide. “For we do not fight against flesh and blood…” (Ephesians 6:12). I have asked God to help me see people how He sees them and it has been so helpful at navigating challenging situations and seeing them for their heart and loving them under the definition of love. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7) I have learned to ask the Holy Spirit for discernment of when to demonstrate meekness and respond to strife with grace and gentleness like the lamb that is Christ. God has also been teaching me when to be bold and handle lies with his truth in the bold manner of the Lion of God. The area of boldness has definitely been an area I am growing into.
- God has been really growing my discernment and I am so thankful that He is growing this before we get to very spiritually heavy places in the Middle East. He is growing my wisdom of what to do once I discern something or what a vision etc. means but I could definitely use some more prayer in this area.
- God has really been helping me battle spiritual warfare in the form of identity and insecurity. Guatemalans are very small (short and skinny) compared to Americans and some days I feel like a straight up giant. (Side note they literally have a festival for Giganticas and they dance around on stilts in costumes of white people to honor the Spanish Conquestors.) Also the lack of mirrors really leads to some interesting looks that I see later in the other girls’ pictures and I am not always loving the look. Well the Lord has really been reminding me that my identity is in him and when I hate my appearance I hate something he made and that is an offense to Him. I have also been “taking every thought captive” (2 Corinthians 10:5) and rejecting all the thoughts from the enemy and replacing them with truth that the Lord says. Also the Lord looks at the heart.(1 Samuel 16:7) Here are some grounding verses about identity that I repeat to myself everyday. I hope they can help you too if you struggle with this too.
- God is pleased with how He made me. Genesis 1:31
- I am God’s masterpiece. Ephesians 2:10
- I am a child of God. John 1:12
- I am a son of God and an heir. Galatians 4:7
- I have been adopted as God’s son. Ephesians 1:5
- I can call Christ brother. Hebrews 2:11
- God raised me up with Christ and seated me with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ. Ephesians 2:6-7
- The Spirit of God dwells in me. 1 Corinthians 3:16
- Christ calls me friend. John 15:15
- I am joined to the Lord, one spirit. 1 Corinthians 6:17
- I am a member of the body of Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:27
- I have been redeemed through God’s grace. Ephesians 1:7
- I have been given fullness in Christ. Colossians 2:10
- I have received power through the Holy Spirit. Acts 1:8
- I work together with Christ. 2 Corinthians 6:1
- I am a new creation in Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:17
- I am a minister of reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:18
- I am an ambassador for Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:20
- I am sealed with the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 1:13
- I may approach God with freedom and confidence. Ephesians 3:12
- Christ is the vine. I am a branch. John 15:5
- I am the salt and light of the earth. Matthew 5:13-14
- The Lord renews my strength. Isaiah 40:29
- I have not been given a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7
- I am created in Christ Jesus for good works. Ephesians 2:10
- I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13
- Christ is with me always, even to the ends of the earth. Matthew 28:20
- I will have eternal glory. 2 Timothy 2:10
- I have been growing so much spiritually and have learned that spiritual growth with the Lord is all about spending time with Him so you know what he’s saying and then being obedient to the Holy Spirit. I am still in awe that God talks to us and can’t believe I spent most of my life not hearing Him! The cost of hearing him is time and He wants to speak to us and help us. Spending time in the word, worshiping and asking Him questions are all great ways to get to know Him! He even gives us spiritual gifts to help us! I have been learning so much about the spiritual realm and my eyes have been opened to so many aspects of spiritual warfare. I am so thankful that God has given us authority over all these realms and Jesus made it where we may sit with Him in the highest place of dominion. (Ephesians 2:6-7)
Prayer Requests:
First of all, I am so thankful for your prayers and I have really been seeing the fruit of them! Please keep them coming, there is so much power in prayer and I am so thankful for all of you prayer warriors!
- Pray for our Team’s Unity
- Pray for all spiritual oppression surrounding our team and house to flee in the name of Jesus
- Wisdom and Strength for our ministry hosts
- Our Ministry Partner- Reindom
- Our Health and Breathing Problems
- For us to walk in freedom and not accept any lies of the enemy, that truth would immediately follow every lie
- An increase of the Holy Spirit and decrease of the flesh
- Increase in spiritual discernment and spiritual gifts with wisdom on how to apply the gifts to help our team, hosts and community
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