Guatemala! Is! Heaven! On! Earth! I love it here.
Life has been so sweet and so full! Time has never moved faster for me. We are halfway through our time in Guatemala and I’m so anticipant yet sad that we will be leaving to our next country so soon. Let me tell you what my days look like here!
Mornings here are early and consist of lots of coffee, time spent with the Lord, and conversations over (an always yummy) breakfast! On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, my team “Steadfast” volunteers at the Academy for Future Leaders in Parramos during the afternoon. Because we have such a chill schedule those days, we spend the mornings beforehand doing ATL (ask the Lord) which could involve a team Bible study at our favorite coffee shop, street evangelism, or meeting a couple Mormon sisters and discussing difference of beliefs with them (yes, this has happened and probably will again!). ATL has been very fruitful, whether it’s meeting new people in Parramos or ministering to and prophesying over one another within our team. After ATL, we teach English at AFL! Throughout this past month, the kids have become our friends and have laughed with us through plenty a “muy poco Español”. My team and I help teach students ranging from kindergarteners to adults! I never thought teaching English would help me learn so much Spanish but it has and I’m so grateful!!
On Tuesdays, we spend our 9-5 with Birdhouse Ministries, a program run by several amazing people, including our friends Tulio and Emily! Birdhouse serves the community of Acatenango by building houses, specifically after natural disasters, and nurturing families and children! In the mornings, we get to visit the houses of the families Birdhouse has served. These time have been full of both joy and tears, and I’m so grateful to have this opportunity to build sweet relationships with that community. There is so much brokenness and hurt within families but we get to speak life over their lives and witness the God-given joy they continue to live by. My heart has been so ministered to by hearing the stories of the community and seeing the hope that overcomes hurt and brokenness. The Lord has also been faithful to show up in the darkest of moments!
During a recent house visit, some fellow volunteers and I visit a house and are asked to wait outside for a little while. All I can hear coming from the inside of the house are wailing prayers and cries to the Lord coming from a group of women. We learn they are interceding for and mourning for this young boy who had lung problems. After the women leave, we walk into the house where there is a little boy, probably around nine years old, sitting on a bed, and connected to a ventilator giving him oxygen. I’ll call him John for safety reasons. His eyes look so scared and tired. We sit around the room and talk to his mom for a while and she tells us about their life and we all encourage her and love on the family. As we are about to leave, I feel led to tell the boy about how I, too, have had issues with my lungs my whole life, and how God will comfort Him and carry Him through the process. He immediately breaks down in tears. Seeing this sweet boy crying, I started weeping too. I am told to sit next to him and lead a prayer for him. We all pray at once and I pray for His healing, saying through my tears repeatedly, “Jesus heal John as a testament to your faithfulness. Holy Spirit fill his body and heal his lungs!” After praying we give him a Bible, say goodbye, and leave. A week later I hear that John had been off of oxygen for four days after being on it for a month. He has had the lung condition for a year and the doctor had told his family he wasn’t going to make it. The fact that John was able to get off of the machine is a miracle! Thank you Father for you grace, mercy, and healing! What a blessing to be able to witness this kind of heaven on earth! Continue to pray for John’s health and that both his body and spirit continue to be sustained by the Lord!
Beginning last Tuesday afternoon, we’ve also started going to different villages with Birdhouse to teach English which we combine also with a Gospel/Bible teaching! The kids we’ve met are walking embodiments of joy and trust. Thank you Lord for the gift of childlikeness! We hand out fliers in the village we’re in for the day in the morning, then hold the program in the afternoon. I gave a teaching on the armor of God and shared the Gospel! I felt so honored to help feed the hungry hearts of these kids! I am in awe that I get to be used as a vessel for the Gospel! That I get to be talked through by the Holy Spirit! That day ended with Duck Duck Goose and the sweetest girl asking me to braid her hair! I have so much gratitude for moments like these!
Lastly, every Thursday is “Activation Day”, and we have worship and listen to a teaching at the AIM base where we stay in El Tejar. The teaching is followed by sitting with God and reflecting, then “activating” what we just learned. This could look like evangelism, house visits, or further reflection! My favorite days are when we get to evangelize in Antigua! Our squad has had many cool interactions with people in Antigua. Miracles, salvations, and planted seeds! What more could we ask for?
Saturday is our adventure day and Sunday is our Sabbath! I have to be honest, I’m still learning what is most restful for me, whether that looks like going to church in the city or staying at the base all day! The weekends have been sweet days when our squad has gotten more united and gotten to explore Guatemala!
I’d love to ask for prayer for a couple things! Thank you all for being so intentional in reaching out and asking how Gap K and I are doing!
First, our squad could always use prayer for health and safety! People have been having lots of stomach issues especially! Please pray for healing and regained strength! Secondly, and for my team specifically, please pray for more radical boldness and obedience during evangelism! Honestly, I have met some of the boldest evangelists I know within my team— the Lord knew I needed that. Lastly, as always, pray for unity within our squad!
I am continuously so grateful for your financial support! I am 91% fundraised— thank God! I have $1,515 left to raise until I am fully funded! Remember that all financial investment in my trip pays for my daily transportation to ministry, three meals a day, flights, lodging, medical aspects, and even supplies we use in ministry! If you feel called to give financially, please consider doing so! Thank y’all!!
I love you all and I am so grateful for the constant prayers, encouragement, and generosity!
All my love, Abi : )
