Hi friends!!
The last two weeks have gone by so fast! My team has spent this time moving in with an amazing and generous host family, adjusting to living together, and doing ministry daily as a team! There is so much God has been teaching me that I want to share, but I thought that first I would give you all a general visual review of what these days have looked like so you too can have a tiny glimpse of the little moments that have filled our time here!
The first weekend we arrived in our new home we were greeted by the new team that we have been working with along with our host family. We spent time learning the hearts of the leadership we will be working under these next 7 weeks. We are partnering with 2 ministries, Worship Room which consists of allotted time of prayer and intercession, and worship open to the community on Thursday nights. And Hope, located in a beautiful garden with a pavilion where numerous events are held daily. There is Beauty for Ashes, which is a special group open to the women of the community to come together and share what is on their hearts. I have heard so many stories of God’s healing through these sessions! My teammate Victoria is specifically working with this group so be sure to keep up with her blog to hear all the stories that will come from these sessions! Hope also works with children, offering them free English classes, music lessons, Bible studies, and meals! It is so obvious that our partners here have such a burning heart of Jesus’ love, spending all of their time and resources on their community. They give everything they have to the people they love, greeting everyone with a warm hug and smile. These people are beyond selfless and look like Jesus. In their presence I often think to myself- I want to look like them when I grow up!
As a team, we spent time washing each other’s feet like Jesus did with the disciples, preparing them for ministry. We are so blessed to have the best volcano views from our home’s roof! Fuego erupts about every 15-20 minutes, and the lava flowing from the side is visible on a clear night. This weekend we were also invited over to Mikayla and Aderkee’s new home where she cooked us an amazing meal after church.
On Monday mornings we spend time asking the Lord who to visit as we make house visits. We pray together and ask for specific visions. God spoke to us each in different ways, but it was really cool to see how God gave each of us different glimpses of the people he wanted us to reach! I got a picture of a dark room with 3 girls, one with a long ponytail, and a butterfly. And another got a picture of a black door. After walking for a while and visiting other homes, we arrived at the black door she had seen. We were warmly greeted by a family who invited us into their home. We entered their dark kitchen and greeted their sick grandmother who was being cared for there. After a few minutes, in walked her three granddaughters, one with a long piggy tail. I also saw that her caretaker was wearing butterfly earrings, and I knew this was where we belonged! We began asking the family how we could be praying for them, and their main focus was on the grandmother who gave us permission to share her requests so that you can be praying for her too! She has numerous health conditions and surgeries required, but her poor health makes the surgeries currently unavailable. She also is unable to keep down any type of medication, so we are asking for supernatural healing and comfort from God.
In the afternoons, we are able to help in teaching the kids English! This is super fun, because the kids are open and excited to learn, and have an amazing attention span that many kids in the states do not!
On Tuesday mornings, we gather together as a team with Hope leadership and others from the Adventures in missions staff for a Bible study. I love that so many people with different views are all able to come together and learn. After that, we do more house visits, but this time with families that we have been to before! We had many sweet conversations with a local family, and the kids sent us out with colored heart pictures and hand picked flowers. I can’t explain to you guys how friendly this community is! In the afternoons we help with the kids Bible studies and crafts. This week we made a tabernacle! The leaders know these kids so well and are intentional in each of the 50+ kids journeys with Him!
On Wednesdays we begin the day with a woman’s Bible study. This was held in the home of Sophie, who was a very influential person in my decision on coming on the race this year. I met her last October when I came to Guatemala for Mikayla’s wedding, and I spent time discussing my fear of doing the Race right after finishing nursing school. I was concerned I would lose all of the skills I had learned, but she told me how she and her husband both went to medical school, but immediately after God called them to the States to be youth leaders. After 10 years God called them back to Guatemala to be doctors. I knew that if God can call someone back into being a doctor, he can for sure bring back to memory any nursing skills I may need in the future!
At the end of Bible study we spent time praying over her as a team of locals left to do missions in Turkey for the next month. Please keep them in your prayers for what God is doing in their lives!
On Wednesday afternoons, we are back at the Garden where the kids and moms come for their different lessons. The women attend Beauty for Ashes, while the kids learn music.
Thursdays we spend in Antigua, a city close to us, working with Worship Room. In the mornings we gather in a back room of a coffee shop and intercede over all of the local ministries they know in Guatemala. I love that their heart is to see God move not just in their own ministries, but that they take time out of their week to press into what God is doing in Guatemala as a whole! Thursday night we have Worship! These leaders are so anointed and have a heart to make the space feel like a living room and have the body come together as a big family and worship in unity. They also have the prayer room available for people who want to press in! The worship is held in the same coffee shop, named Coffee Shack. If you’re ever in Antigua, I suggest you visit it! They have an amazing ministry where they make homes for locals with the money from the shop, along with donating clean water!
On Fridays we have free time in the morning, followed normally by soccer for the kids. This week we were invited to a special worship event in Guatemala city. The views to the city, traveling by van through the mountains was unbelievable. Worship that night was even better.
On Saturdays we have ATL day (Ask The Lord). In the morning we went on a beautiful hike where we overlooked the town, and I picked wildflowers. In the afternoon, Victoria and I spent some time in the city of Antigua praying for people as He directed our paths. I love when God brings me people who speak English because I can go a little deeper in my conversations without a language barrier! On our way home, we got stuck in the downpours of rainy season, but had a fun time running through the flooding rivers in the streets.
Sundays are for Sabbath. We spent time at church, meeting new local families who are also called to missions. We are super excited to be getting dinner with one of the families this week to see how we can be involved with their homes for disabled children.
This Monday we revisited the home of the sick grandmother and had more sweet conversations encouraging and praying with her and her family. We taught English again in the afternoon, and it was so encouraging seeing how excited the kids were to learn.
Tuesday Morning we had another Bible study where we learned about the importance of inviting people into your support journey like Jesus did in His ministry throughout the Bible. With that being said……….. You all helped me not just meet this month’s fundraising goal, but God blessed me with overflow towards the final goal! I am so thankful for everyone who has spent time praying over what God is doing here and partnering with us. I wish I could bring you all here to see what God is doing, because it is so amazing, but I will continue to share what we are seeing as often as I can!
Tuesday afternoon we had Bible study and crafts with the kids. They spent time decorating prayer jars and praying for each of the prompts on the sticks. These kids may be young, but they know how to intercede over their family, friends, and schools better than I do. I am learning from them what it means to come to God boldly with childlike faith. It is beautiful to observe.
On Wednesday I realized I did in fact contract another parasite. I spent the day resting at home and am feeling much better now!
This Thursday we spent time sorting through donated clothing and hand picking new outfits for each of the kids that come to Hope. This was such a sweet time as I handpicked clothing for one of the little girls, Abigail, that has really touched my heart. We also picked outfits for the families of the kids, and the families we regularly visit during ATL times. That night we had Worship Room again. I was supposed to be in the prayer room during this time, but God had other plans. Some of our friends in our squad came to the worship night and I had the opportunity to open up to a few of them and be prayed over. Ministry has been amazing, but I am learning that it is equally important to be poured into it! Super thankful for you Kara and Aaron!!
On Friday the kids have soccer! We had the opportunity to help with the older kids soccer or the younger kids relay races, and knowing my (lack of) skills, I played with the little kids! There is nothing more fun than playing with these little bundles of joy and energy! Afterwards I spent some much needed 1 on 1 time with Mikayla, followed by playing pool with some of our ministry leader friends. I am so beyond thankful for the community that God has given us here!
Thank you guys so much for making it to the end of this blog! I know it was long, but I hope you enjoyed being able to see a tiny glimpse of our weeks! Please let me know how I can be praying for you!
Ahhh! Guatemala!! A land which is so beautiful and it’s people have hearts incredibly large. Fuego is neat to see in the evening when she is truly a glorious sight. Most special of all, you get to minister there. I pray that God fills you to overflowing so that you can be available for each opportunity that comes your way. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I am praying for the abuela who needs the surgery.
Abigail, what a beautiful way God is using you and your team. Wow what a beautiful act of love ya did when ya wash your feet for each other. So glad God is giving you visions and using for the blessing of many people and children. Keep it up! God still has so much more for you!!!
Can’t wait for debrief.
Kevin
Abigail, I loved this day by day update with the pictures! I was so curious what your group was up to during the week. I’m sure you’ll be thankful to have all this written down in the future as well. 🙂
-Laurelle (Katherine’s friend)
My dear Abigail!! Oh how I miss you! But geeeeez am I so blown away by you and so proud of you and excited for you and all of your teammates! I’m not lying when I say I cried the whole way through reading this post today. God is realllyyyy showing Himself and His will to me through what He is doing through you! I am praising Him for your funds and for all the ways He has touched the people of Guatemala already through your team! Praying for you and your teammates always sister!! I love you!
Abigai-EEL! You did such a great job of recounting all that has been going on during the last couple of weeks! Grateful that the Lord has called you to be here! There’s no doubt that we are both going to be amazed at how God uses and also transforms us through this experience. God, thank you for sending Abigail~ for the harvest is plentiful and she has been hand-picked by YOU to be a laborer in Your field!
It’s awesome to see this visual review! I love it! What a sweet intimate look into what it is actually like out there. Nice work!
Abigail!! Thanks for taking the time to write this blog!! I love you so much and am so grateful to hear what the Lord is doing in your life. I love getting to hug you on Thursday nights!! I am praying for you and your team. Praying for fresh unity and intimacy through the Holy Spirit! “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. THere is one body and one Spirit—Just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all” Ephesians 4:1-6.
I love you! I’m in your corner! xoxoxox, KP