Hola! This post is made up of snip-its of my journal entries for our first few days in Guatemala. I hope it gives just a small glimpse into life in the Lord here. Jordan and I have been so blessed to be able to join the AIM Guatemalan team and learn from them for a short while before launching to Cambodia! I wish I could share all that the Lord has taught and done, but these small snap-shots will have to suffice. 🙂
At the end I provided a brief update since these entries. Enjoy…. 🙂
FRIDAY & SATURDAY
11.1&2.2013
Our plane touches Guatemalan soil. So tired I literally can’t see straight. Received in love by family in Christ. Ride through the mountains to our housing for the weekend. 40 foot beautiful kites joining the clouds. The false beautiful irony of idolatry. A breath taking view. Volcanoes. Winding roads. Lush vegetation. Clearest blue green waters. I feel so small. So alive. So blessed to be given breath. So loved that the Father creates this beauty for my eyes to behold. So humbled that He choose these Mayan tribes to abide here in this most beautiful place I’ve ever seen.
Oh I’ve missed the chaos of many languages in a forgotten place. A discovered place. So therapeutic to walk through eroding brick streets surrounded by people of another culture. The wisdom in the sunken eyes and wrinkled faces of elders. New familiar smells. Arrangement of reds, yellow, greens. Meat hanging from the roofs. Corn tortillas cooking. A poor man begging. Gods heart breaking. Hope is found in the beauty the Lord provides. Though hope seen is no hope at all. He just gives glimpses. Because He is so kind, a good Father. Good nights sleep. Blessed fellowship. Grace given. God’s voice. The Father’s presence. Corn hole. Joy. Exploring with new friends Chuck and Megan, and hubby. Beautiful sights. Money exchanged. Drizzling rain. Now trenchal tropical downfall. Soaked to the core. Laughing all the way. Gate to the house is locked. Gates here are for safety. In this moment though, this locked gate is the means Jesus uses to safe guard this moment. I’m soaked with dirt in my toes locked out from shelter. The Lord speaks: you are ALIVE in Me, My daughter and My son, remember in the storms to come that its good to be alive in Me and seek My face. Moments like these with The Lord and with my hand in Jordan’s are the moment I tuck safely away in the crevasses of my heart. To be pulled out to reminisce with a joyful and thankful heart, but also for hope when the storms roll in.
Teaching and discussion in the morning. Talk revolves around learning the Father´s heart, discipleship practically and theology behind it–the blessings, the command, and calling. Discussion includes how the missions base functions in community. So much to learn.
Prayer walk through the streets. Asking the Lord to guide our every step. He does. He speaks. We hear his heart for the Myan Guatemalan people and for each other. We pray, and pray some more. The beauty is like unobtainable hope for those who do not seek the Lord in this place. We believe God desires them and desires to bring them Joy. Joy is looked down upon. But in Christ we should have joy no matter circumstances. Joy pulls down strongholds because it shouts that your soul, heart, mind, and spirit are in agreement with scriptures that say “for I consider the sufferings of the present time are not worth comparing to glory that is to be revealed to us” and “these things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in and your joy may be full.”
SUNDAY
11.3.2013
Kayaking on our Sabbath. Sitting in the middle of the lake, in a double kayak with my hubby, surrounded by volcanoes. The water is ruff, I hope we don’t tip over. The crystal teal water is warm as the water splashes in. It starts to rain and we just keep taking it in. God is good. Our Abba is beautiful. I desire to learn more about who He is all my days. Good food and conversation over lunch. Still hungry but that’s OK.
MONDAY to TUESDAY morning
11.4&5.2013
Another day. Its a day the Lord has made. We load a van, load our baggage in the truck, jump on the top roof rack, and drive with the wind in our faces to the lake. I know our laughter makes our Abba smile.
We meet another team and load everything on a boat to take across the lake to our new abode for the next few weeks. We take in the view and sun rays as we ride the boat to our unknown. We arrive at the dock, which is lined with buildings almost completely submersed. Its nearing the end of rainy season and the water has risen significantly over the past 5 years. We have arrived to a small village town. Some Guatemalan-Mayans don’t even speak Spanish. We load some stuff onto trucks and carry the rest up the side of this inhabited volcano? Mountain? I’m out of breath and it starts to drizzle. Rain coat goes on. Finally we reach where our stuff was dropped off. The gate is locked. Its poring now. We all breathe deeply as we pick up random bags and start tracking through the jungles and reach our destination. My pants are soaked and my feet muddy, but the view and the knowledge of its Painter makes it worth it All. Thank you Abba, Daddy. Your so kind. Spontaneous worship breaks out and we all give glory honor and dominion to this God Almighty, our Abba, the one who artistically created this place. Yes, He is our Abba. I sit back and soak it all in. I naturally observe the chaos and make sense of it all. Its broken, its redeemed, its good.
Dinner cooking makes me realize my roaring tummy. Warm soup warms my core and satisfies. Again, thank you Abba.
Creepy crawlers make me nervous as we lie down to sleep. I wake up sick in the middle of the night and my leg itches and tingles and feels numb all at the same time. Jordan prays over me, I pray for peace that its nothing and try to go back to sleep. Toss and turn until I decide to read. The Lord strengthens my heart through the book of Revelation and the Passion story. I dose off for a minute and the roaster crows. Ready for a new day. Lord, I’m here. Let me hear You. Give me strength. Give me joy in you. Let my selfishness flee. Less of me more of You. I desire a pure heart that’s unified with Yours.
UPDATE…A week-ish later….MONDAY 11.11.2013
Over the past week, we have continued to learn a lot about the base, discipleship, and the Lord. We have continued to join the AIM Guatemalan team in hosting the Passpost team of 50 nineteen year olds that will be here for one more week. They are a short term trip through our missions organization AIM. We foresee hosting teams like these possibly in the future in the base in Cambodia. Yesterday the passport team split into teams and we paired off leaders to go with each team. Each team went to a different village around Lake Atitlan to minister to the people as the Holy Spirit led. It’s a blessing to see the Lord work through these teenagers.
Thank you all for your constant prayers and support! 🙂
Please continue to pray for our time here, that God would show us all that He has for us here.
Pray for guidance, health, and strength…and continued Joy! 😀
Pray we would be a blessing to the Guatemalan and Passport team.
Pray for our hearts, minds, and spirits to be more and more prepared for Cambodia.
Pray that Jordan and I would always find our home in the Lord as we continue to be in transition.
Praise our Abba Father for His love, power, and presence in our lives and yours as His children!
With grace and love,
Sarah
