From Canon Fire to Volcano Eruption

Whether sleeping, participating in ministry or hiking a volcano, the sounds of Guatemala abounded. Allow me to take you on a trip of the last three weeks through the sounds of the country:

Fireworks

Every country has their own culture, and Guatemala is no different. Specifically in Chichicastenango, it was rare to not hear fireworks once during the day or night to mark the birth day and time of the one being celebrated. In the beginning, it was a shock, but by the end I was joining in by saying Happy Birthday quietly to myself. 

Women walked down the road wearing traditional skirts and frequently with a child wrapped to their back with a swaddle. Along the roadside, stray dogs walked amongst the ongoings searching for food or a place to lay their head. In town, Spanish and Quiche filled the air in the marketplace between family, friends, and vendors. The hustle was exciting, but on the outskirts quieted entering into the cemetery. Unlike in the U.S., tombs were above ground, painted with pastels, and loomed over the city just beyond the white painted Church of Life and Church of Death. 

“But this command I gave them, ‘Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people. And walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you.’” – Jeremiah 7:23

Vehicles Struggling Up the Mountainside

From the first weekend in Chichi, it was evident that the local travel was going to be an experience. Riding in the back of a truck bed standing up, we held on to the bars of the cage around us. The driver led us gently into the valley and back up the steep incline into town. We found that this was special treatment, as a handful of us first experienced a chicken bus (vibrant school bus) barreling toward us around a corner as we attempted to cross the road. 

Experiencing the ride for real, a few squad mates vowed to never ride again. Honestly, I questioned the reality of physics as we fly around turns and other vehicles yet remained upright. Microbuses were gentler on the stomachs of riders, and like the chicken buses could be taken into town for 5Q, approximately $0.65 in the U.S.

Pouring Water

It’s amazing how trained the ear can become in a new environment. From bucket showers to manual toilet flushing to dish washing to filling a nalgene with filtered water, it did not take long to recognize what the water being poured was signifying. Our two teams in Chichi definitely bonded after sharing one toilet (bucket shower enclosed), adjacent to the dish washing sink. If you expect to get through this experience without having others know your personal business, good luck.

Laughter of Children

This month, we participated in children’s ministry three days a week with kids in the local community. Through the truth of Bible stories, worshipping in song together, and teaching English and Spanish, we learned just as much, if not more than the kids we taught. Each age group was a joy to play with, laughter soon following. Tears flowed freely on the last week of ministry, remembering the sweet times together of song, dance, soccer, braiding hair, and learning together. 

My prayer for them is to root themselves in truth, and to grow up leading others as men and women of faith. That through the hardships of life, they would know the faithfulness of the Lord. This lesson made evident in the lives of ours hosts, Juan and Evelyn, who were able to share testimony after testimony with us of the Lord’s goodness and provision. 

Over the nearby soccer field, where we played with the kids and held ceremony with the town leaders, I pray that the Lord would continue to make this a place of relationship, laughter, and would be filled with the Holy Spirit. 

“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.” – Psalm 100:1-3

Cries of Frustration

In no way was frustration or anxiety the theme of this past month, but in those moments of misunderstanding and hurt, I saw the Lord’s gentleness and heard His voice the most clearly. For many years, I have struggled to receive compliments from others, which I realized was an extension of my relationship with the Lord. As I found quiet places to be with the Lord, ask Him questions, and allow tears to flow when words weren’t possible, He met me. He held me close, romanced me with nature, and called me daughter.

Experiencing the Lord as Father has been such a sweet journey this month. It is one thing to know something in mind, but not believe it in heart or in Spirit. Although it can be difficult, experiencing the Lord in different ways and allowing it to become belief often requires going through it with Him. For example, seeing Him as a God of Fun! He loves to see us not just happy, but joyful. Only the Lord is able to be joy for us through any circumstance. 

In the coming months, in addition to Father and Fun-Loving, I am praying to know God as Faithful, Sustainer, Healer, Guide, Creator, and Miracle-Worker. Please join me in praying for these things and for strength to go through the experiences with Him that will reveal more of who He is.

“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” -Colossians 3:1-2

Volcano Eruption

On one of our adventure days, as a squad, we hiked Volcan Acetanango. Starting at an elevation of about 7,844ft, we climbed up to the campsite in about five hours. The next morning, we rose at 4 a.m. to climb the last hour to the peak of 13,044ft. Hearing stories of the difficulty of the hike, I expected something totally different from what I experienced. No doubt it was a challenge, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, but what I experienced most was joy. 

Living on a mountainside and running some hills was good preparation, pre and post COVID, for strength and breath training. The Father was speaking to my heart on the ride to Acetanango quieting my anxiety over the “Big Picture.” As He did, He spoke to me, “Just take it one step at a time.” This particular call was fulfilled the next day as I took one step at a time with Him on the hardest hike I have ever completed. He sustained my breathing and my body, but to my great joy also my spirit. Cloud cover kept us from viewing much of the scenery on the way up, but I connected with Him through small flowers on the side of the trails and times of silence, as well as, encouraging my teammates forward. 

We laughed together, sharing bedtime stories through thin tent walls, and slept with the nearby boom of Volcan Fuego erupting. Rising early the next morning, I hiked in the dark between teammates. Arriving to the peak, we viewed one of the best sites that I have ever experienced: A combination of colorful sunrise, volcano lava erupting, distant lightning, and the lights of the cities twinkling below. Praise God for such a beautiful creation!

“‘And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.’ And it was so. And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good.” – Genesis 1:30-31

Prayer

Love for this country has caused my heart to take its time preparing to leave for Honduras, but on the eve of travel, I’m finally ready to move forward. Please join me in prayer over the next month, especially as little communication will be possible:

Guatemala:

• Continued fruit for ministry hosts in Guatemala

• That the Lord would raise up leaders in Guatemala to spread the gospel across the country

• That the Lord would continue to provide for the ministry and life of Juan and Evelyn

Squad / Team:

• Unity of the squad during all-squad month (28 strong)

• Boldness in giving feedback and having grace with one another

• Encouraging one another in giftings

• Health

• Strength in manual labor

Honduras:

• Climate – heavy rain would not impede ministry

• The Lord would be preparing hearts to receive the gospel

• Ministry host, Paul and his family

• Awareness that our fight is spiritual, not against flesh and blood

• Local team leaders would be able to get off work to join us in ministry