Hey there wonderful people!!
We are officially in count down mode…only 9 days until we fly back to Atlanta for debrief. Which is crazy because time moves so fast here yet life is slow. We find ourselves in a trance every weekend, trying to wrap our head around how the week flew by so fast. Not only is life slow but ministry here is slow however, there is beauty in that because life is ministry. Ministry doesn‘t always look like big, extraordinary moments. In fact, life here has been more ordinary than extraordinary. But praise God because He’s still working!
So, here’s a glimpse into our ministry.
Everyday ministry has looked like riding in the back of a truck up to a small mountain village. Where we are greeted with the sweetest and brightest smiles from children we have built relationships with over the past two weeks. On the first day of ministry in this village we were greeted with a brown, empty building. It was filled with spiders, trash, and dust. Since then, this building has been transformed into a colorful library filled with hope. We’ve spent days cleaning, painting, staining tables, dusting off old books, rolling down hills, supporting a small family business, and much more. Prayer, worship, and laughter has filled the building and poured out into the streets. Chalk and splattered paint cover the sidewalks, yet these are only visible changes. Apart from us, the Lord has made this space brand new. He has brought a fresh wind of peace and hope into this community. Through house visits and prayer walks, He has constantly showed us that there is no language barrier when it comes to love and prayer. Today we said goodbye to the library, while it is bittersweet, I am comforted knowing that Jesus is working in this community and that doesn’t stop just because our ministry has changed. Jesus works regardless of if we are there painting flowers on a wall or teaching kids how to do cartwheels. Thank God that He doesn‘t rely on imperfect people to do His work, but rather He is gracious enough to bring us in on it and allow us to experience His love in new ways.
Ministry has also looked like many other things. From getting to know the baristas at a local coffee shop and getting a glimpse into their life. Walking around Panajachel, allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us. Learning to discern between good and evil and interceding for others as we do so. Asking restaurant owners if they need help cleaning dishes. A divine encounter with a proclaimed Atheist that we happened to see at two different coffee shops – which led to a teammate sharing her testimony. Playing soccer with a local team of young men. Deeply getting to know local business owners and giving them words of encouragement, water color paintings, and praying over their families. Talking to kids with baskets of toys around their necks, working to provide for their families. Getting to know other missionaries and allowing them to pour into our life and building connections that will last forever. Worshipping on the top of our roof in the pouring down rain at midnight. Then hearing police officers play a recording of that worshiping and praying that they translate the video and hear those praises of truth and love. Basically, ministry has looked like learning to allow the Lord to steward any free time that we have and being intentional about listening to His response.
Sometimes, His response is to rest and take time for myself. I’m learning to allow Jesus to pour into my life before I go and pour into others. Sometimes it‘s spending Sabbath in His word. Other times that looks like together-alone time with teammates at coffee shops, taking a nap, solo dates with Jesus, long walks with friends, or sitting near the lake watching the water crash along the shore. The Lord is currently teaching me how to be filled up by Him alone. As an extravert and a big people person, I value connection and vulnerability. I value one-on-one conversations. I feel refreshed and filled through those deep connections. It‘s often hard for me to be filled up by resting and being alone. However, the Lord has been so gracious in teaching me that I am never alone and that there is power in sitting in His presence. I have learned that He fills me up much better than I would ever know how to. So, praise God that ministry has looked like leaning into uncomfortable alone time.
Ministry feels slow here but that‘s because ministry has become life. And when you’re doing life intentionally, it‘s slow. But not the kind of slow that you wish would go by faster. It‘s the kind of slow that feels just right. The kind that at the end of the day, you feel accomplished and fulfilled mentally, physically, and spiritually. Ministry might not look like doing crazy hard things, sometimes it’s planting seeds and being okay with not being able to see them grow but trusting in the Lord’s faithfulness.
Join me in prayer: Lord, thanks for all the big and small ways you show up. You set the perfect example of evangelism and we know that there is power in following your footsteps. I pray that you lead us into uncomfortable moments because that’s when growth starts. You call us to minister in all areas of our lives and I pray that we start to lean into those around us and find little ways to bring your name to the surface. There is power in your name Lord. Let us be your vessels, set apart to do good.
As always, thanks for the constant support, prayer, and love!
Here is a little peak at the library and what ministry has looked like. Tomorrow we head to a new village and can‘t wait to see what ministry looks like there!
There is no barrier that love can’t break.
