Life in America taught me to be self sufficient. It taught me that we are what we do so we better be doing something pretty great with our lives We better be writing ourselves a pretty great story to live out and to tell.  But life here in Guatemala, with God and my lovely team, is teaching me something completely different.  For so long I have taken it upon myself to be the grower of my own spiritual fruit, the keeper of all my emotions, and the controller of how I am presenting myself to others and how they receive me. But God told me to abide in him. He directed me to John 15...

Today, I truly felt the Father's heart being my only substance. I have always had problems showing emotions or truly feeling anything. It comes from a long time of suppressing and thinking that emotions and God are not what should fuel my tie to my Creator. But, that's the thing, God has created emotions for His glory. Be praying that I am continuously vulnerable to the Holy Spirit and not just open to what He does. But, back to my story: There is a lot of children at this dump that we do ministry at, and a special muchacho named "Igner" or "Egner" (his...

I am looking down at the glitter speckling my arms, however, I don’t know that I really want to wash the flashing spots off.  The sight brings up images of dear children who let their emotions flow free; who have a deep, raw love for anyone who gives them the time of day.  This annoyingly adhered glitter reflects memories of a mother and father sorting garbage as a means to an end.  This is the Puerto Barrios Dump.    Outside the sister towns of Puerto Barrios and Santo Tomas is the dump that serves the surrounding area.  Of course, this is a fact of life...

  "Therefore, behold I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness and speak tenderly to her." Hosea 2:14 Listening seems to be the more passive part of a conversation when in actuality it takes much more effort to listen than to speak. Furthermore, it is essential to actually having a conversation. Yet for some reason when praying I often think I'm conversing with my Lord when in actuality I don't pause to listen to what He has to say. I make my requests and give him my burdens then go on my merry way.  Last week the team went out on a prayer walk...

Hola? Donde? Que? Como se llama? The Spanish words are swirling through my head, every day all day here. I can never put all these foreign words together to make a reasonable sentence let alone understand what anyone is saying to me. It would be an understatement to say that I’ am beyond words frustrated with the language barrier.   One thing that doesn’t require understanding of words is seeing deep into people eyes and looking into their heart. Yesterday in the market I became haunted and forever marked by piercing eyes that I will NEVER forget.    As we walked...

I've begun to realize how called we really are to give up everything for the kingdom, the gospel's sake, and for Christ. Paul talks about us being crucified to the world and that ties with how God sent His only begotten Son for this disgusting world, but He still loved it.  I was reading the story of Bartimaeus in Mark 10, and Christ is walking around in Jericho. What Christ's does next is completely out of the ordinary: "So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called", Jesus called Bartimaeus to himself even though other people were trying to keep him...

When we went to church last Sunday night, I stood from my seat and watched as the church community and my teammates all went up to the front of the church and were singing, jumping, and dancing for God. Everyone was so pumped up and excited, and all I did was stand there. I felt lifeless, energyless, and emotionless. I knew something wasn't right. I mean I'm not usually one to go crazy and dance around like no ones watching, but to do it for my king isn't something I felt timid about. My problem was that I didn't even feel like I should have been up there at all. I...

We are now in the 4th week since this trip began. Having been surrounded by a different yet vibrant language, culture, and landscape, and people group, i know i have already been changed forever.    My peace and security is challenged as i am i introduced to new and thought  provoking experiences.     Yet when i am weak, Christ can be made strong. He alone is my real security, peace, and power.   As a christian family we often have times of feedback. Every person must speak encouraging or constructive  words to another out of love and care. I...