Psalm 31:23-24 says, "Love the Lord, all his saints! The Lord preserves the faithful, but the proud he pays back in full. Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord." For the past two weeks we have each been paired off with another teammate and a familoy from our host church.  Lacey and I have had the priveledge of being invited into Marvin's home. Marvin is the youth pastor at Mi Re-to.  He has a wife named Alejandra and a four year old son named Alejandro.  They are also expecting another son due in October.  All three (soon to be four) sleep...

Within the past week God has revealed to me that I have been stuck in a prison of comparison.  In one instance, I had just finished praying for a numerous amount of people and was feeling so connected to God.  I have learned that the enemy strikes and feeds me lies when I am beginning to trust more and more in God.  As everyone else on the team started telling about their experiences, I immediately got down on myself with thoughts of not being adequate enough to be used by God.  As I snapped out of it I realized that God DID use me and teach me something, just in a...

8:00—wake up and chow time 8:30—meet at the front gate to find out the day’s assignments and pray as a team 9-2—WORK! Digging, shoveling, carrying, dumping, moving, and holding dirt and rocks. 2-3—chow time 3-7—feedback (group reflection on what went well/poorly throughout the day) nap, coffee, read, shower, have some great conversations about the Lord 7—chow time 8-?—more conversation with the great people on my team and then sleep and rest because work is starting again soon! Although each day holds the same hourly schedule more or less, you...

After reading over my past few blogs, I realized that I need to lighten up my topics and have a little bit of fun!  So, I thought I’d fill you all in on one of my tribe’s longstanding jokes… the Guat-Squat.  What is the Guat-Squat you may ask?  Well, it’s that burning sensation when you just have to go!  It is often the result of one too many choco-bananas, a few too many french-fries from Pollo Express, or that yummy but oh-so-dangerous street ice cream.  I am fairly certain that each member of our tribe has gotten the Guat-Squat at least...

On Tuesday, we had our morning worship time, and then were given very mysterious directions. As we read the first card, we realized that we were going to the Santo Tomas market and that the two people in my group that were fairly fluent Spanish speakers were muted from the time we left for the market to an hour after. We spent time in our groups and asked God to show us what He had in store for us. We asked for visions and pictures of people to talk to. Oddly enough, I had a picture of a woman with a meat cleaver.             We went on...

A few days ago we went on an ATL adventure (Ask the Lord). Our team was split into two groups and each group was given a packet with directions, money and our leader’s phone numbers in case of an emergency. Before we set off, our group spent some time praying, asking God for His direction and for Him to do abundantly more than we could ask or imagine. Soon, the time for departure arrived and the 6 of us headed down the street to find a bus that would take us to the Puerto Barrios market.   We successfully hailed a bus and were safely on our way when suddenly we stopped....

After living in a relatively small community for a month, you find out a lot about each person’s personality. The good, the bad, the funny, the weird. You also find out what main role each person plays. You’ve got the Peppy Pablo—always cheering you on, the Maternal Melanie—need ANYTHING a pharmacy carries?, the Energetic Evan—probably didn’t need that last pot of coffee, dear, and the Keep Crackin’ Jokes Kelly—no matter what, they’ve got the laughs. Some of us take on different roles at different times, but it’s important to know...

I must say that the mission has been a success since I have been in panajachel. The Lord is doing amazing things and it is getting better and better by the moment. I remember our first 48 hrs in panajachel, Megan, Sam and I led an un-believer to Jesus Christ and it was only less than 48 hours of our stay! Honestly, I took this sign as a confirmation from the Lord, that we were needed in Pana. Since then many people came to know Jesus as Lord. But it is not by our power but by the Lord´s and for his Glory, alone. From visting dump sites, swatting killer gnats and picking up my cross...

Mannnnn Where to start?                 First blog of the summer!! Rachel and Don you have my apologies. J Anyway, where in the world should I begin?? First I would like to give a shout out to my team. I have grown closer to some people, but everyone is unique in their way of helping me become more Christ like. I would not trade any of you for someone else. BELIEVE THAT!! My second shout out goes to the most intriguing spiritual man I have met in all my 21 years. It is honor working under Pastor Ben in Panajachel,...

Wow, quel beau voyage ! Nous en proitons pour servir Dieu, mais egalement pour profiter du temps quon est ici au Guatemala. L autre jour, alors que nous etions suppose aller aider le pasteur a ravailler sur le bord du la,  Darren et moi sommes aller samuser dans un betau qui etait a moitie innode dans leau. Nous avons troue de la peinture, alors nous nous sommes empresser de nous couvrir tout le corps de peiture simplement pour niaiser. Ce que nous ne savions pas a ce moment, cest que la peinture etait faite a base dune huile puissante pour bateau, ce qui oulait ire que la peinture ne...

Well, we’ve past the half-way point for this incredibly life-changing summer!  I’ve done things I never thought I would, met some absolutely amazing people, and witnessed the healing hand of God.  There is simply no way for me to tell you everything that God has been teaching me, so I’ll fill you in on one of the “themes” that keeps reoccurring.  For those of you that know me well, you know that I am grounded, need a plan, enjoy being in charge, and thrive off of order.  Unfortunately (or fortunately), the word “plan”...

This past week families from the church adopted two people from our team and I got the opportunity to be paired with Megan. Our family consists of a married couple, Carlos and Miriam and their three sons Carlos, Abraham, and Isai (God works through this 4 year old already and its evident).  Miriam is such a strong believer in Christ and probably has the most faith out of any woman or man I have ever met. From just being around her a few times eating with her family, I feel like my faith has been strengthened so much more and have learned so much. Every word that she says I want to pay...