I have been in Guatemala for a week and a half now and let me just say it is not what I expected.  I always plan for the worst case scenario.  With that being said, the worst case scenario for Rachel Short would be…camping.  Living on dirt grounds, and eating animals over an open fire.  I have been pleasantly surprised. I feel like a million bucks here in Guatemala.  I feel so blessed that God sent me to this beautiful country, I could be so many other places.  I didn't realize that I had expectations coming in, but clearly I did.  I thought I...

I have been placed in a unique ream with unique people that have unique talents. We have been learning skills, doing activities, and getting tools to be not only successful, but prosperous while in Guatemala. Although these things are completely different from one another (how to wear a backpack doesn’t seem to have much to do with creating artwork to represent your expectations of the trip) each piece is necessary to do well. If one bit of information was left out, we would be up a creek without a paddle! The other night, we wanted to make a fire. As we arrived to the fire pit, there...

I walk a block and am surrounded by colors, reds, blues, oranges, pinks and greens. Mangos, pineapples, and bananas are sold on the street. Ice cream is pushed around in a cart, as kids line up to indulge after a day of school. I look across the lake to see volcanoes surrounded by fog. Beauty. This is what I see in this country, this culture.   We have not been in Guatemala long, but already I am beginning to find the beauty in the people as well. The other day some teammates and I walked the streets, praying and asking the Lord for direction on where He would like to lead us....

Week 2 in Guatemala. Wow. I can’t believe we’ve only been here two weeks. It only took a couple of days and it feels like life has always been this way. At the same time though, time is flying by. Before we know it we’ll be on our way home, although I don’t want to think about that just yet.  We have done some crazy things this past week. We have gone to a “Old Folks Home” (literally translated Home of the Ancients), performed programs for kids at the school by where we live, a children’s hospital, and at a church in the jungle. ...

Daily ministry can be a roller coaster of experiences. A couple of days ago we went to a children’s hospital to sing songs, share Bible stories and dramas, and just try to spread love. Although it is hard to see children suffering, the part that broke my heart the most was as we were leaving. Walking out of the hospital, we immediately saw and heard a woman sitting on the ledge across from us weeping.  Our ministry contact and I went over to talk to her and pray with her. As we listened, we found out that her 4-day-old granddaughter was critically ill and in intensive care. While...

This is Panajachel, Guatemala, and I am not lying when I say this picture does not nearly do this town justice. Pana borders Lake Atitlan, the largest lake in the country, and is surrounded by towering volcanos. (Note: I cannot figure out how to type an apostrophy on this keyboard, so apologies to all abreviations). My team of 16 arrived in Panajachel last week, and it is already starting to feel like home. We have been working with Ben Meijer and Mi-Reto ministries, serving the community through manual labor and outreach, but the coming weeks will bring new opportunities. Here are some...

            Where, oh where to begin… Since I last posted, we have been involved in many different ministries. There is a local catholic church that does a church service in the park every few days. Earlier this week we went and spent time at the park with them. We played soccer (and won against the Guatemalans 2-0!) and listened to a preacher talk about the end times. We went to the Puerto Barrios market and prayed over the people there. We asked the Spirit of God to lead us to those working in the market so we could pray for them. -It is a really,...

To help you all understand what is happening here in Panajachel, I thought I’d give you a sneak peek into an average day for my team. In the morning, one of our four cooking teams prepare breakfast for us all.  After eating and spending some quiet time with Christ, we head out to our work projects.  We’ve been working on a few different projects which include evangelizing to a drug dealer, building a retaining wall for a family that is in danger of losing their home in the event of a mudslide, finishing a clean-water well, and digging a septic system for the mission...

This week we spent an afternoon at a nursing home which was refreshing to my spirit more than anything. Only a few of us on our team can speak Spanish pretty well and the barrier is something that we have learned to overcome through prayer and singing. We spent about a solid hour singing at the nursing home with the people there just praising God together in both languages, it was really really beautiful. Singing has become something that we do often as a team because it fills us all up together. This worship at the nursing home came when we needed it most too because we had spent the...

As you step on the streets of Guatemala, it is clear to see what God intended for fellowship among us. All it takes is an “Hola” and the next thing you know you are invited into somones home who gives their best food and hospitality to you, and tell you their life story despite them knowing you don’t speak Spanish. Can you picture strangers walking up to your door and barely able to say hello clearly. Would you invite them in? Probably not. Would you take out your finest dinnerware and feed them your most expensive food? Most likely not. We are selfish in out comfortable...

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Since arriving in Panajachel God has really gotten me out of my comfort zone. With completely new people, living situations, food, and work; it has been a little overwhelming. However, in the past few days God has been pouring His love out all over me, and making me realize that even amidst the discomfort, uncertainty, and any other circumstance that God is always faithful. He will never leave me nor forsake me. He is consistent and a refuge when I need strength and endurance to carry on. Although my life may be...