Wow. A whole 2 months in Guatemala behind Gap H. We cleaned out our rooms at the AIM base and stayed a week in Antigua to debrief and it is time for a 3 day travel day to Jeffreys Bay, South Africa! Woo! To say this transition is bittersweet is quite the understatement. While part of me is absolutely ecstatic to step foot on the South African soil, the other part is devastated to leave this beautiful country the Lord has tied a piece of my heart to.
The Lord has done so much in my heart these past 2 months it is unreal. I have had some of the sweetest moments with my Father and I simply cannot thank Him enough for it. He has taught me so much about my identity, His voice, His people, loving my neighbor, receiving hard truths, making head knowledge heart knowledge, and so much more. Through every tear and worship dance party, He has been the same. Through every hard night of missing my Florida home and late night laughing with my team, His goodness shines through. It is so overwhelming how Good and Faithful our God truly is.
Ministry here has been an absolute gift; It is safe to say the way we poured our hearts out to our ministries, they poured back into us. I am leaving inspired by their love for the Lord, and full of sweet memories to look back on. I cannot wait to continue to see the way the Lord will work through these programs!
The Adventures in Guatemala staff consists of some of the most steadfast, bold, and loving people I have ever met. They are so obedient to the Lord’s voice and it was an honor to walk in the fruit of their labor. I feel so equipped by them to live out a life of missions regardless of where the Lord tells me to be. They reflect the love of Christ so well and it just would not be a proper ‘thank you’ blog to Guatemala without them included.
I cannot help but be so grateful thinking about how difficult these goodbyes are. I am forever thankful for the ways these people have impacted my life.
Thank you Father for the way you have transformed my heart through my time here in Guatemala. Thank you for loving me so radically and teaching me to continue to open my heart for others the way you do for me. Thank you for the ministry I could be a part of here, for the joy that encompassed each moment of prayer, thanksgiving, English class, and conversation. I am overwhelmed by your goodness, and that is how I always want it to be. May I never get over the way you speak and move and love. May you captivate each readers’ heart the way you have mine. I love you so much.
Your love, LORD, reaches the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, your justice like the great deep. You, LORD, preserve both people and animals. How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People can take in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light. Psalm 36:5-9
Gracias, Guatemala. Thank you, Father.
<3, Ella
