The Lord used a beautifully intricate series of events to prepare us for full time missions. Arguably, the most impactful was the trip we led to Guatemala City, so I'd like to share some of the highlights of each of our ministry experiences on that trip. The Lord used this time to cultivate a deep love for the people and the place and taught us some important lessons as we served.
Day one included a crash course in rural roads and Central American bathrooms. Pro tip, travel with your own toilet paper and a few quetzales - you will need them! Recent rains had washed out both a major highway and several alternate routes, so the travel component was a cultivator of patience. We spent hours in the van every day.
The team was quite equipped for this, having flown from Charlotte the day after the Microsoft crash had shut down the world of commercial air travel completely. Our original 6 hour flight itinerary turned into 19 hours, with an extra unplanned layover in El Salvador. We were both accustomed to slow travels and in need of some extra time to rehearse, so our Sunday morning drive was like something out of a sitcom. We practiced our music, laughed through some rough Spanish pronunciations, and quite literally bounced along until we arrived at Iglesia Evangélica Monte Sión.
Though I had come with a heart prepared to serve and give, I received three incredible gifts in Xepalamá. First, the experience of worshipping the Lord with my brothers and sisters in the global Body of Christ was unlike anything I could have imagined. It is one of my most precious and treasured memories of the week.
Next, for the first time ever, I sat under the teaching and preaching of God's word led by my husband. A very large part of our testimony is a long season of my prayers for his salvation. As I listened, I prayed, this time with thanksgiving and the deepest recognition that all glory throughout all generations is for the One who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think.
At the end of the service, the pastor's family prepared us lunch. Fresh tortillas and the hottest salsa I've ever put in my mouth alongside fried chicken and French fries. It was our introduction to a culture that lives and breathes hospitality. Everywhere we served, we were served. We look forward to the day when we can do so full time.
As we prepare, and as we go, our greatest need is partners who will pray with us and provide financial support for the work that God is doing in Guatemala. If you are interested in being a co-laborer as we carry out the Great Commission, please visit our giving page.
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