This past month has flown by so fast & was one full of surrender, growth, new friendships, & full reliance on the Lord!!
Exactly a week ago my team and I just finished an amazing opportunity working with our ministry hosts and another team of youth and young adults from Central America: helping out at three separate camps for kids, youth, and adults with special needs. This camp not only had an incredible impact on the campers and their helpers, but also has an impact on all of the ministry hosts and volunteers. Reflecting back on the time I had at the camp, I will never forget and am inspired by the amount of love and overwhelming joy each camper brought despite their own difficulties and trials they face everyday. I can not thank the Lord enough for His timing of this camp & the sweet friendships I was able to make with the other team and our ministry hosts.
After the camp, my team returned back for a couple days to the ministry base & finishing up cleaning and putting away all the things from camp into the attic, which we had the privilege of cleaning this past month and a half!! Monday was our last day of ministry because our ministry takes a break for the holiday season. This past month and a half of ministry was for sure not what I expected, but exceeded all of my expectations and taught me to fully rely on and trust the Lord.
Yesterday, my team and I went on house visits in a nearby village with some of the guys on the squad and base staff. When we got to the village, we prayed and asked the Lord where He was leading us and who he wanted us to talk to, and then split off into two groups. My group walked for about five minutes up the hill and saw a lady standing by the road about to leave that I thought we were just going to pass by, but we ended up talking to her and her husband until it was lunchtime. During this time, they shared their story with us, generously bought us juice and crackers, and in return we were able to pray for them and their family. The Lord reminded me through this family and their generosity, that I should be more generous with the things He has blessed me with and even be willing to sacrifice my reputation and comfortability for His namesake. We then met up with the other group and enjoyed lunch together. After lunch, more of the base staff join us and we split up into three groups. Right as we split into the group, one of the base staff put me in charge of leading the group. At first I was terrified and scared that I would lead my group the “wrong” way, but ended up surrendering my fear and giving up my control to Him. Because of my surrender, my group ended up meeting this man who was working in a field all day just to make not even enough money to provide for his large family and father living with him that the base staff in my group knew previously. It turned out that the man’s wife had a prophetic dream the night before that the base staff that was in my group was going to visit her and her family the next day. After we talked with and prayed for this man, we went and visited the man’s family. When we got to the house, his family was so welcoming and filled with so much joy. We spent the next hour or so talking, getting to know, and praying his father and wife and playing with their kids. Overall, it was such a sweet day getting to know and pray for two families in a nearby village and seeing the Lord through them!!
It is so hard to believe that my squad and I only have about a month left in Guatemala!! I am sad that we are not staying here for longer, but I am expectant that the Lord will use this next month & beyond in an even more powerful way for His glory!!
Blessings & Until next time,
Hope :)
It’s time for letting go, I’m not in control
Jesus, You are, Jesus, You are
By my side (North Point Worship)
