Tired, sweaty, bleeding, and grateful. These are just a few of the words I would use to describe our first few days on the road and in Guatemala.
Our travel day began at 10pm this past Sunday at the Adventure’s in Missions base. Our squad went through the painstaking task of drying our tents and repacking all of our packs. Some of us did this with ease, others (myself included) forgot how we fit everything in our bags the first time around. After that we threw our bags in a trailer and headed for our final stop in the U.S, the Atlanta International Airport. Since our team is very on top of everything, we arrived to the airport 10 hours prior to our flight boarding. We feasted on the only restaurant open, Burger King, and then slept in front a Starbucks for a rather uncomfortable 4 hours. After our little nap, we got all 27 of us in the TSA line and made it to our gate with a few hours to spare. Some of us made our final calls home and then it was time to board the plane. It was a quick flight filled with cat naps and Harry Potter movies. The 3.5 hours flew by fast and suddenly we were in Guatemala!
We were greeted outside of the customs area by two of our Guatemala base leaders. They gave us the rundown on our quick trip from Guatemala City to just outside of Parramos (The bases location) and we headed off. To our surprise our squad was greeted by a group of Guatemalans training to become missionaries on the base. We unloaded our bags and pretty soon after jumped into a pretty competitive soccer game. Suffice to say the Guatemalans were a bit better than us “gringos.” Since then we’ve shared in some incredible meals, been in some culture training, and shared in lots of prayer as we have sent out two of our five teams. Last night we also had the opportunity to participate in a torch run for Guatemalan Independence Day. We ran with a children’s soccer team from our base to Parramos. I got to bond with some kids as they laughed at me for tripping (ouch!!) and then I got to run with some kiddos on my shoulders. It was a blessing to get to work with some of the kids and those in charge of the soccer ministry.
As some of us continue our work at the base and others get sent to our ministry partners I ask that you join us in prayer. A prayer for safety, growth, and to share the gospel to those who need it most. I pray daily that my squad and I can live out the greatest of the commandments. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your souls and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, Love your neighbor as yourself” (Luke 10:27). As we step into our different ministries this week my prayer is that we can serve and love just like Jesus has commanded.
As I’m sitting here writing this I would also like to extend my gratitude and prayers to those who have supported me financially and in prayer over this journey to the mission field. I’m sitting in awe and wonder that I get to become the hands and feet of Jesus across borders just like Paul and the apostles did thousands of years ago. Thank you and thank God for this incredible opportunity we have to serve him!
As we continue on the mission field there are a few ways to support myself and the squad. Thoughts and prayers are always appreciated and needed for the whole squad. There are also opportunities to give financially to those members of our squad who are still fundraising this trip! As always, if you have any questions for me or my squad leave a comment or shoot me an email. I will be checking my blog as often has I have WiFi. I’ll leave you with a verse as I end this weeks blog. 1st Corinthians 13:13. Its all about LOVE.
Much Love and God Bless.
Jaden
(Pictures to come with better WiFi)
