I just want to help...

Last week we were riding on the motorbike to run some errands in a nearby town. I looked around and saw all the familiar sights...families cooking below simple roofs to find shelter and their one meal of rice for the day. Children walking miles with HUGE bundles of sticks on their heads and no shoes on their feet. People of all ages bathing and washing in the river, their only source of water. Little boys running around and building motorbikes because their parents couldn't afford the $100 to send them to school. 

I started to think about all the ways I could help fix Liberia's hardships. 

And then...I realized I was seeing the wrong thing. 

When I started mountain biking, my friend told me to "look at where you want to go." In biking, your bike will follow where you look. If you look at the turn ahead, you and your bike with navigate the turn with relative ease. If you look at the tree in fear, you will likely run yourself right into the tree.

In this case, meditating on the hurt and brokenness of Liberia will not lead me to peace. Yes, I need to be aware of the brokenness and be obedient to assist how I can, but Jesus told us that the poor will always be among us (Matthew 26:11). Until we reach heaven, we cannot solve all the world's problems. Only restoration can do that. 

So until then, I choose to look at the beauty. I choose to see the hard-working mothers, the strong children who walk miles without complaint, the love of community huddled under a thatched roof, and children that find incredible privilege in going to school each day. I praise the Lord for His common grace, the unique abilities that He has given His children, and the beautiful image-bearers that reflect His beautiful character. 

And when an opportunity to help comes along, I will step forward in faith and love. I will strive to continue with the mind of Christ who came to serve. And that starts with seeing the beauty.

Praise the Lord!

The Beautiful Roller Coaster of Life

 Every day in Liberia is filled with unexpected twists, turns, beauties, and surprises. It is a life full of joy as you learn to view life as a roller coaster with the Lord as your car. No matter how many twists and turns life throws you, your car is always constant security. Praise the Lord! 

Take the other day, for example. I came home from teaching at ABC University to find 3 guests sitting at the table. A very usual experience. 

They joined us for dinner, our usual 4 getting doubled to 8 when Milton's brother joined us as well. We sat around the table enjoying food and conversation. 

Then Milton started talking in Gio, his native language. He asked our guests if they knew Jesus. After engaging in more conversation, they agreed they needed to accept Jesus as their personal Savior. They had been attending church for some time, but they had never understood the need to take a step of faith in following him (don't mind my exploding inner celebration!).

We invited them over to the living room and Milton prayed with them. 

I found such beauty in such a simple, yet profound moment. Dinner and hospitality turned gospel opportunity. I left reflecting on the beauty of the Lord's hand in every situation. My love, who has connections and the ability to speak their native language. The faithful house helpers that help prepare every meal with love. The timing of the Lord to prompt a conversation.

Not every meal is blessed with a salvation story, but faithfulness bring fruit, so we continue to walk in faithfulness every day, not knowing what blessings are in store for the day. 

Praise the Lord <3

Liberia

 The Lord leads us guides us in many ways to many places. 

The years since my last blog posts have been filled with lots of activities, twists, and turns, but one thing has remained a part of my life...missions. 

Little did I know that the Lord had a beautiful plan in store involving a long plane ride, a beach front, and a wonderful godly man. 

Subscribe if you would like to continue on this adventure with us to receive periodic updates and how you can partner in a variety of ways with what the Lord is doing in Liberia. 

Psalm 96:3

"Declare His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all peoples."

This is our heart. To God be the Glory!

Estoy Contenta

"Estan contentos?" (Are you content?)

This is a frequent question asked of children in a VBS. Today I can confidently say "Yes!" My heart is so full.

As I have been reflecting on my time here in Guatemala, I have been incredibly blessed. 

The Lord has taught me some valuable lessons about my perfectionism (especially through David's example in 2 Samuel).

He has blessed me beyond words with the relationships that have formed and deepened during my time here. 

Thank you for your prayers and support during this time of ministry. Keep praying for Oscar, Karla, and their family as they continue the work of the Lord.

And another one gone...

Last week we had a group come from Hartland, WI. They were fantastic! They were energetic, well-organized, and super encouraging. All my fears and nerves were gone after the first couple days. Thank you Jesus!

Every day we spent time in a church in San Juan. We ran a VBS and then visited homes of people who were sick or unable to come to church. 

It was amazing to see the high school students grow in their confidence and love of the kids. There may be a language barrier for some of these students, but that doesn't change the way they can love on the kiddos. They would dance with the kids, play games with them, and use translators (like Marie and I) to communicate with them.

At the end of the week, the kids and parents LOVED the members of the group. We spent 1 hour saying good-bye. Thousands of pictures were taken and hugs were shared. Celebrity status???

One day, the group went to land purchased by Oscar, the missionary we work with, to provide a training center and respite facility for pastors. We helped weed out the land by hand to prepare it for a building project in a couple weeks.

All in all, I am always amazed at how the LORD works though willing hearts. He has a perfect plan through it all. He was the center of the relationships formed among Guatemalans and Americans alike. :) 

Funerals

Today Marie and I attended a funeral. Here is what we learned...

Typically a funeral is done in the person's home. The Guatemalan homes are fairly open, so they can fit lots of people. The one we went to had many chairs set up inside.

We came in, sat down, and waited.

"What time does the funeral start?" we asked.
"At 7:00 or whenever the pastor shows up," was our Guatemalan friend's response. :)

We started singing at 7:30. :)
Then we heard a fantastic message on the perfect consolation we receive from God from 2 Corinthians 1:3-5. Finally, they served a refreshment of bread and coffee to thank all for attending.

Here are some additional facts:
1. They can have an open-casket or closed-casket at the funeral.
2. Many people bring food (corn, sugar, etc.) to help the family out financially.
3. There is a large bow outside the house of someone who has died. A white bow represents someone young or elderly. A black bow represents anyone between those ages.

Tomorrow they will have a time of prayer and then head to the cemetery.

Home Visits

"Lord, help me be uncomfortable."

Up until two days before leaving for Guatemala, I was not nervous at all about anything related to my trip. That fact made me nervous. When I get "okay" with the way things are going, I tend to think I can do everything on my own and don't need the Lord.

In that moment, I asked the Lord to make me uncomfortable.

And He did. Unfortunately that led to anxiety and fear and lots of tears. When I got to Guatemala, these emotions changed from anxiety to nerves about the upcoming trip. I knew I needed to leave it in the Lord's more-than-capable hands. That, however, is easier said than done.

I was nervous about translating VBS materials, relating to the American and Guatemalan students, and most of all...

HOME VISITS

Home visits are the most terrifying and most wonderful thing of any mission trip I have been a part of here in Guatemala. It is a practice many of the churches use here to reach out to families who may need some extra encouragement from the church (because of sickness, lack of ability to come to church, absence, etc.).

A group of American students prepare verses and encouraging stories for a situation that they usually don't know beforehand.

As a translator, home visits are the most nerve-wracking for me for many reasons:
1) Will I understand everything?
2) Will the verses and encouragement be accepted?
3) Will I be able to accurately share the stories the Americans have to share?

Lots of questions fill my mind as I prepare for home visits. Many times they keep me from enjoying the moments I am in as I worry about the future.

So far, we have been on two home visits. Let me tell you...they were horrible!

Just kidding...they went so well! They were probably the best home visits I have ever been on. Not only was I placed with a fantastic group of students, but there are also 2 others who speak Spanish and can help with translating. In addition, the people we have visited have been fantastic.

One couple was suffering in their health and could not come to church. They are one of 2 families in their small town that believe in Jesus. The church visits them every week. The elder told me, "They can't come to us, so we go to them." How encouraging!

The other woman we visited was one of the founders of the church. She is 90 years old and is an example for the people of perseverance. Her family was a beautiful picture of generations of believers. As we sat in the room with many members of the family, they gave glory to God for the health that she has had and the legacy she has left. They then shared some food and drink with us before one of the daughters showed us her garden.

I love it when God makes me uncomfortable. Although I don't always love it in the moment, I am ALWAYS amazed at how God uses these situations to make me more dependent on Him. When I am dependent, I can take credit for nothing and honestly give all glory to Him. I'm praying that my dependence on Him continues to grow, so it becomes easier and easier to glorify Him as I let him lead.