ministry week 4/5

Hey everyone! Man, what a crazy last 2 weeks it has been! We are officially over halfway, and i’ll be leaving in 3 weeks. I cant believe how fast it’s going. We have been doing so much at our ministry. Despite us being wiped by the end of the week, my Sprirt has never been more full. We have had the luxury of getting some american fast food a few times and wow, i have missed that so much.

At ministry, we painted the outside of the school in the Santa Marta village. This was super fun to be able to do some more manual labor in ministry. We also got to learn more about the government here as election week was a few weeks ago. This was a great opportunity for us to pray for the government officials in Guatemala and for justice and peace throughout the system.

At the base, we have had two short term teams here, one from LA and another from South Carolina. It was so sweet to get to know them and learn from them while they were here. Also, if you know me, you would know that the fourth of July is my favorite holiday. So as you can imagine i was a bit disappointed to be spending it out of the country. After our long day of ministry that day, we came home to the base all decorated and festive and it really just made me feel so at home. Our staff team is truly the best. There was all the fourth of July classics: burgers, hot dogs, potato chips, watermelon, ice cream, and most importantly, it was served on paper plates. It was like the best day ever!

I’ve also been able to spend a little more time exploring the city of Antigua, Parramos,  Sumpango, and Chimaltenango. Everytime we take the Chicken bus my eyes are just glued out the window because it’s so beautiful! There’s been so many cool touristy things to do in Antigua like the ancient ruins, shops, markets, and cool coffee shops and restaurants; but my favorite experiences have been the deep relationships i’ve been able to cultivate in the more secluded areas and villages. The places and people that tourists don’t get to see.

A lot of our teachings and things i’ve been learning have been revolving around hearing the Lords voice, intimacy with Him, and walking in the Spirit. This something that i have not had a lot of understanding or confidence in and it has been such a blessing from the Lord to be able to experience this. It feels like I’ve been experiencing His love in a complete new way. He’s showing me how the deeper i go with Him, the more I can pour out for others, the more wisdom i can have in situations, and truly just being able to find all that I need in the Lord and hopefully convey that to others. We are so small next to God, but we are big in His eyes. I know that the bible says how Gkd loves us and i’ve grown up hearing it, but truly being filled with His spirit is life-changing, and i pray that you all will be able to experience that too. My fears are being conquered daily in His love, and truly am just embracing what it means to be Gods treasure. What is something that’s holding you back from Gods love? What is standing between you and all that God has for you? (Peace, satisfaction, and joy in ABUNDANCE!) The Lord truly just wants to carry us through this life, and guide us with His words. Are you struggling to hear the Lords voice in your life? What are you longing for? What are you missing? Whatever the answer, I know it can be filled by the Lord. And I know that He had a special will specifically for your life He is calling you to walk out! Obedience to God felt like a burden to me for a long time, as I don’t like people telling me what to do LOL. But the deeper i understand Gods heart for me and experience His love, the more my desire is grown to follow what He wants for me. I know He can do that for you too. Surrendering my future has been the most relieving thing.

Also, before ministry during the week. We go to a prayer room in the Reindom house. This has been super good for me to walk out what it means to fill my cup with the Lord first and then people in the community. I’ve had a beautiful time there just cultivating our relationship, my future, perservering through suffering of anxiety, and being able to intercede for the people in these cities and my family back home. I’ve been able to hear so clearly from him on so many things. This last Wednesday was our last Kingdom table breakfast which was our  breakfast for alcoholics and the homeless that we do in Sumpango. Honestly, I was sad for it to be over. But I just soaked up every minute while we had it. One man we found on the complete other side of town. His name was Marcelo, and we invited him to the breakfast. He was so drunk I wasn’t sure how long it would take to get him there, if at all. After twenty minutes walking a five minute walk, we got him to the breakfast. He really wanted to go and i’m so glad now that we did that. At the end of the breakfast, he can up to me and two of my squad mates in tears and asked us to pray for him to stop drinking. I’ve never been more excited to pray freedom over someone’s life! It truly was such a beautiful experience and what a blessing from our Lord that this was how we ended our time with Kingdom table.

On Thursdays, you might remember that it is our activation day. This means a time of worship, teaching, reflection, and then we get to go out and walk out what God was teaching us.  Sometimes this can be scary.  We can be afraid to ask God certain questions because we’re scared of where it’s going to go. But these last two Thursday’sI have learned and grown more than any other day of the week. It’s like, am I willing to let God call me higher? The first Thursday, I was in a village close to our base called Los Apesentos. Makayla was in my group this week! One of the people in our group, Billy, had been there before and said there was this man who was an alcoholic and he had been sleeping on the streets. When we went to look for him, he wasn’t there, so we just carried on and ended up in a families home who truly needed prayer and encouragement which was so sweet to give. After over an hour in their home, we left to go look for the man again who was on Billy’s heart. He still wasn’t there and so we went to ask some field workers if they knew of homes that needed prayer. They pointed us in a direction of some homes and so we snaked through this hill and through a doorway up to a few homes. When we got to a house, we walked up only to find the man on Billy’s heart and his family. It was his mothers house. Praise God! We talked with them for a while and it was so beautiful to pray for this man’s addictions but also for comfort and strength for his mother and sister as I know how difficult it can be to love someone battling addiction. It truly was so empowering and healing for me and Makayla both. I know deep in my heart that that man’s story is not over and he will defeat addiction. The sweetest part of these moments for me is being able to use the things the Lord is teaching me and encouraging me and going to encourage someone else with the things i’m learning.

The next Thursday, I did my activation day in Parramos and this day built so much confidence in me. I really feel like I walked in a lot of confidence and authority that day, which doesn’t come naturally for me. Trusting what we hear the Lord say to us can be difficult, but I had so much reassurance and confirmation throughout the afternoon there. At one time we stopped to pray again for confirmation on where He’s leading and God told my teammate “listen to becca”. And He said to me “let Me lead you”. Which is a whole nother story in it of itself but that was truly just all the confirmation i needed to walk boldly for Him. It felt like there was more of God and less of me this day, which is truly the best place to be.

On Sundays, I have been going to a church in Antigua called Shoreline church. They have an english service and i really have loved the services there the last few times. It’s so sweet to have a church away from home.

Lastly, I just wanted to write about my squad and how much I love them. We have gotten super close throughout this time and it makes me sad to even think about leaving in a few weeks. I have learned so much and being vulnerable and asking them for help and prayer when i need it. It’s hard to think about it doing life without them after this! Especially in my anxiety they have all been so kind and loving through my battles of it. I know this time is going to go by so quickly, and i’m soaking up every minute of it. Please be continuing to pray for me to remain strong and present and just that the Lord would bless the rest of this time here. Also that all i have learned here would take deep root in my heart, and not stop here, but continue to grow as I get back to the States. At the same time, I miss you all back home and I can’t wait to be connected back with you all again. Next weekend we are going to lake Atitlan as a squad and renting an airbnb there. I cant wait to share all about it. It’s going to be so beautiful.

All love,

Becca