¡Bienvenido a Guatemala!

It has been just over a week since we arrived in our first county, Guatemala!

Our first travel day was a huge success! It was my first time on a plane, and it was a lot of fun! We had a great time exploring the airport, and the flight was short and smooth! We got our bags, got on a bus and arrived at our new home for the next six weeks!

Where we Live:

We are staying on the Adventures In Missions Base outside of Paramos, Guatemala. The base is surrounded my mountains and volcanoes and the view is absolutely breathtaking from all sides. The base was specifically designed for World Racers, and is both functional and beautiful. Each team has their own room with beds (with sheets!), indoor plumbing, and a shower. Having a space that is reserved for my team has been so special and has helped us to grow closer as a team. We’ve worked hard to establish our room as a safe space and a place of peace for all who live in it, and we’ve quickly seen how God has already answered that prayer.



Our meals are prepared by some incredible locals and are anything from traditional Guatemalan food to pancakes or fried chicken. Coffee is set out in the mornings, which has been a fan favorite for two of our residents coffee lovers, Anna and Maggie. We take turns as a squad washing dishes, sweeping and mopping, and helping to prepare meals.


Ministry:

Now that we are officially on the field, we have ministry! I didn’t think it was possible to love the race more, but it is 100x better now that we have it! My team has two different ministries here in Guatemala!

Somos Futera:

3 days a week, my team catches a van over to the city of Itzapa, where we work with a beautiful couple, Luis and Colleen. Colleen is an American who was studying for her PHd in Guatemala when she encountered the Lord and was radically changed. She then met Luis, a local who was in love with God and was willing to do whatever he asked. 7 years later, they were married and have now opened a learning center in their own home!

This is an incredible opportunity for the children of the community, for many children in Guatemala do not attend school so they can help at home or work, and those that do often do not receive quality education. Their schooling program offers Montessori education to their students and offers art classes, english classes, bible stories, sciences, math, all through a biblical lens. They have an incredible rooftop garden for students to learn about growing and taking care of plants, and a dog named Cookie to teach kids how to treat animals. My team is helping prepare and host a student art exhibit/fundraiser, teach english classes, and prepare for their Vacation Bible School this December.

How you can pray:

* Pray that God will continue to move and make himself known in the city of Itzapa
* Pray for that the children who attend this programming will have open hearts to receive the gospel
* Pray that the children who come to know Jesus through this school will bring the good news home with them
* Pray that my team will be a blessing to our hosts through the power and goodness of God alone
* Pray for our hosts, Luis and Colleen, that they would be able to rest in the goodness of the Lord and know that God will provide for every need

Village Ministry:

Once a week, we get to partner with the incredible work that is already being done through Adventures in Missions in Guatemala! We get to accompany AIM staff on house visits to get to know and pray with families, and deepen existing connections. In the afternoons, we get to be part of teaching english classes to children in the communities using the gospel.

How you can pray:
* Pray for the families that we encounter, that God will continue to make himself known and move in their lives
* Pray for the children to understand the goodness of God and his desire to know them
* Pray for the AIM staff to be encouraged and open to the Lord’s leading and guiding as they build relationships and connections within the community
* Pray for a revival of the spirit in the community that will effect the communities around it


God’s goodness has already been so evident throughout our time here in Guatemala. He has blessed this nation so evidently, and I feel like lucky to get to witness his heart pour out over these people. I cannot wait to share stories of how he moves and what unfolds! God is up to something, and it’s going to be incredible!