Aqui Voy

Part of the English Class that meets Monday and Wednesdays

Learning to make typical food from Guatemala

The view from top of Tajumulco at sunrise. The other “mountains” are also Volcanos.

“For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.  For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ…Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” – 2 Corinthians 4:5-6,16-18

I am starting to lose count of how many weeks I have been in Guatemala. My calendar tells me I am going into my sixth week of language learning, which means, I have been here a little less than seven weeks. I feel like it has been two. I recognize I have been here longer, because everyday it feels more and more like home. My Spotify account is filling up with popular music in Central America, I have a regular cafe, I can carry on a broken conversation with my host family, and I can give directions. I am home for the time being.

Just because I am home does not mean by any means that everything is perfect. Like every person, the longer you are home, in a new job, a new school, a new anything, you begin to see the faults and failures. Everything is not new and exciting; it contains flaws and failures. Not everyone is a friendly Guatemaltecan, not everyday is clear, not every shower contains hot water. The world sometimes is really messed up, and I know I don’t understand everything. Being removed from understanding a language does not remove me from hearing about the evil in the world. I don’t get to automatically hide from the wickedness of the world. I am not automatically more righteous and closer to God because I am here. I am not automatically less of a sinner because I am here. I am full of the nasty, human nature that is in us all. But the Bible is full of examples of regular Joes that the Lord uses to do His work in a world full of fault.

Fortunately I am not witnessing myself or about my life. I am witnessing about Christ, His light, and forgiveness in this dreary world that needs His Glory. We may lose heart when we see the evil in the world around us, but we should never lose heart in the Lord! The Lord is bigger, brighter, and more full of love than we can comprehend. Even in a fallen world, He has a plan to make His light shine. He uses each one of us. We are in this fallen world, which takes its toll on us and sometimes are spirits, but the Lord conquers our fears. Our fears are fleeting, but the Lord is constant. He is eternal.

In all of my trials and fears here, the Lord is with me. I thank you for your constant prayers and support. Prayer is powerful, and I can see how the Lord is watching over me daily. Please continue to pray for my language learning, safety, and that God would use me as a tool to shine His light in all of my interactions during the day. Please let me know if you have any prayer requests!

Other highlights recently:
– Hiking Volcano Tajumulco: the highest point in Central America
-Learning to cook typical Guatemalan dishes
-Continuing teaching English Class and being able to communicate with students

Vaya Con Dios!