Hey all! Here are some pictures and short stories from my time in Guatemala this passed February. Some of these are random and some more specific. Enjoy the peak into my time!
My squad launched in mid-January. Just a few days before we were ready to fly, I tested positive for covid and was unable to leave. I spent the next two weeks quarantined in an office here in Gainesville. This is a picture of the snacks my group left for me. Also I can’t remember how, but for a brief, one day period, a few of them referred to me as “The Love Doctor”. Not quite sure how that happened.
This is a picture of my room during that quarantine. Just included it because I thought it was funny. It looks darker and more ominous from the picture, but really I had plenty of food and was able to go outside and wander and read throughout my days. Definitely an interesting time.
This picture doesn’t look like much but it represents a big moment for me. 2020 was harder in many ways. Felt like I was wrestling a lot of things through the year, and anxiety was a big part of that. I took this picture while I was in quarantine waiting to get a negative to leave. As hard as it was to watch my squad leave without me, the Lord used this time in quarantine and brought me so much peace. I felt steadied as the Lord reminded me of his promises and what he says of me. It was sweet and what I needed, and was a cool picture of the Lord’s faithfulness.
When I left, I joined two of our teams in Chichicastenango, a city in the mountains of Guatemala. We worked with Pastor Juan and his family at his ministry called New Generation. Pastor Juan’s heart was for the community and for the youth in the area. He hoped to provide and care for the youth through tutoring, providing a safe place and a meal; while also sharing Jesus with the kids who came through the doors.
We helped with a number of work projects around the property, but one of the bigger projects was helping mix and lay cement for the rooms on the property. These rooms would double as classrooms and as a place for teams to stay who come to help at New Generations in the future.
We also cleared out a plot of land that Juan hoped to turn into a community garden to help in feeding the youth who would come through his doors.
We had the opportunity to partner with the local police and held a number of worship services with them, as well as went out and served with them in handing out food and sharing the Gospel within Chichicastenango.
We also got a few soccer games in with them which was awesome.
Our time in Guatemala was capped off with a debrief in Antigua. It was such a beautiful time as a Squad and God moved in some sweet ways within our group. This picture was from our Squad Fun day where we went and hiked an active volcano.
We had a Sabbath in Antigua during this debrief, and a few of us went out on some ATVs to explore. The story would be too long to explain, but we eventually got lost in the hills following some kids who we thought knew the area. We ended up on private land behind a gate and the people wouldn’t let us out. It was a crazy day.
Quick Life Update:
Life is good and things are going down here. It has been about a month since I have made the move and it has been a great start. I am learning a lot and I’m excited to press in to more. Over the next two months things will begin picking up for me. I will be meeting my squad and getting to know them, and I will also be putting together a leadership team who will be serving with me and this squad. Be praying for us as things ramp up a bit. Also this next week we will be sending out three squads who will be out serving for a year, so be praying for them and their leadership as well.
That’s all I have for now. I hope to post again soon so be looking for that! Love you all!
