Guatemala! and China?
What is there to say about Guatemala?! She was just beautiful! God has incredible plans to see his church thrive in Guatemala. The best part is, it’s going to be through the established local church! The Spirit is really looking to bring unification to the body and bridge gaps between denominational lines in the lake towns (Lake Atitlán).
Every night we climbed to a different point surrounding the lake. The picture above was the last night and probably the best view of the lake. That night we gathered all the pastors from the town below and asked them to share vision and what God has placed on thier heart for the people of San Marcos!
the team praying for the pastors (above)
These were some school kids that greeted us after we got down from the 6000+ ft hike where at the summit we just worshipped Jesus and gave thanks for Guatemala and invited Him into all of what we were doing! (and yes they were more adorable than they look)
We spent time in two locations Lake Atitlán and Antigua. Above was all Lake Atitlán. The most impactful ministry happened in Antigua. Antigua is very beautiful, the people were lively and the architecture brings an old soul like me to life!
In Antigua we trekked through the city to hike a 300 step look out to the city, this was our first night. The street and smells reminded me a lot of parts of Ethiopia, a part of my heart had been stimulated like it hadn’t in a while. As we reached the top and looked out on to Antigua we just stopped and prayed and began to celebrate. We celebrated life, the life we have in Jesus and life that Jesus brings through his people. It was a touristy spot but not incredibly busy that night. Josh Rene’ (my best friend) broke out the guitar and started leading worship at the top of this point, it was pure joy and life. Every song was perfect! While Josh and the team were singing and dancing I noticed someone just hanging around us and taking photos of Antigua. Like I said this was a pretty touristy spot, but what made this person catch me off guard was, he was Chinese. For some reason I kept watching him as he took photos of Antigua and of us. Finally I just had to know more about this guy. Naturally I introduced myself (seeing as how I never have a problem with that), and we just talked and got to know one another. I listened to his stance on politics, his desire to come to America, and what his home in China was like! We also talked cameras, Guan shoots Cannon and I with my Nikon. Guan told me more about his travels and encouraged me in mine. I loved listening and watching this guy because he would always get distracted by our team and the worship music we were producing. We talked more and told him we were missionaries and thought that we were very honorable. As the team wrapped up and started packing things up, Guan went over just to say how thankful he was for Josh’s music. I proceeded in asking Guan if I could pray for him. He was incredibly respectful, humble and respectful as he declined. No worries. Noe, our base contact told me we should invite him to dinner, not a very hard thing to do for this Mediterranean guy. Dinner was at this crazy good restaurant in a room on the upper floor, long table, lots of people, my kind of dinner! I leaned over to Guan and told him “you are family, and we want to treat you tonight to dinner”. Again Guan expressed his thanks but had to pay for himself. I’m naturally very interested in my new friend and how he would decline a free meal. I didn’t find it offensive just curious. 
(Look out to Antigua, Volcano in the background)
Ive been spending a lot of time over the past month in the book of Luke and I love it because the perspective feels like I’m watching Jesus from from the 200 level in a baseball stadium. Chapter four starts by Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness before he is launched into his short but eternally impactful ministry. While I would recommend reading the entire chapter, I’m honing in on chapter 4 verse 40:
“Now when the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to him, and he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them.”
Well, I didn’t pray for anyone and I didn’t heal anyone in Guatemala including Guan. The intersection God and I had come to together was this: As I watched the rest of Jesus ministry through out Luke, Im over whelmed by him and his posture towards the cross. When we look at Jesus, He was quick to minister to people and heal them. The part I love is how many people didn’t follow him… I know that this is a weird thought, but think about knowing the future. Wouldn’t that alter the decisions you make with people, maybe take a different route to work that day? Jesus didn’t and his intention were clear “I’m here to restore the relationship between my Father and you, through my love!”. It is the purest of love, Jesus knowing he would make the dead rise, the blind to see, and cripple to walk, and they would never follow him… He still chased after them, and loved and healed them wanting nothing in return NOTHING. The most liberating joy my heart gets to experience is when this love is transferred through me on the the people I come in contact with. The best part of Jesus life was, Jesus sought an opportunity that had absolutely NO benefit to him.
Im currently looking for a team who wants to support me and what is happening here at Adventures in Mission! The future may be unwritten in my book, however it is being intentionally planned out through listening to what God has for me! I can’t wait to share more of what is beginning to unravel! You can support me monthly or a one time here: Join my Team!
Grace and Peace!
