It's been a few days over a week since coming to Guatemala and to say its been eventful would be an understatement. Everyone on the team has now seen and experienced things so new that often times we all don't know what to say.   When I sit back and think that we all have just begun this journey my mind can become so overwhelmed pondering what unexpected thing will be thrown at us next. I think this is where I'm finding God is teaching me the most, He's teaching me to be grounded in prayer. The first Sunday here our ministry leaders Paul and Hilda filled us in...

As I was told to write down what I need to surrender to God, I kept coming up with these shallow answers; pride and selfishness being the main concepts. I had my answers down, and I was about to easily get up and take my 'stick of burden" through the woods. That wasn't right. God said no. He told me to sit with Him until I really knew what to surrender. I didn't want to go through this, but I knew I had to. I knew God wanted me to. i will say this, the first few days of training camp have been extremely challenging. I was bothered by something,but I wasn't really sure...

From the time we are old enough to talk in America, we are taught that we deserve the best.  We deserve happiness.  We deserve freedom.  We deserve comfort and security and love.  And when those things are withheld from us, or delivered in a way that we do not find desirable, we become indignant, sometimes to the point that it even feels like righteous anger.  At least, that's how I always felt.   In the United States and much of the world, people have worked for generations to ensure that we have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of...

“Ministry is all around us. We don’t have to be at ministry to do ministry.” Those two sentences, spoken by my team leader in feedback last night, basically sum up what God has been teaching me these last two weeks. Not very profound you might say. Sure, I’ll give you that.  But the concept is completely life changing. Ministry isn’t meant to only be done during “set times” or at “set places”. Our entire life, every moment of every day, is meant to be an offering to God. Worship is so much more than songs we sing during...

There was one evening a couple of weeks ago that truly topped all of the other instances of culture shock.  It was the evening I knew I was officially a missionary. Like many nights during the week, we were headed to a church to worship and share our testimonies with the congregation.  We were told we were going to a house church and that, in this particular church, jewelry was considered sinful.  So we took out our earrings, took off our bracelets and hopped in the van.  When we arrived, we were led down a pitch black path, next to a drainage ditch, by the teensy light...

"For a day in your courts is better     than a thousand elsewhere."  Psalm 84:10   Home. Home is a warm embrace Home is a sweet fluffy pup Home is laughter and cuddles Home is free laundry and hot showers Home is my own bed Home is…   Home is no longer one place anymore. Home is palm trees and coconuts. The smell of tortillas and sweat. The sound of passionate worship and pouring down rain. The taste of fresh guacamole, sweet bananas, and tangy pineapple. The touch of the warm Guatemalan sun and hugs from my brothers and sisters. Long...