As our time of debrief has come to an end and I prepare for the next week of training, I’m caught in the middle of the little moments here in Guatemala. Before my feet hit the ground in Romania I just want to briefly share a few short stories pertaining to the areas of ministry my team was a part of in San Antonio Aguas Calientes, and Antigua, Guatemala.
In San Antonio Aguas Calientes my team lived with a local family and would walk about 10 minutes to “the garden” for ministry. The garden was our meeting site for Hope ministry where we met most days of the week.
On days we had ministry in Antigua my team would wait for a chicken bus at the end of our driveway. We always hoped for a “short bus” because the short bus took a shorter route (about 30 minutes) but some days we got on the “long bus” and would ride for about an hour. We would then hop off in Antigua and walk to Serve Hope Cafe on days we had ministry with Worship Room.
So here we go! First up! House visits! Most Monday and Tuesday mornings my team would visit local families in their homes to get to know them, encourage them, have a Bible study with them, and pray for them. These were special moments getting to connect with some of the families on a deeper level than the short amount of time they came to ministry during the week.
Next up! English class! On Monday afternoons my team would split up with the local missionaries and help teach the children English. At the beginning of the year the kids take a placement test to see which class they will be in for the year. There are 5 levels in their program, and I helped out with level 3! My group was learning how to say “I like” and “I don’t like” and then the names of different foods while I was here. They also were learning body parts, greetings, and numbers 1-20. The best part though is that they learned scripture in English as well! I got to help teach them Philippians 4:13 and by my last day most of them could say it on their own! They also would hear a Bible story in both Spanish and English. On one of my last days of class my group repeated a prayer over me in English. It was such a sweet moment!
Now onto… VBS! Tuesday afternoons we would meet in the garden for Vacation Bible School! My first few weeks I helped out with the younger kids, playing games, hearing a Bible story, singing songs and doing some kind of craft. The last few weeks I started helping with the older kids and I loved it so much! It was such a sweet moment to hear them worship so passionately. You could feel the presence of Holy Spirit so strong in the room. The children have hearts burning to know Jesus more. So genuine and real. I also got to help out in the kitchen one of the times to prepare the kids snack! The day I helped they had tostadas with beans, cake, a banana, and juice. VBS was filled with so many special memories.
Wednesday mornings… Bible study! Each week we took a chicken bus to Antigua to meet at a local missionaries house for women’s Bible study. This time was such a blessing to my team. Being in a culture where most people speak in another language makes it hard to be “filled up” in community sometimes. Since this Bible study was in English we got to be poured into spiritually while being led by faithful women. We were studying David’s life in 1 Samuel during our time here!
Another afternoon in the garden… worship ministry and Beauty for Ashes! Wednesday afternoons we would split up our team in 3 groups typically. Some of us would join the children for worship ministry as they learned how to play the guitar and piano, others would go with the women for Beauty for Ashes (a safe place where the women could unpack their story and learn more about the character of God), and the rest would help with any other needs around the garden.
Thursdays! I loved all the days of the week, but Thursdays were definitely my favorite day! We would hop on a chicken bus and ride to Antigua and walk a few blocks to Serve Hope. In the morning our time of ministry was with prayer house, interceding for Israel. When I first got here, I didn’t really understand the significance of Israel in the Bible. I knew the Bible talked about it, but didn’t realize that there is SO MUCH about Gods chosen people! Wow! If ya are in my shoes and want a jumpstart on learning about Israel, the first place I learned more here was reading in Romans 11. I am currently learning so I don’t know a whole lot, but what I have learned I am more than willing to talk about with you if you’re interested! If you flip through the Old Testament, you can’t miss it. I want to have Gods heart for His people. I want to learn more to understand the Bible better, to have a deeper understanding of Gods plan. Shortly after learning about Israel in the Bible and praying for this nation and people, war broke out. I can’t understand even the slightest bit of what the people there are facing, both Palestines and Jews, but I know that I can intercede for them day and night. That blind eyes would be opened, miracles would happen, people would have dreams and visions, and that they would call upon the name of the Lord and be saved.
Now for Thursday nights… Worship Room! In the evening we would “pre-game” (pray and worship before worship night). After we prepared our hearts with prayer and worship we rearranged the coffee shop and set up the “stage”. Shortly after people would arrive and worship night began! For about the next two hours we worshipped together as the body of Christ. Spending time interceding, being in agreement with God, His Word, and His promises. Together we sang, we danced, we read scripture, and we prayed. We dwelled in the house of the Lord! Check out my two previous blogs, God did so much in my heart and around me in this place!!
Last ministry day… Fridays! In the morning on Friday, my team would split up. Half of us would go to Antigua for Prayer House, praying over the nations, and the other half would go to the garden for soccer ministry with the older kids. Soccer was definitely intimidating to me with my lack of experience but it was so much fun to see the kids full of joy. In the afternoon we then had soccer ministry with the younger kids. Both morning and afternoon would be filled with a Bible story/devotional, drills, and a short soccer game. The younger kids there were not only learning about a Bible story but also learning how to retell the story themselves!
Occasionally our days would look different so ministry would shift a little. Some additional ways we served in ministry were helping paint the walls in the garden, passing out hygiene kits in the village, and having times of ATL (Ask The Lord). In few words, I got to see the Lord so beautifully as my team and I went to ATL one day. We saw the visions we received and a divine appointment happened with a man who told us “I stopped because I just feel like y’all have beautiful words to say”. Oh we had beautiful words! The Good News! We got to plant seeds inside the heart of this man, pray for healing over his injured arm, and pray for spiritual healing in his heart. Such a sweet moment to remember.
When we weren’t “doing ministry”, we still “did ministry”. My team had multiple encounters getting to pray over people in the streets and in local coffee shops during our “off time”. Hearing their stories, learning about their beliefs, sharing the Gospel and our testimony, and praying with/for them. Our lives should be 24/7 ministry. Pursuing the Lord day and night, night and day.
There’s so much more I could say but that wraps up my “short stories” for my time in Guatemala. I have so many more moments I wish to share about each part of ministry individually but today isn’t my day to write a book, haha. As you finish reading this I want to list below a few of the scriptures I have been learning more about during my time here in Guatemala. Press into the Word of God, and let Him reveal Himself to you! He will do it!
Psalm 27:4
“One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.”
Psalm 23:1
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”
Philippians 4:4-9
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”
Isaiah 61:1-4
“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.”
AND the entire chapters of:
Romans 11
Isaiah 62
Revelation 4
Praise God! Thank you, Lord!!
To every person who has commented on my blogs or sent me words of encouragement and prayers, thank you! They don’t go unnoticed! It is always a blessing to see names of those from home!❤️
That’s all for now… Adios!
Hey Ash, thanks for sharing! It’s so encouraging to hear from you. God is doing such amazing things through each of you as well as within you. Landon and I will be praying for y’all as you continue to share The Gospel to different people groups around you. Love you! 💕