how coool. and its a good song.

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my heart is still in Guatemala.

I love coffee dates.

There’s just something about sitting in a small coffee shop catching up with friends.

I got to do that last night with my best friend and it was FANTASTIC!

“They need God more than they need you.”

That was something I needed to hear.

There was a sense of bitterness in my heart for having to leave Honduras. I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to the relationships I had formed with the girls at Casitas, but I’m constantly being reminded that this isn’t my trip - I’m just a small part of the plan God has for these girls.

It didn’t seem fair that I had to leave them and hearing them say that they didn’t want me to leave broke my heart. What I needed to be reminded of was that even when I leave, God will still be working in their precious hearts.

They definitely need God more than they need me and hearing that was humbling.

Not bad, just different.

One thing we learned about missions at orientation was that things in other countries aren’t bad, just different. I didn’t really have to tell myself that while I was in Honduras because I just expected to be thrown into a completely different culture, but I’m constantly reminding myself that now that I’m in Guatemala.

I miss Honduras. I miss my team, the kids, the girls at Casitas, Roberto, the translators, and just the warmth of the culture. I’ve been in Guatemala for three days now and as much as I love it here, my heart just longs to be back in Honduras. I knew that serving this summer would be life changing, but I didn’t realize that a part of my heart would be left in Honduras. I’m constantly thinking about the girls at Casitas and the kids at Nueva Esperanza and it breaks my heart to know that I might not ever see them again. I know it’s not a bad thing to miss them, but it’s hard to love on the kids here in Guatemala without thinking of my kids back in Honduras. Please pray that I would love on the kids here wholeheartedly and that I would serve Him faithfully.

Things in Guatemala that aren’t bad, just different:

• The weather: It’s so different than Honduras! Honduras is ridiculously hot and humid and Guatemala is rainy and cool/cold. I guess the cool weather is a nice change, but it rained ALL DAY today and it was somewhat miserable. I guess it’s a tradeoff 
• The people: The people in Honduras are so incredibly warm and affectionate. They greet you with a hug and kiss on the cheek and I started to really love that. The people here in Guatemala are all really nice, but they don’t greet with a hug and a kiss. I miss it.
• The kids: The kids that we worked with today are so different than the kids in Honduras. We went to a Buckner community center and taught English. The biggest difference is that these kids come from families and all seemed content. I guess what I really miss about the kids in Honduras was that they were so open to being loved on because they rarely get the attention and love they desire. 
• The driving: As crazy as driving is in Honduras, I miss it. I miss the constant honking, driving an inch away from other cars, and the fact that there isn’t a speed limit or any rules. I’m sure my life is in less danger now, but I miss the excitement and nervousness of being in a car in Honduras.

In Honduras it was obvious that our purpose for being there was to love on the kids unconditionally and to show them a tiny glimpse of the love that God has for them. But because the kids we’re working with here are more well off and know who God is, it’s hard to see how God is going to use us. As much as I love teaching English, I feel like there has to be more as to why God brought me to Guatemala. And I know that they still need to be loved on, but it’s hard to see the need after being in Honduras. Please pray for my heart. That I will be able to serve and love the people of Guatemala unconditionally.

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I miss Honduras.

Flexibility.

Flexibility is the most important thing about missions and my Guatemala team and I have definitely been learning that. 

The plan was to leave for Guatemala two days ago, but who would’ve thought that a VOLCANO WOULD ERUPT! How ridiculous is that?! Seriously, I didn’t think those words would ever come out of my mouth. So our flight was then rescheduled til Sunday, but because of tropical storm Agatha, our flight was again rescheduled til Wednesday. At that point the plan was to go to Honduras if our flight on Wednesday was cancelled. And then today at 3pm, we got calls from American Airlines saying that our flight for Wednesday was in fact cancelled. We’re not sure what the plan is now, but we’re praying that we’ll somehow be able to make it to Guatemala.

It’s so easy to get frustrated in the midst of everything, but I trust that God does know what’s best for our team. To be honest, when we first found out that our flight was rescheduled to Sunday, a part of me was relieved. I wasn’t ready to leave the country for 11 weeks, and so getting a couple more days in contact with family and friends was good. But now that we don’t even know if we’ll make it to Guatemala, a part of me is starting to get disappointed. 

Please pray for the people in Guatemala. Everything is flooded, the rain is causing landslides, and the death toll is rising. If it’s God’s will for us to go and help the Guatemalan people, then I know He’ll open doors for us to go. But if His will is for us to go to Honduras, then I pray that Guatemala will get aid and that they’ll see God in the midst of everything going on.

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.” [Psalm 46:1-3]

"And the mystery is that Christ lives in you, and he is your hope of sharing in God’s glory."

Colossians 1:27b (CEV)

it’s REALLY official now - I’M GOING!

I just accepted my invitation to serve in GUATEMALA for two months this summer! I can’t believe this is actually happening and I can’t believe that God chose ME to go to Guatemala to minister to the orphans there. I’m so excited! :)

"3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. 5 For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows."

2 Corinthians 1:3-5