Universalities

After living here for 2 months, I have learned a lot about the culture of Guatemala. However, something I did learn in my first week here was the fact of universalities.

Always living in the same place, I knew there were things that were universal, I just didn't know what. Coming to a place like Guatemala, I assumed a lot. Poverty is common, so I assumed there was grief in their hearts and not much to joke about. Wow, was I wrong! So here are six universalities I have discovered...

My favorite person to joke around with!

1. Humor and Sarcasm
Although Guatemalans are extremely joyful people, before coming here, I just did not realize that humor is definitely universal. I think my sarcastic attitude and being able to joke around was helpful here. Learning a language is difficult, so being able to laugh at yourself is actually quite important! Many of my Spanish-speaking friends and I have relationships that started with humor. It is one of the easiest ways to get to know someone, and a great way to grow a relationship. I discovered one Spanish pun at the start of my classes, and it has stayed my favorite:

John Cena
John Almuerzo
John Desayuno
(It only makes sense if you know Spanish!)

2. Laundry
Unless you are crazy, nobody likes to do their laundry. It is universal. Obviously, it is a bit easier when you have machines to do it for you, like we do in the U.S. I have been humbled by how hard they work to just do simple daily tasks, such as cook and clean. When you do not have machines for everything, it takes a lot longer to simply wash your clothing or dishes.

3. Entertainment
In today's age of technology and social media, the definition of poverty is changing. Nearly everyone has smartphones now. My neighbors, who live in a house made of metal sheets for walls, and dirt for floors, have smartphones. Yes, there is poverty here. But it is different now. Instead of saving money for education, food, and housing, people have phones. This need for entertainment is sad, but universal. Of course, there are people that do not have these privileges of having a phone. However, we do all find entertainment in one way or another. Here in Guatemala, even if people do not have a phone, they will find it in live music, TV, or even fireworks.

4. Post-It Note Pranks
Alongside the topic of humor, I discovered something very interesting. There are not many cars here, especially compared to the U.S. In America, you may see a post-it note prank every once in a while. Surprisingly enough, it is the same way here! One day, as I was walking, a car covered in post-it notes drove past. I had to laugh at the fact that this joke may be funny wherever you are!

5. Jehovah's Witnesses
Everyone knows the Jehovah's Witnesses for their widespread door-knocking and brochures. They even found my house in the middle of nowhere back home! When I arrived here, I had never even thought about that. They are in my town in Guatemala every day. As I talked to a Guatemalan friend, she was telling me about their widespread door-knocking here. I had to laugh when she told me about not wanting to answer the door, because I have definitely been in the same shoes.
However, I do not say this to offend anyone. I actually was recently talking with my host mom about this very topic. She is encouraged by the fact that they all go to the ends of the earth to proclaim their beliefs. Obviously, her and I both have many disagreements with the religions. But what if we, as Christians, always followed God's call? What if we shared the Gospel wherever we are? What if we went wherever He called us?

6. One Amazing God
The biggest lesson I learned here deals with unity and love. God's grace and love stretches to all places. One of my favorite verses, Acts 4:32 says, "Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common." No matter where I am, He always remains. When I came here, I had nothing in common with anyone here. We could not even speak the same language! But when we find unity within Jesus Christ, we have everything in common. We are no longer strangers, but fellow citizens within the household of God.

One Week

One week. That is all I have left. A week from now, I will be flying back home. Words cannot describe all I have learned throughout these past two months. I have made lifelong friends, learned a whole lot of Spanish, drank lots of coffee, adventured, and most importantly, grew in my relationship with God.

I love my Guatemalan mom!

I fell in love with a new place. I found a new home. There is a reason for this. Because when I moved here, I was blessed with supportive Christian friends and a Christian family to live with. I love the culture here, and I love the joy of the people. However, I don't think my experience would be the same without that Christian fellowship.

Being a homebody and leaving home is difficult. But when you are rooted in Christ, you can feel at home anywhere. You can find family anywhere. And for that, I am forever grateful. Furthermore, the faith of the Guatemalan Christians is incredible. I strive for their joy and their unwavering faith in God.

This experience was so far out of my comfort zone. However, God brought me comfort. This place has become more than just a missions outreach or the location of my Spanish school. This place is my home, and I already know that I am going to miss it more than anything by the time next week comes around.

So when thinking of Guatemala, I pray that they will not get caught up in the works or in all the small technicalities. Our faith is not about the works, but instead about our faith and His grace. I pray they will not only believe, but also try to grow in their faith. I pray that they would know that God has a plan for their life, no matter how many trials may come their way. I pray for peace in the midst of hard times. I pray that they would never lose their "first love" for Him. And ultimately, I pray that they would lead others to Christ and continue to share their immense joy.

I came here two years ago and got a taste of Guatemala. I fell in love and will never forget that week. These two months are the same way. I love that God has used me in this way and I am so grateful for such an amazing opportunity. I am not ready to leave, but I don't think I ever will be. Thank you for a great two months, Guatemala. See you soon, America.

Stand Firm and Be Bold

A few blog posts ago, I mentioned noticing a few themes throughout the New Testament. First, love. In my eyes, loving others is the most important part of evangelism. The other theme I have noticed is the phrase, "Stand firm and be bold." After realizing the things that I was learning, I have recognized that God is preparing me for evangelism.

Throughout the New Testament, these two things are repeated over and over, and my mind automatically correlates them. In 1 Corinthians 16:13, it says, "Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong." And in Acts 4:29, the Bible says, "And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness..."

This is certainly not the only time the New Testament mentions standing firm and speaking boldly. Faith that stands firm is an inward issue. This is necessary for speaking boldly. You cannot speak with boldness without a strong faith.

The first part is difficult. It is hard to continue praying, reading the Bible, and growing your relationship with God. I believe everyone has this struggle at some point in their life, probably more often than not. On the hand, the second part can be even more difficult for some people.

If you knew me when I was younger, you would know that I was one of the shyest kids you would ever meet. I only spoke at home, and did not speak at school until about second or third grade. I have always been introverted, so speaking boldly has not always been my forte. However, God has called me to speak with boldness.

2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 speaks of God making us worthy of His calling. He can be funny sometimes. Instead of using our strengths, He often uses our weaknesses to do His work through us. In 2 Corinthians 12:9, the Bible says, "But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

First, it is on the inside. You need to be firm in faith. Then, He calls us to action by loving others and speaking boldly. I may think it is ironic that God is calling me to speak boldly. However, I believe God knows exactly what He is doing. He is working through my weaknesses. The New Testament has taught me a lot about how to evangelize to others. It sounds easy. Stand firm. Speak boldly. Love. This is far from easy, but He does make it easy to understand. He is a great mystery, but through the Bible, He teaches us how to easily share His saving works and amazing grace.

When It Doesn't Go Your Way

I have control issues. Just ask my family, I like being in charge and always planning ahead of time. It worries me when things do not go my way or go according to plan. However, I am actually never in control. I have this illusion in my head of total control of my life. Instead of worrying, I should rest in the fact that our all-knowing God has a holy plan that surpasses all of my expectations.

2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 says,

¹¹ To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of His calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by His power, ¹² so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul is writing to the Thessalonians, praying that they would realize God's plan is worthy. Then in 2 Timothy 1:8-9, Paul again speaks of this "holy calling."

⁸ Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, ⁹ who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of His own purpose and grace, which He gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began.

God makes us worthy of His calling. I come across these, what I like to call, "control issues," often in my life. God's plans tend to be different than mine. A lot. Every time, I fight it, struggle with it, and question His plan. Yet, He always proves me wrong.

Even though I question His plan, it is always better. He is the one that calls me to leap. He did not choose to use me for His glory because of who I am, but because of who He is. He is an Almighty God who can use sinners like me for His amazing works.

I have this tiny plan. Maybe it's my next job, or the college I will attend. Those seem like big decisions, but when you put them in comparison to God's eternal purpose, it's nothing. We get to be a part of His eternal purpose. So when things don't go my way, maybe I should think of His plan. It is always better. But even so, as I struggle, I am comforted by this short phrase from 2 Timothy 2:13, "If we are faithless, He remains faithful."

God made me, a filthy sinner, worthy of His calling. His grace and faithfulness amazes me every day. Maybe, I won't get my way this time, and I probably won't understand either. However, I will continue to rest in His plan and follow His all-knowing, holy calling.

His Letters of Recommendation

As I work my way through the New Testament during my time in Guatemala, God has taught me so many different lessons. However, a few things keep sticking out to me in the Gospels and the following books.

In 2 Corinthians 3:1-3, The Bible says,

Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you, or from you? ² You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all. ³ And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

Although I had read this passage before, I never thought much of it. However, as I apply for jobs, colleges, and scholarships, letters of recommendation are an important part of my applications. You want a good letter of recommendation for your applications. Although they are not you, and sometimes they do not represent you, they are able to give the other person a good idea for who you are and what you are like. So when Paul says in this passage that we are God's letters of recommendation, this is a big deal. Although we are not God, and we are nowhere near as perfect as Him, we are representing Him. Obviously this can be a bit of a challenge. However, there is one thing that is repeated over and over in the Bible to represent Jesus Christ: LOVE.

Matthew 22:37-39 says,

³⁷ And He said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. ³⁸ This is the great and first commandment. ³⁹ And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

This is not the only time the Bible commands us to love God and love others. Up until Ephesians, it is repeated in Matthew 5:44, Mark 12:30-31, Luke 6:27, Luke 6:32-35, Luke 10:27, John 13:34, John 15:12-13, Romans 12:9-10, Romans 13:8-10, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, 1 Corinthians 16:14, 2 Corinthians 8:8, Galatians 5:13-14, and Ephesians 5:2. As a recurring theme, God has taught me how to minister to people both in Guatemala and back home in the United States. There is not much more to it than showing His love.

As I helped at Fiesta Navideña at ASELSI in Chichicastenango, I was reminded of this love by a little girl named Francisca. I was welcoming people, and out of nowhere, this little girl ran up to me and gave me a big hug. Although I had never met her before, she loved on me. Fast forward to five minutes later, Francisca and all her friends were looking at me from afar. Suddenly, I was attacked with hugs from about eight little girls. None of them knew me. None of them even knew I could somewhat speak their language. They didn't care that I had a different skin color. They didn't look at me differently or treat me differently. This is God's love.

Although I didn't get a picture with Francisca, I know she was in the crowd learning about God's love!

Regardless of what I looked like or if they knew me, these little girls showed me love. At eight years old, Francisca and her friends taught me what true evangelism is like. It is not always speaking with words about God's love, but instead through actions. As a powerful statement, God sometimes chooses children to be His letters of recommendation. I cannot think of a better choice.