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.