Finishing Up

After spending my whole summer in Guatemala, these months are finally coming to a close. I am heading back home on Tuesday, August 1st! It has been a summer full of being challenged, learning, and growing.

Over the summer, I worked with 6 teams from all different locations (plus a team made up of my brother and dad). I learned a lot from both the Americans and Guatemalans that I was working with on a weekly basis. My job basically consisted of doing anything a team did. I did lots of translating in conversations, worked on relationship building, prayed with patients in the hospital, went on many home visits, helped with work and construction projects, and even went on a few trips to Panajachel and Antigua. I went to Guatemala City (a 4-hour drive) on nearly a weekly basis to pick up teams from the airport or bring them back.

I was challenged to not only be outgoing in English, but also in Spanish, as I was put into many new situations with new people on a daily basis. When I was younger, if you would have told my family or me that I would do this one day, we all would've laughed (I was pretty shy. And by pretty shy, I mean extremely shy!).

As my posts have shown throughout the summer, God has been teaching me a lot about missions. He's opened my eyes to see the negative and positive aspects. He has put a passion in my heart for missions, especially for the Guatemalan people. He's given me patience and energy throughout a very difficult and busy time in my life. He's brought me comfort, peace, and provision when I've most needed it.

God has also shown me other lessons throughout this summer too, and not necessarily ones I would have expected. He's taught me more about giving, patience, forgiveness, conflict resolution, self-control, and working with people of all different types. It's been hard, yet rewarding. I have been able to visit old friends and make lots of new ones too. I've connected with people of different ages, races, genders, and professions. God has shown me more of the plan He has for my life and has given me determination to follow Him in that.

So as I go home Tuesday, I will remember this summer. When I go to Baylor later this month, I will remember this summer. And as I go on with life, I will remember this summer. Because even though it wasn't easy, God was faithful. He had His hand in my summer. And for that, I will always remember.

How You Can Help - Part 8

From my past seven posts, I think you could find that short-term trips are difficult. I didn't give many answers to the multitude of questions, and I know I don't have all the answers. However, there are some ways you can help.

First of all, before going on a short-term trip, pray about it! Make sure God wants you to go there, so it doesn't become just a self-serving trip. When preparing for the trip, make sure the missions organization wants you to come, and ask them what you can do to help. If you go with your own agenda, you may not be helping the indigenous people in the best way possible. Usually the missions organizations know best when it comes to "help" projects. It isn't wrong to request projects in your field, so you can best use your God-given gifts, but have patience and seek advice from the people who have more experience with missions and teams.

Sometimes, God doesn't call us to go on a trip. However, that doesn't mean we should just forget about the people serving abroad or the impoverished indigenous people in other countries. Every missions organization needs a wide donor base to continue with their ministry. Giving money can often be a huge help to an organization, even if it is to just keep their doors open.

They also need prayers! Pray for missionaries and organizations to seek God in all their decisions. Pray for wisdom for those in charge and those serving God in another country. Pray for energy, health, and safety, as the days become long and hard. Pray for them to have patience and grace with the people they are working with.

Finally, be a missionary wherever you go. When we go to India, or Haiti, or Guatemala, we call ourselves missionaries. But we need to be missionaries wherever we are. It doesn't matter if you're from the rural Midwest, an urban city, or another country. We are just as much of a missionary yesterday, as we are the next, regardless of location. So don't become a fake version of yourself on a missions trip, and then go back to another life when you go home. Be genuine, honest, and build strong, Christian relationships in every location.

To sum up my series, I'm not against short-term trips, but I'm not for all of them either. I hope my series helped people consider some of the problems with short-term trips. I'm not trying to discourage people from short-term missions, because they can do great work. However, if people open their eyes to these situations, I hope they will grow and learn how to face them in the correct way. I'm praying that we all become missionaries wherever we are, because we can share Christ's love anywhere and everywhere.

Doing Missions the Right Way - Part 7

Doing short-term missions is like an art. There are good and bad ways to do it. In the last six posts, I have discussed various issues relating to short-term missions. There are a lot of trips that can be poorly planned and executed. But of course, there are so many great things that happen as a result of short-term missions.

I believe one of the best ways to solve some of the problems with short-term missions is proper training. Teams should have many meetings before and after the trip. Big issues with short-term missions should be discussed, so people go into it and out of it with the right mindset. With this training, people still may miss the big picture, but they will be more likely to miss it without any of this training.

It is not a bad thing to require people to research, read some books, study the Bible, and pray before they decide to go on a short-term missions trip. So many people approach short-term missions now as tourism. This isn't a trip to just shop and take pretty pictures for your Instagram. Sure, some of that may take place, but that isn't what the trip is about. "Voluntourism," or so they call it, isn't what short-term missions should be.

Big picture discussions should take place, so that your trip provides a sustainable solution to someone facing poverty. A great short-term missions trip partners with the local people, so you can provide support, but not tell them the way to do everything. Creating a partnership between your church and a local church is a great way to minister to another country. In this way, you can support a church who can reach out to more people within the community that you may not be able to connect with.

We should make sure to pick projects that aren't taking jobs away from local people. Listen to the long-term missions organization on what they need, as they usually know how to face the situation best. Many people approach missions thinking they might know how they can best help. However, people who have been in the community for longer periods of time will know the best solutions.

The title of these trips, short-term missions, should also be put into consideration. Should we call them missions? We can't do a missionary's job in a week. We can't even do it in months. I think it takes away from the great work of missionaries, when we start to call these one- to two-week trips "missions." I don't consider myself a missionary, because doing what an effective missionary does takes years. Maybe we should start titling these trips something different, like "help trips" or "personal awakenings." Because in reality, that's what these trips are. We often help for a short time with a small project, and personally, our eyes are opened to the problems people face around the world. Missions just doesn't happen with a snap of a finger (or in a week). It takes time.

There are a lot of great missions organizations out there. Most of them understand the issues and problems facing short-term trips. But these are problems that take a lot of work and thought to solve. A lot of people within the church don't want to have these conversations. It hurts to hear that we might not actually be helping the community as much as we think we are. It hurts to hear that we don't always make a big difference in the lives of others. We like the satisfaction of feeling like there was progress made and lives changed. But when you don't see the after-effects of these trips, you really don't know what impact you made, whether good or bad. So yes, this topic hurts. But it is oh so important. If we want to really make a difference and have effective missions, we must talk about this.

We're Not Meant to Feel Guilty - Part 6

The first time I came back from Guatemala, I felt guilty. I felt guilty for all the things I owned and the money I had. I felt guilty for growing up in a nice Christian home where I never had to face "real" problems, like the Guatemalan people. It's easy to fall into this trap after a short-term missions trip. A lot of people stand up in front of their church, telling about their trip, and are brought to tears because they remember how little material possessions people have abroad.

Now, it's not a bad thing to have this reality check. It's not bad to realize how grateful we should be. But if you come back from a missions trip, and that's all you get out of it, I think you're missing the big picture. A missions trip isn't supposed to just leave you feeling guilty. Many lessons can be learned from missions trips, but this definitely shouldn't be the only one. God has put each of us in a place for a reason. I know I'm not deserving of being born into the United States. I know I'm not deserving of all the material items I own. However, God has blessed me with those things.

Sulking in your guilt doesn't change you or change others. The point of missions is not to see how poor other people are, but instead it is to share Christ's love with others. We cannot save someone from poverty always, but we can try to direct them to Jesus. This relates to a prior post of mine, where I talked about poverty. Again, when you have a relationship with Christ, you are rich.

If we come back from our trip feeling guilty because of the grips of poverty in other places, we are underestimating the riches of Christ. If these people have Christ, they have it all. Why can we be brought to tears about the lack of material items, but not be brought to tears about the lack of Christ? Instead of feeling sad that people are poor all over the world, we should feel more sorrow and grief because people don't know of Jesus.

It's difficult to see poverty. It's difficult to go back home to your wealth. But God had you put in your place for a reason, whatever it may be. Material riches shouldn't even come close to the riches of Christ. We should be so joyful about our wealth and fullness in Christ, that we wouldn't even think about our material items in the same thought. Material poverty is sad, but knowing Christ is of supreme importance, and no other sorrow should compare.

Changing Yourself - Part 5

I like to ask people what they believe is the point of short-term missions. The most common response is that short-term missions changes the people that go on the trip, more than it changes the people that they are trying to affect. I wholeheartedly agree with this. I wouldn't be in Guatemala right now if it wasn't for coming on that one-week trip when I was just a freshman in high school. I wouldn't be learning all these lessons about short-term missions without going on one myself.

I believe it is important for people to learn from short-term trips. But I also want to make myself clear: did it change you for a few weeks or for life? It is all too often that I see people go through the steps. They go on the trip, they post about it on social media, they talk about it for a few weeks, and slowly, they forget about it, until their next missions trip. We say we will change our ways after a trip, but how often do we? How many people go back and build relationships with the most impoverished in their community? How many people decide to pursue long-term missions because of it?

I am just as guilty of this as the next. There is a huge population of Guatemalans, the people I have connected with, right in my community. They even have a church. I could have reached out to them, but instead, I used the excuse that I was too busy and didn't know Spanish yet. I didn't even think of the fact that my short-term mission three years ago should have pushed me to do this. If I could go back, I would have reached out to them, and tried to build relationships with them. I made this mistake, and so many others do too. But we don't have to keep making the same mistake. We can change this.

People often say short-term trips lead to long-term missionaries. And again, I won't refute this. After I came for a week, years later, I came for longer periods of time. However, in the past decade, there is a boom of short-term missions. So there should be a boom in long-term missionaries too, right? Wrong. Over the past few decades, the number of long-term missionaries has stayed steady. People can keep defending short-term missions in this way, but sadly, it's not the truth.

Lastly, short-term missions are a very expensive way to change yourself, especially if this change doesn't last. The Gospel Coalition states that in 2005 alone, $2.4 billion was spent on short-term trips, each averaging about eight days long. This huge amount of money is more than the GDP of over 20 countries. I am sure that this number has only grown, as the amount of short-term missions has grown since 2005. It's wonderful that Christians in the Western culture are willing to give this much money to missions. But can you imagine how that could affect impoverished countries if it was given to the right organizations in the right places?

So if our trips to impoverished countries are changing us, why can't we see a difference in our communities? Short-term missions isn't about your posts on social media. It's not about the kids that you met for a few days. It's not about you. It's about sharing Christ's love wherever you go. It's said "missions is right in your backyard," but that seriously could not be more true. If we can take off a week or two of work or school for a trip, why are we often too busy for people around us? Maybe we need to slow down and simplify our lives, so we can make time for building relationships, sharing Christ, and serving others right in our community.

Short-Term Missions, But Long-Term Fixes - Part 4

As I work with teams this summer, I know people are coming to help the Guatemalans. They see poverty and are hurt by it. But how can we help in the best way possible? I think one of the most important things to think about when helping to alleviate poverty is sustainability. Is the item you're giving the impoverished widow going to sustain itself? Will it help her for a few weeks, or for years? Will she be able to make real use of what you gave her?

Often on a short-term missions, people give out stuff. All sorts of things. They'll give food, and clothes, and money. But do these things last? Whatever you give them, if you're truly trying to help alleviate poverty, it needs to be sustainable. World Vision is an example of a big organization that has great ideas for sustainable gifts. They give animals. Animals produce something that people in poverty can either use, eat, or sell. They also reproduce so that they can constantly have an income or something of use from the animal. Now, only one thing stands in their way: the food. Although animals do provide an income, they also cost money because you have to continue feeding them.

Another example of a project many missions complete is building houses. A home is wonderful as
long as they can use it. In America, we like big, grand houses with lots of space. However, in other places, they might like small, practical houses. Most organizations that do this type of project have

Construction is hard work, but it also pays for families.

this part down. However, there are other things that come with building houses. If you build the house, will you help upkeep it? Will you check in on it, and help build a new one when this one is falling apart? Often, this is the job of the long-term mission. Short-term trips can't go back a few weeks later and make sure it's working properly; however, missionaries can. Another thing to think about with building houses is the job itself. Construction work, including building houses, is a career for a lot of impoverished people. Sure, it's hard work, but it provides money for their families. For each team that comes and builds a house, are you stealing someone's job?

As you can tell, with each idea, there is a good side and a bad side. I'm not saying either of these projects are bad ideas. In fact, they are good. However, I believe when going into projects like these, we need to consider both sides of the issue. We need to think about how we will affect not only the family we are giving to, but also how we will affect others in the community. We need to think about how long our gifts will last. We need to think about how we are helping, but also how we could be hurting someone. Yes, these thoughts and discussions take time. It makes it more difficult to feel like you're getting true results as a short-term team. However, it also helps create the most lasting results. A well-thought out trip doesn't hurt anyone unintentionally in the process.

Short-term missions do many different types of projects. Before you go on one of these trips, I encourage you to think about these things. Think about how you can help them in a lasting way, while also not hurting anyone else. There are many ideas out there, both good and bad. Short-term missions can be beneficial to many impoverished families, as long as we take some time to think about what we are doing.

What is Poverty? - Part 3

What is poverty? Most would say that people affected by poverty lack material possessions, or lack the necessities to care for a family. We think dirt floors and tin roofs. We think rice and beans for every meal. And yes, that is poverty—material poverty. But have you ever thought about different types of poverty? There are different kinds—poverty of knowledge, resources, education, and on and on. So when it comes to approaching missions, I think we need to redefine our thoughts on poverty.

I recently listened to a sermon by Francis Chan, where he talked about preaching in Simi Valley, California. Although this may be one of the richest places in the country, and even the world, he told them he chose that place because of poverty. Obviously, this isn't material poverty; however, because of their wealth, they are some of the people most likely to be spiritually impoverished. In Matthew 19, Jesus is talking to the disciples and says, "Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God." I don't immediately think about myself or my community affected by poverty, but maybe we actually are. Is spiritual poverty affecting your community?

Some might stop me right there, and tell me to stop looking at poverty as a Biblical issue, rather than a material problem. But doesn't the Bible say that we have fullness in God? We're wealthy in God. Ephesians 3:16-19 says,

" that according to the riches of His glory He may grant you to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."

Did you catch how we are filled with the fullness of God? We have fullness by having His power within us. We are filled by having Christ in our hearts. We are filled by Him. Sure, material poverty is a problem, but spiritual poverty is a much bigger problem. When you don't have God, you don't have anything. When you do have God, you have everything. He changes the narrative.

When it comes to impoverished countries, they often don't realize they are impoverished. If everyone lives the same way throughout the community, they don't see any difference. The story changes when we start to bring in groups of wealthy people. We tell them they're poor. We tell them they aren't well-off because they don't have carpet on their floors or they don't drink milk with every meal. Some of the ways impoverished people live is unsafe or unhealthy, like not having nutritious diets. However, other things, like whether or not you have carpet, is only a preference. Just because we prefer one thing, doesn't make it better than the way anyone else lives throughout the world.

We can try to alleviate poverty with a constant move of teams in and out through missions organizations all over the world. But that's never going to solve the problem. Quick handouts of free clothing and some food doesn't save lives. Jesus saves lives. Quick handouts help us feel like we have results. We can go home and tell people how much we gave to the impoverished people. But Jesus gave the ultimate gift, and it's our job to share about it. Giving people material possessions seems nice, but introducing people to Jesus shows more compassion. Saving souls is much more important than material things. It's even more important than safety and nutrition. Instead of always sharing our possessions, let's try sharing our Savior.

Building Relationships - Part 2

Approaching short-term missions is hard. Most people approach it with good intentions; however, we can end up doing it wrong unintentionally. We go somewhere and feel the need to give stuff away: our clothes, belongings, and medicine. We feel like this might help them and alleviate their poverty. We also feel that we can change their life in a week. (Read my last post here.) Missions is all about building relationships, but how many of you have started a lifelong friendship in a week and kept up with it?

The truth is, building relationships takes longer than one week. I'm in Guatemala for two months, but it often takes longer than two months. It takes months to years. Friendship isn't just something you make in a week and never return to, it takes regular upkeep. It's not something you return to once a year when you go on your annual missions trip. So why do missions organizations encourage you to build relationships?

First, I believe the most important relationship you can build is with the missionaries themselves. Missionaries need friends and prayer partners too! They are the people that can turn around and befriend indigenous people, and minister to them on a regular basis. It is important for them to have people behind them supporting them, praying for them, and encouraging them. Missionaries cannot continue what they are doing without support. Long-term missionaries learn the language, are in the communities, and can provide upkeep to a relationship in another country.

Second of all, building relationships is more successful as a church community. Partnering alongside another church to support and encourage one another is a good mission. This takes upkeep and follow-ups; however, both of the church bodies can provide this throughout their whole congregation. It also encourages both bodies to pray for each other often. This doesn't mean you go build a house for a family and never come back. This doesn't mean you give away all your belongings and tell them about Jesus, just to never speak to them again. This means encouraging a local pastor and church, so they can provide outreach to people in their community. The local people know how to encourage and start friendships within their community. They understand the cultural differences and how to approach people in the right way.

How would you feel if a bunch of Africans or South Americans invaded your community for a week, gave you lots of stuff, told you about Jesus, then left? They would feed you weird, different foods and give you stuff you might not even know how to use. Sure, you might be excited in the moment. However, it's kind of like summer camp. That excitement often goes away. You forget about why they came. It rarely has a lifetime effect on people. I know the people that understand me best also understand the way my life is, the way my community is, and the way our culture is. Each country and place is different. We cannot expect to understand everything a poor Guatemalan, Haitian, or Indian is going through. For this reason, we should support people that can understand them better.

Building relationships is what missions is all about. However, that being said, we need to approach it in a better way. We can't just throw free stuff at people, give them a Bible, and leave. We need to think about the relationships that we can actually understand and continue to feed. Long-term missionaries and local churches are people who can then turn around and help foreign people on a lasting basis.

You're Not Going to Change the World - Part 1

We all want to change the world. As Christians, specifically, for Jesus. We think that's what missions does. We think that we can go to another place or another country and build a house, then tell people about Jesus. And we'll save them just like that. We think that they will see the love for Jesus in our hearts, and in response, they'll want it too. We'll save them, give them hope, and change their life. It doesn't matter if we don't speak their language, it doesn't matter if we've only known them for a week, and it doesn't matter if we never see them again.

This is the mindset of modern short-term missions. I'm not against missions, and I'm not even against short-term missions. But we have to improve this system if we want to continue with it. Nowadays, everyone goes on that one or two week trip to somewhere. Maybe Haiti, maybe Guatemala, maybe Africa, or maybe just a poverty-stricken area in urban America. You come back home and tell everyone of the difference you made. You built a house, or you held a VBS and brought Christ to people. You made a big impact on their lives; so big that they will forever be changed, and so will you.

But you know what? We don't bring Christ to people. He's already there. He's already at work, and has been since the beginning of time. Sure, He can work through you, but He's still the Savior. In comparison to the rest of the world, if you make more than $2 per day, you are wealthy. And that thought inflates us. We think we can save people and tell them how to live their lives, just because our lives are easier, or because we have more money. We don't consciously think about this, but we do this by the way we approach missions, especially short-term.

We're not going to save the world, because He already did. And we're not going to change the world, because He already did. As John 16:33 puts it, He has "already overcome the world." Christ changed the world when He died on the cross for all of our sins. Not just the wealthy's sins, so they could save the poor. Not just certain people's sins. For everyone. He sees each one of us as equal, no matter what brand of clothing we wear, how many cars we have, where we went to college, or how much money we have. He doesn't care if you're the President, a CEO, or a poor woman dying of cancer out in a small village in some foreign country. He loves us all the same, and sees us all the same. We're not meant to go out and save each other. He has already done that. We are called to grow in relationships, and help strengthen each other. We are called to share the word of God, not to call it ours.

You're not going to change the world. Jesus Christ will. He already has, is, and will continue to. Let's not keep taking the credit. Let's stop trying to be the saviors of the world. Because God already is.

A Quick Update!

I have now helped with my first team! This past week involved an energetic and fun team from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This was my first time translating, serving alongside a group, and leading in Guatemala.

On Sunday, we went to the market and I led a group around. I found just about everything they wanted to see, with a little help from them! I haven't been around the market much since I've moved here, but we figured it all out.

Monday, we went up the mountain to a village called San Antonio Ilotenango. This church has had a partnership with them for the past few years. I was able to help translate between conversations. The kids here were full of energy, and so excited to see us! We also went on a home visit. My group visited an older woman, her two adult children, and eight grandchildren. Albeit there being 11 of them, they lived in a 3 room clay house. The elderly mother was being affected by Alzheimer's or dementia, and one of the adult children had special needs. This means the woman, with eight children, was the only working one in the house. She said her weekly income was about one hundred quetzals, equal to about $13. As unfortunate as this is, this is common in Guatemala. We gave them food, but more importantly, lots of prayer. In this village, we also attended a church service and socialized with the people there. It was cool to see the gringos from Pittsburgh reconnect with their friends from a small village in Guatemala.

Beautiful girls from San Antonio Ilotenango

The rest of the week, I helped the team with construction projects on the ASELSI base. I don't know some of my construction words in English, so trying to translate them into Spanish was interesting, but we got by. The excitement of the week was the 6.9 earthquake at 1:30 a.m. on Wednesday. I thought I was overreacting when I felt it, but much to my surprise, it was a big earthquake! I was located 50 miles from the epicenter, so we all are thankful to God that we are safe and sound. Please pray for the families and people on the coast that were more strongly affected by this tragedy. Otherwise, I also translated on a hospital visit during the week. It was a great week, finished off by a small trip to Antigua before they left for the states.

This team taught me a lot about my work for this summer. I was reminded to always be positive and love others, both Americans and Guatemalans. They taught me that my work is not just ministering to Guatemalans, but also to Americans. I learned more about how to perceive missions, short-term and long-term. (Look for my thoughts on this in future posts!) However, most importantly, I learned more about what God is teaching me, His works through me, and made some great friendships.

As I continue this summer with teams, please pray for strength, patience, and energy. My next team comes Saturday, and then I have a team every week for the rest of my time here. Please pray for my continued health and safety. Lastly, I encourage you to pray for God to continue to act and speak to me and through me.

Change

Change. I'm not very good at it. I don't like saying goodbye, I don't like the nervousness, and I don't really enjoy the feeling. Usually after the change takes place, I find that I'm grateful for it. It often makes me stronger, teaches me about myself, and broadens my faith. But holding onto that hope in the midst of new locations, new homes, and new experiences, is difficult.

I always have to remember God's plan. Everything we ever do is a part of it. He doesn't waste opportunities. I often wonder what sort of impact I will have on the world. I wonder why He called me to Guatemala. Will I make a difference? But I know He called me here and I know He has reason in everything. I think of John 13:7, which says, "Jesus answered him, 'What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.'" Not only does it apply to this Bible story, but I think this applies to our lives too. We don't ever know what is around the corner or how God is working in our lives. However, later, we often see His Divine Hand in the works.

I am not sure what kind of difference I will make while I'm in Guatemala the next two months. I don't even know if I will make one. But I do know that God doesn't waste opportunities. He has already taught me a lot about what makes a true mission. 

So as I am in the midst of change, please pray for me to keep my eyes and heart open to see what God wants to show and teach me here. I am so thankful for a truly supportive family and boyfriend, along with many friends and prayer partners, who push me to pursue God's interests and not my own. I am looking forward to updating more often about how God is working in my life and in Guatemala.

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.

Thankfulness, a Few Days Late

My Thanksgiving was treated as a normal day. I didn't get more food. I didn't get time with family. I didn't get the day-off. But in fact, that actually taught me something about the Thanksgiving holiday. As great as the food and time with family is, Thanksgiving is supposed to be about giving thanks. And that should be an everyday thing.

We dedicate one day to giving thanks for all we have. As I treated my Thanksgiving as a normal day, I was reminded that I should always be giving thanks. The popular verse, 1 Thessalonians 5:18, says, "give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." As much as I missed my Thanksgiving, I'm even more grateful for the experience to not "celebrate" it.

So as I adventure through Guatemala, here are some things that I am thankful for every day:

Adventure- Guatemala is a totally different country than the United States, so that makes everything an adventure. I am so thankful for the chance to learn about new cultures, meet new people, and see the world. I love my opportunities to travel, learn, and see God's amazing creation.

One of my adventures: making Guatemalan food (with lots of help!)

Caring Families- My parents and family have been so encouraging throughout this whole experience. They were supportive from Day 1 and always challenge me to be my best self. Not only do I have a great family, but I have two. My Guatemalan family has been so caring and always looks out for me. I am thankful for their forgiveness with my terrible Spanish. I am thankful for all their love and joy, even though they have only known me for a month. Family is so important, and I am so glad I get to experience that wherever I am.

Supportive Friends- I am thankful for friends who are willing to talk when I just need an English conversation, both here and back home. I am thankful for people here in Guatemala who make sure I am doing alright and look out for me. I am thankful for a supportive church both here and afar. For friends back home, I am thankful for all the prayers, support, encouragement, and English conversations.

Trials- Although I am loving my time here in Guatemala, it is not always easy. I miss family and friends. It is difficult, but I am thankful for the difficulties. They have made me stronger, taught me more about our loving God, and taught me about myself. My trust in God is always strengthened when life isn't easy. Life in Guatemala can be scary, but it only increases my faith.

An Amazing God- Throughout all my life, only one thing is steady. Hebrews 13:8 says, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." So when everything changes, God still stays the same. I am so thankful for His saving grace and His everlasting love.

Not celebrating Thanksgiving was not necessarily my choice. But being thankful everyday can be. John 5:30 says, "By myself I can do nothing..." I cannot do anything on my own power, and that is why I am reminded to praise and thank our Lord.

Halfway There

I am already halfway through my time here: I arrived in Guatemala one month ago, and I leave Panajachel in a month. I thought I would catch you all up on what I have been doing (besides having deep thoughts about tough issues).

I have been attending class 25 hours a week, and it's extremely tiring. There really is no way to explain the difficulty of learning another language, except for the fact that you are always tired (no matter how much sleep you get) and your brain constantly hurts. Although school has been difficult, I have already learned so much. Putting it into practice is the hard part!

Between only yesterday and today, I have had tons of cultural experiences! Yesterday, I attended a high school graduation for one of the sons in my host family. Since the ceremony was in Sololá, I got to take a chicken bus up to the other town. If you are not aware of what a chicken bus is, it is a colorfully-painted school bus, always jam-packed with people. The drivers are known to be drunkards and they definitely drive faster than what most people would like, going around the curves in the mountains. However, the ride was not terrible, and I am glad I can say I did it now. The graduation was very different than an American graduation. Although I really did not understand anything, there were many traditional parts of it that I also did not understand. I was most definitely the only gringo in the room, and that is always an experience!

Afterwards, we got a taxi back to Panajachel, so unfortunately (or fortunately?) I did not get to ride on the chicken bus again. I went with the whole family to a restaurant, which was by far the best food I have had here yet. I loved going along with the family, and becoming a bit more cultured!

Today, I went on a tour around Lake Atitlan. Besides Panajachel, there are eleven other towns around the lake, in which I visited four towns just today. I went to San Marcos, San Juan, San Pedro, and Santiago Atitlan. It was interesting to see the differences between each town, even though they are so close. The water was very choppy, which led to a boat ride that felt more like an amusement park water ride. By the time we arrived in Santiago Atitlan, we were soaked and tired from screaming and laughing. On the small boat, there was people from approximately five countries. It was really fun to go on a crazy boat ride with a whole bunch of strangers from around the world, and reminded me that we all have something in common. Even if it is just finding joy from a crazy boat ride!

The beautiful Volcano San Pedro, from Santiago Atitlan

This weekend has already tired me out (my Fitbit says I walked 10 miles today!), but I am loving this great adventure! Please continue to pray for my health, both physical and mental. I would also appreciate prayers just to continue soaking in everything I am learning, as I am going to need it next summer. I love all the support, and cannot wait to come back home--minus the snow, of course! As my Iowan family and friends are freezing, I will keep getting sunburnt. Thank you for all your prayers and support, please keep it coming!

Being the Outsider

I have been contemplating how to write about this tough issue our world faces. It's not easy to tackle this issue, as it is dear to many hearts. I am not trying to offend or start any arguments, just simply trying to share my experiences and thoughts in lieu of living in Guatemala, but also in lieu of this election.

This election has brought a lot of fear to both Americans and foreigners. And honestly, it's impossible to tackle the big issues of immigration, racism, and diversity in one small post. I just want to share my heart.

After Donald Trump won the election, I heard and saw many people scared for what will happen. People from Mexico, people from America grieving for people of Hispanic backgrounds, and of course, people from Guatemala. And this reminded me of all of our differences.

God created each one of us unique, and for some reason, it is our sinful nature to not accept this. We automatically look at others and see the differences, rather than the similarities. Growing up in predominantly white, conservative, northwest Iowa community, I never had to be an outsider. At least not by the way I looked. I never had to be looked at differently, called names, or deal with the fears of my outside differences. I never knew what this was like.

But then I came here, to Guatemala, and now I am the outsider. As I walk down the street, the people often stare at me. Guys whistle at me, or whistle at their friends about me. They nag me on the streets and try to talk to me, because they think of me as an object rather than a person. This is obviously very different from the way we treat differences in America. I agree, there is a race problem in America. There is a race problem even in small-town Iowa, and we need to acknowledge it. But it's not only in America. When you're a different ethnicity, whether it be of Hispanic, African, or Asian descent, in America, you may be treated differently. But if you're white in another country, you will be treated differently too. I never thought of this being a problem in other countries; I always thought of it being an "America" problem.

I am definitely not here to solve the world's problems (even though sometimes I wish I could). Spotting the differences in each other is our human nature. There is only one thing that can change this and solve this. It is not the president or the laws. There is no special formula. We need unity, but there is only one place we can find this. In Christ. Ephesians 2:13-22 says,

¹³ But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. ¹⁴ For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility ¹⁵ by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, ¹⁶ and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. ¹⁷ And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. ¹⁸ For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. ¹⁹ So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, ²⁰ built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, ²¹ in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. ²² In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

Only through Christ can we be united. As we speak of diversity, let’s turn to Christ. We can have no similarities to others, but when it comes to Christ, we can unite and share everything together. In fact, God is the same sovereign God no matter where you are or what you are going through. My life has been turned upside down, but luckily God has stayed the same in everywhere I go, whether it be small town Iowa or Guatemala.

In Ephesians, there is a lot about unity. But there is also a lot about grace. I believe these two concepts go hand in hand. We were only saved because of God’s grace. We all have the sinful nature to pick out others’ differences, whether it be ethnicity, interests, or personalities. So when dealing with this issue, let’s have grace. It’s difficult when it’s happening you. It’s difficult when it’s happening to your child. It’s not easy. Honestly, most often I want to scream at the Guatemalan men that try to treat me like an object, as they whistle at me and try to charm me. I need grace upon grace upon grace, and so do they. Let’s treat each other with grace, and love one another’s differences. We can only unify under Christ. Seek Christ first, and the rest will follow. We no longer have to be strangers and aliens, but instead fellow citizens in the household of God.

The Election in the Eyes of a Foreigner

So this week was a big week for the states...the election! And when they say the whole world was watching, they weren't lying. My host family stayed up until 2 a.m. waiting for the election results, and it isn't even their country! Being in Guatemala for the election was eye-opening and fascinating. I had never really thought of how foreigners perceived America. Obviously, America is solely a dream for them. They will never get the chance to live or even see the United States.

Look who I found in their newspaper! Of all people, my representative (Steve King) and my senator (Chuck Grassley), were in the Guatemalan newspaper.

The whole world was especially watching this election, but only for one reason: Donald Trump. In America, everyone thought it was crazy because of Donald, but also because of Hillary. For Guatemalans, they get their international news from the TV. CNN, to be exact. Whether talking to some white missionaries that live here or Guatemalans, it was sad to hear what they thought. I had conversations with others explaining Benghazi, as they had never heard of it before. I explained Hillary's trial, as they didn't even know that it was happening. They simply assumed all Americans must be Hillary supporters, because that is how the media portrayed it for them.

Guatemalans did have a problem with Donald Trump. They could list off many horrible things he's done. According to them, he persecutes Christians, encourages discrimination, and will kick out any foreigner in America (legal or not). When it came to Hillary, there is nothing wrong with her in their eyes. In my opinion, I have never heard Clinton discuss religious liberty, so what makes Trump different for them? The media. Their opinion is only based off of that. After talking with some people, they realized that they might not understand the whole picture. Not all foreigners are going to be kicked out of America. If they are there legal, nothing will happen. If they are there illegally, there is a possibility, but we will never get ahold of the whole issue. I don't think Guatemalans even knew there was a difference between legal and illegal immigration.

So yes, the world is laughing at America. People claim we've joined their club: having a comedian for president. For me, this doesn't discourage me, but instead encourages me. Let's prove the world wrong. Let's prove that we can bring our country back. This does not depend on the President. This does not depend on the Supreme Court Justices. This depends on us. We were given these two choices based off of a reflection of our society and government. Let's change it.