I can hardly believe I’m about to do my last trip of the summer. This summer has felt like a dream. My plan was to blog all along, but the speed of life didn’t allow for it. Sometimes hindsight is better anyways. At the end of May I went to Guatemala with Water’s Edge (College Ministry).
I had never been to a Spanish speaking country at all before. During the first part of the trip, I kept on asking God, “God, why did you bring me here?” I knew that I was there for different leadership reasons, but I couldn’t help but feel like there were more reasons. One first glance at Lake Atitlan and I understood the second reason why I was there. God was lavishing me. He was giving me extravagance. Because I deserve it? No. Because he loves me, and would take me to one of the most beautiful lakes in the world (CNN & National Geographic) just because he knew I’d love it.
One of the first days there, we went to a school to play with the kids and speak to them about God’s purpose for their lives. A dozen little girls latched on to my arms, and my high school Spanish gained wings. (granted--- baby wings) It was play time and they chattered happily at me, and I had no idea what they were saying. I only caught, “mariposa” (butterfly), and they were together dragging me down an ally way and behind one of the classroom buildings. One of the little one’s reached into a hole in the ground and pulled out a little dead moth in a little box. I was in the process of witnessing a mariposa funeral. It was comical to me, when I had heard “mariposa” I expect any of the numerous big colorful Guatemala butterflies, not a little brown moth. I made the mistake myself when I was a little girl. Gathering and nurturing caterpillar through the cocoon stage with great expectation only to find that a little brown moth emerged.
In the middle of the trip the 40 of us met out in the front courtyard of the hotel to worship and pray. Nearly everyone was crying. I’m always amazed at how God can use such simple things to do such profound changes in people.
-- People weeping openly about the overwhelming love of God. People realizing their purpose in life. People understanding that they are called to holiness. Only God can do these things.
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| Children's Ministry. We are all pretending to be animals in a skit. |
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| Mariposa Girls |
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| View from the Hotel |
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| Spaghetti and Coke |
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| Bus Rides Everywhere |
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| Carlie and Carolina |
