Purpose of Guatemala


I just returned from a mission trip to Guatemala, Central America. In the days leading up to this trip and even on the plane to Guatemala, I was uncertain of my reasons for going. For those around me, they saw the nice gesture. For me, I wanted to know the purpose. Why was I picking up a week of my life to go do this? Sure it was a nice thing to do, it was a trip for the furthering of God's kingdom, and a selfless act for others. It still was not enough for me to understand. My faith and trust in God was the only confirmation for this trip. He was leading me towards something and while I did not know what it was at the time, I accepted His push and trusted His direction. 

The first night in Antigua, my team was shocked by my lack of interest in drilling the well. They told me I was going to be missing out, and yet on my heart deep in my soul I knew that there was something else I was supposed to be doing. I committed the week to hygiene and stuck to my gut feeling. 

Monday we traveled to the village in Masagua and little did I know that God's plan for me was more than I could ever image. Note: When my father and sister went to Africa they came back telling us that they had seen no children or adults with disabilities, most likely because of the liability that individual would have on the village. As our van pulled up to the school my eyes caught two young men, around 8 and 15, who had intellectual challenges. My interest was intrigued and suddenly I wanted to know more about them and their family--even more so I wanted to know how they were capable of being included in the community. As the week continued and the 8 year old, Miguelito, started pulling harder at my heart and reminding me of the joys of life through his laughter, his smile, and his uncanning ability to hold my heart in his hands the community began to change as well. I was able to show the community how to welcome this young boy into their lives in a way that was not possible prior. The children began to welcome him into their games and into their play. The adults learned to accept his challenges and see him for who he was, not what he had or what he lacked. And even his younger brother, began to hold him in a different light and guide him. This to me was a magical moment. 

My team continued to tell me throughout the week how special I was for noticing this young man, and it was hard not to tell them he was the special one to remind me of the abilities of God. I was the lucky one. My team said several times how they would not have been able to embrace this young man had I not been on this trip, and it was as they were sharing this with me that I felt God's eyes shine upon me and say "See I know what I am doing with you." My team is very much the norm when it comes to people's reactions to these children's disabilities, many people do not know how to respond and how to act around them. It is completely understandable. God used me to see this young boy with eyes different from the norm, and to invite my team and Miguelito's community to see him the way that I did. This is the purpose of my trip. This was the plan that God had for me in traveling to this village. 

By the end of the week, my team and the community, Miguelito was as normal as he could be--playing soccer with the kids, helping the adults, and embracing life with the wings of an angel. 
My trust and faith in God allowed me to be moved in ways I could not have ever imagined, and it allowed me to further His plans so much more than just through a simple mission trip. 

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future" - Jeremiah 29:11 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Study Buddy: Rome Midterm Break

So I am currently taking a break from my study of Ancient Rome for my totally awesome midterm tomorrow. And as I continue to study and express excitement over the small amounts of information that I can recall and remember I am becoming more and more skeptical of the study of HISTORY. Yes, I am beginning to wonder at the very very very last minute, end of my time in school that history is not really factual. Just because it has occurred does not mean that it is a truth of what has happened. That saying "lost in translation" has a HUGE impact on any sort of history being read, interpreted, or analyzed. Not only are we looking at a history written either recently or better yet, in the very distant past. We are reading the interpretations of someone else. We are reading the WHO, WHAT, WHEN, HOW, &&&& WHY that was most important to them. We are reading an interpretation of the facts. But we all know that facts get "LOST IN TRANSLATION." Let's use som...
Read more

Transition

For awhile now I have been in transition. I have been wondering where my path will lead me this time. And I think I have come to a decision. At first I was thinking of changing up this blog completely, like you followers have seen in the past. Then I remembered the meaning of this blog. I remembered what it stands for in my life journey. I decided I could not change it up completely. Rather I could take a timeout from it and create a new blog for this new journey. And from time to time I could post on this blog. NOMADICBEE. I created this alter ego, this alias, this pen name, etc etc etc. When I was wondering. When I was traveling the tracks less traveled. When I was finding my way, when I was moving around. When I was going to college, creating, defining, and then redefining myself. I am and always will be her, Nomadicbee. This word, sometimes one and sometimes spaced out to two, is me and is part of me. And I will never let it go completely because how can anyone let themselves go c...
Read more

To plan or Not to plan

There are some things in life we kind of have to plan. BUT then do we really? I mean we can plan on going on a trip but then the trip gets cancelled. We can plan a career or graduation. Or plan a party. But then might I suggest that the best things in life are sometimes unplanned? For instance, instead of planning, we allow or open ourselves up to the enjoyment of the possibilities and the unexpected or maybe even the expected. There have been a few times that my plans have fallen apart. It becomes a frustration that many of us know all too well. And then the things that I sometimes do not plan for, are the best things EVER! So I challenge you, instead of planning, maybe say I'm open to it!
Read more