Hi friends!!

First I just want to say I am so sorry that I haven’t written in a month. This past month has been crazy busy and I honestly just forgot to take the time to sit down and write. I’ve had some sweet people reaching out asking for updates, so this blog is going to be a big life update from the last month!

CASA HOGAR

Leaving Casa Hogar was so incredibly hard. The connections we made with those kids are something I will cherish for the rest of my life. I found myself spending so much time in the toddler room. They reminded me so much of Saylor and Peyton, my niece and nephew. Just full of joy, full of life, always ready to laugh and have fun!

On the day we were leaving Casa Hogar, I went into the toddler room one last time. Immediately five little kids ran up to me wanting to play and be held. I instantly burst into tears. None of them knew we were leaving. They had no idea that we would probably never see most of them again.

I picked up this little boy who was one of my favorites. We bonded over dancing to the Macarena and just being absolutely ridiculous together. I can't even count the amount of times I thought about adopting this kid and bringing him home with me. He is going to be a comedian one day, I am convinced. He is so funny. While I was holding him, he looked at me and asked a question in Spanish. As most of you know, I speak about zero Spanish, so I asked Alania who is pretty much fluent to translate. She looked at me and immediately started crying.

He had asked, “Why are you crying?”

How do you tell a four year old that you are not going to live there anymore? That you won’t be there every day to dance the Macarena with him? That he can’t take two hour naps on you anymore?

She explained why we were crying and he just flopped into my shoulder and held onto me. I started crying even harder. My hope and prayer is that God continues to show these kids that they are loved and seen. That He sends more people to pour into them and shine the love of Jesus over and over again. I am praying that the Lord gives me the opportunity to go back to Casa Hogar one day and see some of those sweet faces again.

SAN CRIS

After we left Casa Hogar, we drove to San Cristóbal and stayed for a week at the YWAM base. That week was probably the most challenging week I have had on the field so far.

On our first full day there, our entire squad got incredibly sick. We still have no idea what it was. Maybe the water. Maybe a parasite. Maybe food poisoning. Who knows. Most of us were completely bedridden and needed to be within five steps of a bathroom at all times. Just imagine twenty five people with awful stomach issues and only two bathrooms to share. It was rough.

Everyone slowly started to get better, and some like me were not getting better. I was sick the entire week. I didn’t get to do any ministry because every time I stood up, I felt like I was going to pass out. At one point I genuinely thought this might be the end for me. It was that bad.

Another girl on my squad and I finally went to the doctor because we just couldn’t do it anymore. We got medication and within two days I was back to normal. PRAISE JESUS. Thank you to everyone who was praying for us during that time. We felt it.

After that, we took a twelve hour bus ride to Guatemala, which is where we are now. Our last country of ministry on this journey. How are we already here? It has gone by so fast.

DEBRIEF

We started our time here with a week of debrief about Mexico at Lake Atitlán. It was absolutely beautiful and such a gift. We had time to reflect on everything God did in Mexico and pray into what He wants to do here in Guatemala. There was so much peace during that week. Every night at dinner we would sit next to random people from all over the world and just start conversations. We got to share our faith, hear other people’s stories, and I could truly feel that God was stirring something in the hearts of the people we met. It was so cool to see so many people speaking english it honestly threw me off guard!

We also had time to rest. We got tan, a little sunburnt, explored other parts of the lake, and just enjoyed being together. It honestly felt like a vacation, which was so sweet after being sick. But by the end of the week, I was ready to move. I am not here just to relax. I am here to serve the Lord.

WHERE WE ARE NOW!

Now we are in Antigua and I am so excited. We have only been here three days and I can already feel that God is doing something special.

We are split into two houses because one house could not fit all thirty of us. A lot of people were sad about it at first, and I was a little too. But honestly, I felt so excited. A smaller group means deeper conversations, more intentional time, and stepping outside of the little comfort zones and friend groups we naturally form. I have already grown closer to the girls in my house and I really believe this is part of what God wants to do here. To pull us out of our comfort zones and build stronger, healthier community.

Our leader Amanda shared that she feels like our time in Guatemala is going to be even better than the rest of the trip. That got me so excited. I really believe the Lord has something so intentional for us here.

Today we are starting our first real day of ministry. We are split into four or five different teams working with different ministries around Antigua. I am working with YWAM along with a few others from my squad and I am pumped. We will be doing evangelism, women’s ministry, kids ministry, and more. I just feel expectant!

If you would partner with me in prayer, here are a few specific things on my heart.

• I still have about $1200 left to raise before I am fully funded. I am trusting that God will provide every last dollar in His perfect timing!

• Pray for this new season of ministry in Guatemala. That God would move through each of us and use our stories to touch hearts here in Antigua.

• We have a new leader joining us this week for the rest of the trip! Pray for a smooth transition, for him to lead us well, and for our squad to welcome him with open arms.

• And finally, pray that any lingering sickness would be completely gone. Some people are still not feeling one hundred percent, and we are done with the enemy trying to push us down. We believe for full healing and strength over this team.

I love you all so much. Thank you for following along, praying, supporting, and cheering me on from wherever you are. I will have another update soon.

See you then !