Guatemala family comments

The blended Guatemala family, Grace, Daniel, Maydy and Lauri. God brought us all together.

Words fail to describe the impact of spending two weeks in Guatemala with fellow believers from FBC and Guatemala. Grace and I were both overwhelmed with the love of God being shared between people. I truly loved being a part of the developing fellowship that transpired. Before the two weeks, these were for the most part strangers coming together for different reasons. After spending condensed, focused time together, we emerged as friends and comrades, Guatemalans and Americans. Going to church on Sunday after a trip is an amazing experience. There are new friends to hug in the hallway, (we need to do much more hugging!), the songs take on a new spirit and the Word of God seems much clearer. I have to say that going to Guatemala was for me a mobilizing experience. You can not just come home and not do something. God will provide the vehicle, I just have to get on board.
Grace didn't want to come home and is wanting to spend even more time there next year if she can figure out a way. She reconnected with Karen, a Guatemala girl who she prayed and cried with last year like long lost friends. She held and comforted Karen's little sister, Sarah, who cried and cried when given a photo of her and Luke O. There are definitely relationships established through the Spirit that are so impactful we have a hard time grasping the implications. Grace also had so much fun getting to know the Guatemalan teens and commented that they are just like teens here with the same trials and delights that she experiences in high school.
Of course getting to see Maydy and Daniel was especially tender for us. God has provided us with a family in Guatemala through His divine inspiration. How else could have we connected in a way that provides so much love across the miles and cultures. This year Maydy and I did not need Daniel to translate and stayed up into the wee hours Friday night before we left talking mom issues. It really was a miracle that we communicated so well. Maydy going on team with us for two days was more important than we imagined. She had never been on a mission trip before or seen her own people through mission vision and she was moved to tears. Her prayers were so beautiful! Daniel loved reconnecting with his buddies from Faith and making new friends as well. Watching him say goodbye to Matt Garcia was a tearful experience for us all. As Taylor Alcott said, "Ya'll are going to have to stop or you're going to make me cry!", and of course he did. What a blessing to see young people break down the "cool" walls and have true affection for each other. Gathering around Maydy and Daniel on our final share night, laying on hands for prayer you could feel the Spirit of God washing over us connecting souls for His purpose. God is good...all the time!
I'll be back!