Jumpin In
Friends and Family,
We've spent the last two days digging into relational and spiritual ministry that has left our team tired but in awe of what God is doing.
On Saturday, we had our first day of Academies, a time where we bring our gifts and talents and share them with the Guatemalan youth. The youth got to choose between beginner and intermediate English classes, art classes, or even guitar lessons. Despite the language barrier, our team did an amazing job of communicating and instructing.
Jake, Mikee, Lexie, Ella, and Elaina had the difficult task of teaching English to young adults who never even finished middle school. At first, the young adults were reluctant to engage, but by the end, they were all enthusiastically working in small groups asking each other (in English) about their favorite foods, colors, activities, and more.
In the evening, we had our first church service at Vida Abundante (Abundant Life). Worship in Guatemala looks very different than in the US. The service lasted close to three hours! It started with a time of passionate worship (we were all dancing in the aisles!). Katie and Lauren led the congregation in a beautiful acoustic version of Guíame a la Cruz (Lead me to the Cross), and our skit team performed their evangelistic drama.
After a sermon about the importance of having faith in God, we moved into a final time of spirit-filled worship. Guatemalans and North Americans alike were crying, worshipping, kneeling, and praying over each other. For many members of our team, that service marked the first time they had experienced God so strongly, and many heard directly from Him.
As Ariana said, "We got an overdose of the Holy Ghost!"
Sunday was a long day for us. We hosted an all-day Congreso, or conference, at our campsite. From 8 am til 5 pm, we worshipped and listened to various speakers. We gleaned a lot from the day, but it was also very mentally taxing for non-native Spanish speakers to focus for that long. We're so proud of our students for sticking with it and doing that hard work!
It was certainly an impactful conference - at the end of the day, three Guatemalan youth gave their lives to the Lord for the first time! We're amazed and humbled to see God show up in such a mighty way and we're praying for His continued presence.
After the Congreso, we went out to Sarita, the Guatemalan Dairy Queen, to celebrate Mikee's birthday with ice cream cakes and concluded the day with a great conversation about God, culture, and all that we've experienced. It was a sweet ending to a long day.
Keep praying for our students, that they will be bold in sharing God's love and the Gospel message with those they encounter.
Hasta luego!
We've spent the last two days digging into relational and spiritual ministry that has left our team tired but in awe of what God is doing.
On Saturday, we had our first day of Academies, a time where we bring our gifts and talents and share them with the Guatemalan youth. The youth got to choose between beginner and intermediate English classes, art classes, or even guitar lessons. Despite the language barrier, our team did an amazing job of communicating and instructing.
Jake, Mikee, Lexie, Ella, and Elaina had the difficult task of teaching English to young adults who never even finished middle school. At first, the young adults were reluctant to engage, but by the end, they were all enthusiastically working in small groups asking each other (in English) about their favorite foods, colors, activities, and more.
In the evening, we had our first church service at Vida Abundante (Abundant Life). Worship in Guatemala looks very different than in the US. The service lasted close to three hours! It started with a time of passionate worship (we were all dancing in the aisles!). Katie and Lauren led the congregation in a beautiful acoustic version of Guíame a la Cruz (Lead me to the Cross), and our skit team performed their evangelistic drama.
After a sermon about the importance of having faith in God, we moved into a final time of spirit-filled worship. Guatemalans and North Americans alike were crying, worshipping, kneeling, and praying over each other. For many members of our team, that service marked the first time they had experienced God so strongly, and many heard directly from Him.
As Ariana said, "We got an overdose of the Holy Ghost!"
Sunday was a long day for us. We hosted an all-day Congreso, or conference, at our campsite. From 8 am til 5 pm, we worshipped and listened to various speakers. We gleaned a lot from the day, but it was also very mentally taxing for non-native Spanish speakers to focus for that long. We're so proud of our students for sticking with it and doing that hard work!
It was certainly an impactful conference - at the end of the day, three Guatemalan youth gave their lives to the Lord for the first time! We're amazed and humbled to see God show up in such a mighty way and we're praying for His continued presence.
After the Congreso, we went out to Sarita, the Guatemalan Dairy Queen, to celebrate Mikee's birthday with ice cream cakes and concluded the day with a great conversation about God, culture, and all that we've experienced. It was a sweet ending to a long day.
Keep praying for our students, that they will be bold in sharing God's love and the Gospel message with those they encounter.
Hasta luego!
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