The Richness of Guatemala

I have been home from Guatemala for more than a month now. I can't believe it has been that long already as so many memories are still fresh in my head and close to my heart.  

It was truly a blessed trip and I am so grateful that I was given the the opportunity to go back for a second visit. There were a lot of unknowns and mystery with the first trip, this time it felt familiar, more like I was visiting family and friends.  The word that keeps coming to mind is “Rich”. 

The relationships were rich as I got to know the girls I roomed with. We laughed over silly things, screamed about spiders hiding on the wall of our room, processed the days emotions together and shared our testimonies with one another. We cried, giggled, and got real within the first hours of our trip. Just the relationships that were formed there in that room would be enough to satisfy the connection I was looking for, but there was more. 




I felt an immediate re connection with Bob, Shirley, Juan Carlos and Elizabeth (the full time missionaries that live in Guatemala.) Shirley and I share similar food sensitives and she blessed me by catering to my dietary needs, it's always nice to talk with someone who understands food issues and more so while in another country. 


At San Lucas school I painted nails and made beaded bracelets with the high school aged girls. We sat on the tile floor and used hand signs to communicate since most of the time we didn't have a translator right there.

We had such a sweet special time together and I believe that some of those connections and friendships will continue with the years. 

I have thought a lot about what God wanted me to learn from this trip. As I have prayed and asked Him to show me this one word keeps coming to mind. 

Relationships. 

It seems too simple. 

Yet, God calls us to make them a priority in our life and relationships are for eternity. So why wouldn't this be important to take away and savor from my recent trip? 

Brand new relationships, long time relationships that were rekindled and long distance relationships that will grow slowly over time. 

My hope is that I can prioritize these relationships and bring a part of the richness of Guatemala into my everyday life. In the midst of schedules, sickness, volunteering, cooking, cleaning, deadlines and all life entails, may I not forget what is really important. 

For the richness and the relationships I am truly thankful and clinging to. 

Thank you again friends for your support, prayers and encouragement.