I have been here in Guatemala for 6 months now; it has been the best 6 months of my life! As I have been looking back on my time here, I am amazed with all God has done through me. When I first arrived I was tired and broken. Tired of living with little to no passion… Tired of living life to just to simply exist… It was my last draw; I would follow God for the rest of my life or be done with Him all together. All I knew was that I was done with a passionless life full of empty pursuit there had to be more to life than just being.

Well, I am going to try my best to recap my last 6 months without boring you.

Month 1:

The first mouth was full of teams, work and more work. And it was the beginning of where God started tearing down the walls within me. Walls that I had set up around myself to keep me safe; barriers to keep me away from as much danger as possible. What I had not realized is that the very walls I had set up around me where the vary walls that kept me from God and running after Him with reckless abandonment.

Month 2-3:

I was here by myself for 2 months. I was the only white girl for miles around (as far as I know). These were the hardest yet best months of my life. The hardest because I was in a different country by myself and did not know any Spanish (yet). But I got what I asked for; I wanted to learn how to trust God completely, so He gave me the opportunity to do so. I had no choice but to put my full trust in
Him, He was the only one I had to lean on in that time. It was the absolute best time because I got to experience God like never before. His tender love, His grace and mercy where shown to me like never before. During that time God started really molding and shaping my hart to be like His. I wanted nothing more than all that God had for me. I started to fall in love with Him. These are two months that I will never forget. These two months ended with a visit home. It was nice to see my family and friends. It was such an unexpected surprise as I did not expect to go home at all during this year.

Month 4-5:

At the beginning of my 4^th month the Benee family (the people I am interning with) came back as well as two interns. It was the beginning of all the adventures; the long drives up and down the mountain and back in forth from mission base to mission base. We had two small teams that came during these months too. My favorite place to be was in the mountains, I love it there. It is so peaceful and quiet. The people are so sweet and friendly life is just lived at a slower pace there. Compared to the US, these people have absolutely nothing, yet they are the happiest most generous people I have ever seen. Man, we did so much in those 2 short months. Multiple trips to and from the mountain bases, taking 15 of our high school kids to the city for the first time in their lives and worked on building the rest of the walls to get ready for putting up the roof in January. So many friendships where made and so many memories built. I could go on and on with different stories and awesome things that happened but I don’t think anyone will want to read that long but I will share one.


One of the times that we were in the mountains visiting people’s houses, providing worship and prayer meetings, playing tag in the jungle with the children and dodging little kids that are in the orange trees throwing rotten oranges at you! Well, after all that we were out a little too long and ended up having to walk home in the dark. But we did not know a few of the village kids were flowing us home and at random times they would jump out from behind tree acting like a wild pig or they would grab one of us to try to scare us and scar us… they did!

Month 6:

We spent most of this time in Rio Dulce working on the roof, finishing up cement pours and laying the wood down to get ready to lay the roof tiles with a team in January. A small team of 3 people came down to help us with that. We also had Christmas in 2 of the mountain villages. We gave out coats, food and dishes. At the beginning of December the two interns that where here went home. And the Beenes went back to the US to spend Christmas with their family. I decided to stay in Guatemala for Christmas to experience Christmas in a different country I am so excited to see what it is like and what their traditions are.

Threw all this time I have had to lean on God in everything, He is the only sure and true thing in my life. I have fallen in love with God and every day I see Him display his love for me. If it is through a beautiful sunset, providing for a need or just giving me surprises. I am truly spoiled by the love and provision of my father! I have not gone one day without provision for my every need. And have found my pursuit to be serving the lost, the hungry, the broken, the poor, the widow and the orphans. Sharing the love the father has given me has become my call; loving people my mission. My first 6 months has been a wild ride I can’t wait to see what the next 6 months holds! 

                                            To make up for all the pitchers I have failed post in the last 6 mouths.
   

 

 

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Christmas video:  http://vimeo.com/82350456 

 

Project Christmas Dishes

My fellow interns and I wanted to do something special for Christmas for the mountain villages that we work in. One of the other interns is raising money for coats as it gets rally cold in the mountains this time of year. A church in Guatemala City is doing a shoe drive for the kids. I wanted to do something special for the families, something not completely necessary but that would be really special. After talking with the Beenes I decided that I want to raise money to buy the families eating ware. We take plates, cups, bowls and utensils for granted in America. This would be something really special for the villagers and something that would treasure for a long time. To give each family dishes, basic utensils and a water pitcher will cost about $30 per family. Our goal is to reach three villages that we work in.

If you would like to donate go to: http://fiaministries.com/give/　you can give by credit card or pay pal. In the box for where you want the money to go put Christmas Amanda to make sure that your money goes to the right project.

Thanks you so much in advance!!!

                              These are some of the people and family that you will be helping!

Life has been busy and awesome!! There are two fellow interns here, they are staying until December. The past month has been filled with painting, preparing the three floors of the mission base, starting a tile project, going to the mountain villages, and playing with kids.

When we were in the mountains we did little house church services at people’s homes; we had a time of worship then　one of us would share something and we would pray for the people. It was an awesome time. We also played with a lot of little kids and there were plenty of new little babies to be held. Like always, the little kids steel my heart. The mountain villages are my favorite place to be, I love the people and kids up there.

This weekend we have been in the city for a little brake from the heat　of Zacpa (where I live most of the time, it is in the desert and is pretty much always hot there). We brought two of the high school students with us from our dorm. They had never been to the city and had never seen more than a three story building. It has been such a cool experience to watch them see things for the first time.　They had never had donuts before so　we　sugared them up with donuts and Starbucks. It was so fun seeing their facial expressions when they were biting in to donuts for the first time in their life. 　

I came to Guatemala because I was sick of living the way I was. I wanted God to become my center, my　all, my everything. I wanted to get to know God; I mean to really know Him. I wanted to know his heart. I wanted to experience His love in such a deep and powerful way that I could never turn form Him ever again because He would completely consume me. Walking down　this strait and narrow path with Christ has been the hardest and best thing　I have ever　done in my life. Walking hand in hand with Christ; asking to be brave and stripped of everything that does not please and glorify Him. Asking him to strip me of my pride and selfish heart has not been full of flowers and beautiful fields of green grass;　no it has been the hardest yet most beautiful thing.

The beginning of my time here I was by myself for two mouths, that is where my path to a broken life started; completely surrendered to God, living for His eyes only. At the time I had no idea what would happen to me, and through every storm I had no idea that it would　lead me to a　life of full contentment in Christ. All I knew was I was tired of living on the lien with God and wanted to be completely consumed by His love or have nothing of Him at all. The last four months of my life have been spent being made new by Christ, letting go of the life I defined myself by and letting God have every part of my life and heart. Walking down a path of being broken was lonely at times and painful. God showed me that I was wrong in thinking that I had to live the "American Dream" full of prosperity, lots of stuff, being successful and knowing where you are going with your life. I found that the　"American Dream" is just a lie we all buy into, it is a distraction to keep us form true life. 　

I Am Back In Guatemala

Will I have been back in Guatemala for a week now. I had a really good visit home; it was nice to see my family and friends. But it is really good to be back too. There are two more interns here now and all the hard work has started!

When I was home I had some time to reflect on what God had taught me in the last two months I was in Guatemala. It was the hardest and best thing I have ever done; spending two months by myself here. God showed and taught me so much. I have to say the underlying theme of that time was, get over yourself this life is not about you. God showed me to lay myself completely at his feet to die to myself and pick up my cross, whatever cost it takes. That I need to get out of my comfort zones and to stop making decisions based on myself and what makes me feel good or that builds up my image. I am to make decisions based on what glorifies God and proclaims His name. Sometimes that means making the hard decision and laying myself and my image at the cross and dying to selfish ambition. Being humble and letting God do what pleases Him at any cost. Because no cost is too great.

Me holding a 10 day old baby.

Some people for a team that came last week.

Visiting a family in the village.                     

Hiking in the mountains. With a team the was

here last week.                                                  

Booting! The other two people in the pitcher

are the other interns that are here.                  

 

 

3 months

Well, I have been in Guatemala for the last three months. It has been absolutely amazing! I spent the last two months there by myself. I was living in a dorm with high school kids that are brought down from the mountains to get a better education and to hopefully break the poverty cycle. As hard as the last two months have been, I would not trade what happened for anything.

God did so much in my life! He became very real to me in a way I have never experienced before. One of the biggest things that He taught me was to give up on the” American Dream” to not live for myself and what I want to see happen in my life, but to live for Him. To be completely sold out for Him to the point that all I want to see happen in my life is whatever glorifies God.

He has been teaching me to take life a day at a time; that I am not guaranteed tomorrow so not to plan away my tomorrows but live for today and to live as though this moment was my last. When you live this way you start to see what is actually important in life. He has shown me that I don't have to have a five year plan with every step planned out and how I am going to get there. To be honest I have no idea what I will be doing after my year here is over but I know God has that plan all worked out, all I have to worry about is today and what He wants to accomplish in my life and the lives of others around me today.

For the last week I have been back home in Colorado and I will be here till the 17th then I go back to Guatemala for nine more months. It has been a good visit back so far. It been pretty eye opening to see the differences between the US and Guatemala. The culture is a lot alike; people are people where ever you go. The major difference is that Guatemalans are a lot happier, relaxed and not stressed out. They don't have as nearly as much as we Americans do, but they are so much happier. They live life at a much slower pace and just take life as it comes. They put family and friends before everything and truly care how you are doing.

2 months

It’s been 2 months wow!!

I have had some of my harder days since being here in the last four weeks, living with the Guatemalan dorm parents. It has also been amazing and I would not trade this time for anything.

I have learned so much about myself and a lot about the love, grace, and mercy of God! I have really grown to love life here; it is a much slower pace… nothing is run on a schedule. Everyone is so sweet, whenever they see someone they know, even if they need to get somewhere, they stop and talk to them to see how there doing. If they need help they do what they can. It shows me how fast we live our lives in the U.S. we don’t even have time to stop and make sure the people around us are ok and doing good. We are too lost in our own worlds, schedules and making sure we get every task complete to even notice the people around us.

So, I have learned and mastered the ability to eat my food without using any utensils, just tortillas, without looking like a two year old (it’s a lot harder than it looks). I am still mastering the task of tortilla making it’s a lot harder than it looks too, but for now I am making a very entertaining evening show!

As my Spanish is starting to get better I am starting to get to know all the students that I am living with, they are all so sweet, always making sure that I am doing good and that I am happy since I have no American friends here.

God continues to show His love to me in new ways every day and knows just what I need and gives it to me just when I need it. He is truly the best Guy ever and I love Him! Thank you all for your prayers and support for this new chapter of my life. I know this time here will impact the way I live for the rest of my life.

Two of the students and me on the roof.

The sun set.

One of the students and the dorm parents doter.

The house I am living in.

One of my new friend.

One of the students and me.