This week has been incredible! It’s only my second week in Guatemala, and I’ve already fallen in love with this beautiful country I love its vibrant culture and flourishing nature. We spent our first week in Antigua, debriefing as a squad after our time in Nicaragua. It was a few days of relaxation and exploration, soaking in God’s presence and reminiscing about our experiences in Nicaragua. Also the last time our squad would be together during our time in Guatemala, a sweet time.
Journey to Poptún Petén
Soon, we embarked on a nine-hour drive from the AIM base in Guatemala to Poptún Petén, where we arrived at One Way—a ministry dedicated to working with the next generation through education, sports, and the gospel. We feel so blessed and excited to partner with them!
Working in Villa Hermosa
During the past week, my team of five visited a community called Villa Hermosa. This area is not recognized by the Guatemalan government, meaning the residents lack access to essential services like electricity, healthcare, and schools. As a result, life is incredibly challenging. There are only about eight students in the community because, by age seven, many children must work to support their families. They primarily speak a dialect called Kaqchikel, but they also speak Spanish, allowing us to communicate.
In this culture, children typically start looking for a spouse between the ages of 12 and 15, which is way different than what we are used too. Another challenge is that fathers often leave their households for 7-9 months to find work, as job opportunities are hours away, and transportation is difficult. With this, some kids grow up without a father figure. Another thing we do here is, house visits. We typically visit homes of the children who attend the school. We pray, hear about their story, and just engage in moving conversations.
More Ministry
There are so many different ways we partake in ministry here, this is just a little bit more… We work with a few other communities that are recognized by the government, where we interact with 150 to 200 children. We teach them, lead art activities, play games, and, of course, lots of soccer! There’s something so special about the kids here in Guatemala—they truly love to love. Every time we meet them, even if it’s our first encounter, they run up and give the sweetest hugs. I’ll never forget a little boy, about four years old, who ran through the school gates with his arms outstretched, giving me the most heartwarming hug. These kids love picking wildflowers and bringing us bouquets—what will we do with all these flowers? ¡No sé!
Fun Memory
One of my favorite memories from the week was hitchhiking with my team and a couple of hosts from one community to another. What could be more thrilling than hopping into the back of a stranger’s truck in Guatemala while not really being able to communicate?
Prayer Requests
Please pray for our health—I got pretty sick earlier this week, but the Lord is the ultimate healer, and I’m doing good! We want to keep everyone else healthy, too. Pray that God moves in incredible ways here and that these kids grow to seek His heart. Lastly, lift up our other team at Prayer Mountain, that they may be filled with joy, health, and strength!
Thank you all for following along on my adventures so far. I’m so excited to share more about what the Lord is doing in Guatemala!
Love and hugs,
Maddy!
I continue to pray for you and your team. It blesses me to read about your experiences and what God is doing in your heart and mind as well as the people God puts in your path. I admire your courage to engage and share with the Guatemalans. I was also reminded this morning that there are not many weeks left before you will be heading home. What a blessing this experience is, and I believe that it has changed how you look at life, in general. I am grateful to God for you and faith journey. You are an encouragement!
Love,
Grandma Joan