Pray for Redbull?! – Week Four in Guatemala

The past few weeks have been a whirlwind. I’ve been sick twice (thanks mom for sending me with the right meds), played a ton of soccer, danced, hitchhiked, spelunked, spent the night on a tiny lake island, and more! It’s been exhausting, but I’m so grateful for all these experiences—especially the opportunity to serve the Lord in such unexpected ways. Whether it’s sharing Jesus with kids through soccer or building relationships in new places, it’s honestly a dream come true.

One thing that’s really stood out to me lately is the power of prayer. It’s easy to overlook how often God answers our prayers, especially in the day-to-day hustle. But I’ve started keeping track of answers, and my journal is now full of sticky notes marking when God has shown up. And sometimes, His answers come in the most unexpected forms.

Take, for example, a morning when I was feeling completely drained and just asked God for a little energy. Not long after, during a house visit, I was offered a Redbull—an item I didn’t know existed here! It felt like such a small, silly prayer answered. But that no request is too small for God.

Then, there’s the bigger miracle. One of the ministry owners we partner with has a little girl who went missing. For a few days, we could do nothing but pray. We prayed so intently, and after what felt like an eternity, God answered every one of our prayers—she was found safe and sound, nine hours away, untouched. What an amazing and gracious God we serve!

The experiences throughout my race have deepened my understanding of prayer. Prayer isn’t just about asking for things—it’s also about worship, reflection, and listening. It’s about being consistent and trusting that God hears us. I’ve learned to pray about everything—from little needs to big ones—and it’s been incredible to see how God responds.

In fact, once in Nicaragua, I was asked to pray for maybe 100 trees, one by one. It may seem strange, but it reminded me that no prayer is too small or insignificant. Whether you’re praying for strength, guidance, or even energy, God cares and He listens.

So, I want to encourage you: pray about everything. A lot of us pray, but what if we took it to the next level? There’s so many ways to pray, maybe try a different route! Prayer isn’t just about asking—it’s about deepening our relationship with God. When we press into prayer consistently, we see Him move in powerful ways. So, talk to God like He’s your best friend—it’s worth it. 

Praying for you all, Maddy!