Hi everyone! I know it's been a while, I’ll admit, I am terrible at blogging. Sometimes I feel like what I'm doing isnt worth sharing, but I know that isnt the point. The point is that my family (yes you!) from across the world wants to hear from me and support me. So Lord, help me be more diligent in blogging. 

Let me start by saying, I’ve never seen God work like He is right now.  

In January and February, we served at an orphanage called Casa Hogar Alegre, which means “Happy Home” in English. About 100 children lived there, and the amount of joy and love they had for each other, and for us, was incredible. Hearing about the devastation many of these children had experienced, whether physical, sexual, or emotional abuse, was truly heartbreaking. Yet despite everything, their joy left me in awe. We stayed at the orphanage for about two months, making us the longest group to ever serve there. Most groups only stayed for a week or two. During that time, we formed deep bonds with the kids. They became like our little brothers and sisters, always ready to play with us and learn from us. 

Three days a week, we ran classes that included sports, singing songs, and teaching English. Safe to say, I probably don’t have a future career as a teacher, but I wouldn’t change a single moment. We also worked on an urban garden project aimed at creating a sustainable source of fruits and vegetables for the children to grow, harvest, and eat. But, we had only 10–12 days to complete it. During that time, we weeded the entire garden, created more space for chickens, cleaned pig pens and found pigs, planted crops, built an irrigation system, and painted a mural. By the end, we had almost an entirely new garden, and the kids were so happy. 

One of the main things I’ve been focusing on recently is what I can do to make things better. My job here is to serve in whatever way possible. If that means spending hours weeding a garden, I’ll be happy. If that means teaching kids English, I’ll be happy. If that means forming meaningful connections with children only to eventually leave, I’ll still be happy. 

The hardest part of this ministry was leaving. After forming such strong connections with kids who simply wanted to be loved, saying goodbye was heartbreaking. Many of them had next to nothing, 15 to 20 children in a room, one bathroom, and a single bar of soap shared between them. It really makes you realize how privileged and blessed you are. Our main goal was to love these kids and have fun, and that’s exactly what we did. I will forever remember Mexico and my time there, and I hope to return one day. 

As we wrapped up our time in Mexico, we began preparing for our journey to Guatemala. We had a long ride ahead of us — 12 hours, to be exact. With everything happening in Mexico at the time, we were a little concerned about crossing the borders. One crossing was guarded by cartel members, while the other would have added six hours to our drive. So what do you think we chose? Of course, the shorter one. We were very wary of how we acted and stayed alert, but we crossed without any problems. Hallelujah! Next stop: Lake Atitlán for debrief. We shared productive feedback about Mexico, and for the rest of the week we rested and prepared for the next, and final, leg of our race. 

We began ministry in Antigua with ATL (Ask the Lord). I’m not the biggest fan of this form of ministry, but when we went out seeking where the Lord was leading us, we encountered people who were truly hungry for Jesus. Nearly everyone I’ve spoken with here has been eager to know the Lord and His love. They may not know it yet, but we’re here to tell them. I feel like I’m in my evangelizing prime, excited to talk with people and share the free gift we’ve all received: the love of Jesus and His promise of eternity. 

I think it’s especially important, with everything happening in the world right now, that we take every step we can to make people aware of what’s coming. Each day, I feel Jesus drawing closer. While I don’t know the day or the hour of His return, I feel His presence all around me. Sometimes I think about friends back home living their college lives, parties, relationships, and going out, and I catch myself thinking, “You only live once; let’s live it up.” But then I remember: I have one life, one opportunity, and eternity is coming. I want to be ready for it. 

Before this trip, I thought missions were about going somewhere far away to change lives. Now I think they’re more about allowing your own life to be changed. I’ve seen joy where comfort didn’t exist and hope where circumstances said there shouldn’t be any. It made me wonder if fulfillment isn’t found in having more, but in needing less, in loving deeply, serving freely, and trusting fully. Maybe the real question isn’t whether we’re willing to go across the world to serve, but whether we’re willing to live differently when we come home. 

 For the glory of God