I recently returned from a mission trip to Guatemala with Impact Ministries. Going into the trip, I didn’t really know what to expect. For me, the whole summer had just been go-go-go, working and hanging out with friends every day.
When I shifted gears to spend two weeks serving and being in Guatemala, I was impacted in many ways. We spent most of our time playing with kids and visiting homes to provide groceries and prayer. Playing sports with those adorable little kids was my highlight of the trip. Every time we would arrive for the VBS, a swarm of laughing kids would tackle us with hugs.
One kid stood out to me on the first day. First of all, because he was just adorable, but he was also hilarious. This kiddo was always showing off with cartwheels and goofing off while playing soccer. Jake and I had a blast hanging out with him. A few nights later, when we were looking on the website for kids to sponsor, I wanted to find this certain kid to see if we could be his sponsor family. Unfortunately, we couldn’t find him, but there was a child that looked just like him on the website, only his name was different.
The next day at VBS, Jake and I searched for our new sponsor kid and discovered that funny kid we loved and the kid we sponsored were the same person! The name displayed on the website was his given name, and the name we knew him by was just a nickname given to him by his classmates. It was so cool to see how God worked it out so we could have a connection with him. I am so grateful that we got to spend time with our sponsored child and his family, because now when we send letters and gifts, he’ll know who it’s coming from!
On another note, I saw families hurting, praying to the Lord to survive. We visited tiny homes with dirt floors and trash everywhere. Most of the time, families just owned a single room with a sheet on the ground and a pot for cooking on a fire pit. These people had close to nothing, and my heart broke for them. But, even in times of struggle, they never seemed to lose hope. Whenever we delivered food baskets, they welcomed us into their home and offered whatever they could; their hearts were full of love. Always, without fail, they rejoiced and praised God for their blessings. Seeing these people live with so little and still carry so much joy was amazing to me. Regardless of their circumstances, they were always smiling and radiating joy.
In reflection, I have this immense feeling of humility and gratitude. In my daily life, I have everything I could ever want and need, yet I still complain. Meanwhile, these people live in a space the size of my closet with dirt floors and trash with the best attitudes I’ve seen. Returning home to the states has given me a new perspective on how I should live my life day by day, and I know I will carry my experience in Guatemala with me for the rest of my life.
Lucy