Hey friends! Since we’ve been here, mostly I’ve posted deeper blogs about what the Lord’s been up to. So, here’s a blog just about what the past week looked like for my team in Mixco, so you guys can see a little bit more into what daily life is like! 🙂
Also at the end, some updates about the near future!
This was an interesting and funny week, with quite a range of things we got to do. Also, usually we are full on busy Monday-Thursday, and Friday night with ministry, but we ended up with a couple days off this week, and late starts the other days, which was amazing.
Monday: We got a day off, (gracias a Dios, gracias Alex) because we didn’t have a translator. We got to spend time praying for our pastor Alex, his family, church, and community, and rest a lot 🙂
Tuesday: A family visit day (which is my fav!) So we walked around Mixco to two different houses, and it was raining, so we were soaked. The first house was a family we’ve seen before, and they invited us over for traditional Guatemalan food, which was incredible. After that, we got to pray and worship with them.
One of the coolest things about the past couple months here has been being invited into families homes, and getting to truly experience their culture, and food, and hear their stories. Everyone has been overwhelmingly kind and welcoming.
After this, we went to another house that we had to climb down a ladder to get to. And we got to pray for, and encourage the family who lived there, going through a hard time.
Lol, love you Krista.
Honestly, each house visit could have it’s own blog because of the beautiful things the Lord does, and the stories that so deserve to be heard. So that was powerful and also hard, and then we climbed back up the ladder, headed home, and ate our FAV dinner from Maria. (Huevos, frijoles, and plátanos fritos.) God bless, because we were super muddy and wet from the rain, and tired from a heavier ministry time.
Wednesday: Wasn’t planned to be a day off, but turned into one because the pastor we were going to had something come up. ‘Twas a huge blessing, we got wifi, coffee, and some super good croissant thing, and also Kels gave us facials. A super good change of plans.
Thursday: We went shopping for things to set up and decorate a new kids room at our pastors church, and then did what we were supposed to do Wednesday. Which, this is a funny look into something that happens with the language barrier sometimes.
Thursday night, we were under the impression that we were helping with a service that a local pastor was holding, so we wore some of our nicest clothes and took time to get ready. When we got there, we stepped into one of the most chaotic (in a good, hilarious way) things I’ve ever been a part of. They’re tearing apart a house, plank by plank of wood, and sheet by sheet of metal, throwing the pieces in piles. Dogs are on the roof barking at us, literally nonstop, for hours. Women are chopping branches with machetes. There’s ducks, kids, and dogs running around, and in my chacos, I definitely stepped in poop at some point. The people are laughing at us because we showed up to help with this (taking apart and moving a house) in our super nice serving clothes. This was one of my favorite world race moments so far. LOL.
Here’s me moving a sheet of metal in my cute outfit :’)
Also, in breaks from moving things, I got cuddles from one of my FAV children ever :’)
He’s about two years old, he’s around a lot, and endearingly only refers to the team and I as “gringa.” Definitely doesn’t know my name.
Friday: We had a pretty chill morning, and then drew some posters for the kids room. Krista’s got skills, so she drew, we colored. Our pastor holds church services in a parking garage at 6:30 Friday nights, so we left around 3 to go set up the kids room and get ready for service. We had to run a few last minute errands, and picked up some banana bread, churros, mango, and coffee along the way. And we ran around the streets of Mixco, running errands, while eating lots of food 🙂 It’s the best.
I don’t know what the word was at this service because I wasn’t near our translator, but I could tell it was fire. We took communion after this, and I got to lead worship, which was not the plan but very spur of the moment, with one of the most incredible families to possibly lead worship with/under ever. So thankful to God I’ve gotten to serve with them and know them, and they honestly deserve their own blog too.
Saturday: Sabbath. One of my favs ever. Frolicked around Antigua with Krista. Ate some nachos, got some coffee, got some presents to send home to the fam. Twas very restful and fun.
Sunday: Went to church, my good amiga Sierra got baptized, alongside some families we’ve been ministering to, and really praying for to ask Jesus into their hearts. So that was beautiful :’)
After that, we were invited to a families house for lunch. We ate hot dogs, but like, Guatemalan style, with guac, queso, and some kind of coleslaw. It was amazing. Also, they gave me this kind of chai I drink at home, and it felt like home and that was sweet. Then, we had an awesome worship and prayer time with them. This family is amazing. Extremely thankful for their heart to pour into us and fill us up, to pour back out into Mixco. Then we went home and relaxed. Buen dia. 🙂
Fun updates: SO, we only have about a week and a half left in Guatemala. Extremely bittersweet, and there are many, many things from this season that I have been changed by, and will take with me forever. Big thanks to God, our host family, ministry partners, and my sisters on team GB. A wild two months.
Stepping out of this beautiful season and into lots of change and unknowns, H squad will be stepping out of Guate and into… Honduras!! That’s all I know, but there will be many more updates for ya in the coming weeks.
You guys, thank you for praying and walking alongside me on this journey. I’m so thankful for such incredible partnership and support in my life. From little things, like reading your comments (which I appreciate so much) to huge, kingdom shaking prayers, y’all are incredible. Thank you for keeping up. Much love <3
Ashley,
Una mujer apacible, llena de la dulzura de Jesús! Dios ha preparado estos tiempos de adoración donde usa tu vida increíblemente!! Nunca olvidaremos este tiempo que vez tras vez marca nuestras vidas.
Isaiah 52:7- How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of them that bring good news….
Thank you for that beautiful snapshot of your week! It helps me so much to visualize you and your team so I can pray for you all and thank Him for you all. Love and miss you so much.
Papa
So so great, Ash! I wish I was there right beside you! What an adventure of a lifetime! Praise God that He picked you to go! Hallelujah! ????????????
Ashley,
Thanks for sharing highlights of your week. It is awesome to visually see some of what you are involved with. My prayers continue to be with you and your team as you wrap up in this location and prepare to move to the next. God’s grace, peace and strength as you continue the journey with Him.
I LOVE these updates and getting some pictures into your world! You are making an impact and people will be in heaven one day because of the seeds you are planting and sowing!