Hola from Guatemala. 

I want to say first, we made it safely from Mexico the day that everything started to unravel. There is a lot of political unrest happening in Jalisco, but we were basically blissfully unaware while we traveled. When we landed in Guatemala, we started seeing updates of all that was happening, but we made it through borders and everything with zero issue. Thank you for continued prayers for our safety and for the country of Mexico. 

We have made it to the last leg of this incredible journey before we make our way back to the states. How is it that even possible? We have two months in Antigua, and then we will be headed to El Salvador for our final debrief. 

I am going to give you the short version of everything that transpired in Mexico. 

For 6 weeks we lived on the campus of the Casa Hogar Ministry with kids rescued from abusive homes. We served every day by teaching English in several classes: reading, sports and music. We had two sub groups of 13 that either worked with broken rib coffee- an incredible ministry helping the people of Chiapas and donating their profits to the orphanage- or worked to create a sustainable garden for the 100 kids living at the orphanage. We planted crops, built chicken roosts, bought pigs, and painted a beautiful mural.

My ministry is, as always, my students. I wish I could bring them all to meet you guys. We all talk about going to visit each other across the states because how can we possibly separate after this kind of bonding? I love them with all I have in me and I really do thank God every day for allowing me to serve them and disciple them. 

We have had so many adventures in Mexico. Our last week we had the opportunity to work with YWAM in San Cristobal. We went to indigenous communities where the residents had never seen anyone like us- tall, white Americans. We sang in their church, and worshipped with them. We couldn’t understand a word, as it wasn’t even in Spanish, but an entirely different language. It sounded like Mariachi music- but I danced and sang my own song to the Lord. 

We sang in the market tents, teaching kids about David and Goliath through spanish speaking students, and sang and danced with them. We also had the opportunity to serve and pray for families that wait weeks on the streets outside of hospitals hoping to hear good news for their family members inside. We gave them coffee, sang worship songs, and prayed over them and their loved ones. 

After the week ended, we miraculously left Mexico early. There was a mixup with our logistics coordinator. Our bus was booked for Monday, while our stay in Guatemala started Sunday. We decided to ask for the more difficult option of asking the bus to switch to drive us Sunday- and ended up leaving Mexico as the political unrest erupted. God knew, it was time to leave safely. 

When we arrived at Lake Atitlan, our group crashed into our beds. We had found a slice of paradise for a week of processing everything that had gone on in Mexico. We all left feeling rested, excited and a little fried by the strong rays of the Guatemalan sun. 

When we arrived in Antigua, we had to hit the ground running. For the first time this entire journey, our team is going to be split in 2. We have two houses about a 20 minute walk apart in Antigua. My house has 12 girls, and then Tammy, my co-leader’s house has the guys and the other 7 girls. We are partnering with 4 different ministries; which our kids prayed and asked God which they should go to- and miraculously split pretty evenly among them. 

I had the opportunity to sit in a spontaneous worship set with some of my kids at their ministry, House of Prayer here in the city. I can’t tell you how much I wept. I wept for the presence of God. I wept for how proud of them I am. I wept for how hard it is going to be to leave them. 

I have continuously said to them that I have a distinct feeling in my spirit that God is going to do greater things in these last two months than in the entire first 6 months. My expectation is that God has so much left to do here. Even in leading my girls here has been a huge growth and joy for me. I am so grateful for all God has already done in Guatemala. 

Thanks be to God for His faithfulness and the fruit that is produced as we walk in His spirit. He is the God of wonders, miracles, and more than I could ever ask, hope, think, or imagine. Thank you to everyone still supporting me, reading these blogs, and praying for me. I love you more than I know how to express. 

-Amanda