Five Years!

We have called Guatemala “home” for 5 years! Yesterday, Soy and I marked five years of living in the beautiful land of Guatemala. I can vividly remember watching my girls walk down the long driveway to my grandparents house to say good-bye, questioning if we were making the right decision as we stepped onto a plane, sitting in the Guatemala airport waiting for all of our luggage, and being emotionally and physically exhausted when we entered our new home. Thankfully, Grace Ministries allowed us a place to live until we were clear about our ministry’s direction. The next morning, I had a piece of paper and pen ready to make a plan on the next steps for our ministry. Soy looked at me and said, “Why don’t we just buy some food today?” We had quit our jobs, traveled with 3 children ages 5 and under, said good-bye to our family, moved away from our church family–perhaps buying food on the first day of living in another country was a much better plan!

Five years later and we can loudly proclaim God’s faithfulness. Faithful. Provider. Comforter. More than Enough. We could write a book on how God has provided time and time again. There have been many needs in our lives where we did not tell anyone and yet God met the need–Every Single Time. He has provide for us over and over again.

Did we ever plan to work hand in hand with Grace Ministries? Nope. Did we ever think about starting a school for the children in our community? Nope. Did we ever plan to be able to work with mission teams? Nope. But God….

God is writing and has written our story so much better than we could have imagined. We are amazed at how God is allowing us to be a small part of His story. We are honored to be able to watch the lives of people change–physically, academically, and spiritually. Has every day been easy? No Way! The Lord is continuing to chisel and mold us on a daily, hourly, minute-by-minute basis.

Our days are filled with the noise of lots of children. Our house has a revolving door. Our car serves as a chicken bus for so many people. Our hearts are filled with pure joy.

Although we are the boots on the ground, we are grateful for the people and pastors who have encouraged us while serving in Guatemala. They are part of His story also. They are part of changing lives. We can not serve without people supporting us, praying for us, and encouraging us. We deeply love every single one of you.

“Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago.” Isaiah 25: 1