The first week in November, a team of about ten people, coming from four different states, assisted Iglesia Adonai in their yearly vacation bible school. Three of us, though we have been to Guatemala before, were new to VBS at Iglesia. And the rest of the team, save one person, was new to Caroline's Promise, but has helped with VBS for many years. However, God brought all of us together very quickly!Throughout the week, we had a very busy schedule...but the good kind of busy. The kind where you don't realize how exhausted you are until the end of the week, because you're so caught up in how much you love what you're doing. One of our team members shared a verse with us one morning at breakfast that perfectly served as a theme for us the rest of the week: "The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint" Isaiah 40:28-31.
Every morning after breakfast, we eagerly got on the bus and headed to the church to find it full of about a thousand kids. After we left the church at noon, we had lunch at Carlos and Delmi's, and then went to Gerona, where we had about 200 kids every day. Our main objective was handling the crafts--preparing them, distributing them, and explaining them to the classes. Nonetheless, we all had lots of time just to love and be with the people there that have our hearts, whether that meant jump roping with kids in the park, dancing around with them during the songs, or talking with them. With encountering so many wonderful people on a daily basis, the overwhelming amount of love each of us felt was inevitable. At the end of the week we learned that about 75 people accepted Jesus into their hearts during VBS! What a perfect way to end an already amazing week.
God used our individual experiences and favorite moments throughout the week to teach us something unique to our lives:
In Guatemala, God taught me that we are all children of God and help each other to grow in our faith!
In Guatemala, God taught me that relationships are most important.
In Guatemala, God taught me He is still in the business of saving souls.
In Guatemala, God taught me to enjoy everything.
In Guatemala, God taught me that I love kids and kids love me.
In Guatemala, God taught me that you impact people's lives when you don't even realize it.
In Guatemala, God taught me that relationships never fail, even if you don't see or talk to people for a while.
In Guatemala, God taught me that God is always faithful and answers prayers.
In Guatemala, God taught me that He's not going to let me live life in my comfort zone, but He's also not going to let me live it alone.
