Guatemala

Hey there again!

The past time in Guatemala was difficult, fun and educational. Guatemala probably made the biggest impact on me of all the countries we visited so far. I learned so much from the pastor and the church. We visited many cities but stayed in Panajaechel. This is one of those times which felt so short because there was so much going on.

(A view from the city Panjaechel where we were staying)

Firstly I want to tell about the revival in the team. We have been working on our unity as a team so much this year but this revival was probably one of the biggest steps so far. We had a prophesy at the beggining of the year that God is going to bring a freshness into the team like clothes being hanged up so that it may dry out. One morning we were having devotion and I just felt that I cannot bring change in the unity of the team. I felt that it was my work but the load got too heavy.
I started to cry and tell everyone that I can not hide things anymore and feel to weak to change the team. I also asked sorry for all the times that I hurt people. As I was sitting I saw everyone's faces filled with compassion and tears. We all just recomitted ourselves to the group and to each other. We also confessed our sins against the fellow team members. After about two hours of sobbing and getting everything into the air we looked up and saw all the clothing hanging above us that we hanged inside because it rained outside. Wow!!

-I learned that God sometimes brings change through you by using your weakness-

(You can see the clothes hanging at the top)

The church we were at blessed us so much. We received many teachings from the pastor and the rest of the church served us in so many ways. They gave us prophetic words,laid their hands on us and washed our feet.
(One of the church members washing my feet)

The pastor taught us a lot about construction work because he was busy doing some work on houses of the church members. He also taught us how to evangelise by taking us to a cave called witches cave. There was many witches doing their sacrifices by offering sweets, candles and chickens. It was a very eerie site. After we watched them for a bit the pastor started talking to them about what they are doing and what the bible says about it. He was very relaxed and didn't fight with them. He only brought the truth and that is what we are called to do. He then left them with the truth so that they could decide on what they will do with it. it.
(A witch and other followers making sacrifices)

We worked very hard. But it was fun. We painted, fixed a well, cleared a part of a wood to make space for someone to build a house, fixed a roof, put on a side roof and also fixed stairs. Through this we learned many new skills like mixing cement and how to fix problems. As a team we bonded a lot through this work.

(Me doing work with my pangas!)


(A picture of the well before we fixed it)


(A picture of the well after we fixed it)

We visited a children's home and 2 schools were we brought the gospel. It was so much fun to play with the kids and I really missed my small brother at home.


(Children from the school watching our drama)


(Playing with children from the children's home)

For some fun stuff we went to Volcan Pakaya and us guys visited a water park called Xocomil. Volcan Pakaya was a great experience. It was the fisrt time I ever saw a volcanoe. It looked like something out of this world. Green grass were surrounded by 2 month old lakes of cooled down lava. We climbed to the side of the volcanoe. There we toasted some marshmallows. 1.2.3 seconds and it was burnt!!!
(Volcan Pakaya)

The waterpark we visited was a private excursion by the boys of Northbound. The morning about 6 o'clock we started travelling. that day we travelled a bit more than 10 hours to get there and back but it was really worth it. All the Guatemalans was astonished by these 4 big white guys running into the park like little kids screaming as we went down the slides! It was amazing!!

Guatemala is a very poor country but it has a rich cultural experience. Everywhere along the roads was the most interresting food stalls and and little gifts to buy. People made money buy stacking old school buses full with about 3 times the amount of people it is supposed to hold. We had many scary rides on this old school busses called chicken busses. Everywhere there was also little chilren selling mangos's and little sweets to have food to eat that night. I chatted with some guys in the the team and we said that poverty is more measured in being unsatisfied with what you have vs being happy  although  you have very little. These people it Guatemala almost had nothing but was so happy. It was really inspirational.


(Chicken busses)


(Another form of transport called 'tuk-tuks')


(Some of the stalls next to the road)

Thank you all for reading my blog. At the moment we are on our way to Los Angeles and we stopped for a night at a hostel to rest after thee last 2 days of constant travelling and sleeping next to the street for 1 night. But all the travelling is a lot of fun!

Please pray for:
 
-Our safety as we travel.
-That God will bless the church we visited in Guatemala for all that they have done for us.
-That God will teach us more about Him and give us a hunger for Him.

(If you want to read my personal blog go to http://albieonglobalchallenge.blogspot.com )

Thank you all!! May God bless you!