We are down to the wire here in Guatemala, only 5 days before Andi and I go home. It’s going to be sad leaving all of this, but I am SO excited and so anxious to be home. We’ve fulfilled our purpose here and its just time, you know?

 

Haven’t had a whole lot to do this past week, we’ve had our regular kid’s ministries and church stuff, but other than that, we’ve mostly just been hanging out around the house. Due to extreme bored-ness, we have started riding the crazy “chicken” buses to Antigua and San Lucas around here to hang out. Its not as insane as it was made out to be-I actually really enjoy riding them. Plus it gives me an opportunity to get super close with all the Guatemalans…we sat four to a seat the other day. I was basically sitting in this woman’s lap!

 

Tom and Elizabeth and Cheryl Leigh took us out for breakfast yesterday at this awesome restaurant in the Hotel Santo Domingo in Antigua. They had a breakfast buffet….and oh man, it was so good. Probably one of the highlights of my trip. I’ve probably gained atleast 10 pounds since I’ve been here because I eat so much, I feel like I’m a middle-school aged boy or something, it’s like my stomach is a bottomless pit. I’ve taken a worm pill, so I don’t think that’s it. Maybe things will get back to normal when I get home, otherwise I will probably be a fatso before long! Haha.

 

I’m very much looking forward to: washing my clothes with a washer and dryer….hot showers…no flies….my mom’s awesome cooking…..sitting on couches (they don’t have many here!)……seeing signs in English…..and talking to people in English (!)….and much more. It’s going to be great to be home. I’m so blessed to have had the opportunity to spend the summer here and meet so many wonderful people. I don’t take that for granted whatsoever….but I’ve realized how awesome home is!

 

God has made me so grateful for what I have, He has opened my eyes to seeing the needs of others, He has given me a boldness that I didn’t know existed in me. He has done so much more in my life that I can’t even explain, and if nothing else was gained from this trp, at least I can say that He brought me out of my habitual life and spent 8 weeks working in me. Before I came to Guatemala, I really liked God. He was pretty cool, and I trusted Him to take care of me and stuff. I even tried to spend everyday reading the Bible and saying a 5-minute prayer, probably so I could give myself kudos and feel good about it. It’s nice to be able to say that I really am in love with God. I spend time in His Word everyday because I enjoy learning about Him and what the life of a Christian should look like. Praying is still a struggle for me because I may be ADHD….but I’m working on it. He has definitely matured me as His daughter in the past 8 weeks, and has drawn me closer to Him and to being the woman He desires for me to become. I’m not sure what my life is going to look like in the future, but I feel ready for anything! One thing I have learned from working for Hearts for the Children is that we should always be prepared for things our plans to dramatically change; I may not be completely ready, but I’m closer to whatever that point is.

 

I’m pretty sure this will be my last post before I get back to America. It will be a crazy and emotional week of goodbyes, but ”all good things must come to an end.”

 Thanks to all who have taken the time to follow me throughout this summer. I appreciate all of the encouraging messages and emails. It meant so much to know that someone cared enough to follow this, so thanks for reading! I am blessed to know people like you, and am so thankful for all of you. My flight will be landing Tuesday night around 6pm EST, so please pray that we will get there safely!

 

Dios le Bendiga :)