Bittersweet

Hi friends!  We made it home Monday night at 10 PM--a long day after starting out at 4 AM.  We all arrived safely with all of our bags.  Some members of the group have experienced sickness while travelling, fortunately, Matt and I stayed healthy.  It was wonderful to see Sydney and Jay and my mom again, who all survived our time away very well.  The kids only cried the morning we left and did well the rest of the time.  We had made a recordable book called Bedtime Prayers and Promises that they really enjoyed while we were gone, listening to it over and over again.  I was very proud of them that they did so well while we were gone.  My mom attributes it to us preparing them well, which I agree we did.  But I also know that we had a great concern for our kids when we first had thoughts of going on an anniversary trip, wondering how our kids would do.  I remember thinking that we should only be gone for 5 days because our kids had never been away from us more than 1, very worried of how they would do.  But, when we decided to go on this mission trip, God gave us an extreme sense of peace for our children, my insecurity of leaving them had gone away once we discarded the idea of going on a trip for ourselves, feeling confirmed that it was God's plan for us to serve Him and he would provide the rest.  My mom did a wonderful job of caring for our kids and the kids had lots of fun keeping Grandma busy!  We prayed for peace and safety for them everyday, and God provided.  Jay said it best when I asked him,"Could I have stayed another two weeks and you would have been fine?"  He said, "Yes, you could, but I am really glad you are home." 

We were unable to blog while we were gone, as we were on a "media fast".  Also included for me were a blowdryer fast and a makeup fast.  No cell phones or emails to interrupt our days or thoughts, focusing only on the people of Guatemala and the work the Lord wants to do.  We instead did a group blog where we each blogged once during the trip, some of you have already seen this, others I know have not.  It is at http://harvestoutreach.tumblr.com/ Take a look at it to get different viewpoints from all of the group.  It is so amazing that we can experience things as a group and God can teach us all something different.  I do plan to update our blog with events of the 10 days based on the journaling I did each day, but am still trying to just get back into life here at home.  So that will take time.  One day at a time.

There is so much to describe and no way to describe it all with words.  The Guatemalan people hold a big place in my heart and I feel like I left part of it there.  The suffering and poverty make you want to commit your life to helping them.  The need for trusting in the one and only Savior, Jesus Christ, is great.  These people have a great need.  These people live a simple life that seems refreshing to me- a life uncluttered by stuff...things and objects,things to do.  A life not driven by the worldly ways of the United States--money, desire for more things, desire to look good to your neighbor, having the things that symbolize wealth, prosperity, climbing the ladder of success.....this is all clutter to me.  God has definitely placed it on my heart and given me a visual of what it means to be in this world, but not of this world.  The challenges are great to live in this world, denying ourselves of the worldly desires we see around us.  It is so much more fulfilling to look beyond what we see, and live for creating relationships, loving one another, showing compassion, and being used to grow each other in Christ.  In Guatemala, it is about relationships.  I desire to live for Christ.  I have a better picture of how God wants me to live on only what I need, truly need, and to give away the rest.  One of the verses that speaks to me on this is:

Haggai 1:6  You have sown much, and harvested little.  You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill.  You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm.  And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes.

Thanks for everyones support and prayers.  Impact Ministries in Guatemala is investing in the lives of the people of Guatemala.  It is a great blessing for us to be a part of it, and to bring blessings to these people of Guatemala.     Acts 20:35 says: In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'