We made it to GUATEMALA!!! God has already been working in our lives. We got to Guatemala on the 12th and stayed at an Adventures in Missions Hub for a night with the whole squad. We then got to go our separate ways and meet our host families for the month! My team is teaming up with another team this month which is super exciting, and we are staying in San Antonio Aguas Calientes and will be serving in La Antigua. It still has not sunk in that I will be gone from home for almost a year or that I am even in another country right now!!

It has been super nice to be “off the grid” for a while. I thought it would be harder than it is, but it has been nice to just take a breath and be able to be fully in the present. This year I want to fully give everything to the Lord. I want to learn how to be fully dependent on Jesus and see where he takes me. God has so much more to offer to us then we could ever imagine. It has been scary at times to not know what God’s plan is for me, but I must remind myself that He has gotten me this far. From just being in Guatemala for a few days I have noticed that it is such a beautiful country, and that God has so much love for these people. They are all so kind and eager to hear what we have to say about God. We are all vey excited to serve the people here in this community. The weather so far has been amazing! It’s been way cooler than we all expected which has been a huge blessing. Our host has been making us meals and they are all so good. Can never get tired of plantains!!! Oh, and can’t forget the COFFEE!

Things you all could be praying for is for my team’s health as well as our energy to wake up everyday and serve the Lord in any way he asks us too. Prayer for the community around us when evangelizing and for the ministry we are working with called the Worship Room. Then something on the more personal side, on August 21st marks 2 years of my dad’s passing. I do not know how I will feel, but my heart usually feels very heavy around this time of year. I remember talking to him my freshmen year of college about wanting to do the World Race, and to be here now without him in my life is hard. I know he is in a better place now and that he is proud of me, but that does not always make it easier. Pray that I will have comfort from my heavenly Father during this time.

Thank you, friends, and family, for following my journey and for your support and prayers. It means so much. Something that God has put on my heart recently is just how blessed I am to have such amazing people in my life. He has surrounded me with an army of loved ones, and I will forever be grateful for that.

Jeremiah 31:3, “I have loved you, my people, with an ever-lasting love. With unfailing love, I have drawn you to myself.”