Girl Gone Guat

What an amazing trip!! We have had a full ten days of ministry, travel, laughter, tears, translating, and so much more! After arriving Friday afternoon, we spent about six hours practicing for the Born Again to Living Hope drama before dinner and a well deserved night of rest. Saturday morning we went shopping before returning to the office for lunch and then off to a Bible club. The team outnumbered the kids at the Bible club, but it was great to experience worship in a different culture and country. Sunday morning we had our own service at the office, complete with singing in English and Spanish, before traveling to Coban. This was a new ministry opportunity for the team in Guatemala, partnering with a church in the city to branch out to communities in and around the city. We performed the drama a total of nine times in schools, churches, and community buildings. Six hundred and twenty-two people made decisions for Christ. One of them was a young man who was brought by his mom after she had watched the performance the night before. He was a drug addict and worked at a circus. He fell into the tiger pit and was paralyzed as a result. Jose, one of the directors, talked to him for a long time after the show and he made a decision to recommit his life to the Lord. Some of those people didn't even see the drama. After a performance in the mountains, the guys were loading the equipment when Josiah saw three young men on the side of the road. He grabbed his translator and presented the gospel to them. All three of them accepted Christ!

The highlight of my trip also happened while we are on that mountain. The building was small, the stage smaller, and backstage nonexistent. So, we were standing outside while Edgar preached after the drama. Hannah came up to me and told me that there was a girl who was using sign language. Needless to say, I was pretty excited! I didn't know Guatemalan Sign Language, though Monica our director did, but I still wanted to meet her. She could hear a very little bit and told us her name was Bernice Maria. Most of what she knew was home signs, but we were still able to communicate a little. We played a version of a clapping game and when we would mess up, she would laugh. I wish I was able to record that laugh....it was so beautiful! Then she laced her fingers with mine and we started dancing back and forth. Pretty soon, she had a whole group of us students dancing in a circle. It was so hard to leave her there, but it was harder knowing that she didn't have the opportunity to understand the gospel. I pray that she someday has the opportunity. It was such a good reminder for me. Back in November when we had to choose which trip we wanted,  didn't want to go because it wouldn't be Deaf ministry. I learned through that little girl up in the mountains that it didn't matter where I was, even if I felt like it wasn't where I was supposed to be, it was indeed where I was supposed to be. I need to serve wholeheartedly wherever I am, and the Lord will bless that.

Overall, it was an eye-opening experience. I am going to be praying about going back full time. I have a whole year to decide, but I could see myself living there and working with the Deaf community in Guatemala. I love the culture and the people and I could learn Spanish. "Girl Gone Guat" just may be more than the title of this blog.....

P.S. for photos: https://goo.gl/photos/g3cYq2ho2X5n9FgP6