Dios es bueno

Dios es bueno. Siempre.

God is good. Always.

These words have always rang true in the back of my mind, but they have a new meaning living in Guatemala, where the phrase “Dios es bueno” is used so commonly like the air you breathe. Guatemala has surpassed my expectations beyond measure. This country, the community, the ministry and of course our host family; all of it is astounding beyond what we deserve. Dios es bueno.

The country- Where we are in Guatemala, poverty is more common. It’s overwhelming to look around at what I see, and then let my mind wander back to the US. It’s hard, not going to lie. We have so many material items, that in all reality don’t matter. But what the people have in Guatemala is much greater, than any item. They have a faith so strong, rooted in what matters. Dios es bueno. Siempre. Most of the homes are made out of sheets of metal, but inside is filled with the warmth and love of a family. I can hear the laughter of children and the smiles on their faces from true joy found in what matters, God. 

The community- Mixco is a big city, filled with people desperate for the love of God. So many people feel they are “unworthy” or “unlovable” and that is absolutely not the case. All are welcome at His table, and it’s been beautiful to see that spark light up in eyes that have been hurt in the past. As far as our location with my team, we are located in a gated area. As our host family said ” The ministry you do is heavy and hard. I wanted the teams serving to have a safe and nice place to rest their heads.” We live on the top half of a house, and it’s truly nice. Our hosts mother, Maria, is an absolute angel. She lives below us and cooks every single meal for us. It’s been incredible to say the least! We do live in what our hosts says is “a red zone” so our curfew is 6 p.m. every night unless we have ministry at church or we are with him or a family member. 

The ministry- Wow I honestly can’t even put into words how absolutely phenomenal it is. Casa Guatemala is a ministry that I hope I can financially support one day, because it is worth every penny donated. It started because our host Alex saw a need in the city of Mixco. A city full of darkness, that desperately needed light. A city full of drugs, prostitution, gangs, violence and children who see that darkness. He decided to do something about it, and the city of Mixco is slowly but surely seeing that light. He developed the name Casa Guatemala because at one point he and his family were homeless and looked to different churches for help, but sadly no church helped his family. He named it Casa (Home/House) because he never wanted anyone to feel unwelcomed at this church. This church was home to whoever needed it, especially those who felt they were out casted by societal standards. And boy does walking into that church make anyone feel absolutely loved and welcomed. It’s a church that is starting to be planted in the city of Mixco, so it’s currently in a parking garage on the streets of Mixco. Jesus is for the people and the city of Mixco, and I can’t wait to watch it continue to grow. We also do home visits, bringing food to those in need, praying for families and those on the street,  worshipping, and just letting people know they are loved and welcomed in the arms of Jesus. 
 

The host family- Again, all I can say is wow. This family has welcomed a team that doesn’t speak fluent Spanish, and has treated us just like their own. They feed us, take care of us, supply us with all we need, love us, encourage us and have fully taken us in under their wings. Family is clearly important in this culture, and it doesn’t matter that we look different, because at the heart of it we are made by the same God. Oh Dios es bueno. Dios es muy bueno. Siempre. Also they are incredibly patient with us as we learn Spanish haha. We also have a translator provided by the family and he is just as equally amazing as them. Guatemala is incredible, and Jesus has always been here. We didn’t bring Him here, we are just continuing to shine His light. 

Continue praying for our team as the ministry is very heavy. Absolutely worth it, but heavy. Continue for the people of Mixco to turn to Jesus, to the light.