I can't believe I'm already sitting back in my living room typing this. I seriously felt like I was here yesterday staring at all the things I needed to pack in order to leave May 23. I didn't realize how quickly this time would go by or how many lessons God would squeeze into 5 weeks. A week or two before I left, the other interns and I had dinner with the wife of one the staff members and she asked us what we all had learned. I was suddenly hit with the realization that I had been a part of so much and I hadn't stopped to think about what I had learned from all of it. So for the last week that I was in Magdalena I began to process what I had learned. This is a little of what I came up with:
Lesson #1: You can't just sit back on autopilot expecting a door to open, a moving sidewalk to usher you through it and God to change you without any effort on your part. You have to fight. Every day without stopping, expecting to encounter brokenness, trials, even death. You must stand firm, wearing armor that only comes from Him. But you must also rely on Him for your strength and your wisdom during the fight and work to make your character like His.
Lesson #2: When you give your heart to God He is going to take you seriously, there are no take backs. Ask Him for patience and He is going to give you something to build your patience. Ask Him to give you His heart and break yours, He will introduce you to people who will break it: Josephina, Ruth, Nanci, Albertina. Tell Him to take over your mind and your actions and all of a sudden you will find yourself constantly thinking about Him and constantly thinking about how you can serve Him and His people, whatever the cost.
Lesson #3: I am not the celebrity, my King is. I found myself asking the question "Erin, why are you doing this? Because it's what you're supposed to be doing or is God behind it?" Anyone can go to a different country and do good deeds, and interact with the people there. But when God is behind it there is so much more, so much more meaning behind everything that happens. Conversations are no longer half-hearted, nor are actions. My King is not only the celebrity in Guatemala...
When I come home, I do not want it to be about me. I do not want my stories to be about what Erin did in Guatemala. I want them to be about what God did while Erin was in Guatemala.
Lesson #4: But God. I walked through multiple situations that were too big for me to handle. I also was told many life stories that are too hurtful and dark for any person to handle. In situations like those there is always a "but God..." to go after the scary situation or the heartbreaking story.
John 1:5 ~ The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not overcome it.
Lesson #5: I learned to remind myself that Jesus knows the pain we go through. He was tempted just as we are when we are in hard situations (Hebrews 4:14). He also felt sadness and heartbreak as we do (John 11:35). I learned that this can be great comfort when I am struggling or hurting and confused in the midst of a difficult situation.
I learned SO many things during my 5 weeks in Guatemala. These 5 don't even make a dent on the rant I could go on about what God taught me.
I learned that a shining light is of no use if it is not seen. How can you change the world if you're scared to be in it?
I learned to be humble.
I learned that sometimes, in the midst of poverty and in the midst of heartbreak, people just want to be heard.
I learned that I can worship my King with every act and every thought.
I learned to love and how to reflect the love that He has shown me my whole life.
And I learned that there is no better place to be than in the center of God's will.
2am. Ready to go! May 23rd.
5 month old baby Cindy. The little sister of on of my students.
I don't think I'll ever master the art of making tortillas.
Telma teaching the kids how to make their paintings better, and cracking a joke as she does it.
Armando finishing up a painting of Antigua
Nanci, Andy, and Beverly. Oh how I love these kids.
The boys of the art school (and Telma) getting ready to play soccer against the boys of San Miguel.
Most importantly, I learned that (in the words of one of the very wise ladies I worked with) Guatemala is not a magical place. You do not need to be in Guatemala to see God work, He works elsewhere as well. The difference is that God is made the priority in the lives of people interacting with SI Guatemala. Now He must be made the priority here as well.
"When the music fades
All is stripped away
And I simply come
Longing just to bring
Something that's of worth
That will bless your heart
I'll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within"
Lesson #2: When you give your heart to God He is going to take you seriously, there are no take backs. Ask Him for patience and He is going to give you something to build your patience. Ask Him to give you His heart and break yours, He will introduce you to people who will break it: Josephina, Ruth, Nanci, Albertina. Tell Him to take over your mind and your actions and all of a sudden you will find yourself constantly thinking about Him and constantly thinking about how you can serve Him and His people, whatever the cost.
Lesson #3: I am not the celebrity, my King is. I found myself asking the question "Erin, why are you doing this? Because it's what you're supposed to be doing or is God behind it?" Anyone can go to a different country and do good deeds, and interact with the people there. But when God is behind it there is so much more, so much more meaning behind everything that happens. Conversations are no longer half-hearted, nor are actions. My King is not only the celebrity in Guatemala...
When I come home, I do not want it to be about me. I do not want my stories to be about what Erin did in Guatemala. I want them to be about what God did while Erin was in Guatemala.
Lesson #4: But God. I walked through multiple situations that were too big for me to handle. I also was told many life stories that are too hurtful and dark for any person to handle. In situations like those there is always a "but God..." to go after the scary situation or the heartbreaking story.
John 1:5 ~ The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not overcome it.
Lesson #5: I learned to remind myself that Jesus knows the pain we go through. He was tempted just as we are when we are in hard situations (Hebrews 4:14). He also felt sadness and heartbreak as we do (John 11:35). I learned that this can be great comfort when I am struggling or hurting and confused in the midst of a difficult situation.
I learned SO many things during my 5 weeks in Guatemala. These 5 don't even make a dent on the rant I could go on about what God taught me.
I learned that a shining light is of no use if it is not seen. How can you change the world if you're scared to be in it?
I learned to be humble.
I learned that sometimes, in the midst of poverty and in the midst of heartbreak, people just want to be heard.
I learned that I can worship my King with every act and every thought.
I learned to love and how to reflect the love that He has shown me my whole life.
And I learned that there is no better place to be than in the center of God's will.
2am. Ready to go! May 23rd.
Nanci, Andy, and Beverly. Oh how I love these kids.
The beautiful Guatemala.
"When the music fades
All is stripped away
And I simply come
Longing just to bring
Something that's of worth
That will bless your heart
I'll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within"
You are wise beyond your years, Erin. Read through this again in a couple months, and then a couple more after that. Do not forget that God is this good, this big, this powerful EVERYWHERE. Thanks for sharing part of your story with us.
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