Seeing with my Own Eyes
Being on staff with DFM for the last 2 years I have heard all about what is going on in Guatemala, but from a distance; the answers to prayer, the beautiful products, and the impact on the people, but I longed to see it for myself.
I was so grateful when an opportunity opened up during July of this year. But preparing for this trip was a big task for this mama. I have five kids, so getting all things set up at home took much preparation. Flying also always makes me a little nervous but I knew that all this preparation would be worth it, not only for my job but for my soul.
The early morning and flights went so well, meeting up with a new friend during my layover and then on to Guatemala. Flying over this beautiful country had me in awe. The mountain appearing through the clouds, the beautiful coasts, and gorgeous landscape was stunning. We then met up with everyone else from our team at the airport. Thankfully our evening was dinner, settling into our hotel, and getting some sleep for our big days ahead. Let me tell you, the food was delicious and the hotel was so cozy and beautiful.
Our team was a group of strangers. There was 17 of us, from 7 different states, and 7 different decades. Most of us came on our own, knowing nobody, but it was so fun to experience together. We saw throughout the week how God knit our hearts and worlds together around a common mission and purpose.
The next four days were full of so much adventure, prayer, ministering, learning, playing, celebrating, and so much walking. When Lisa and Reba tell us that this mission trip is different than your typical trip, what they are saying is true. There’s a lot of understanding and background they want to open your eyes to as well as discover and immerse yourself in the culture. To understand our purpose we have to see what is going on there we had to see it with our own eyes.
There is a rich history in this beautiful country, the cobblestone streets, the bold colors, the gorgeous traditional clothing, the historic buildings, but you don’t have to look too hard to find the broken places. Down the streets you begin to see glimpses of poverty, as you walk through the mountain villages, you see the state of homes constructed with scraps of wood and metal sheeting, you see desperation to live day to day. We met a widow caring for her kids in the best way she could, we also met some with serious health issues not sure how to sustain themselves or their families. As you see this, you begin to realize that poverty is the place where the most vulnerable are preyed upon. This in turn makes them most susceptible to abuse, rape, and trafficking.
Here is where DFM comes in, we long to be a place where those who are most vulnerable can find safety whether through prevention or rescuing to our safe house. We were able to offer positions at our training centers to women that could provide them consistent income and a dignified job while we blessed them with a food basket and prayed over their family. We were able to love on and pray with those who needed support due to some difficult health needs and will now be able to check in with them through those who are now responsible for them. One woman even made a decision to follow Jesus when we visited her, there was so many tears and much rejoicing within our team.
We also visited our training center and baking program. Can I just say that the women that lead these programs are so passionate and gifted by God to not only teach these skills, but pour truth and hope into them. Lives have been changed, dignified jobs are being provided, discipleship is happening and the women are bringing others in need to be a part of the program themselves.
Last but not least, we spent time at the safe house. We played with the kids and moms, even with a language barrier. You can see hope being restored and moms beginning to heal and find a future. The kids in the safe house were so precious. We made bracelets, played board and card games, and learned some Spanish words and some fun dance moves with them. One day we spent much time throughout the property praying over each area. Prayer is so vital over this ministry, for protection, for power, for change, for wisdom and discernment.
My soul and spirit needed this time here to fly to this beautiful place. I saw so much brokenness, but know a God who redeems it. In my own heart God showed me his powerful healing hand to my own broken places. He showed me that He’s a God who sees a woman in a small mountain village desperate for help and sends us. He showed me that He’s a God who sees abuse and trafficking and sends women from another country to provide a safe place for them to recover, heal, and find the only one who gives us living Hope, our Savior Jesus Christ!
Maybe you have never been on a Mission Trip and God’s tugging at your heart to go, come join us! Maybe you don’t have someone to come with you, can I tell you that a lot of people go on our trips with total strangers and it becomes such a sweet time together. Maybe you aren’t sure because of your age, we had teenagers all the way to mature adults on mine, come join us! You may come expecting the typical mission trip, hard work and sweat, but this one is different, we see the story, deliver food baskets, minister in ways they need it, pray together, and do the work. God is moving in big ways in Guatemala and we can’t wait to see all He has ahead!
To find out more about our mission trips, visit us at our link below.
