One of the coolest things about being in Guatemala was seeing the new AIM base in Antigua. The 12 person team had just moved there a few weeks before, and into their new home not long before we arrived. In fact, the day they got their first piece of furniture- a table for the entire team to sit around, they invited our team over for dinner! They served us a wonderful meal and the evening was full of laughter, conversation, prayer, and worship. We were able to interact and spend time with them throughout the week. It was so great to encourage them and to serve God with them!
One of the base leaders, Ann, joined our team the last two days as we drove out to Lake Atitlan. There we met an incredible family- mothers and fathers, aunts, uncles, nephews, and nieces, all who worked together and welcomed us with open arms straight into their family. This family runs a bead store that is a national chain. They allowed us into the back room of their shop as they explained the process of creating the jewelry and shipping it to stores throughout Guatemala. This family started small, but now they have a business that employs over 290 women!
After telling us their stories, the family took us throughout their town, to the homes of many different artists. Sitting outside of their cinderblock homes, with a table made of blocks and slab of wood, they weave, thread the beads, and tie knots as their children and pets play at their feet. It was amazing how fast their hands flew, the joy on their faces, and how thankful they were for us visiting them.
Afterwards, as we prepared to say good-bye to this family, one of the nephews looked up at Connie and thanked us for visiting. "It's because of people like you that these 290 women are able to feed their families."
Wow. Humbled.
Being in Guatemala was so incredible… it felt like being home. It was so great to be able to see people from before, to continue those relationships, and to being new ones. Because it wasn't an official AIM trip (this was a Purchase Effect trip), I wasn't able to raise support for it through AIM. When the opportunity came up, I just prayed that God would provide. Due to financial gifts given to me directly, birthday money, and funds raised through my 2nd job (I work full time as a support raised missionary at AIM, and in my "off" hours, work part time for Accounting and then in any time I have left, I volunteer with Purchase Effect) God provided everything I needed to cover the flight and ground costs. Thank you so much for your support, for your prayers and encouragement, and for allowing me to be a part of this opportunity even though it wasn't an official AIM trip. The name of Christ was proclaimed that week in Guatemala, His love was shared, as was the hope we have in Him… and that is what every trip… and every day that I live… is all about!
Thank you!
