Guatemala: Love Needs No Translation

Love needs no translation.

Let's just take that in for a moment. Love. It does not need a translation. 

"My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and truth". 

1 John 3:18 

Regardless of what language you speak, you can show love to others. It is not something that needs to be said, but something that can be shown. How wonderful is that? 

I believe that as a Jesus follower, He is living inside of me. In His word, He tells us that 'God is love' (1 John 4:8) and if He is living inside of us, then that love is inside of us.  I don't know about you, but I want that love to pour out of me everywhere that I go. I want everyone, regardless if I speak their language or if we are from the same country, or not, to feel that love. I pray that His love would radiate from me, wherever I go. 

As you may have heard, I am going on a trip to Guatemala in August this year! The purpose of the trip is to serve, and to love. In Guatemala their native tongue is Spanish, not English. There are a lot of people on our team who are nervous about the language barrier, that we will no doubt encounter. But, I believe - and I know - that LOVE needs NO translation. Regardless if we speak Spanish, or if they speak English, I know that God + His love, is going to shine through us in everything we do. To love God, is to love people. And by serving others, we are sharing the Gospel without saying a word. 

When you step outside your comfort zone, go out into the world and show love to those around you... I hope you are ready for anything! 
In omnia paratus 

Guatemala: My brother is coming too!

Hi friends!

I have decided to create a series on this little blog, about Guatemala. So from now on, if you see the word Guatemala in the title, then you can probably guess the post will have something to do with the journey to Guatemala! 

I'm so excited to tell you guys, that my brother is going to Guatemala too! I feel so blessed that we get to experience this together and go on a great adventure, together. I know that God is going to do BIG things in Mitchell's life over the next 6 months, and during our time there. 

Mitchell and I have become good friends as we have gotten older. Before he used to be just my annoying little brother, but now, he's more than that. He is my friend, my buddy, someone who always has my back and someone who loves me at my worst. I am thankful for our sweet relationship and how God has brought us closer together over the years. 

The idea of getting to travel to another country with my brother, and even just the thought of doing God's work along side of him, fills me with joy! 

Here's to all the adventures ahead of us, bro. 

In omnia paratus 

Four Years Ago Today

Four years ago today, I went to the airport for the first time. 

Four years ago today, I got on a plane for the first time. 

Four years ago today, I left Canada for the first time. 

Four years ago today, I saw the ocean for the first time. 

Four years ago today, I landed in Barbados. 

My goodness, it has been four years! That's so crazy to me!

Four years ago today, I left the country on a missions trip to Barbados with a team of 7 other people. 

I spent one week in Barbados, and it was one of the best weeks of my life. It was my first experience of so many things. I had never been on a plane before, never left Ontario before - let alone the country, I had never seen the ocean - let alone swam in it, I had never seen a palm tree or spent so much time with the same people (that aren't related to me) before, and it was my first time standing in front of hundreds of children teaching lessons!! 

But this experience was incredible, it was the trip of a life time. I got to experience the culture, the island, visit tourist sights, adventure with the locals, and have time to myself at the beach. But I also got to travel to two different schools each day and present the Gospel to so many children through song, dance, object lessons and puppet shows! 

I was 16 years old when I went to Barbados, and I will never forget what God did in me. He revealed Himself to me in new ways and gave me a whole new perspective on life and on the world. This trip is what gave me the taste for missions - the desire to want to travel more and share the Gospel more. But even more importantly, the trip is what solidified my desire to want to teach and work with children. 

I know that God is going to do awesome things in Guatemala this year, too. I am so excited for what will unfold and for the things He will do in and through each of us. But for today, let's just reflect back to the beautiful week I spent in Barbados. 

In omnia paratus 

I'm going to Guatemala!

Hey friends!!

Wow, it's so crazy that I get to say that - I AM GOING TO GUATEMALA! What?! Ahhhhhh! 

First of all, God is so good. He is so wonderful, merciful and so faithful. 

As most of you know, my family has been going through a tough time. My Dad has Gullian Barre Syndrome, now called CIDP as his condition is chronic, and goes to Toronto for treatment every 6 weeks. He has struggled with this condition for almost 5 years, and still deals with it today. Then, around 2 years ago, my mom was diagnosed with kidney disease. Since her condition declined over those two years, it came to a point where we had to see whether there would be a kidney donor or if she would go on dialysis. Before it was even time for this decision to be officially made, I knew that I wanted to give my mom a kidney. So, for the past few months (mostly in November 2015-January 2016), I went through the kidney donor work-up process. Due to God's grace and answered prayers, all my tests + other assessments came back with great results. So, when the time comes, I will be donating a kidney to my momma. 

In saying all that, the transplant was supposed to happen this summer. This summer, our family decided would be when this transplant would take place, if my mom's kidneys kept declining as they were. But then, God stepped in. 

In November, my mom was at 16% and on the decline. However, 3 months later at her February appointment, we found out that God answered our prayers for stability and for healing, and her kidneys REMAINED the same. She did not get worse. We are all so, so thankful to God for His mercy, His grace, and His faithfulness in our lives. 

Now, how does this relate to my going to Guatemala? Wellllllllll, since the transplant was supposed to happen this summer, I left my summer open for my mom and didn't look into or think about anything else. There was no way I could plan for anything since we didn't know exactly what time of the summer it would have been, just that it would have been then. But, ever since the news of her kidney percentage, and how they remained the same, our (my) summer now has become OPEN. If all goes well and God continues to have His hand on my mom (which I have no doubt in my mind, He will), she will NOT BE NEEDING SURGERY THIS SUMMER. What a miracle!!! We have time! Which is such a great gift from above. 

The Guatemala missions trip opportunity, with the young adult group (&grade 11s+12s) at King Street Community Church, came up at a time when I knew I could not make plans. I was bummed about this, but I knew that giving a kidney to my mom was so important and other opportunities for doing missions would come my way again. However, when we got the news of her kidneys holding the same percentage, I was offered the opportunity to go to Guatemala again. Even though the time had come and gone for the first deposit. 

In this moment - the moment that my young adult pastor reached out to me, offered me an extension for the deposit, shared with me how she feels it would be 'so life giving, challenging and transformative' for me, and that I should think about it and prayerfully consider going - I knew I was meant to go. 

God answered our prayers for my mom. He has worked so many things out for us, so many things out for me. So far beyond what I knew or had any idea about, just so that I could have this chance, this opportunity to go and to serve & do what I love. We will be ministering to students and children through presentations in schools + city centres and partnering with a construction team to help in a building project! As well, we will be serving and helping Hector & Ruth Aragon {the missionary couple we will be meeting up with} in any way we can. 

I feel so called to go + so called to do missions in my life. I don't know what that looks like. Whether that is just this time, or many more times in my future. I don't know. What I do know, is that God has placed a passion inside my heart for the people of this world who don't yet know the Father's love. I have dreamed and prayed about another missions trip opportunity ever since I went to Barbados and saw all those children face to face. I want to serve, I want to love and I want to bring God's kingdom to earth. And now, I have the opportunity to go to Guatemala and be part of something bigger. 

Oh how my heart aches and how my eyes well up when I think about those children, those people, all longing for love. I want to be love and show love, because He is love. My heart also leaps for joy and gets so full when I think about being a light and pointing Jesus out to people. I know He is already there, I know He loves them all so much. I can't wait to point people to Him. Through whatever ways He calls me to. Here is a quote that perfectly sums up missions and the heart of it all, 

"Missions then is less about the transportation of God from one place to another and more about the identification of a God who is already there. You see God where others don't. And then you point him out. So the issue isn't so much taking Jesus to people who don't have him, but going to a place and pointing out to the people the creative, life-giving God who is already present in their midst. "

I am so excited to see what God is going to do in the next 6 months, and what He will do when we are in Guatemala. It would mean so much to me if you would pray for me and the team as we prepare ourselves for this adventure! 

As I always say, I am ready for anything & I hope you are too. 
In omnia Paratus 

Ps. I will be blogging more as I go on this journey so bookmark my blog and check back frequently to stay up-to-date with whats going on! :)