No Man is an Island ☼
28 June, 2015
When I was serving at a 3-month missions program in Guatemala last fall, I was living with 18 others interns my age. Some had just graduated highschool, some were in their late twenties... but we all clicked. It was incredible, really, how close we grew and intimate we were describing our inner struggles, pasts, and dreams. We currently have a Facebook group message with atleast 20 posts a day, asking for prayer, congratulating each other, and sharing our day-to-day lives. I thank God for that group.
Some grew up in strict Christian homes, others were saved out of drugs or alcohol or what-have-you... But we became one unit, one heart, one mind, one body, just like in the Book of Acts. We ate our meals together, completed chores together, played games together, prayed together, cried together, tried connecting to the less-than-mediocre internet together (with our allotted one hour a week - but we all actually loved being unplugged). They became my family. My raw, brutally honest, hit-it-to-me-straight family. 3-months is a long time to hide something personal from your "family," so everything spilled out. It was hard, tears were shed; but hearts were healed. Deep, gruesome, infected wounds were patched up, and none of us regret those 3-months. I can guarantee.
There's nothing more comforting than knowing people have your back. I went through some tough times through those three months, but I never once felt lonely, excluded, or judged. I was overwhelmed with the love I was shown, a love only Christ could create. Although I'm no longer in Guatemala, I look back and remember my favorite moments:
- sipping my coffee under the outdoor canopy every morning at 6:30 AM reading the Word, with dew on the wet grass and clouds covering the tops of the two volcanoes, Fuego (Fire) and Agua (Water)
- cozying up with popcorn on Wednesday night women's Bible studies: nights of testimonies, hugs, cookies from la tienda, and laughter
- clearing away the tables in the kitchen and having a giant slumber party watching the movie of Esther, complete with gewey brownies!
- sitting under the teaching of none-other than the famous Pastor Don McClure (seriously, look him up on Youtube)
- washing dishes after meals with my assigned "crew" ... we all hated it but secretly loved it (or was it just me?) lol
- playing with the local children, especially Diego... sure, I had no makeup, my hair color had grown out, and I had gained some weight, but I was so happy playing with that little guy... life is too short to worry about appearance... sidenote: he gave me that bracelet the day I left! (picture below)
- worship nights with all the visiting mission teams
- touring the Hotel Casa Santa Domingo, the place I would love to get married one day
- hiking up to the cross, overlooking the city in all its glory; the bright colored houses, the volcanoes, the lush landscape... amazing!
- face painting butterflies on 100+ kids at outreaches (picture above)
Find a Christian family. You don't need to share all your meals with them or live with them. But there's something special about "doing life" with others. Be it texting something encouraging every day, coffee dates once a week, or whatever! God didn't give us this life to live alone. Fellowship is key to joy. No man is an island, friend.
So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with the people. Acts 2:42-43
(our class video)
