Abundant Living

"Anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice...Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep.All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it in abundance.
   “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
    “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep."

Yesterday, we were asked to pray and do some relational evangelism (a fancy phrase that just means sharing life and building relatioships with neighbors, all the while bringing the love and gospel of Christ). After a slow start, two friends and I ended up going on an adventure in the jungala that led us to some very God blessed opportunities. We were able to visit with some families near our barrio who had never before been visited by missionaries; they were overjoyed to welcome us into their homes and talk with us. The story of a kind woman named Daniela particularly touched my heart. She is no longer married; her husband and one of her children now live in Guatemala City. She and her two of her sons (both around ten years old) live in a one-room house without floors or doors. She supports them by working at a funeral home near the port. She then shared with us that her youngest son was adopted by an American family when he was six years old because she couldn't afford to provide for her entire family. By giving him up, she was giving him a better life. Her brokenness was evident in her voice as she explained to us that she is not able to communicate with him because he no longer remembers Spanish (she doesn't speak English). She loved her child enough to selflessly give him to a family who could provide more adequately for him, even though it meant she would lose him completely. 

After she told us this story, I felt led to share the scripture from John 10 with her about Jesus being the good shepherd. Sidenote: I have recently been reading through John. When I read those verses, I knew that God was going to use them to speak to someone I would encounter; I had no idea it would be her. But as I read them, she listened attentively. When I had finished reading to her, she seemed quite pleased and grateful. I asked if she enjoyed reading the Bible, and she informed me that she had never learned how to read. It makes me wonder if she had ever before been read to from the Bible. We explained a bit more of this passage to her, reminding her that God never ever lets go of His flock; no matter where we go or what we do, He constantly pursues us. This seemed to really move her. We prayed over her, for her children and her peace; once we finished, we saw that tears were gently rolling down her cheeks. She told us that she wants us to return as soon as possible. Even though we have only a week remaining here in Puerto Barrios, it's our personal priority to go back into her home. We hope to see her again tomorrow morning, and we're taking rice, beans, and our Spanish Bible with us. Only the Lord knows what He has in store!

These verses also reminded me of something glorious: He came to give us abundant life. Not mundane life, not depressed life, not painful or fearful or stagnant life. The life He gives us is abundant. Sure, there will be troubles. But turning to Him allows us to have beautiful, peaceful, exciting, plentiful, radiant life. And it's all because of Him; how could I live for less?


Please pray for Daniela and for her children. Also, pray that the Lord would move in big ways in her life; I know He wants to! With only a week remaining, please pray that the Lord would pour out His Spirit on this place. We will be doing prositute ministry, dump ministry, orphanage visits, and elderly home visits for the last time here in the next four days. Ask that God would move mightily. We want to see lives changed, but not nearly as much as He does. 


"I assure you: The one who believes in Me will also do the works that I do. And he will do even greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in My name, I will do it so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it." John 14:12-14


Thank you for your continued support in prayer!


May His abundance fill you to overflowing,
Meg
 

Skies Lay Low

You never leave. Everywhere I am, You are there.

“And remember, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:20

Seeing God’s natural, intended beauty alongside the oppression of poverty at the dump is striking. This dichotomy is heartbreaking at best. Walking into the dump, one’s senses are overwhelmed: it reeks of rotting food, burning garbage, and animal carcasses; bugs (flies, maggots, and bees) and scavenger animals (vultures, crows, and dogs) are rummaging through the muck beside their human co-workers; the sun often blazes relentlessly and the humidity combined with the stench is almost unbearable. There is truly nothing redeeming about this hellish place. But if you take your eyes off of this horrific filth for just a moment, the sight is glorious. The dump is located along the rim of a lush valley with verdant mountains overlooking in the distance. This past Monday, the clouds were hanging low and dark in anticipation of a powerful thunderstorm. The view was breathtaking. I was awestruck yet again by the beauty of God’s imagination; He spared no expense in creating this world, to show us His magnificent glory. As I was contemplating these things, the line to Hillsong United’s song, “Aftermath,” came to mind: “the skies lay low where You are.” I was overwhelmed by the realization that God exists here in the dump, truthfully the lowliest of places. Despite its very nature, God has not abandoned His children in this place. Instead, He resides within them—they are His sanctuary and He finds them holy (2 Corinthians 3:16-17). He finds them clean, set apart. Even though we as humans allow our brothers and sisters to live this way, God’s compassion is still stirred. He still walks with them and hears their cries—just as He does our own. And His glorious creation serves as a reminder that Elohim (Creator God) is powerful, mighty, and ever-present.

The following day, we were able to serve these beloved people in a very tangible way: by putting on a children’s program and passing out food and clothing. Even though we were 45 minutes late because of car problems, about seventy individuals were present—far more than we were anticipating. We presented the program with singing, dancing, dramas, and a piñata. We then were able to be the hands of Christ by giving out bags of water, cookies, crackers, and uncooked rice and beans. Despite the large number of people, we had exactly enough food for every single person there. We had just enough money to buy rice and beans for 27 families (we thought that was an odd number, but used up all the money we had collected anyways) and that is the precise number of families that was there. We also distributed clothes and four pairs of boots. One of the girls who received boots was a 10 year old girl named Maria Elena. She is the oldest of six siblings and works with her mom (also named Maria) at the dump everyday after school. I was moved by just spending a few moments with this lovely little girl. Hugging her, laughing with her—these small things make her livelihood real to me.

Occasionally I wonder if what we walk into as a team is real life. Is it real that people—children—live and work in a dump? Is it real that girls are stolen mercilessly into sex slavery every day and seemingly have no opportunity for freedom? Is it real that children grow up without families to love them or provide security for them? Is it real that I am here ministering to these people? I can assure you from a little hostel in Guatemala that it is. These things are happening in the world around us. Pray for these people. Pray for freedom, for chains to be broken, for love to reign in their lives, for safety, for good health, for God to move here and around the world in awesome ways. Your prayers are heard and they are answered. It is God’s desire for us to pray for these people. He can move mountains for us, if we just have the faith that He will.

May His grace continue to rain down on you,

Meg

You are My Passion

Sometimes I find myself pressing into God about my purpose for being here in Guatemala. Before April, I had never considered coming here. I had no desire or passion for Guatemala. And for the first few weeks of this trip, the lack of passion for this place remained. I was incredibly frustrated. Why would God ask me to follow Him somewhere that had no appeal whatsoever to me?

Well, He answered.

1. He's opening my eyes to real life: families living in dumps, girls even younger than me enslaved to sex trafficking, abandoned children in desperate need of love, the elderly who just want someone to talk with...
2. He's showing me that my sustenance and desire is His love. There is no one greater than He, and He finds me beautiful. He knows everything about me--and yet He loves me. I'm learning the intensity of His pursuit, and I find myself falling more in love with Him everyday.
3. He wants me to pour into a girl named Dahlia. Truly, every time I pray about my purpose here, I see her face. I hear her name. I feel her hugs. She is ten years old and an orphan. She and her three sisters live in an orphanage that we have had the marvelous opportunity to serve. Whenever we arrive, she runs to me and wraps her dear little arms around me. Whenever I see her, my heart melts. I have no idea why God has placed her on my heart, but I'm grateful. This child has brought me great joy in the few days that I have spent with her. I know that God has great plans for her life and I'm honored to be a part of them. Please pray that He would move in her life in a big way and that He would give me clarity about how He wants to use me.

And so I have discovered that my passion does not rest with a place, but instead with the One who created it. As these three final weeks unfold, I trust that He will pour out His Spirit on His people. I can't express how much He has done already and how grateful I am for His movement here; I trust that He is not through! I may not leave here in love with this location, but I do know this: I adore His children He has blessed me to serve, and I am in love with Him who has called me.

Please pray for my dearest Dahlia, our team, and for the ministries He is calling us to. Thank you for your constant support in prayer.

To Him who is able to far more abundantly than even what we pray,
Meg

What is Seen is Temporary

"For we know that if our earthly house, a tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened--not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who gave us the Spirit as a guarantee."
2 Corinthians 5:1-5

We have frequently visited a shut down, hollow shell of an orphanage, where seven children with special needs have been left to live. One particular girl who has touched my heart is Ingrid. She is an adorable little girl with a gorgeous smile and perceptive mind, yet she is completely unable to hear or speak. But God taught me this week that one doesn't need these gifts in order to show the greatest gift: love.

This revelation began as a result of a baby iguana, a pet owned by the son (Joshua) of the pastor who has been our helper and lifeline this past month. Joshua brought his iguana to the orphanage one day last week with a string "leash" tied around its belly. The moment that Ingrid's endearing eyes spotted that iguana, her heart melted. Whoever had the leash not only had the iguana, but also the full attention of Ingrid. My smile couldn't be contained anymore than her's could; who knew so much joy could come from just a little lizard?

I left her briefly to sit by myself inside the vacant church beside the orphanage. My heart was overwhelmed beyond my ability of expression. Why does this world desperately lack love? Why don't these children, so beautiful, tender, compassionate, have homes and families to care for them and tell them how wonderful they are? Why do orphanages even have to exist? I wasn't asking the Lord these things from a place of anger, but instead from a place of deep sadness and longing for His kingdom to come. I know that these children are truly the least of all: not only are they orphans, but they also have debilitating handicaps. And yet they are filled with a supernatural joy, that which only is possible through the Father.

As I was praying these things, God revealed to me that their damaged bodies are only a tent, only temporary. When He calls them home, they will have new, whole, healthy bodies. This time is brief, but what is to come is everlasting. He reminded me of the verses in 2 Corinthians 5: "For we know that if our earthy house, a tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling...so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life." It is true that this temporary existence is painful, but we are promised that He will give us new bodies that cannot be destroyed. He makes us new. He takes away what is finite and replaces it with life. These things I cannot imagine, but I trust Him that they are absolutely and irrevocably true.

While I was dwelling on these things, Ingrid came into the church with the iguana securely positioned in her little hands. At my invitation to sit by my side, her face lit up and a genuine smile brimmed on her lips. She snuggled up under my arm, tenderly nuzzling the iguana. It was in this moment that another truth was revealed to me: the love of God lives inside of her. Her fascination and gentleness towards even the roughest and least affectionate of His creatures embodies His love. Her soul is made in His image, even if her earthly body is weak. She may not know God in her mind the way that I do, but I believe with all that I am that her heart and soul belong to Him. She can feel His love and joy, even if she may not fully understand it (but then again, who actually does?). And there is so much I can learn from her and the love He displays in her.

Thank You, God, for all You have done and for all that You will do. Your plans are perfect, even though sometimes it's hard for us to see. Help us to trust You.

"Therefore, we do not give up; even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison. So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen; for what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."
2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Please pray for healing for Ingrid. He has promised to do things beyond what we can think or imagine, so I ask that you would ask Him for healing for her body.

With all love,
Meg

Fotos

Hey everyone! My wifi went out last week so I wasn't able to upload pictures, but I wanted to post some before my next blog. So here you go :)

This little girl is named Beverley. She is a preschooler at an elementary school that we were able to minister to here. She brought some much needed joy to a very dark day for me several weeks ago, during which we were asked to minister to a woman who had been unlawfully thrown in prison for a debt that wasn't her own. Praise God for how He can show love through a small child when I was intended to show love to her.

This photo is from one of the most eye-opening days of my life. This is the landfill outside of Puerto Barrios, a dump of trash from all the people in the city. And this is the home of many families. Mothers live here with their children because they can't find jobs; they instead find their sustenance in the garbage. I can't begin to really talk about this, but I hope that I will be able to soon. Please understand that this is reality. Pray for the people who are forced to live here because they have no other opportunity.

This is baby Maria from the orphanage.

This is baby Rosia from the orphanage, with her stunning little black curls.

Please continue to pray for our team and ministries! Love to you all!

Caught in His Infinite Embrace

I’ve had the opportunity to meet some very precious individuals over the last week, and I want to take this time to introduce you to their stories.

Yesterday, we met a lovely little old lady named Elisa. She was about 90 years old, four feet tall, and nothing but skin and bones. She approached us with two of her grandchildren (both toddlers) during street ministry. We became quick friends. Like most people in this culture, she was apt to share her life with me. And I was blessed by what I learned. She is the only Christian in her family, but she is very passionate about the Lord. She deeply desires for her grandchildren to come to know Him as they grow up, but she doesn’t know that she will be alive long enough to aid them in their walk. And so she devotes much of her time to singing to them songs about her beloved Father, in the hope that they will one day remember the lyrics and long for His affection. What a beautiful heart this woman has!

On Monday, we ministered at the city garbage dump. Dozens of people take up residence in the landfill, finding their physical sustenance in filth and garbage. It was the most heartbreaking thing I have ever encountered. To stare so blatantly in the face of poverty is painfully overwhelming. Mothers live there with their small children because jobs are so scarce; it’s the only way they can survive. One particular girl pricked my heart. She is 17 years old and living in the dump. Upon meeting her, we noticed a little bump on her belly. We soon learned that she is four months pregnant and has no where to go. She was very reserved, but was grateful for the small offering of crackers and bananas that we brought to her. I hope to have the opportunity to spend more time with her in the future. As a team, we have decided to purchase prenatal vitamins and baby supplies for her. Several girls are also trying to arrange an appointment with an obstetrician so that her baby will be born healthy, despite the horrific circumstances. Please lift up our dear friend and her child in prayer. Though the situation seems hopeless, we serve a God who is an infinite provider of life, love, and freedom. So we are asking that His abundance will overflow into these beloved people.

On Tuesday, we had the blessed opportunity to spend time with children at a Catholic orphanage. This is a rare occasion in Guatemala: there is great division between Catholics and Protestants, so they often do not allow non-Catholics into the orphanage. But we serve the same God and He moved in their hearts to allow us to love on their kids. And love we did! We made a fool of ourselves dancing, performing skits, and singing with the 15 or so children. They were enthralled; though this orphanage was very inviting and loving, it was a special treat for them to have crazy Americans come to play just with each one of them. After the program, we played “duck, duck, goose,” painted faces, tossed around balls…generally just showed them the love and enthusiasm their Daddy has for them. Two babies brought a significant amount of light to my overwhelming week. One little girl named Maria was only about two months old. Just holding her reminded me of God’s comforting embrace. Her mother had left her at the orphanage shortly after her birth. While this breaks my heart, I know that God has beautiful plans of hope and prosperity for Maria’s life. The other little girl was a curly-headed 10 month old named Rosia. I couldn’t resist a smile at just the sight of her. Her face lit up when she was held in the loving embrace of smelly, sweaty American women. She found a significant amount of amusement in my wristwatch. She was teething and the strap of my watch apparently is soothing to the gums. Once this precious baby was held safely in my arms, it was nearly impossible to let her go back into a world of uncertainty and darkness. Of two things I am convinced: nothing in this frightening world can separate her from the love of her Father, and also there is a portion of my heart that will never let go of my dear Rosia.

The final story I have to tell is of a woman who works in a bar downtown. I am not entirely sure of her profession, but I could see in her eyes that she was hopeless and broken-hearted. By spending just a few hours in prostitute ministry, I easily caught a glimpse of why she felt this way. Darkness permeates in that place. I have no other words to describe it. The only moment during the conversation that brought a smile to her face was when we asked if she had any children. The answer was a simple “Si, se llama Jose.” She also informed us that he is one year old and that he stays with her mother while she works at night to provide for him. How deep her love is for her son, that she would submit herself into that darkness in order to earn money to sustain him. The wonderful fact is that “…even the darkness is not dark to You. The night shines like the day; darkness and light are alike to You.”

I hope these stories will provide a glimpse for you of what I am experiencing here in Guatemala. I ask that you would be in fervent prayer for these people, this place, and our team. I’m learning more and more how powerful prayer is, and so I cannot express to you how grateful I am for your continued support in intercession.

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than we could ever ask or think,

Meg

Walking by Faith

I'm presently sitting on the floor of my home for the summer, a small house owned by missionary residents of Puerto Barrios, Guatemala. I have no idea how to write about anything that has occurred these past 13 days. Honestly, I'm in awe that it's only been 13 days; it seems like my life began in Guatemala. Everything prior to that seems like a dream.

I can't exactly say that these days have been the best of my life, or even close. In fact, they have been quite challenging. This city is spiritually a very dark place and needs a lot of prayer. My spirit is heavy within me and ministries are exhausting. Even praying over people is difficult. I'm not sure that I'll ever be able to adequately explain what is occurring here, but (hopefully in the near future) I will try. Though I do want yall to know that I'm certainly still enjoying myself here (newfound meaning to "the joy of the Lord is my strength"). The Lord is refining my faith through the fire. The process may be somewhat painful, but I know what remains will be beautiful and everlasting.

Here are some of the ministries we have done so far:

• played with kids at an orphanage
• built relationships with villagers in the mountains (and I learned how to make some awesome corn tortillas!)
• prayed over vendors in the open air market
• presented programs for kids in a village, at a school, and at a children's hospital
• spent time with the elderly at an infirmary
• reached out to our neighbors through doing household chores and just spending time with them

I know there's more than that, but I can't remember all of it right now. And even if I could, I'm not particularly fond of keeping things confined to lists. It makes each memory much less personal or endearing. Yet time is a constraint that I can't combat, and so the list is the most effective form of sharing at the moment.

Hopefully, I'll be able to update this blog in more detail on our next free day. In the meantime, please remember me, my team, and the Guatemalans in your prayers. We need them more than words can convey.

With all love,
Meg

PS: Here are some pictures from ministry this past week :)

This is Faviola. She's a 3 year old from a village in the mountains. I had been drinking from a coconut before our children's program, and she came up to me and said "Quiero coco!" Who can resist a face like that? It was so entertaining to watch; the coconut was about the size of her body. We became fast friends from this little bonding experience. Keep her and her family in your prayers!

This picture is from the elementary school we visited yesterday. This little girl refused to leave my side almost the entire time we were there. I gotta say I was pretty flattered by her kindhearted and easily amused devotion. Please keep the school, its students, and its teachers in your prayers.

"So then, does God supply you with the Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law or by hearing with faith?" Galatians 3:5

Praise God for the gift of faith! And I pray that your's will be deepened day by day.