Westwinds Student Journey Team: Update

It has been another great week here in Guatemala City serving along side Global Soccer Ministries and the Westwinds Student Journey team.  We basically wrapped up the work week with one last hard workday of dirt shoveling at the future GSM facility site.  We are packing up things this evening before heading to the airport first thing in the morning.  We won’t have another chance to update you on things after this evening, so we’ll see you in Jackson!  Thanks for all your prayers throughout this journey.  It’s been a wonderful week of ministry!

Peace,

joe

Westwinds Student Journey Team: Day 6 (Friday)

The end of the trip is nearing, which makes me very sad because I’m having such a great time and don’t want to leave. Today we had a wonderful day relaxing in Antigua. We were able to shop in a market, go out to lunch, and explore the beautiful city. This week has been absolutely amazing, and I am so glad I was blessed with the opportunity to come on this trip. I have learned a lot about God’s love, grace, and mercy through the Guatemalan people. Many people here do not have much money, but what they do have is so much love for one another. They look after one another and care for each others needs. They have an overall joy and happiness in their lives, that many people who have so much more, don’t seem to have. One of my favorite parts of this week was being able to interact with the kids, by putting on a carnival for them. Even though we spoke different languages, we were still able to communicate through our actions, and understand each other. A couple of friends and I were able to organize a soccer game with the little kids, even though we knew very little of what each other were saying. I had so much fun just hanging out with the kids, and playing little games like tag. Even though I understood very little, I was able to see many smiles from their faces. Also, John and Amy Banta have been so amazing to work with, and have been such a great example of living a life led my God. I have also been blessed with the opportunity to meet two Guatemalan employees of GSM, Charlie and Ozmar. They coach at the GSM academies, teaching kids soccer skills and God’s love. I have enjoyed seeing how much the kids look up to their coaches, like an own parent. They are both amazing people filled with happiness, and have brought much laughter to us. I am so sad that tomorrow is our last full day, but I have learned many amazing things from this experience. I have grown in my walk in Christ, and will continue to grow even when I’m home in Michigan. I am so thankful for being blessed with this opportunity. I have made new relationships with people, but I’ve also grown in many of my existing relationships.

Love,

Morgan

Westwinds Student Journey Team: Day 5 (Thursday)

I absolutely cannot believe we are already more than halfway done with this trip! I feel like we just arrived and there is so much to do! It’s amazing how time has flown by while we’ve been in Guatemala. Today as we made our way back to the seminary it hit me. I realized that in two days we will be boarding a plane back to the U.S. and how sad that was. But then I noticed I needed to appreciate even the opportunity to even be here. This trip has been so blessed. Not only by giving us fantastic team members, but God has kept us safe, alert, and given us the ability to be comfortable and open with each other.

Driving through the streets of Guatemala City, my eyes have been opened to things that were cruel, beautiful, and heartbreaking. Most of all, I’ve experienced true generosity. God works in mysterious ways and he can sometimes catch you off guard. Before we left for Guatemala, I would have considered myself to be pretty tough. I’ve always had a hard time sharing my story and the way I feel with other people. Something about the people here helped me uncover a soft spot in my heart for missions and people in general.

I’ve been tempted to look at the work the team has done here, as well as work done on past mission trips, as being insignificant. I can’t help but compare my work to everything else happening in other parts of the country and world.  When I do that, my work seems so small. However, that is so untrue. Of course I know the world is ginormous and we can’t help everyone. But who is to say that what we’ve done and are doing doesn’t matter. God gave us tasks and we are completing them as best we can step by step. Listening to God and carrying out his plan is the most important part. Sometimes doing this work is really hard and it comes in the form of sweat, dirt, and unpleasant smells. That doesn’t make the work any less important just because of where you are or who you’re with.

I am so unbelievably thankful for this trip. I can clearly see God working here in Guatemala in the kids, our team, and GSM. I am excited to see what the rest of the week holds for us! Please continue to pray for us as we finish strong and travel back. God is good!!

With Love,

Emma

Westwinds Student Journey Team: Photo Journal 2

 Kiley sharing a devotional with the kids at the carnival.

 The group posing with one of the families in Pinitos.

 Kiley, Morgan and Bree working hard.

 Lacey cuts off Corey in the sandwich line.

 Some of the girls praying over the (soon to be) GSM property.

 Mike helping Ben with his shoveling form.

 The team.

 A little rain can't stop us... can it?

 The carnival goes on!

 The Guatemalan kids aren't the only ones that like the candy!

 Tori sharing her testimony.

 Lacey presenting a devotional after the rain.

 Emma with some of the Guatemalan's.

 Morgan and Bree pose with some of their new friends.

Some of the carnival crew stop for a picture.

 Corey, Mike, Ben, & Joe on the sidelines.

 Jess sharing her testimony.

Nina sharing her testimony.

Westwinds Student Journey Team: Day 4 (Wednesday)

            Today we got to laugh. A lot! (I love that a smile is so universal!) I haven’t laughed this much in a really long time. The people here are so joyful. The simplest things will make them laugh, which is one of my favorite things. We went to a soccer field today and set up a couple different stations for kids to play games and win some candy. I wish you could have seen how their faces lit up, even if they lost the game. A couple of kids were challenging us to “serious” contests. It was such a simple thing but it had the ability to tear down the language barrier to allow us to joke, laugh, and love on these kids.

It’s so awesome how God uses something as basic as a smile to bring us together. I had no idea what any of the kids were saying today but I heard their smiles louder than anything. I think that’s how God speaks a lot of the time to me; not as much as the big stuff as through little things that fill my day. That’s one reason I appreciate this time so much; it allows me to slow down and hear God without the noise of our nonstop society back in America.

Love,

Brooke J

Westwinds Student Journey Team: Day 3 (Tuesday)

            All the books in the world will never get you closer to God.  Not even all the pastors or really good Christian friends can do that.  Only God and your need for Him can do that.  As soon as you give your life and open yourself to Him big things will happen from the inside out.  He will change your heart, perspective, attitude, or what your heart longs for.  He will change you.

            That’s the type of God we have an ever changing, forming, and creating God.  Through what I can grasp from scripture one of Gods favorite things to do is change.  Change sinner’s heart to see Him, Saul to Paul, women at the well, the blind men Jesus healed, and me.  I find that once we finally allow God to truly impenetrate our minds and souls, He will begin to teach us brand new things.  He will show us a brand new life.  One that is different from almost every person you know.  A life that is so rare that when you see one you are memorized by, you are truly shocked and in awe to see that the things it says in the Bible are not only true, you actually are able to see them in action. God will completely flip your life around once you let Him, and trust Him that He will be flipping it for the better.

            So God loves us and wants the best for us, that means that He will not leave us as we are. So if we truly love God, and allow Him to do what He loves to do, we will change.

            Those are some of the things God has taught me so far on this trip. He has shown me, through John and Amy, the leaders of GSM Guatemala, what it means to truly rely on God.  I have seen this type of life a few other times in my life but every time I see it I am still amazed at their faith and there willingness just to leave it all to God. He has also been present in our devotions at night, a whole room of followers just realizing what it means to be a God follower and what it would actually take. 

Thanks be to God for simply being God.

Amen.

-Nina

Hola Family and Friends!
            Wow, where to start?......This journey has truly been one of a kind.  Both flights here had no problems at all and were simple and easy.  When we got here we were all nervous about customs, but even that was a breeze!  When John, Amy, and Joe met us at the airport I think we all knew the adventure that awaited us here in Guatemala was going to be one to go down in the books. 

            I truly have been having the time of my life.  I am someone who easily gets homesick, but here it feels like home.  Truly, there is a peace that surrounds me here, in Guatemala, that leaves me smiling constantly.  The scenery is SO different from what you see in Michigan which is actually really phenomenal.  There are all kinds of different trees due to their location near the equator, and all the trees are absolutely beautiful.  I love it! 

            John and Amy have been nothing but amazing.  They are two people to truly admire and look up to.  Their faith is so big, yet seems so simple.  They give glory to God for ALL things, they depend on Him for ALL things, and they truly allow their hearts to be open to any direction God may lead.  They are servants of the King and it is refreshing to see. 

            I love Guatemala so much.  The people we have encountered so far have been absolutely beautiful.  On Monday I got to play with a little girl named Miranda who had the most adorable little laugh.  As I hid behind a small soccer ball she would giggle and then as I popped my face out from around the ball she would laugh as loud as she could.  She is precious. 

            The experiences we’ve had thus far have just been so various and so great.  Monday we went shopping in the local market or “terminal”.  It’s quite a different way of life.  Its huge and busy with lots of different smells (both good and bad).  We bought food and baskets for people living in super impoverished areas.  And yes, we even bought a live chicken…(Kevin – you would have laughed hysterically at me trying to avoid those four chickens we carried around ALLLLL day hahaha)  The homes of those people were so….poor.  No electricity, no running water, no roof (and it rains about every day here) It’s just a bit unreal.  Yet they all love with all that they have and they greet you with the warmest welcomes.  Here, it is not about the individual, it is about relationships and the community.

            At night we have been having devotionals together as a team.  What we have been learning has been so dead on with what God knows I need to hear.  We have been talking about the verse that says “the devil comes to steal, kill, and destroy, but I have come so that you may have the best life possible” (paraphrasing).  It’s been wonderful meditating on this verse and applying it to my life.  I am truly learning to depend on God in just such a simple way.  It is hard to explain….but ultimately the plan and the will God has for my life is far greater than anything I will ever dream up, and yet I put so much weight on myself trying to live out the life I think God is asking of me.  Yet, I’m learning that if my heart is truly dependant on the Lord in a very scary letting-go-of-all-control kind of way, God’s plan for my life will come to pass.  John and Amy have plans and hopes for the future, yet where God has already brought them was so much more than they have ever expected, so they know that God can place those desires in our hearts, but that He can also exceed are greatest expectations if we are leaning on Him.  It’s a sigh of relief really.  It is scary to just wait for God and to be content in the waiting, knowing that whatever God has planned is what is going to be the best for us, but it is SO REWARDING.  It strengthens our faith in ways nothing else can and it brings a peace nothing else can.  It is important to know that the life we live now are still part of God’s wondrous plan and that when we’re following after Him with our whole hearts, nothing goes wasted. 

            Before I was born, my parents planned on me being a boy and therefore only had the name Paul picked out for me.  Well, I used to really not like the name Paul much and was thankful to be a girl.  As I got older and began reading stories of and letters from Paul in the Bible I absolutely admired who He was.  Yet, His life was so dang difficult.  Paul’s life was not something I think anyone dreams of having but his FAITH and his LOVE for the Lord…wow!!  God spoke to me last night and told me to stop hating being Paul.  IN a profound way I can’t explain, but to stop hating the hardships of life and where life has unfortunately been harder than I expected.  To stop hating being Paul, because maybe I’m more of a Paul than I think and God uses that.  So wherever life is at, EMBRACE IT! And Lean on God.

            I am beyond blessed to be here.  I cannot thank God enough.  Wow.  And I am so blessed by my team.  Everyone has this trip has just been absolutely incredible and I am so thankful for each and every one of their beautiful hearts.

            I’ve written a lot…and could write more…..But I’ll leave it at that.

Thanks to everyone for your prayers and constant support.  God is so faithful and He is moving in ways words cannot describe.  I pray that he be moving in your life the same way as well, because Guatemala or Michigan, God is still God no matter where we are!

All My Love,

--Jess

Westwinds Student Journey Team: Photo Journal

 Gift Basket team #2

 Gift basket team #1.

 The team praying with a family as they receive a gift basket.

 The team arriving safely at the airport.

 On the bus.

 Purchasing a chicken.

 Gift basket team #3.

Gift basket team #4.