Long time, no blog. Lately, life as a missionary has looked a little crazy. Our ministry partner, Hope, has grown me so much. They’ve truly adopted us into their family. Getting to know the volunteers and the children we work with has given me the most beautiful role, as supporter, teacher, and friend. Hope ministry is named so aptly. They show the next generation of kids the hope they have and will continue to have when their lives are dedicated to Christ. Our job, as 5 World Racers, is to join the team of volunteers in their normal, everyday lives as hometown missionaries. What incredible examples they’ve set for us of what missionaries look like.

On Mondays, being a missionary looks like doing house visits in our small town. We aim to be spirit-led as we knock on doors with no expectations except that the Lord will move. We are always greeted with smiling faces, honest hearts, and people who stop whatever they have going on to give us a seat for a while. We have prayed over so many beautiful people and their families and my eyes have been opened to what living a life led by the Holy Spirit looks like. And it's beautiful. On Monday afternoons, we teach English. I have the incredible opportunity to help teach the advanced class. These three students are so eager to learn and open-minded to the next crazy thing we throw at them. K, B, and A have become so dear to my heart.

On Tuesdays, being a missionary looks like more house visits to people with whom we've already formed relationships. Lots of listening, laughing, and loving happens in this time. Visiting houses in Guatemala often means we'll receive sweet bread and Coca-Cola, simply because we're guests. Even those who don't have enough for themselves will give generously to those who walk in the door. On Tuesday afternoons, we have Bible Study. This looks a little different for each age group of kids, but it usually entails crafts and songs. My favorite craft was building the tabernacle with them and my favorite song to sing with them in Spanish is "I Could Sing of Your Love Forever." Tuesdays are sweet.

On Wednesdays, being a missionary looks like getting to ministry for volunteer Bible study. For a few hours, we dive into the Word together and share what is on our hearts. I feel so blessed that our ministry prioritizes this time that we can be poured into. It has filled my team and I up in the best way. Wednesday afternoons are for music! Being a missionary during music looks like teaching harmony in a language I don't even speak or helping the music teachers with whatever they need.

Being a missionary on Thursdays looks very different than the other days because our team spends the whole day in Antigua. We begin the day in the Prayer Room, a tiny room in the back of a coffee shop, where we spend a few hours in prayer interceding for our brothers and sisters in Christ, for our ministry, for the persecuted church, and for whatever else the Lord puts on our hearts. We come back to the same coffee shop later in the day on Thursday for worship led by our ministry. Sometimes worship can last three hours! It's split half and half between English and Spanish. It is truly like getting a little taste of Heaven.

On Fridays, being a missionary looks like enjoying time with my team or time in our quaint little town. On Friday afternoons at Hope, we get active. The older kids play soccer and the littles stretch and then do some sort of dancing or relay racing. Saturdays are ATL, which stands for "ask the Lord." This usually involves praying for strangers, getting housework done, spending time with our host family, or leaving our town to have an adventure. We try our best to always be interruptible. So, even if we have a plan in mind, we want to be available to anything else that God puts in our path. The sabbath is my personal favorite day of the week, not because we don't have concrete plans, but because the Lord always does something incredible in my heart. I have been redefining the word Sabbath and honoring the biblical model of rest since we've been in Guatemala and it has blessed me in ways I couldn't have imagined. Let me know if you'd like to hear the sermon series that changed my heart about what Sabbath looks like and how to practice it for God's glory.

This is what being a missionary looks like for me in this season. For my family, it looks like teaching sixth graders, climbing power poles to keep the lights on, and taking care of a newborn baby. For my friends, it looks like ministering to college students and serving catfish stew on the weekends. In 1 Corinthians, Paul encourages the church in Corinth to do everything to the glory of God, no matter what it is. If you don't feel like a missionary, don't worry. I didn't either before I left for the World Race because I didn't choose to be. Living a missionary lifestyle is a choice we have everyday, to pray for the old man in the grocery store who is having trouble walking, or to be a Christ-like example to those we work with. So I encourage you to step into this calling we've all been commissioned by Jesus to live out. Do that thing you've been scared to do, share the gospel with your friend who needs to hear it, and love those around you all to the glory of God.

Please continue to keep my team in your prayers. We need it!

Your sister in Christ,

Caroline