Hey everybody! Last blog I was leaving Italy and now we’re in Mexico! Being here now there’s no doubt in my mind that I was meant to be here. It’s crazy to think about how I went into this trip planning on just doing 1 semester, 3 months, not knowing if I’ll click with anyone or how much I’ll grow in my faith. And it’s ended up being the most life changing experience of my life. I’m starting my fourth month, and I’ve met some of my best friends. This blog will be an update on how my last month at home went, what my next 4 months will look like, and how ministry is going. 

If you didn’t know, I was in Albania and Italy for 3 months through this program Journey School. Then I went home for a little over a month, essentially from Thanksgiving to New Years. And now I’m in Chiapas, Mexico for 2 months and then will go to Antigua, Guatemala for another 2. My time at home was restful but at the same time I was restless. Restful in the sense that it was nice to have a break and be with family and spend the holidays in the comfortability of my home. But restless in the sense that I didn’t feel like I belonged there. I missed this community immensely. I was bored and felt empty spiritually. There was a heaviness there that I couldn’t shake. As nice as it was to hang out with family and a few friends over the last month and be able to drive and get coffee whenever I wanted, I feel so much more peace being here. The second I stepped out of the van into the orphanage in Mexico and was greeted by all my friends that I missed so dearly I knew that I made the complete right decision to continue this journey. 

Now a little information on what the heck I’m even doing. I’m staying with the 26 other kids on my team in an orphanage in Mexico. The orphanage consists of a little apartment type building for us, dorms for the little girls here and dorms for the boys, buildings for their classes, a basketball court, and a chapel. It stretches across the street connected by a bridge. The kids here all came from abusive or dangerous households and their ages range from a few months old to about 17 years old. They live here and do school here and play around. We get to hang out with them in our free time, especially with the little ones.

We’re all split into 2 ministry teams. We all are helping with the kids but one team also is working with a coffee organization that helps support coffee farmers who work day in and out to make a small amount of money harvesting coffee beans. If you want to learn more about it go to https://brokenribcoffee.com/pages/about. Its very cool. This team gets to serve with them while also learning business skills. The other team, that I’m part of, is focusing on the orphanage solely. 3 days a week we do stations with them, English class, reading, and sports. And the other 2 days we’re helping revive and redo their garden. We’re going to paint a mural, get them some pigs, and plant food so that they have more resources available right there. Again we’re also doing classes in the mornings and have opportunities for travel and fellowship. 

It’s a blessing to have set, promised ministry. Albania a couple months ago was hard and everyone here agrees, it was a little discouraging. Already I know that this semester is going to be so much more enriching ministry wise. These kids are so welcoming and eager to hang out with us. And we get to give them a beautiful garden and food options that will stay with them and hopefully help them long after we leave. We have amazing ministry partners and amazing mentors and leaders with us who have already been giant encouragements and amazing teachers. I’m so excited for the next couple months here and what God will do. 

Part of being here too is for learning and academics. I have online school through community college to work on but also time to figure out my future. Which is scary. I have no idea what I’m going to do when I go home for good. School is not for me, I have no desire or need to go to college. No career in mind. But also minimal money since I haven’t worked for the last 4 months. This last week has been our training week and one activity we had was to look at whether we think we’re meant for settling down/ the comfort of home or a “quest”/ journey to go on. For so much of my life I thought I wanted to get married young, settle down, have kids, period. Of course those are still desires but this trip has shown me that I thrive on traveling and experiencing. I need a journey to go on. Do I know where? No way. Do I know what that journey will be? Nope. But I pray that God will reveal that to me. How I can live my life in light of Him. I really don’t think I belong in Spokane, Washington (sorry mom). I’m excited for growth and clarity. But also I’m fearful and need to constantly put the fear of my future into Gods hands. And for right now I get to still figure out what I like to do and what my gifts are.

So basically, I’m super hyped to be here. I’m so excited to see how God will work in my life and work in these kids lives and what God will reveal to me along the way. I was so blessed with amazing people here who build me up, encourage me, and that I can grow alongside. I’ll forever be blessed for my team here and that God put them all in my life. 

For anyone reading, here’s some prayer requests I have. Pray of course for the kids who live here, they come from heavy backgrounds and still need to understand the love of God. Pray that they see God through us and we can be faithful examples. Pray also for the orphanage in general, the government doesn’t love them and tries to shut them down often. They really value privacy because some of these kids have parents out searching for them. Pray for my ministry team that we have the time and resources to really bless them with an area for animals and food. And lastly for us all in general, pray for strength against spiritual attacks and against burn out and sickness. Safety as well. God is going to do amazing things here I know it. 

I still need around $2,500 to be fully funded. If anyone would prayerfully consider partnering with me in that way I would be ecstatic. I’m so thankful for every prayer for me and my team and our ministry. I loved sharing about the first half of my journey during the time I was home. And I plan on keeping up on writing blogs to update anyone who wants to hear how God is working here. Love you all. 

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” James 1:17