Time is flying. Its like week 3 of me being in Mexico. And I want to be consistent on these blogs so here’s another update.

Ministry: It’s been really good. I love these kids. I get to spend time with them for 3 hours 3 days a week and then sometimes outside of that time a little bit. Lots of basketball and soccer and getting my hair braided and hugs and trying to have little conversations with broken Spanish from my side and broken English from their side. It’s tiring for sure, but so worth it. It breaks my heart every day seeing that above all they just want affection and love, it’s going to be hard to leave here. This orphanage is an amazing place and they care for these kids so well, but jeez it makes me sad that they’re here. I want to love them all the best I can in the next weeks that I have the opportunity to. We’re supposed to be teaching them English as we play games with them, but even if they remember no English I so pray that they remember how we cared for them. Another part of ministry is reviving their garden. We planted the first seeds this week and have been mainly cleaning up trash and weeds. The first day we started on the garden I was pulling weeds, we didn’t have gloves yet, I had oh my gosh giant blisters beginning on my hands, it’s hot, these weeds did NOT want to come out, but I just like felt so much peace. It was a weird time to feel peace. I was just thinking like I’m in Mexico helping clean up at this orphanage. I’m with some my best friends in the world. And like God brought me here, I’m here because I chose to follow God. In times where I was struggling, where I was sad, hopeless, not feeling like God was there, He had this plan for me. When I was crying out to Him not knowing what to do with myself and how to feel happier He knew that shortly after I would be here growing immensely, feeling the Spirit more than I ever have, and enjoying life so much living for Him. I’ve been constantly like CONSTANTLY reminded that God has good plans. He actually genuinely loves me and therefore everything He does is for my good. He has good good plans no matter what. 

Romans 8:28 “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

Community: People are so cool I love people. It’s still so insane to me that about about 5 months ago I was meeting all these random people for the first time and now I can identify how each of them have changed my life in at least 1 way. There’s something about living with people and doing life with people that makes you really close, obviously. And I’ve grown so much in my desire to genuinely know people. God created each of us in His image right? So it’s like hey I’m a child of the King and so are you and I want to know your heart and how God is working in you and I want to hear your insight and how your brain works because we’re both here on this earth probably struggling with similar things and we can help each other. Worldly possessions can be pretty cool sometimes I guess but people are cooler. There’s so much to learn from others. And I love it so much.

Growth: I’m learning how to be where my feet are. Thinking about the future is DRAINING. Like woah how am I gonna make money? When should I move out? Where will I move to? How am I gonna function without this community? Can I really travel around as much as I want to? WHAT AM I GONNA DO WITH MY LIFE? I’m so scared when I think about it. I’m fearful that everything I’ve learned in these past few months and all the ways I’ve been changed are going to slowly go away. I’m fearful that I’ll get stuck in a job that I hate, wasting my life away with no opportunity to leave my hometown. But, I’m here right now. God has me here. And again God has good plans. I’m going to waste this time if I’m constantly scared of what my future will be like. So I’m really working on putting that into Gods hands, knowing that He’s got me, and stewarding this time keeping in mind that I won’t be here forever.

Prayer requests again! A lot of people haven’t been feeling well, which is keeping them from ministry. So prayer for sickness to go away and not keep spreading throughout the team. And the biggest thing is just ministry, that we all keep getting closer to these kids and really caring for them with the love of Jesus through us.

I’m so so so so very appreciative of everyone who’s supported me financially throughout this trip. And I’m somewhat close to being fully funded. Here’s the link again if anyone else feels led to help! 

https://adventuresinmissions.servicereef.com/events/adventures-in-missions-3/spring-2026-journey-school-chiapas-mexico-and-guatemala/participants/alyssa-clarku

Short blog but just an update. God is good and I love Him and I love these kids.

And love you all!