Fellowship Student Missions

It’s been a couple of weeks since our team returned from Guatemala, and we’re still looking back with so much gratitude for all God did during our time there. Whether we were serving in clinics, praying with families, playing with kids, or hearing people’s stories, God gave us so many moments to see His goodness up close. Here are a few reflections and testimonies from some of our team members.

Luke

Going into this trip, I wasn’t really sure how I was going to feel about it. I knew that I was going to have fun with friends, but I didn’t know what to expect when it came to serving.

On the first day, I got to be a runner, greeting people and bringing them to a doctor, which really helped me see how the team worked together. Later in the week, I was put in the counseling station, which felt like a big step and was definitely out of my comfort zone.

I heard some really hard stories, and there were definitely some awkward moments, but I did the best I could by praying for people and sharing God’s Word. During one of the breaks, I remember praying that I would have a good conversation with someone, and immediately after that we had five people back-to-back who really opened up. Not only was I able to encourage them, but they also encouraged me as I heard about how they were able to navigate difficult situations by trusting in God.

I was so grateful to meet so many people I would have never had the opportunity to talk to and to really see how God came through for me. I’m also so glad I got to meet one of our translators, Gabriel. It was so cool to talk and hang out with someone my age from such a different culture, and he was really encouraging to me as we met with people.

Not only was God’s work in the villages one of the best parts of the trip, but so was growing closer with the team, hanging out at the compound, playing games, and even being stuck a little too close together in traffic with no AC for hours.

This trip was such a great experience, and I have so much to take away that I won’t be able to fit it all into one story.

Corinne

Wow, what an amazing week! I am so humbled and honored that God allowed me to go on this trip once again. some people were asking me how I felt about going on a mission trip and I really did not know what to say, my brain just felt busy with million things.

One of the most significant parts of my time here was on Day 2. I was placed with Sandra, one of the translators. She shared her personal story with me, and it really encouraged me to find joy in every circumstance. Also during that day, with one of the first sweet ladies we met, we were able to lead her to Christ. This was the first of many God winks that showed me He is using me for His glory.

But after reflecting back, I believe this week was medicine for my soul that made me feel alive in Christ. Sometimes the medicine can sting or be immediately helpful, but either way, it makes you feel new.

On Day 3, I was put in triage alone, which was very nerve-racking for me. I got really stressed, and the blood pressure machine was malfunctioning. I eventually moved to being a runner, and God still managed to use my hiccup for His plan. I was able to pray for healing for a lady with constant headaches, and even though it was not fully taken away, God was kind enough to show me a glimpse of His power. He is made perfect in our weakness!

On Day 4, I returned to a counseling station and was able to hear amazing stories of faith from the people in this village. One that stuck out to me was an older man named Roberto. He has been a believer in Jesus for 39 years! Our team had talked about how part of our goal should be to authentically converse with these people, not just try to lead them to Christ or offer advice, so I took that into account.

I asked him what stories had stuck out to him the most in his journey with Christ. He shared that his youngest daughter fell three stories, but Jesus healed her from paralysis. He also shared how bad people stole many of his belongings and money, but he continues to praise God for His faithfulness.

I asked what his prayer request was, and he simply asked for healing from chronic pain so that he could street preach and spread the gospel.

Wow, so now I have no excuse not to fully take on the boldness of Christ and share His love.

One more thing that was impactful for my soul were the car rides to and from the villages. Josh asked some questions that really helped us get to know each other. We played some games that made us cackle, and I was able to learn more about our awesome youth pastor, Colton, on Day 3.

This taught me that joy is never exempt from the mundane, especially when it is from Christ. What an honor it is to serve God’s children alongside other amazing people.

Mark 2:17

Tim

I had a great third trip to Guatemala, it was really a true blessing to be able to come. I had a great time bonding with everybody on the team but most importantly I got to grow closer to Jesus and was challenged in my faith.

One thing that really challenged me was when Herman was preaching that If you don’t hear God, you need to talk to him more.

Couple of my favorite stories:

On the last clinic days I had two people that really impacted me and my faith. One was an older Christian man who was ministering to me and Gabriel (the translator) and before he left he told us this story:

His neighbor was an old lady and was found dead in her home but the neighbors in the village could not get her administered to the hospital to be declared as deceased not sure if it was because of financial reasons or because of transportation but her neighbors brought her body to lay her bed until they could do something about her, and two days later he brings people from his church and they prayed over her and she woke up like Lazarus.

Another very powerful story from the last clinic day, i was feeling a little discouraged because other than the older man i felt like I wasn’t doing my best job and I was exhausted mentally and physically, but I prayed for God to give me strength and to give us one last person that will stand out and that if it’s gods will that we can minister to, and sure enough, even though everybody was packing up we were able to listen to her story, share a lot of encouragement, and eventually share the gospel with her. We prayed salvation over her, and I haven’t really prayed the sinners prayer with another person but God gave me the words to say, and that really brought me closer to God as well. Afterwards I encouraged her that Jesus would rather her meet her where she’s at rather than her waiting to be perfect because we never will, but that’s okay because Jesus paid the price.

Another story that impacted me was on the third day. I got to meet a woman who was telling me she was battling depression and anxiety. I believe it was stemming from family issues and I don’t remember the exact details, but she seemed so sad, and I could really see it weighing her down. I tried my best to share encouragement and eventually she wanted to pray the prayer of reconciliation with us. But what was a little detail but mad a big difference was after I prayed for her she was so joyful, and smiling so much.

After a full day of sharing stations and Colton bringing us people back to back, he had mentioned what a blessing it is to be tired from this type of work.

Overall, I am really grateful that I was able to go on this trip, connect and meet many new people and for all the work the lord has done in peoples heart on our team but also on the people in the villages.

Will

This week, God used a local Guatemalan construction worker to give me an opportunity to share the gospel, growing my own faith and inspiring me to boldness in the Spirit.

When he walked up to me and my interpreter, in the counseling station he had a look of fear and confusion. He seemed skeptical of us and it took a few surface-level questions to break through to his heart. He shared that his work was very dangerous and that he never knew if each day was the day he died. He also shared that he knew nothing of the gospel, or church, or anything of that nature.

Obviously when you go on a mission trip you expect to be sharing the gospel, but it was the first time of the week, and I had zero idea of what to say. After a little bit of struggle to tell him the things he needed to hear, a sense of peace overcame me. I was instantly reminded of the prayer Herman (the leader of the ministry we were working with) gave us at the beginning of the week. Essentially the prayer asked God to uncover the eyes of the man’s spirit to the light of the gospel and to give him boldness in his faith and to continue to spread the word to everyone around him.

After, he said the prayer of salvation, and became saved in the Holy Spirit. As the translator explained to him how to get connected to the church, I saw that a burden seemed lifted off of his shoulders and the joy of the Lord had filled him.

Through giving me the words to say, God taught me that trusting Him is all I need, and to be bold in my faith.

Kristen

I love Guatemala. This country has been in my heart since I was 19 years old. As soon as we stepped out of the airport into the sea of chicken buses and street vendors, a quietness came over my spirit. My soul remembered how necessary it was to depend on Christ for everything here: the words to say, the people to talk to, the water to drink (or not). I joined this trip last minute as a leader. The lack of control forced me to step into that place of full reliance on the Lord.

He allowed me to see the leadership in these students. The students led us in willing service, waiting on the Spirit, adapting with joy, and Christ’s call on us to be unified. Serving alongside them this week was such an honor.

The most impactful part of the trip was our debrief time each night. Every student shared how the Lord was teaching, speaking, and moving in their lives this week.

The Lord, in His loving kindness, showed me glimpses of how He will use them for the kingdom. So much of our strength as a church comes from the faith of these young leaders. I pray for more opportunities to step aside and follow in the beautiful footsteps of these pioneers bringing the good news to the world.