He is Here

It's a weird feeling - knowing that God has placed me in this exact place for a reason. It's a weird feeling - doing life in the place God told me to go. Knowing with certainty that this is where my life is. I'm getting to know my home, the people in my neighbourhood, the language that is spoken here, the cultural differences, and what my part in all of it is. 

Doing life in Guatemala is so very different than a ten-day missions trip, and I knew that it would be. When I was here in March, God had specific things to show me in a ten-day period. He showed me a bizarre, unexplainable and intense love that He's placed into my heart for the children of Guatemala. He showed me a glimpse of Himself - a power, a glory, and a deep love like no other. He gave me a peace that was impossible to explain, and assurance that Guatemala is where I am supposed to be. 

Not every day feels spectacular. I'm not living on the mountaintop that I was in March (figuratively speaking, because I'm literally living on a mountain...) but I am learning how to see God every single day. I see Him in the mountains, the volcanos, the blue sky - I see Him in the glory and wonder of His creation. I see Him in my Mama Elena's kind eyes and hospitality.

I see Him in the school - how deeply He has blessed GSO and how this organization has given Tizate hope. Every time I climb that hill to the school and start complaining about how horribly steep and long the climb is, God reminds me that it is a path that leads to Him and His work. 

I see Him in the children. Oh, the children! I find the greatest joy in their brown eyes, their faces designed by a good Father who knows and loves each of them to no end. I love that I am loved by them. 'Mikhaila' is much too difficult to pronounce, so to them, I am Mika - a name that I've been given and one that I love to have. I hear it when I step through the door and my little sisters come running to greet me. I hear it in the streets when I play soccer with the neighbor boys. I hear it on Friday nights when we have Bible study, and the children throw their arms around me, play with my hair, ask me if I like their colouring page, cuddle into my arm, and hold my hand. Oh, how I love being Mika. 

Amidst everything that I'm seeing around me, I can hear His whisper and feel the tug on my heart. I have a plan for these people. I want them to see My love. I want to set the oppressed free. I want to heal the sick, and bind up the broken-hearted. Remember the poor. 

Every day I'm learning how to live in this place that feels like home. I'm learning about the people, I'm learning about myself, but most importantly, I'm learning how to see Jesus every day. When you seek Him out, you realize that He's just as much in the valley as He is on the mountaintop.