Ministry at AFL

During my time in Guatemala, my team’s primary ministry was serving at a school called Academy of Future Leaders (AFL). It’s a bilingual school where students are taught in both Spanish and English, and our role was to help teach English across all age groups.

Our days were full we started in the mornings teaching preschool and kindergarten, took a two-hour lunch break, and then returned to teach elementary, middle school, and high school until 5 pm.

In the middle of those long days, the Lord gave me such a gift. A coffee shop called Elevado opened nearby, and I quickly built a meaningful friendship with the owners, Cassie and Jose. Cassie is American, Jose is Guatemalan, and what started as casual conversations turned into something really special. I spent almost every lunch sitting with them, talking and laughing. It became my favorite part of the day—a place of rest, connection, and joy in the middle of a busy schedule.

I’ll be honest this ministry stretched me. Being in a school setting from 7 am to 5 pm was challenging, especially since I’ve never loved school and had never spent that many hours in that kind of environment before. But as I allowed the Lord to soften my heart and show me His love for the students and staff, everything began to shift. What once felt draining became meaningful. I found myself growing in love, patience, and joy for the people I was there to serve.

AFL’s mission is powerful: to equip Guatemalans with English so they can access better job opportunities or become translators. The founders, Lauren and Kevin, carry a deep desire to see every student sponsored and fully supported in their education.

Life at the AIM Base

After a difficult season in Malaysia, arriving at the Adventures in Missions Guatemala base felt like such a blessing. It honestly felt luxurious in comparison we each had our own team rooms, and for the first time in a while, I had a bed.

More than just physical comfort, though, this place became a space of restoration.

The People Who Made It Special

The AIM Guatemala staff were a huge part of what made this season so impactful. They didn’t just lead us they truly cared for us.

After a hard previous season, their intentionality, encouragement, and Spirit-led leadership were exactly what I needed. They poured into us, challenged us, and created space for deep, meaningful conversations. I felt seen, known, and pushed to grow in ways that were both uncomfortable and incredibly fruitful.

Activation Days

Every Thursday was something we looked forward to Activation Day.

We would start with worship and teaching, and then go out to put it into practice. These days became some of my favorites. We spent time in Parramos and surrounding towns, praying for people and sharing the gospel.

One of the most impactful days was when we went to Antigua to talk specifically with tourists. The Lord has really been softening my heart toward them. So many travelers in Guatemala describe themselves as being on a “spiritual journey” they’re searching for truth, purpose, and meaning.

What an incredible opportunity we have to meet people right in the middle of that search and share the truth of the gospel with them.

Parent Vision Trip

Parent Vision Trip was one of the sweetest and most meaningful weeks of this entire journey.

After seven months, I finally got to see my parents again. But more than just being reunited, it became a time of freedom, clarity, and deep connection.

The Lord used my parents to confirm and speak into things He had already been stirring in my heart. Every conversation felt intentional, full of life, and deeply encouraging. I loved getting to show them my daily life the places I had been living, serving, and growing over the past two months.

One of my favorite moments was visiting the Antigua House of Prayer together. We spent time studying priesthood and focusing on the Lord as our Shepherd and intercessor for Guatemala. Being able to do ministry alongside my parents again was so special. I didn’t realize how much I had missed talking about the Lord with them until that moment.

The Volcano

One of the most physically challenging and unforgettable experiences in Guatemala was hiking Acatenango and Fuego.

We began the hike at 9 am and didn’t reach base camp until 4 pm. From there, we hiked over to Fuego, climbed up, and watched the sunset from the top. As night fell, we watched the volcano erupt standing there, feeling the ground shake beneath us, was absolutely surreal.

The challenge didn’t stop there. We hiked back down and then up Acatenango, which is when I started experiencing altitude sickness. By the time I reached base camp, I felt incredibly sick and ended up throwing up for the first time in my life. Thankfully, it brought some relief.

After only a few hours of sleep, we woke up at 3 am to summit Acatenango for sunrise. It was completely worth it the view was breathtaking.

It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, but also one of the most rewarding. I’m so grateful I pushed through and experienced it.

What the Lord Has Been Teaching Me

At the beginning of my time in Guatemala, the Lord reminded me of something simple but powerful: a calling is nothing more than obedience to Him.

During an Activation Day, someone shared a word with me that the Lord wanted to do deep work in my heart cutting away flesh and teaching me how to be fully led by the Spirit. They also said I would come to know the Lord as my tender Father.

Throughout the month, I began to grow in obedience and in listening to the Spirit moment by moment. But the idea of learning the Lord as my “tender Father” didn’t fully make sense to me at first.

That changed during Parent Vision Trip. While talking with my dad, he shared something the Lord had spoken to him months before I left: that after 18 years of being parented by my earthly father, it was time for my Heavenly Father to step into that role in a deeper way during these nine months.

In that moment, everything clicked.

Because I’ve been so blessed with a loving, tender earthly father, I hadn’t fully realized my need to experience God in that same way. But now, I’m learning what it looks like to be cared for, led, and loved by my Heavenly Father on a deeper level.

He’s not just powerful and sovereign He’s personal. He cares about every detail. He sits with me, comforts me, and loves me in ways I’m still learning to understand.

This revelation has been one of the sweetest parts of my time in Guatemala and I know I’m only at the beginning of it.

Galatians 5:17