By choosing to do the World Race in the middle of a pandemic, I expected some interruptions. I didn’t expect the start of my time in Guatemala to be what it was. The first couple of weeks in Guatemala, my team had to spend in quarantine. A few members of my team were infected with the virus and the rest of us were exposed. We spent 20 days in quarantine. 

We started the month off full of energy and excitement about finally launching internationally and working with a ministry in Guatemala. We hadn’t even been here a week before we discovered a team member had gotten Covid. My time spent in quarantine was frustrating and disappointing. My teammates and I all had to be separated. We were living in separate rooms and eating far apart from each other. It definitely wasn’t what we expected our time to be. 

Going from a full schedule to trying to fill our time in quarantine was interesting. We didn’t want to remain stagnant. It would have been easy to just all do our own thing and sit in the frustration. But we tried as a team to learn and grow together. 

After two weeks of quarantine, we had to have our time extended via the Guatemalan health department. After discovering this, I was so disappointed. I spent some time sulking and processing. Then my team did a Bible study together on Philippians. Paul literally wrote this book from prison and doesn’t stop talking about his joy. After this, I altered my mindset and decided that if Paul can write about his joy from prison, I could easily get over another a week in quarantine. 

• Philippians 4:4-7 ~ Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 

This above passage is a wonderful reminder to find joy in the Lord alone. If I try to find happiness from worldly things, I will be disappointed. There is a refreshing peace that comes when I seek Him out instead of living in my stress. He has way better things for me than anything I can find in this world, even if I sometimes forget that. 

For this month's ministry we have been working in a soup kitchen, working on a construction project, and visiting and assessing the needs of neighbors. (We’re being careful and making sure we take precautions!)

For the past couple of weeks we have been working with a wonderful family and their ministry in Guatemala and I am excited to talk more about that in my next blog post! 

Please continue to keep my team in your prayers as we finish up in Guatemala this week and soon leave for Costa Rica! :) 

***I also have my final fundraising deadline on February 28th. I still have $2,062 to raise. I’m so very close and I would love if you could continue to keep this in your prayers!***