During our first few days here in Guatemala, our team has been trained for and participated in a few different kinds of ministry. The first ministry we participated in was making home visits. The purpose of these visits is to provide the means for clean water to families in the areas surrounding Paramos. Clean water is very hard to come by, and most of the families in the areas we were visiting do not have access to bacteria-free water. We brought along simple, easy-to-use water filters; these filters cost very little and can be easily set up using a 5-gallon bucket. The staff at the AIM...

Imagine this, 6 girls, 1 room, 1 couch, and 5 air mattres. All of the girls are trying to sleep. One is hot, one is cold , and all of them are waking up at different times throughout the night, but the 5 girls on the air mattress are experiencing the same thing. Deflation. Right before they went to sleep they would inflate the mattress as much as possible because, through-out the night, slowly, and often unrecognizabl, the mattress start to deflate. For those few lucky souls, their mattress still maintains enough air so that they don’t wake up on the tile ground. For others, there is...

Since I have come to El Salvador, my perspective on love has changed greatly. Before I left I felt as though I had an understanding of overwhelming kindness and immense love, but I realized upon meeting this team and seeing this beautiful city, that I knew only the surface.  Even as I am writing this my team and I are sitting in a circle in the front of the house listening to Jonah play guitar and the others singing along. How could I be so blessed to meet such a pure group of people and experience life with them?  Our first day we were welcomed warmly by those at the base, and...

I came to Guatemala expecting opportunities to teach and spread love and positivity. They say to be the change you hope to see in the world, but boy was I wrong. Guatemala has been the one to teach me, spread love to me, and change me. The willingness of our host to bring us into his home with his family, when housing themselves alone is a struggle, has shown us pure generosity. The curiosity of the school kids as they strive to enrich themselves, through conversations rather than a screen, has shown us true learning. The ability of these people to live with a smile wider than you could...

Ethiopia team has been engaged in ministry and the team is well.  We have heard from them through a couple of emails.  The access to the Wifi has been pretty spotty.  They will try and post some updates if they can get Wifi in the nest couple of days.  Thanks for your patience and prayers.  -Team Ethiopia

A little over a year ago, during basketball season, I had a weird pain above my right knee. Not wanting to be seen as weak, I ignored the pain and didn’t complain. Basketball season ended and I had a short break before track started. During that time I forgot all about my leg pain and went on living my normal life. One day I was walking down the hallway at school and heard “Guatemala”. I ran to my mom’s classroom and told her what God had whispered to me. Later, I found out Guatemala was a country ;). I began to pray about it, but when I heard nothing else I let it...