I am not joking when I say I left my heart in Guatemala. The things I have seen, and the things that God did were almost too much for words. I am going to work past the tears, and try (big emphasis on try) to share a few things that happened with you all.
Never could I have imagined falling so in love with a place. Prior to going to Guatemala, I was very happy with my life, loved the city I lived in and loved the things I was doing. I am part of an amazing church that I never saw myself wanting to leave, my family lives here and I never ever saw myself wanting to leave them. Those of you that know me know how much I love my family, they are my favorite people ever! I quickly learned that you can’t say never to God, because He will quickly tell you “Oh yes you are going to get up and go where I tell you”.
God worked in some very mighty ways in Guatemala, from the small things to the big things. He hand crafted a group of 20 plus people who all shared very different gifts and callings to come together and share the love of Jesus Christ. To be a part of this group was a blessing alone. I learned so much from the women on the trip, to love fearlessly, to live life, and to be bold (hence bold and unashamed 🙂 ). Yes that was all without even stepping out of the house, into the city!
Now, here is the fun stuff, I got to fall in love with the people of the city. They had such generosity to people they didn’t even know, they welcomed us into their homes with open arms. They didn’t see all the things they lacked because they had love for each other, they didn’t need fancy homes or cars to be content, they had love for each other. I can tell you first hand of how selfish I am, how I was so quick to complain about school, or not having this or that, but boy has my perspective changed.
One of my favorite moments would have to be when we got to play with the children who lived in the neighbor hoods of the Guatemala City dump. They live in horrible conditions, yet they have so much joy. These children were so happy to have us their and play with them, and let me tell you never have I had so much joy in my heart. I didn’t care that the area was dirty, I didn’t care that the children probably hadn’t bathed in days, I didn’t care that their was dog poop everywhere all I cared about was the children and how much joy and love they had to share. They didn’t need fancy toys or electronics all they needed was a marble and a puddle of water, or a table and a pole to jump on and slide down. The joy that beamed from their faces is something that I will never forget.
Let’s just say that I had many God moments while I was in away, but the biggest one was Louis being the person who opened his home to us staying their. When we got to the city I had no clue, what Louis did (Louis his wife and two beautiful daughters were our host family). I had no clue that he wrote curriculum for the schools in Guatemala and worked hand in hand with the school systems there, I had no clue that he had the vision to spread great education and put teachers who loved and believed in Jesus throughout South America, but boy did God know that. For those of you who don’t know I am going to college to be a Teacher, leading up to this trip I was so frustrated with school, and had no clue if I even wanted to finish college. I wanted to put my education to a halt and travel the world. It was no coincidence at all that I got to meet Louis and it was no coincidence at all that I that I lacked vision in my life, it was all God. I still don’t have it all figured out but I do know that I want to finish college and get my teaching certificate and God willing go back to Guatemala and teach there. (Mom if you are reading this I still have a good year and a half of college left)
I really did leave my heart in Guatemala, not a single moment has gone by where I don’t miss the sound of the roosters in the morning, or the ride on the jam-packed chicken bus, or my lovely HEB feet, but I am resting on the fact that I have a job to do here, I have to share what I have seen here in my home town, I will be back in Guatemala without a shadow of a doubt and until then I am on a mission to share the love of Jesus Christ here in my city.
Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?” I said, “Here I am. Send me.” Isaiah 6:8
Thank you,
Shelby Curlee
