Blog

Explore My News,
Thoughts & Inspiration

Have you ever lived with someone that did not speak your language?It’s very hard. I would try to help them make lunch and they would be talking to me and I had no idea what they were saying.It was very hard. I would try to help them make lunch and they would be talking to me and I had no idea what they were saying.It was very annoying. I just really wish I knew Spanish, but I learned to be OK with just making lots of hand motions and laughing together. I would eventually figure out what they were trying to tell me to do.

Most of my team knows enough Spanish to have a conversation but I can’t even remember the simple words that we use everyday. It got really old fast, I just kept forgetting. I would pray and ask God over and over again to help me remember, to help me understand what they are saying. But he reminded me over and over that I don’t need to know their language to be able to show the love of Jesus and pray for them(even though it would have made it a lot easier).

 

 

The people here are so friendly and every now and then I would meet somebody that knew enough English for me to talk to them.

One day as I was walking to the church I met a man who stopped to talk to me. He knew some English and so he told me about his family and about what he does and then I asked if I could pray for him and he said yes, and asked me to pray for his family for good health and so I prayed. He was very grateful and so I went on with my day. Later that day I was riding bike from the store and I met him again and his teenage daughter was with him. He told me that he was telling his brother how I prayed for them but I couldn’t really understand him because his English wasn’t super good but what I got from it was that one of his family members had some leg pain and that day the pain went away and he was saying it was because I prayed for them and they were healed! It was a really good reminder for me that even though we didn’t completely understand each other and I didn’t know anything about his family or what they were going through God still heard my prayer and healed him!! 

 

This month we are helping with a local church in a very small town.                          We are 2 miles from the beach and there is a river across the road from where we are staying. Which I love since we’ve been in the mountains for the last two months it is very nice to be by water, so I can go swimming every day!!:)

We have been able to go and visit some people in the community.

One day we went to a house and some older ladies were sitting on their porch and as we sat and talked we asked if we could pray for them. They had some knee pain so some of my teammates prayed for them and they said it felt better.

A couple days later the lady we are staying with said she was talking to her friends and their pain was a lot better since we had prayed for them!


 

 

There was a soccer field that kids would play at in the evenings so we would go there and play with them or have a little Bible story for them!

 

 

 

 

This is Yeimy, the lady’s house we slept at. She gave up her bed for us as she slept on the floor.      She was so loving and giving! She would get up at 4AM to go work in the guava field before it would get too hot.

Even though she did not speak English and I do not know Spanish she made me feel at home!       One night I was crying and she asked me if I was sad because I missed home? Through hand motions and trying to understand what she was saying, she said I can’t be sad she is my family!

Saying goodbye was sad, she said when I get married and have my children, to come visit her!<3.                                                                                                        Keep her in your prayers as she is having some health problems!

 

 

 

These are some of the 8 kiddos that live with there grandparents. Their 25-year-old single mother is strung out and lives elsewhere.

They are the sweetest most beautiful little girls! Every time I would go to the soccer field or store and see them they would run and give me the biggest hugs, it melted my heart every time!!       Their grandparents are so giving. We went to their house to give them a Bible and say goodbye and the grandfather went out to buy us a snack before we left!!

 

 

Work.                                                                                                              Mixing concrete for the floor in the pastor’s house. Helping clean up a guava Field!!

 

 

Adventure days!!

 

 

 

God is working in my life.

This month has been mentally hard with feeling like I’m not smart enough, especially with not remembering Spanish words and not knowing a lot of things that other people know, the lies would come flowing in like a waterfall and I didn’t know what to do. I knew that I needed to talk to my team and ask for prayer but I felt like something was holding me back, I felt like I couldn’t talk.

One day Hannah asked me some questions and I started talking and told her how I felt and that I know I need prayer but I tried to just do it on my own instead of asking for help.

 

The Bible says in James 5:16

“ Therefore confess your sins to one another pray for one another that you may be healed”

 

So my team prayed for me and encouraged me and so I’m slowly learning that I need to speak up right away instead of thinking about it for to long. Learning to trust people and to be ok with asking for help! To really spend time with God and trust his timing!

Some verses that helped me get through this time!

 

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.”

James 1:5-6 NKJV

Psalm 42:11 “So I say to my soul, “Don’t be discouraged. Don’t be disturbed. For I know my God will breakthrough for me.” Then I’ll have plenty of reasons to praise him all over again. Yes, he is my saving grace”

Thank you for following along on my journey!

 

We are headed to Nicaragua on 11/14, tomorrow, at 6 am! A 9 hour bus ride!!

 

 

TEAM 217

 

8 responses to “New friends, hard goodbye.”

  1. It blesses me so much to read how Jesus is touching your life and others through you!! You’re sounding so much more like Him!! Me and Jess love you dearly and are still so excited for you and the rest of your journey!

    Continue separating yourself to Jesus! He’s there and in you. Let Him manifest in your body! You are Holy Gwen (Col 3:12)

    Bless you!!! Can’t wait to hear from you again!!!
    We Bless Yelma in the name of Jesus!!!!

  2. I love reading about your adventures you are learning so much ! You are a wonderful young lady Never forget that ! John and I send you our warmest thoughts

  3. Hello,
    It was so good to hear from you! I certainly understand about not being able to learn Spanish or any language! I tried to learn Spanish and German and it just didn’t happen!
    I thank God for your heart and for your willingness to serve Him!
    May God be with you closely!
    Love Margret

  4. Hey there Gwen….this is Sheila, your mail lady. I’ve enjoyed reading your blogs. You’re such an inspiration to all those that meet you. God is growing you in your faith. You’re having to trust Him. Yes, you’re there for the people but God is definitely doing a work in you. I’m looking forward to reading more about your adventures!

  5. Gwen!! My lovely sister…full of the light of Christ! It has blessed me so to read, see and hear what God is doing in you and through you. Jos 1:9 – be strong and courageous! Interesting how we think of jumping off of a cliff or swimming in waterfalls is just leisure …But since he dwells inside us he is with us wherever we go! It has inspired me to be excited about being courageous and not featful… in fact (funny story) I have been dreaming about doing the coolest things ever since your post… Flipping backwards off of the raft being pulled by a boat on the lake… it’s going to happen!??

    I love you Gwen and look forward to your next post and pictures! In peace – Noel

  6. This sentence right here made my day: “God is working in my life.” Yes, He is, Gwen! You are so loved!

  7. What an amazing month you had! All kinds of hard things, fun things, sweet moments and really kind people. And it sounds like you’re letting God use every one of those things to grow you into the best version of yourself…one that will continue to bring His kingdom to earth long after this year is done. Proud of you, Gwen!