Then
The last time I wrote a blog, I shared about my time in Albania—my struggles with outreach and how the Lord sustained me through it all. That remained true right up until the very end of my time there. We wrapped up with a women’s event in Tirana at the end of February. Although it didn’t go exactly as planned, I would still call it a success.
We left Albania on February 27th and headed to Athens, Greece. We needed a larger airport to fly out of, but we ended up getting stuck in Athens for a few days due to riots in the city. Although we were never in any danger, the riots significantly disrupted flights. However, that unexpectedly long layover gave us a whole day to explore the city—on a day when most attractions just so happened to be free! During our time in Greece, I got to visit the Acropolis, Parthenon, Ancient Agora, Panathenaic Stadium, and the National Archaeological Museum. It was an incredible experience, and I loved every moment.
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Now
On March 3rd, we arrived in Guatemala—our last country! It is absolutely beautiful here, and I love the people, the food, and the weather. We’ve already been here for almost a month, but our schedule has been a bit unusual. We did ministry for a week, then our parents visited for the Parent Vision Trip, and afterward, we had a week of debrief. It was amazing to see my mom, especially after she encountered Jesus back in the fall. Our debrief week was so much fun—we even went cliff jumping at the lake!
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Now we’re back to our regular ministry schedule. On Mondays and Fridays, we teach English at the Academy for Future Leaders. In Guatemala, English speakers are more likely to be employed with higher wages than those who only speak Spanish, even if they have completed their education. Because of this demand, the academy focuses on teaching employable skills. I teach the advanced classes, which consist mostly of adults and older teens. We have discussion groups about culture, religion, healthcare, education, and finances. It’s incredibly fulfilling, and I love being a part of it.
On Tuesdays, we leave at 5:30 a.m. to travel to Parrojas, a small village at the top of a nearby mountain. There’s a feeding program there for the local kids, so we help cook, serve, clean, and spend time with them. We also do house visits to build connections within the community. On Wednesdays, we return to Parrojas to assist with their English classes. I absolutely adore our ministry here—I’ve already had such wonderful conversations and seen the Holy Spirit moving powerfully. Guatemala is so receptive to the Gospel that they are even sending Latino missionaries to the Middle East. I am beyond grateful to be partnering with what the Lord is doing here, and I can’t wait to see how He continues to move during the rest of my time here.
The community here is incredible! We’re living on an Adventures in Missions base rather than with a host or family. The staff is amazing—they are very intentional about discipleship and building relationships. We also have a security guard named Manuel, along with his cat, Pantera, who drives us to ministry. I’m building lots of friendships and living in constant laughter here.
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What’s Next?
• Easter! As part of the Hospitality team, I’ll be helping plan our Easter Celebration—keep an eye out for photos!
• My Birthday! I turn 19 in two weeks—on April 12th! It’ll be exciting to celebrate on the field!
• Going Home! We will leave Guatemala in early May and return to the States. We’ll serve with the Disaster Relief Team in Black Mountain, North Carolina, for a week. Then we’ll have a few days of debrief before I head home!
Thanks for reading! I hope this was a helpful update. Please keep my team in your prayers—that we would run with endurance the race the Lord has set before us!
If you have any questions or comments, feel free to reach out! And if you’d like to continue supporting me on the field, you can do that too!
Venmo: @reannon0412
Zelle: 4702171068
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