Our School
of Missions is located in a town called San Juan, that is part of a bunch of
other towns all in the Rio Grand Valley.
Everyone here calls it the valley because you never know from one second
to the next what town your actually in.
I’ve known this from the first week of living here. Then one day about a week ago it hit me when
someone said to me “WELCOME TO THE VALLEY!! It hit me like a ton of bricks. This time has
most definitely been a time of living in and walking through a valley. You
know, the one mentioned in Psalm 23. (Which ironically our second week here we
had to memorize the passage) “Even though I walk through the darkest valley”,
or another version say “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of
death” Let me give you a glimpse into
this valley. All of us students here
have been under ATTACK. Complete 100% spiritual warfare type of attack. You see when we are sitting in our pews at
church (or for my church auditorium chairs J) the devil is a little ticked. He’s thinking oh well
God won that one, but its just one person.
Then you leave church, and for the ones who drive to el sombrero
(guilty) and forget about the sermon or living a life for God, you’re
safe! The ones who drive off and act on
what was learned and continue striving to live a life worthy of our savior and
sharing the good news, BEWARE!!! YOU will soon be under attack!!! You see Satan doesn’t care about you if your
not doing anything for the kingdom of God. The second you try to get someone
else on God’s side, that’s when it happens!!! That is the same reason the rest
of Psalm 23 says:
I will fear no evil, for you are with me: your rod and your
staff, THEY COMFORT ME.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will
follow me all the days of my life and I WILL DWELL IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD
FOREVER.
I thought my first 6 months in Guatemala would make this
time spent here in “The Valley” a breeze. But, I am learning how to be so much
more effective in ministry in Guatemala that this valley is worse because I’m
not with the kids I love so much!
Yes life here in the valley physically and emotionally is
tasking, its ALWAYS HOT, were among the top ten poorest communities in the nation,
THERE ARE BUGS EVERYWHERE, and the number one worst zip code for car insurance
(because they drive like maniacs), oh and there is a war going on 2 miles
directly south of our house, our front door literally faces straight into
Mexico.
So everyone’s fears
are being tried and tested in this valley by the one trying to STOP us. Some
with attack of the bajillion roaches here, attack of loneliness, attack of fear
of the war, attack of being severely under supported, attack on health, and the
worst attack SATANS LIES. Satan keeps
whispering to us all, don’t you want to go home to your loved ones, to the
comforts you know, I mean your still in America and your being broken down, how
will you survive in Guatemala? Evil is
trying to send us home, because there is a big task in front of us. All of these conditions are magnified in
Guatemala, but boy is it easier to handle it there amongst the culture each of
us dearly love!
I started this blog earlier in the week, and could never
find the right words to finish, until today.
My roommate and amazing new friend Ashley and I have found a church
(it’s a Matt Chandler plant!) that we love! Well, at the end of the sermon we
sang the song, No mountain, NO VALLEY, No gain or loss we know COULD KEEP US
FROM YOUR LOVE!. NO VALLEY can keep us
from his love, or HIS plan and purpose in our lives. God ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS shows up, but
especially so when we need him and the reminder of His love and grace the most.
So satan, keep on because this may be our valley, but we are being built up for
battle, and we are NOT going home.
I am so thankful to my family and friends that God
specifically put in my life for this time to encourage, and diligently pray. I
received several packages and letters this week that I desperately needed to be
pushed to keep going, and reminded that I am not in this alone. Two months in to any new place always seems to
be the hardest, but each day his love and mercies are new and we continue to
learn more about what lays ahead, and what God has for us now and how much He
loves us now! This is like basic training for His army, and I am thankful, even
during the times I want to run away from here as fast as possible. So thank you
for supporting me through this spiritually, financially, and emotionally! If
you want to learn more about our ministry here and in Guatemala, please feel
free to e-mail me anytime at cowart.colleen@gmail.com
Thank you for the MUCH needed prayers!
Last week we had the chance to walk into Mexico and it was a
HUGE blessing. It felt like home, at
least the home we are preparing for in Guatemala, and was the reminder and
boost we each needed to keep fighting (and studying!)
