The Valley

 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!)