Blessing upon Blessing

Oh my goodness! Hello everyone! It’s been a crazy past couple of weeks. I’m excited to share with yall all that’s been happening!

We have been in Guatemala for almost three weeks and I’ve been gone from home about a month. Ministry has been in full swing and we all are getting into the groove of things. God is literally so so good and as I’ve said I’m excited to share some testimonies and blessing. All the Goodness and Grace of God character is so good!! Here are couple of testimonials and stories from the past couple of weeks!

 

Kings table

We have done kings table for three weeks. Each week is so sweet and also so different. We partner with a ministry called El Puente and see 24-30 widows/ elderly and 6-10 alcoholics join us for a time of worship, teaching, fellowship and food. We get there pretty early to make food and get everything set up for those coming! Last week Sarah sang and Shania taught about God being a good Shepard. This week Grace led an opening activity asking the women to draw how they saw God. The language barrier makes it hard but I have already seen so much significance in sitting with someone and being present. Just to sit is so sweet. Not only sitting but praying that hearts would be opened to what is being shared. This week I had the opportunity to sit with the men downstairs. (They separate widows and alcoholics for different teachings and also safety reasons) Anyway it was such an amazing time of just listening to the Lord and praying over these men. Praying for sober mindedness and softened hearts to the gospel being shared. Pray for our team as we continually pray for and work with those who come to kings table. Pray for any attacks of the enemy or any spiritual warfare happening around us. That we would be filled with discernment and not take on any of the heaviness around us. We are all so thankful for the opportunity to minister to these people. Even though we don’t know backgrounds or lives God does and he is loving them through us! Praise God!!

School!!

Three times a week we take a bus to the Reindom school house for Worship/Prayer room, English classes, Bible classes, Feeding programs and Futbol!

We all have started working with different grades and have gotten into a rhythm of what that looks like. I have the sweet opportunity of working with G2 kids with Grace! These kiddos are 12-13 year olds and we have about 25-30 kids in our class. They are a rowdy bunch but I think they are warming up to us! I taught my first English class last Tuesday which went so so well! I was by myself for a lot of it but we all learned a lot! Shout out to my high school Spanish teacher! Literally couldn’t do it without her haha! My Spanish is improving but it doesn’t feel like it sometimes and that’s ok.

On Wednesdays, after kings table we go to the school and have a time of worship, games and teaching with the kids! Seeing all the kids worship and pray always encourages my heart! The first week we were here, God started to teach me about the power of praying for other countries. During this session we had a time of worship, intercession and study over the country of Israel. As followers of Jesus we should be praying for other peoples and places to know Jesus. Even though I only catch onto a bit of what’s being said for most of these teachings my heart breaks for those who don’t know Jesus.

On Fridays G2 has like a PE class where we walk to a field to play futbol or kickball! It’s always a great time playing. I usually end up swinging the girls around in circles instead of playing but I love it regardless.

Church!

My team has been so blessed to find a church in Antigua and the Lord continues to bless us!  Grace came across it and we decided to take the 2ish hour bus trek there. We realized that financially along with the travel time we we couldn’t really make that trek each week. After our first weekend there the Lord made it so evident we needed to keep going back. We decided to support raise some money and also made the decision to take an Uber instead of the bus. The cost came out to about $300 for 5 weeks and 5 people. After posting about raising money God blessed our team with $260!! We still have $40 to go but we know that the Lord will continue to provide!! I am so thankful for the opportunity to go to church at an English speaking service and to be poured into so much. Every time we walk in we are greeted so sweetly and now even by people we now know!! I am so thankful for church! If you feel led to give to that little fund you can Venmo me @Sydney-Hood-8. I just love church!!!

Thanksgivings and Testimonies

• At the beginning of last week we were a bit under the weather and weren’t feeling mentally or physically there. We had ministry on Tuesday and it felt like such a long day. After working with the kids, a group of women, from the US came to put on a Beauty for Ashes event. Beauty for Ashes puts on a retreat for all the mothers in the area teaching about identity and worth. Walking into this event we were immediately met with the tangible love of God and throughout the entire event each of us felt deeply loved, known, and encouraged by the women there! The way I was met in this love was and is literally still so wild to me! I had been craving banana bread for a couple weeks and I sent a little prayer up expecting nothing from it. My family makes the best banana bread/ cake and I just wanted a little taste of home.  At the end of the program they started handing out slices of banana bread. I broke down crying because God is literally so good! He heard the smallest, sweetest prayer for banana bread and gave me a sweet taste of home! The Beauty for Ashes team prayed over our team and strengthened our spirits. We left renewed with so much joy having been reminded of the love of God

• Getting to know our ministry partners has been a big thanksgiving! They are all so kind and the Lord is blessing us through them! Also they cook for us and I always see that as a blessing to my heart!

• All the food we’ve had has been so yummy and our stomachs feel like they are adapting and feeling better after being sick. Praise God!

• We went to Antigua house of prayer this past Monday with the good sheep group! What a blessing that was to each of our hearts. We got to pray over certain pieces of scripture, worship and sit with the Lord. I am thankful for a God who allows me to be still in his presence.

• Learning to pray. Praying for people, giving thanksgivings to God, praying scripture, asking the Lord who to pray for. All the prayer and intercession! Literally so so good!

• God talking to me through rain. There is so much newness in rain. It’s a way of him reminding me everything’s going to be ok!
• Dancing!
• For the smell of my pillowcase and how it smells like home. That sounds so weird but it’s so comforting. Don’t worry I have three pillowcases and it’s my last one that I washed at home haha
• Being able to have some WiFi and talk to family and friends!
• Being able to do more artwork!

• Little adventures in Antigua+ seeing other people from our squad!

• People in my life that Love me!
• Kombucha!
• Someone gave Alicia money to get a meal after church this past week. We have been craving some protein and went to this nice restaurant and had some delicious steak, chicken, veggies and tacos!!

• ATL (ask the Lord) moments. Being led to pray over people as a team   

• After praying for a churro for two weeks Alicia and I found some being sold on the side of the road!!!

• Shania has been healed from her asthma!!!
• Walks around our town!

• Dishes, dishes and more dishes

• Coloring with kids

• Messages from people about things that remind them of me!

So many thanksgivings! As I write them out I am overwhelmed by how good God is and I give him all the Glory for these things!!! Ugh I Love Him so much!

Prayer requests

• Unity within our team. Ephesians 4-5
• Any spiritual warfare that has crept into our house or in this ministry. As we are doing Gods work the enemy is looking for ways to distract us. God has been so faithful in this area and I’m so amazed at his goodness! There is power in the name of Jesus!
• Over the leadership at Reindom. That they would be filled everyday with renewal and guidance
• This Saturday is kids day here in Guatemala. We are going to a park all day with 80 or so kids. That we would have fun but also that we would feel well organized and equipped to keep track of everyone. Also praise God! We raised enough financial support for all these kids to go! Amazing!
• One of the boys at our school (Edwin) has a brother with a disorder. His name is Jose. He has a special wheel chair that he sits in. We went over to the house the other day and prayed over him. We prayed for healing and restoration in his life. The Lord also layed his mom on my heart to pray for. Not just her but the whole family. That there would be an increase of faith within the family and that the Lord would be know. Please pray for healing physically and spiritually for their family.
• We met a guy on the streets of Antigua who wasn’t walking very well. His name is Edwin. We prayed healing over his legs and have been praying healing for him this past week. We are also praying to see him again and for an increase of faith.
• Pray for my whole team. That we would grow in our personal growth with the Lord and that we would continue to dig deep into what the spirit is saying.

Thank you for reading all of this! God is a good God and I am so thankful to be serving him here in Guatemala! Know that you are loved by Him and by me! 🤍

“For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy. How great are your works, O Lord! Your thoughts are very deep!”‭‭Psalm‬ ‭92‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭

In Christ and with much Love,

Sydney Hood