I have been wrestling with the idea of home and finding my home in this life of pilgrimage lately. The Lord has been revealing to me that my home is no longer bound by once location, but is built on the firm foundation of Jesus Christ. My home is a cottage, my home is my family, my home is my church, my home is my team, my home is the sweaty travel day bus, my home is the bed that I lay on as I battle a parasite in Guatemala. My home is wherever the Lord is. My home is here, and my home is where you are now.
As I began my first sabbath day on the race after being sick the first few days with a parasite, I put in my headphones and played the song “Build My Life” by Housefires. For the first time in my life I heard this song with new ears. “Worthy of every breath we could ever breathe we live for you….. I will build my life upon your love it is a firm foundation. I will put my trust in you alone and I will not be shaken.” As I sang these lyrics I began to weep as I fully understood what it means to build my life upon the Father’s love. I wept because I realized that “home” will never be “home” again. The Lord has invited me into this year of pilgrimage and I know that my home is wherever he may lead me.
The Lord is here in my home in Guate. He is here in the afternoon rain and he is here in my heart. His Holy Spirit is closer to me than the bones in my body. I only thought I knew what it meant to trust and know the Holy Spirit with everything in my being. Now I know that I must be in constant pursuit of the one who created me and my home. I am in constant pursuit of the one who came here before me and the one who will stay behind when I leave these people. Thank you Father for being my home and my fortress.
Now…please don’t read this back in the states and think that I won’t be thankful to sleep in my bed in my childhood room again. Trust me– I definitely will be! But for now– my home is in Mixco, Guatemala with a family who loves and hosts us so well. A little update on life here– it’s week one and I have already been in the hospital with a parasite, and had the ability to introduce the gospel to a woman in the park who accepted Christ. It’s kind of funny, but if I’m here just for this one encounter, it will be worth it. My sickness on week one was hard and I missed home a lot, but I am feeling much better now and happy to do ministry with my team.
Ministry so far has been doing home visits filled with prayer and healing, sharing the gospel at the local police station, and evangelizing in the streets. Please pray for my team and I as the Lord gives us opportunities to love on the people here. Pray specifically for sickness to leave my squad, hearts to be softened to the Holy Spirit, and for our ministry host’s church to be financially stable. More to come later about our host and specifically what the Lord is doing for him, his family, and the people here in Mixco.
For now, sending my love from home! I miss you all dearly.
XOXOX,
Katherine
