“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
Ephesians 5:1-2
The past few weeks here in Guatemala, I’ve been learning a lot about what it means to be imitators of Christ…what it means/looks like to imitate Him in how I live, speak, worship, walk, work, think, etc…
Sunday, as I was thinking about this next week of ministry, I quickly scribbled this prayer into my journal.
“God, I pray team Mosaic imitates you in whatever this week might bring for each of us. Shape my heart to be in a place of constant compassion, love, and tenderness for the community of San Lorenzo. Holy Spirit, speak over us, refresh us with your sweet presence, and lead us into whatever the Fathers will is for this week. May we never forget our “why”.
Little did I know what I was walking into…
Monday morning we arrived in San Lorenzo with One Way Community. Upon arrival, we were told that we would be going to a home to take down a chicken coop.
We head out and get to work taking the coop apart. The coop was about halfway apart when we were then told that we would need to carry the materials (wooden panels) up the “goat trail” (a dirt path going up the side of a mountain).
The One Way staff can sometimes be jokesters, so I immediately thought they were joking with us…. but they weren’t!!!! We all look around at one another and give them a big “¡okay, vamanos!” We were not fully expecting how difficult it was about to be.
About halfway up the trail, for the second time, completely exhausted, I ask God to give me understanding in this…as well as some physical strength!! (Y’all, I’m not being dramatic…It was HARD!!!!)
I was reminded of the people of San Lorenzo, I was reminded of the vision One Way has, but most of all, I was reminded of Jesus.
I imagined what it must have physically felt like for Him to carry the cross on his beaten, whipped, betrayed, and spat on body. I was reminded of the pain, persecution, and sacrifice that He CHOOSE to take up for me and my sins…all which reminded me of my “why” for being here in the first place.
Making him known…
Though at the moment it seemed like random physical labor we were having to do, it went so much deeper than that.
We were walking in the shoes of the community, serving with our all (heart, body & mind), but most of all, we were physically imitating Christ in the smallest way possible.
As Tuesday rolled around, and we were told we would have to finish the second half of the chicken coop, my prayer was that the community would see us carrying the materials, and see nothing but Jesus and all that He did for them and their sins.
On the last trip up, I took a second to capture a picture of what we were doing.
The COOLEST picture I have ever taken BY FAR!
If you look below, this is us, carrying wooden post, and in the shadow there’s a cross…. WHATTTTT!!! A visual picture of what my heart has been processing all week! So cool!
God is so cool!!!
Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
Matthew 16:24-25
Another fun little thing…I prayed Sunday before the week started for the Holy Spirit to “refresh us with your sweet presence”. Every single trip down the mountain, we were treated with something cold and refreshing (once a popsicle, and twice a cup of lemonade). A physical representation of how the Holy Spirit does just that!!
This week has by far been the hardest physically, but it’s been even more humbling, rewarding, and eye-opening.
It is such an honor getting to serve this good, good Father of ours.
Friends, He’s on the move here in San Lorenzo. I can’t wait to continue sharing with you all the story of what God is doing here.
Walk in your given authority of being sons and daughters of the most high.
You are so loved!
You can learn more about the ministry I’m working with (One Way Community) HERE at their website.
Wow Kourtney! This is so POWERFUL! Thank you for sharing what the Lord is doing. He is so GOOD! We should all be picking up our cross and following Him….love the picture!
Kourtney, What a tangible picture/experience the Lord gave you of just a taste of what it might have been like for Jesus to physically carry his cross to Golgotha. You could have walked through two whole days of that task and never made that connection – just seen it as manual labor for Kingdom purposes, but how wonderful that you had your heart and mind open to bigger themes the Lord wanted you to get out of that….and even eyes to see that cross in the shadows. Wow. He is so good to us. This is an experience, a hands-on lesson you will remember for a lifetime. Thanks for sharing.
~Nathan’s Mama
Kourtney, WOW! Love the picture of the cross and your story before it. God is so good as to remind us that He cares. Continue to show His love through the words you use and your actions. So excited to hear the squad and all the stories of what God is doing in Guatemala.
No doubt, this was a huge rewarding and realizing experience for you all. Cool and amazing picture no doubt and such an incredible visual you painted for us as well as those working with you. God is touching your heart, mind, and lives as you devoted everything you have to give to those in need. Keep it up and thrive in His goodness.