I'm Listening
Hello everyone!
I hope this update finds you all safe and healthy! I’ve been thinking about and praying for you all, in all the ways that this year might be bringing hardship or difficulty into your lives. I wanted to send an update sharing some experiences that have really touched me lately and some of the ways the Lord has been working in my heart.
First, here’s a brief update on how COVID-19 continues to affect us here in Guatemala. Two weeks ago, we began a gradual reopening plan, contingent upon the number or percentage of cases in each municipality. In the department where I live, all 16 municipalities are under “maximum alert” for the average number of new daily cases, so very few restrictions have been lifted in our area. Fortunately, country-wide we no longer have a 24hr curfew on Sundays or a 6pm curfew during the week, but instead a 9pm-4am curfew daily. Travel is no longer restricted between departments or based on your license plate number. The borders and airport remain closed with no clear guidelines about when they will reopen, though the U.S. Embassy offers several repatriation flights back to the U.S. monthly. The schools are still closed (the school year here runs from January to October), though many are sending home homework packets or workbooks to allow students to continue learning from home. Masks are still required at all times in public. The number of new cases continues to hover around 1,000 daily, and our hospital system is still overwhelmed. It’s a very difficult time for many, marked with fear and uncertainty. Please keep praying for the people who are really struggling here and all over the world.
I’ve been reflecting a lot lately on all the opportunities I’ve had as a result of this pandemic, that I otherwise wouldn’t have had. One of the greatest blessings has been immersing myself more into the community here in the town where I live. Through word of mouth, I have received multiple requests to provide therapy to families who live right here in my town. Sometimes it’s just a one-time consult, but for others I have been able to spend weeks or months working with their family member.
One of the things I’ve seen over and over again with my visits is that so many people long to have someone there to just listen to them. I have had so many unexpected conversations, some with people I know extremely well, others with people that I have just met, who open up about their struggles and their burdens, about challenges in the present moment or challenges from years and years ago. They’re not looking for someone to fix it, they’re just looking for someone to be present, to feel heard, to know they matter and their story matters, to know they’re not alone, and to know there is hope and a reason to keep fighting day after day. I do my best to remind them that God has not abandoned us. He is forever faithful, forever present, forever working, and forever loving us. And even when we can’t understand the rationale behind the struggles in our lives, the plans that don’t go how we anticipated, the battles we face while others seem to have it easy, the Lord is working in it all. He’s not just working in it, he's fighting for us; he’s working for us, not against us.
A few weeks ago, a friend took me to visit a close family friend of hers. Her 14-year-old daughter was in a jet ski accident 3 years ago—she was hit in the head while she was swimming causing severe brain damage. A year in the hospital and surgery-after-surgery later, she’s now stable, but she has no control over her body. As soon as I walked in her room and saw her—wow, I have no words to explain the Lord’s presence in that room. Her mom was tearful as she told me her story, and the tears started welling up in my eyes as I held her daughter’s hand, soaking in the beauty that this child continues to radiate, despite the tragedy that has happened to her. Her mom’s love towards her is so evident and so strong, her heart is so clearly still broken, and the pain likely just as much as it was the day of the accident. Wiping tears away from my own eyes, I looked up at her mom and told her “God is still working in and through her life, she still has a purpose, he is still teaching us through her, even when we may not be able to fully understand it.” And she looked me directly in the eyes, an expression of pain and brokenness, and asked, “What do you think he is teaching me right now?”
What a question! What a question to answer for her in her life, but also what a question to answer for myself in my own life. What is the Lord teaching me right now? And how often do I take the time to be still and listen to the Lord and listen to the words he wants to speak into my heart? Lately, the lyrics from the song “I’m Listening” have been on repeat in my mind.
“When you speak, confusion fades.
Just a word and suddenly I’m not afraid.
Because you speak and freedom reigns.
There is hope in every single word you say.
I don’t want to miss one word you speak,
‘Cause everything you say is life to me.
I don’t want to miss one word you speak.
So quiet my heart, I’m listening.
Your ways are higher, you know just what I need.
I trust you Jesus; you see what I cannot see.”
One of the qualities of Guatemalan culture that I admire most is that it is a relationship-based culture focused more on time together than on timeliness. I continue to fight against the American norms that are ingrained into me of the need to constantly be rushed, hurried, productive, and on the go. One of my Guatemalan friends here always calls me “la chica más ocupada del mundo” — “the busiest girl in the world.” He’s not wrong—I overcommit, I have trouble saying no, I want to be present for everyone, I don’t want to turn people away when they need help. But if we are constantly over-busy, we don’t have the time to slow down, find quiet, and just listen. We don’t have time to dedicate to being present to those who really need us to be present for them.
This pandemic and all of these little moments connecting with people are teaching me to slow down—I’m still falling short most of the time, but I’m working on being more conscious about how I go about my day, about my interactions, about my conversations with others—so that I don’t miss opportunities to be a listening ear, a reminder of hope, or a moment of joy in someone else’s day. Every encounter with another person is an opportunity to reflect the light and love of the Lord.
Instead of scheduling in 5 minutes to drop off medicine to a patient, I plan 45 minutes to sit down and chat with the family to see how they’re really doing, to share a Coca Cola together, to let them know I’m here for them, to listen, to support, to share in the difficulty, and to assure them they’re not alone. Instead of 1 hour for a therapy session, I plan an hour and 45 minutes because I know the family enjoys having company and the other kids delight in having someone else to play with. Instead of planning 15 minutes to walk from one meeting to the next, I plan 30 minutes because surely, I’ll run into someone I know on the street, and I want to be able to give them my full attention to chat for a few minutes.
I’m working on eliminating hurriedness in my life and replacing it with intentionality, trading noise for quiet, and exchanging talking with listening.
As always, thank you all for you love, encouragement, prayers and support, as I continue this beautiful adventure here. This week marks a year and a half of living here! All that I’m learning and all that I’m experiencing continues to amaze me, and I am so grateful for having taken the leap of faith to pursue this dream, this calling, and to be able to serve in the way that I am. Many have asked when I’ll be home to visit next, and the answer is, sadly, I don’t know. With the borders still closed, I hesitate to come visit without knowing when I can come back to Guatemala, and I don’t want to abandon my work and responsibilities here. But in time, I will surely find a way to come home and see you all! Please know that you are all in my prayers, and I am always here if you need a listening ear.
Much love,
Lindsey
And of course, some pictures from the last few months:
I hope this update finds you all safe and healthy! I’ve been thinking about and praying for you all, in all the ways that this year might be bringing hardship or difficulty into your lives. I wanted to send an update sharing some experiences that have really touched me lately and some of the ways the Lord has been working in my heart.
First, here’s a brief update on how COVID-19 continues to affect us here in Guatemala. Two weeks ago, we began a gradual reopening plan, contingent upon the number or percentage of cases in each municipality. In the department where I live, all 16 municipalities are under “maximum alert” for the average number of new daily cases, so very few restrictions have been lifted in our area. Fortunately, country-wide we no longer have a 24hr curfew on Sundays or a 6pm curfew during the week, but instead a 9pm-4am curfew daily. Travel is no longer restricted between departments or based on your license plate number. The borders and airport remain closed with no clear guidelines about when they will reopen, though the U.S. Embassy offers several repatriation flights back to the U.S. monthly. The schools are still closed (the school year here runs from January to October), though many are sending home homework packets or workbooks to allow students to continue learning from home. Masks are still required at all times in public. The number of new cases continues to hover around 1,000 daily, and our hospital system is still overwhelmed. It’s a very difficult time for many, marked with fear and uncertainty. Please keep praying for the people who are really struggling here and all over the world.
I’ve been reflecting a lot lately on all the opportunities I’ve had as a result of this pandemic, that I otherwise wouldn’t have had. One of the greatest blessings has been immersing myself more into the community here in the town where I live. Through word of mouth, I have received multiple requests to provide therapy to families who live right here in my town. Sometimes it’s just a one-time consult, but for others I have been able to spend weeks or months working with their family member.
One of the things I’ve seen over and over again with my visits is that so many people long to have someone there to just listen to them. I have had so many unexpected conversations, some with people I know extremely well, others with people that I have just met, who open up about their struggles and their burdens, about challenges in the present moment or challenges from years and years ago. They’re not looking for someone to fix it, they’re just looking for someone to be present, to feel heard, to know they matter and their story matters, to know they’re not alone, and to know there is hope and a reason to keep fighting day after day. I do my best to remind them that God has not abandoned us. He is forever faithful, forever present, forever working, and forever loving us. And even when we can’t understand the rationale behind the struggles in our lives, the plans that don’t go how we anticipated, the battles we face while others seem to have it easy, the Lord is working in it all. He’s not just working in it, he's fighting for us; he’s working for us, not against us.
A few weeks ago, a friend took me to visit a close family friend of hers. Her 14-year-old daughter was in a jet ski accident 3 years ago—she was hit in the head while she was swimming causing severe brain damage. A year in the hospital and surgery-after-surgery later, she’s now stable, but she has no control over her body. As soon as I walked in her room and saw her—wow, I have no words to explain the Lord’s presence in that room. Her mom was tearful as she told me her story, and the tears started welling up in my eyes as I held her daughter’s hand, soaking in the beauty that this child continues to radiate, despite the tragedy that has happened to her. Her mom’s love towards her is so evident and so strong, her heart is so clearly still broken, and the pain likely just as much as it was the day of the accident. Wiping tears away from my own eyes, I looked up at her mom and told her “God is still working in and through her life, she still has a purpose, he is still teaching us through her, even when we may not be able to fully understand it.” And she looked me directly in the eyes, an expression of pain and brokenness, and asked, “What do you think he is teaching me right now?”
What a question! What a question to answer for her in her life, but also what a question to answer for myself in my own life. What is the Lord teaching me right now? And how often do I take the time to be still and listen to the Lord and listen to the words he wants to speak into my heart? Lately, the lyrics from the song “I’m Listening” have been on repeat in my mind.
“When you speak, confusion fades.
Just a word and suddenly I’m not afraid.
Because you speak and freedom reigns.
There is hope in every single word you say.
I don’t want to miss one word you speak,
‘Cause everything you say is life to me.
I don’t want to miss one word you speak.
So quiet my heart, I’m listening.
Your ways are higher, you know just what I need.
I trust you Jesus; you see what I cannot see.”
One of the qualities of Guatemalan culture that I admire most is that it is a relationship-based culture focused more on time together than on timeliness. I continue to fight against the American norms that are ingrained into me of the need to constantly be rushed, hurried, productive, and on the go. One of my Guatemalan friends here always calls me “la chica más ocupada del mundo” — “the busiest girl in the world.” He’s not wrong—I overcommit, I have trouble saying no, I want to be present for everyone, I don’t want to turn people away when they need help. But if we are constantly over-busy, we don’t have the time to slow down, find quiet, and just listen. We don’t have time to dedicate to being present to those who really need us to be present for them.
This pandemic and all of these little moments connecting with people are teaching me to slow down—I’m still falling short most of the time, but I’m working on being more conscious about how I go about my day, about my interactions, about my conversations with others—so that I don’t miss opportunities to be a listening ear, a reminder of hope, or a moment of joy in someone else’s day. Every encounter with another person is an opportunity to reflect the light and love of the Lord.
Instead of scheduling in 5 minutes to drop off medicine to a patient, I plan 45 minutes to sit down and chat with the family to see how they’re really doing, to share a Coca Cola together, to let them know I’m here for them, to listen, to support, to share in the difficulty, and to assure them they’re not alone. Instead of 1 hour for a therapy session, I plan an hour and 45 minutes because I know the family enjoys having company and the other kids delight in having someone else to play with. Instead of planning 15 minutes to walk from one meeting to the next, I plan 30 minutes because surely, I’ll run into someone I know on the street, and I want to be able to give them my full attention to chat for a few minutes.
I’m working on eliminating hurriedness in my life and replacing it with intentionality, trading noise for quiet, and exchanging talking with listening.
As always, thank you all for you love, encouragement, prayers and support, as I continue this beautiful adventure here. This week marks a year and a half of living here! All that I’m learning and all that I’m experiencing continues to amaze me, and I am so grateful for having taken the leap of faith to pursue this dream, this calling, and to be able to serve in the way that I am. Many have asked when I’ll be home to visit next, and the answer is, sadly, I don’t know. With the borders still closed, I hesitate to come visit without knowing when I can come back to Guatemala, and I don’t want to abandon my work and responsibilities here. But in time, I will surely find a way to come home and see you all! Please know that you are all in my prayers, and I am always here if you need a listening ear.
Much love,
Lindsey
And of course, some pictures from the last few months:
These sweethearts are the children of a family that is near and dear to my heart.
A friend knew how much I loved turtles and gifted me one! She loves swimming, walking in the rain, ignoring my cat and eating raw chicken. She’s a delight, name still TBD :)
A day spent in the mountains surrounding this beautiful town.
Bought my favorite flowers to brighten up my home!
Early morning walks on a clear day-- this view never gets old!
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