A big fat update from Guatemala

Heyyyyy, long time no see! That’s completely on me—I’ve been insanely busy lately. At least I have a lot to share now! Unfortunately, I’ve been super sick for the past three days. This is our last ministry week in Guatemala, and I’ve had to miss three days, which has been really sad. I’ve missed the goodbyes and the last visits. However, the time to rest has been good for me, so I’ve finally had the chance to write out all these updates about what’s been going on in my life!

Volcano Acatenango

November 23 was one of the hardest days I’ve had in a long time. My squad and I decided to hike the massive Volcano Acatenango. It was a grueling six-hour trek to base camp, but we were rewarded with an incredible view, our own pizza, and a nice, hot cup of hot chocolate. From base camp, we had a perfect view of Volcano Fuego. As the sun set, we watched it erupt—it was my first time seeing lava! We camped there overnight, then woke up at 3 a.m. to summit to the very top.

I won’t lie—the summit was brutal. I genuinely thought I was going to die. My legs were already shot from the day before, and the path was steep with loose, sandy dirt. For every three steps forward, I slid one step back. It was exhausting, but the view at the top made it all worth it. Watching the sunrise from there is something I’ll never forget.

Squad Thanksgiving

I had the BEST Thanksgiving with my squad! We kicked off the day with a Turkey Trot, hosted by two squadmates as MCs. Afterward, we played fútbol and football, then had pizza for lunch. We also got to call our families, which was amazing! I loved seeing everyone’s heads pop in and out of the screen to say hi, haha.

Later, we made turkey hats as a craft, and then it was time for dinner. The setup was beautiful—the sun setting behind the volcanoes created the perfect backdrop. It was such a sweet day, and I’ll always treasure the memories.

Volcano Pacaya

The Saturday after Thanksgiving, we hiked another volcano—Pacaya! It was a shorter hike than Acatenango, but still challenging. At the top, we roasted marshmallows and made pizza using the active volcano’s hot spots. How cool is that?

Venas Plenas Thanksgiving

After the Pacaya hike, I rushed back to get ready for the Venas Plenas Thanksgiving. We hosted over 100 people at our base, including people from AIM and the village. We prepared a traditional American Thanksgiving dinner so they could try our food. My team made my mom’s pumpkin bar recipe, and they were a hit with the kids!

It was such a special evening. These are the same people who welcomed us into their homes, shared their favorite meals, and told us their stories. To invite them into our space and share a meal with them felt really meaningful.

What’s Next?

This week, we have debrief! It’s a time when our mentors and coaches come from the States to meet with us one-on-one, as a team, and as a squad. We’ll talk through how we’re doing, reflect personally, and get some time to rest and recharge. There are usually fun activities planned too, but we don’t know what’s on the agenda yet—stay tuned for the next update!

After debrief, we’re heading to Heidelberg, South Africa. To be honest, I have mixed emotions about it. While I am super excited, there’s a lot of change coming, and I’m sad to leave Guatemala. I’ve fallen in love with this place and the people we’ve met here.

I’m also a little nervous about ministry in South Africa since most of it will be ATL (Ask the Lord). Basically, we’ll get dropped somewhere and ask God to guide us to people we should talk to—it’s all evangelism. I do love it, but it definitely stretches me. We are going to be helping out at the local hospital, nursing home, and even some children’s ministry!

We’re also splitting up the squad into three groups for the entire time in South Africa. My team (Doves) will be with Steadfast, which I’m happy about because I absolutely LOVE them. If you would like to get to know them, you can read my friend’s blog she wrote about her team here: https://lilypittman.theworldrace.org/post/meet-team-steadfast-an-exciting-update/  While I am excited to be with them, I’ll be separated from two of my closest friends, which really sucks—especially during Christmas, New Year’s, and their birthdays.

On top of that, we’re getting a new leader for South Africa, and I’m really going to miss Kayli, our current leader. But I know this season will be good. God is going to use it to grow all of us, even if it’s hard. Thankfully, it’s only four weeks before we reunite in Eswatini!

That’s my super long update! I hope everyone at home is doing well—I miss you all more than words can say. I’m already 1/3 of the way through the World Race, which is crazy. Six more months to go! Time is flying!

With Love,

Ashlyn