Mrs. Gail Gordon, the Director of Blue Water Surrender, invited me to go to Guatemala with her team from the Florida Keys. I felt so blessed and honored to be a part of the team. Mrs. Gordon asked me to translate for her and the team and to share my life experience with her staff—can you believe that? I know, crazy, right? What a privilege!

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Words cannot describe the joy I feel in my heart. I've been a Christian girl all my life—I'm 30 years old—but not until this trip did I see Jesus so real in my life. We always talk about our relationship with Jesus, that His love endures forever, that He died for us, and that we can walk in freedom because of His grace. I always talk about it too, but it took me a while to realize that I can truly experience that. Knowing about God’s love is one thing, but living it with your heart and soul is another, and that was what I truly realized in Guatemala.

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Before this trip, I was living a lie. I thought I was giving my life to people, but not really. I think I was living in "airplane mode."

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The people of Guatemala have the perfect smiles; I saw Jesus in every child. I cried every day when I was at Casa Agua Azul (tears of joy, for sure!). I spent time with the staff—what amazing, humble people. They touched my heart. I will never forget every smile, every hug, and every word.

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I love kids; they are so pure. Every child I met touched my heart. They taught me something very important that changed my life forever. I thought I was going to Guatemala to bless these people and touch many lives, BUT they changed my life forever. They blessed me and touched my life in an amazing way that I never expected.

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We went to the hospital and the orphanage as well. My heart couldn’t contain the tears—so many kids suffering, yet not complaining about their situation as they showed me love, hugged me, and gave me big smiles!

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Thank you, BWS, for the opportunity. Thank you so much for everything, Mrs. Gail Gordon and Mr. Ted Gordon. I hope to come back to Guatemala very soon. Thanks to the people who encouraged me and believed in me—you know who you are.

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I want to encourage anyone—any person who wants to do missions, serve others, and have a deeper relationship with God: Blue Water Surrender is the place for you! God bless you!

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— Jackie Ruiz | Managua, Nicaragua

Jeremiah 29:11