Autumn Spatz
Autumn Spatz
Summer Internship:
8 weeks in Summer of 2025
I had the wonderful opportunity to serve in Guatemala with Hands of Hope International this Summer. Having previously served with HOHI on several short-term trips, I was excited to get to serve for an extended period of time. Throughout my 8 week internship, I had the opportunity to meet and build relationships with many incredibly sweet people, and especially the children. Visiting the same villages each week, I was able to build relationships with many of the kids within the schools, fostering many moments of laughter, joy, and fun.
One of the most impactful of these relationships was with a young Albino girl in Aguas Colorado. Just two weeks into my internship, on a home visit, I met Perolita and discovered that her skin and eyes were incredibly sensitive to the sun. I had brought a pair of sunglasses with me that day, hoping to give them out, and I instantly knew that they were for her. Throughout the rest of my internship, I saw Perolita and her siblings each week, sharing laughs, hugs, and short conversations in my broken Spanish.
While this story remains an impactful one from my summer, there are many other stories that I could share about the way the Lord moved through the HOHI team, myself, and the hearts of the people, fostering hope in the lives of all involved. I am truly so grateful for this experience with HOHI, as it has changed my life, heart, and perspective of living an intentionally missional life!
