It's been just a week since I have
returned from our mission’s trip to Guatemala. I am finally settling back
in and getting myself organized. It's been hard this time to
focus on my responsibilities. My emotions have been in Guatemala. I can't say
that something miraculous had happened. I have been on several mission trips
and at this location, Lake Atitlan, once before. So it's hard to explain
or understand why I am feeling the emotions of wanting to be there.
I love Guatemala, the people, the
country, the coffee! WOW! the coffee, I even like the beans, LOL.
But honestly, I love the people the most. Their culture is so family
oriented, I know, if I lived there reality would set in. I understand all
of that. The language is beautiful and I hope one day to actually
understand it.
We landed in Guatemala to be met
by many of our friends. We hopped on a school bus or chicken bus,
depending on which country you live in, and headed to IBEC, our partner church.
We had a stop at Pollo Camparo, a famous Guatemalan chicken restaurant.
Everyone talks about the chicken but I like the ice cream.
That evening we stayed with our host
families. This gives us and them an opportunity to share in our
cultures. Mike and I had the opportunity to stay with a wonderful family,
the Carranza's. We adore this family; it's like a home away from
home. They make us feel so welcome, what a treat.
Sunday morning was another fun
day. We spent time at IBEC and then went shopping. Usually I am not the
kind of girl who likes shopping, I know, crazy. But this was the best,
it's a huge mall. We then went to see a movie that I will leave the name
out of so not to give room for comments. I had seen it before and
personally liked very much, I just don't think I would feel comfortable taking
my kids to it.....LOL!
The reason behind the shopping and
movie scene was to give us Americans a look at their culture. We come in
thinking we are going to change this country because it is broken. In
reality it is no different from the states. They have the good and the
bad, the upper class and lower class. Some who have no way of bettering
themselves for lack of resources.
Monday was our traveling day; we
met at the church and once again boarded our chicken bus. Our bus
didn't have all the fancy drawings on it but still, it was fun! Our team
of 28 got on board and we headed to San Pedro. We sang, laughed and got
to know each other. (Maybe this is what I'm really missing.)
On the way we stopped to have
breakfast at a local restaurant. The food is wonderful and the atmosphere
is awesome. Again, we fellowshipped and I had the chance to make some of
the younger kids uncomfortable. You know, that gringos attitude!
No, not really, but having teenagers with you and being outgoing may cause some
to be uncomfortable in a foreign country.
Our next adventure was to take the
boat ride on Lake Atitlan to San Pedro. It is such a beautiful ride but
can be rough depending on the time of day. I took lots of pictures.
The mountain side with all the houses overlooking the lake, wow! The sad
part is that the lake is now contaminated. It is a source for the locals
to wash dishes, themselves, their live stock and so much more. They
actually use this as drinking water too, it's green! Very sad.
Once we reached San Pedro we stayed
at a quaint little hotel, Casa Lola. It was one of the cleaner places I
had seen in San Pedro, loved it. The tile work is always something that
catches my eye when in Guatemala, and this place was no exception. The
locals would meet us each morning, afternoon and evening to show us all their
crafty items they wanted us to purchase.
Tuesday thru Thursday we had the same
schedule. Up at 7 and Devotional at 7:30am; breakfast at 8 and then
off to San Marcos by 9:30 for VBS with the local children. Return, have
lunch and off to another VBS in San Pedro. Rest, shopping, hanging out or
free time then dinner. More shopping and devotional for part of the
team. FUN!
The VBS was amazing, the children
came in flocks! Our last day we had 250 children in San Pedro and
approximately 70 in San Marco. We built friendships, learned many new
things and shared the love of Jesus Christ with others. What an awesome
adventure, it's very difficult to put in words, something you must experience firsthand.
I think one of the best experiences
I had was to sit back and watch the other's who had come for the very first
time on a mission’s trip. We had several people who hadn't been before
and one who hadn't been out of the local area let alone the country.
Amazing... I remember my first experience and seeing them go through it brought
back wonderful emotions for me. I was in a different place, more of a
leader on this trip, so watching everyone was so joyful! God is good and
He showed himself on our trip, many-many times.
On Friday we started the trip back
to Guatemala City, it was bittersweet. On one hand we looked forward to
getting home to see our family and friends. And on the other hand we were
gonna miss those smiling faces each day as we walked back into the churches for
VBS. Its heart breaking to leave the children, and it was heart breaking
to leave the new friends we had made.
I shared on the trip something that
God had shown me. As I sat and thought about my experience with the
children in a foreign country, God gave me a glimpse of what I do every Sunday
morning. It is so important to "GO" and reach the ends of the
earth. I would never take away from the importance of that. But
just as equally important - we should make a difference in our own
communities. I am blessed to be able to do all of it. Traveling to
the ends the earth, Guatemala, South East Asia (soon). But locally with
our Adopt-A-Block project-Ridgeview manor. And just as important -
Journey Land. Each Sunday morning I have the opportunity to reach 100's
of children. We have no idea what's going on in their home life, we do
know that they need to experience Jesus. I am blessed to be a part of building a foundation in their lives.
I can't wait to go back next
year....I praise God for all that He is doing and going to do in me and through
me!
Nina
