Here’s my first month’s favorites list! It was hard to pick just 11 things with so many hilarious, language barrier inspiring, and God appointment moments. Hope you enjoy the list and it paints a picture for you of what our month has looked like:
1) It’s official. Guatemala has the best fried chicken ever. And I’ve lived in the south so I’m allowed to declare that. It was our first meal we had here as we traveled 4 hours from the airport in Guatemala City to our destination in Quiche and it was DELICIOUS. Hot, juicy, crispy, and flavorful.
2) Post Secret night. Putting shame aside and declaring healing through confession, our squad spent 3 nights sharing our deepest hurts and secrets. It was beautiful. The most honest and authentic portrayal of grace and love I’ve ever gotten to be a part of.
3) Daycation to Lago de Atitlan. We had an adventurous day of cliff jumping! On the boat ride back, while we endured a tragic torrential downpour, we got to enjoy the entertainment of the driver handing off his duties to Mike, allowing him to both take over driving for a while and, later, frantically scooping water out of the boat so we didn’t sink before making it to shore…wherever shore was…we couldn’t see land in any direction with how thick the rain was falling.
4) Eating “authentic” Chinese food in Guatemala. It was pretty good AND nobody got sick! Annnnnd chocolate covered frozen fruit. Yum. Only 1 to 3 Q’s depending on what you get. More than amazing for a snack on the way home from ministry (1 Q is about 12 cents)
5) Breaking down chicken coups. Got to break down a couple of these at Casa de mi Padre. The orphanage will be building a sports field for the kids to play on in their place. Something about demolition is just invigorating!
6) Playing with the kids at Casa de mi Padre. Seriously, they’re amazing. And after one little boy, Jimmy, told me he loved me, I wasn’t sure I’d ever be able to leave.
7) Painting and praying over Pastor Brody’s church. Such a beautiful family! As we painted walls head to toe for a week, his wife spent her days sewing together purses as gifts for us. Learning to get as you give is a serious growing process. (Matthew 10:8)
8) The entire tray of paint Jo dropped off the ladder and onto my head. Needless to say, I had to shower that day.
9) Sunday night church at Pastor David’s church. The first week we were there these two little sisters got up to sing a song. It started so beautifully, then the older one may of messed up or just gotten scared.. Either way, she began to cry, once she started crying the little sister joined her and started crying too. They sang the rest of the, what seemed to be, about a 10 minute song both crying. It was hilariously adorable. I was holding back laughter the entire time, even had to close my eyes at one point so I couldn’t see them and could pull myself together. We also got to share our testimonies with the congregation and enjoy amazing food and fellowship.
10) Lost in translation. The many hilarious sentences we attempted to put together in Spanish only to get awkward stares and questionable responses. Always amusing, always entertaining, always ended up with me dropping to the ground in hysterical laughter. “May I spoon?”
11) “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends You, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” Psalm 139:23-24 Pray this every day for a month and see what happens. Wow.
Below are a few pictures of our month. From Top to Bottom:
Casa De Mi Padre, the orphanage we worked at this month.
Me with some of the kids from the house, left to right is: Peter, Pedro, Reyna, and Jorge.
Some of our manly squad men getting ready for our boat ride out to cliff jump: Mike, Zach, Jake, and Jonathan.
Lago de Atitlan
Mike Driving us back to shore
and lastly, the aftermath of the dropped paint tray
