This is exactly where I am supposed to be. I love every moment of this journey so far. I am taking in my surroundings and the culture. Our host Luis has given me the name Nikita and I love it! It makes me feel as though I am accepted into the Guatemalan culture even though I am a blonde white girl ; )
I am content and I know without a doubt this is exactly where I am supposed to be at this time. God has a plan. His plans are much bigger than mine. When you give God control, you never know the kind of adventures you will be on. I never thought I would be here in Guatemala, hiking a volcano, watching the sunrise at a cross over looking Antigua, walking through markets, sitting in local coffee shops, going to church with Guatemalans, playing checkers with grandpas, accompanying our host at different schools, translating curriculum from Spanish to English, living with 13 other people. This is a completely different plan than the one I had for myself, to go to graduate school. I am glad I am traveling the world for Jesus instead of sitting in a classroom.
The past 2 days I had the opportunity to go to the “Grandpa House.” It is a house for retired people and elderly who have nowhere else to live or whom their families have abandoned. All they want is love and people to spend time with them. And that is exactly what we have been doing there.
On Tuesday, the Grandpa House held a short seminar for the people staying there about health and mental health. I sat in on this discussion and it was great to see how the staff really cares for each person and want them to be healthy and live a healthy life style. This facility has many rooms with many beds in each room, there is a nice courtyard where they can sit and soak up the sun, a cafeteria where they have meals and play bingo, a hair salon, and an occupational therapy room. It is a nice facility and there are many nurses, doctors and other staff working there, however there is only one therapist. I was able to talk with her and she said she loves her job and loves all the people there. She has only been working there for 4 months, but has completely changed the room and the program for the better. She is wonderful and has such a great heart! But she needs help, which is why it is great we can be there to help her.
I have established relationships with some of the Grandpas. Both times I have arrived at the house I have been greeted with hugs and kisses on the cheek. As you enter the facility, you face the courtyard that has a covered walkway around it. Along the walls of the walkway there are lines of grandpas and grandmas sitting in wheelchairs. As I walked along them I would smile and say “Buenos Dias” to each of them. This lifted their heads and brought a smile to their faces. I went up to one lady in her wheelchair and she lifted her hand and I grabbed it and held it while I talked with her. She did not want to let go of my hand. She had a firm grip and was looking at me smiling. This warmed my heart and made me realize all they want is touch and to feel loved. Many of them have been abandoned by their families and don’t get that love anymore.
Yesterday I played checkers with a man named Roberto who also wanted me to draw him a picture in the small notebook he carries around. I drew him a quick picture in pencil and the next day he showed me that he had colored it in! I sat with a blind man and held his hand while we talked. A couple of them wanted to teach me Spanish and wanted me to practice with them. A man named Lino, likes to be silly and meow like a cat and every time he meows I bark like a dog, which made him laugh and everyone else in the room. I love making people laugh!
It is in times like these that I know this is the place I need to be. I have been called to share God’s love and joy with others and that is exactly what I feel like I am doing! Roberto asked me why I was there with them and I told him it is because I love God and people. That is the reason why I am on the World Race. I love Jesus with my whole heart and he calls us to love others the way he loves us. That is how I want to live my life. I want to love and see others the way Jesus does.
Do you love the way Jesus loves you? He loves you so much that he died on the cross for you. He sacrificed his own life in order to save yours. This is unconditional love. My prayer for you is that you are filled with the love of Jesus so much so that it is overflowing!
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:1-2
