With my time in Guatemala coming to a close, I wanted to share some of my top 10s -from my favorite moments to strangest sites to lessons learned this month!
1. Interesting Fact: You can roast marshmallows on the top of a volcano! On our team’s first allotted adventure day, we hiked up Volcán Picaya. Although a majority of the hike was on a dirt path through trees with beautiful flowers, once we got closer to the top it finally felt like we were actually hiking on a volcano – the scenery was amazing and once we arrived to the top, our tour guide provided us with marshmallows to roast via hot lava steam.
2. Unforgettable Day: The most unforgettable day was when our team took a mini getaway to Lake Atitlan for our second allotted adventure day. It was a slice of paradise. We stayed at a beautiful hotel, Posado de Santiago, where we had our own little cottage in Santiago, Atitlan. They had their own private lakeside view with lounge chairs, a pool, and hot tub that over looked the beautiful lake and volcano. It was the first time I was able to really relax and just enjoy being present in the moment. It was also a great intimate setting for our team to bond and enjoy each other’s company. The following morning we woke up at the crack of dawn to watch the fisherman cast out their nets and sunrise. The quiet, peaceful morning was blissful.
3. Best Café: The first full day in Antigua, Guatemala, Stephen and Angela, Adventures in Missions staff members, took us to Café Condesa to talk about our month 1 and World Race goals. Our team became “regulars” enjoying their coffee, in my case Guatemalan hot chocolate, food and atmosphere.
4. Favorite Restaurant: While most of our meals consisted of peanut butter banana sandwiches, cereal and refried beans on a tortilla shell, in our limited free time, we were able to “splurge” occasionally. Dona Lupita was our go-to cheap, Guatemalan restaurant, but my favorite restaurant we ate at was a place our host took us after church one Sunday called, Valhalla. The restaurant was a Macadamia Farm with legendary macadamia pancakes. I had Banana Foster Macadamia Nut pancakes and they were bomb!
5. Funniest Moment: One of the last days, my teammate Jess brought coffee onto our morning chicken bus ride to ministry. Right before we entered into Antigua, which is 100% cobblestone roads, she offered up the rest of her hot drink to my teammates. My teammate Melissa gladly took her up on her offer, but soon found out this was a mistake. With the high speeds, swerving, and bumps at the back of the bus where we were sitting, Melissa had to cover the coffee cup as best as she could with her hand to avoid the coffee from spilling everywhere. Our team was laughing hysterically as we were being tossed up and down with serious air. Finally we came to a stop where she was able to chug the remainder. So now you have been warned – do not take coffee to go on a Chicken Bus Ride!
6. Strangest Site: I saw many strange things this month including a frontal public urination, full on PDA, babies in warm clothes and blankets when it’s 80 degrees out, but the strangest or rather most disturbing thing I saw was two dogs connected butt to butt somehow I’m not really sure. Probably TMI, but unfortunately this image will now be ingrained into my mind forever.
7. Biggest Accomplishment: Our team, along many Guatemalans, helped build a soccer field!! This was our main project for our ministry this month at a school called Casa del Niño, CANI. The manual labor was rough (and I never want to build a soccer field again), but it was awesome to be a part of a project that means a lot to the school and will have lasting impact on this community. We worked hard and well together as a team, and I’m proud of what we accomplished in 16 days! Despite not finishing everything, we got to christen the field with a mini soccer game on our last day of ministry!
8. Something Missed: Considering we had a an awesome living situation with bunk beds, hot- showers, and easy access to filtered water, the most missed item was a dishwasher. I hand washed more dishes this month than I have in the last 5 years no joke. It’s definitely not my favorite thing to do, and I know I have at least another 10 months of it, but it’s an easy way we can love our generous hosts!
9. Most Challenging: Understanding and learning my role as a team leader. I’m not a great communicator; I like to lead by example, so it’s been a challenge to make sure everyone is on the same page and feels like their voice is being heard. My team continues to give me great constructive feedback in how to grow in this area.
10. Important Lesson: Dive in and invest early especially when it comes to relationships. This month has absolutely flown bye, and we have constantly been on the go doing one thing from the next. Prior to launching for the World Race, I had envisioned that we would have a lot of down time to spend time as a team and with the Lord, build relationships in the community and explore the city; not the case – at least not this month! It wasn’t until the last couple weeks that I truly invested in my teammates, our ministry contacts, Gabee and Sofia, as well Adventures in Missions staff members. Besides Lake Atitlan, it turns out my favorite days were spending time with Gabee and Sofia exploring the Antigua Market trying new foods and shopping, driving around with them on All Saints Day learning about Guatemalan traditions and legends, and the night the Adventures in Missions women invited us over for a girls night where we worshipped the Lord, learned about our identities in Christ, ate a delicious meal and played apples to apples. Praise the Lord for technology to be able to keep in touch with them, because I’m not ready to say goodbye!
Honestly, there are so many more top moments here in Antigua, Guatemala. Over these next few days at debrief in Antigua, Guatemala I look forward to reflecting on month 1 of the World Race specifically how I’ve grown and what the Lord has been teaching me.
