A DAY IN THE LIFE

September 18th

 

Breakfast 7:00 am- 

    Teresa and Sandra (the beautiful cooks) made eggs, beans and cream, fried plantains, and toast for us this morning. A traditional Guatemalan breakfast that is so so good.

 

    This morning I read Isaiah 61. The title reads “The Year of the Lord’s Favor” which is oddly fitting considering I’m on this adventure for 9 months (which is pretty close to a year my friends). In verse 7 it says, “Instead of your shame / you will receive a double portion, / and instead of disgrace / you will rejoice in your inheritance… / and everlasting joy will be yours.” Crazy how the Holy Spirit can speak directly into your soul. My take away from this you ask? My past doesn’t define me and the Lord has more for me than I could ever imagine for myself. I’m striving for the Kingdom and shame doesn’t live there -so I’m getting that out the door one step at a time with our good Father’s help.-

 

    Every morning we walk to the front gate where someone “buzzes” us out and we wait for the “chicken bus”. We have to share our seat with at least 5 chickens in these little crates but its the cheapest and surprisingly fastest way to get to where we want to go. HA! In reality I’m not positive why they’re called chicken buses besides that we are packed so tightly in them, like a chicken farm. My first time on this bus was pretty intimidating. Driving here is not like the US. There are no rules. And somehow it all flows. These people are so patient with one another. There’s no road rage. CRAZY! The drivers are highly qualified for the curves they take insanely fast and the tight spaces they squeeze through. None the less, there’s nothing like a near crash to wake you up in the morning. (I’m being dramatic mom… kinda).

 

    Today we walked/hiked through a village that runs through the mountains of San Lorenzo. Talk about some hills. All cobblestone roads to! I had my chaco sandals on which look like “Jesus shoes” and this was the closest I’ve been to actually fulfilling that phrase. We were going around asking complete strangers how we could pray for them. All of them invited us into their homes -beauty in poverty- and would tell us what they needed. Many prayers for sick children, work for husbands, food for the table tonight, and healing. How lucky I am to have never prayed for myself some of the things I prayed for others today. Thanks God! Truly.

 

 

    We got to be a part of a surprise birthday party for one of the little girls who comes to our ministry. It was so much fun. She entered the door and we started to sing. She smiled at first but then started to cry. How tender it is to watch a little girl cry overwhelming thankful tears. They fixed us a delicious lunch too. How awkward I felt receiving from this joyful family that had very little. 

 

    Teaching English to Spanish speaking 7 year olds is an experience, but I’m not alone. Ellie is there to help me. She’s my age, speaks English I have learned to understand, and has become a good friend. We had fun teaching the kids the Hokey Pokey in English. I receive so many hugs everyday! Let me tell you something. You go into this afraid of lice from the kids. You loose that fear when you get your first hug from a little one. But I am still all for hair up all the time and tea-tree oil prevention. After goodbye hugs, its back to the base on the chicken buses.

 

    Got home just in time to be a part of 43 people munching down on pasta, rice, tortillas, salad, and squash.

 

 

    Played some Egyptian Rat Slap and beat the guys. (Thanks to my two older brothers for that win). Now shower and bed.

I’m blessed to be here. Some days are hard to stay motivated but then I have days like today, they outweigh all the difficult ones. Thanks for today Lord!