First day on the field as a Worldracer! Woke up in the airport, got checked in (yes! Bag was just the right weight! No fees!) and headed to the gate! Talked to Justin for the last time………..ugh. That was hard but very rewarding. He just gave me so much encouragement! Hop on the plane with all 40+ of us! Had an amazing conversation with my squad mate Misty! I was finally on my way!
The view of Guatemala is stunning!! Just breathtaking!
Mountains that disappear into the clouds, cliffs that are so steep!
I have never seen anything like it! It looked like the pictures we draw as kids: mountains that look like steep triangles, up and down! The valleys were awesome!
We landed and had to do a few logistics and my team’s transport was the first to arrive!
Guatemala City was crazy! I forgot that Central America has “no” rules when it comes to driving! Crazy driving skills!
Their President gets sworn into office tomorrow! So, a lot of the roads are blocked off and traffic was crazy! Militia everywhere! The President of Panama came out right before us! ….so, pretty cool.
We take a drive up the mountain to our the orphanage, Colegio Evanelico Y Hogar Los Gozosos. (Chimaltenango is an indigenous Mayan town of 100,000. It is an important agricultural center located in the fertile highland plain of western Guatemala.)The founder, Maureen, is an excellent woman of God! Wow, I was just so blown away to hear her stories! We were greeted by 10 beautiful faces! This orphanage is home to disable and special needs children. Ranging from 4 years to 18 years old. Despite the language barrier (which, I know more Spanish than I give myself credit for, Thanks Professor Pacheco!) a smile, a hug, a laugh, a touch is universal. It was so good to finally be here! I love it!
This is Daniel! He is a resident here! He is sooo cool! I just love him already.. and!! He is even cooler that he has on a Bama shirt!! wow! 🙂 That was a nice welcome in.
Here is a video that a previous missions team had taken! Enjoy!
http://youtu.be/W62HpEagVSw
Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/people/Los-Gozosos-Guatemala/100001377813278
(Or search Los Gozosos Guatemala on FB)
Their website http://losgozosos.org/LosGozosos/Welcome.html click link under welcome to read their profiles under "our children" sooo precious!
Continue to follow the blogs to get to know the kids better! I will be here until Feb 10 I believe! So many stories to come! 😀 very excited!
Things I am EXTREMELY grateful for:
-A safe journey with Gods protection*
-Washing machine
-Working toilets
-nice ground to pitch my tent
-food
-purified drinking water
-internet
-my team
-kids
-Spanish
-supporters
-GOD!
-You!
Thank you to everyone! This will be a great month!! 😀
