Hello Everyone!
This is going to be a picture blog. I'm realizing how often I wait to post blogs, waiting for some profound revelation to come my way, then the time to write about it, and the perfect words to describe the indescribable. Momma Monkey reminded me this morning that I tend to set uber ridiculously astronomically high expectations for myself. I am officially unwilling to let my expectations interfere with relationships. I miss you all so much and want to give you as much as I can while I'm out here in the field. So, here are some pictures from our first month, in Antigua Guatemala. Write to me if you can, somehow it is possible to get lonely, even when sharing everything and every moment with 12 other people… More on the picture to the right, later:)
Lindsay A and Ash @ our hostel Ash and Ash at the Capuchin Nunnery in Antigua, que bonita!
Dan the man and Mac McAwesomepants on the roof of our hostel. There is a volcano on their left, a volcano on their right, and a stunning panoramic view of the entire valley. This roof has become my happy place. I've sang, prayed, read, journaled and napped up there. Last Friday all 13 of us went up on the roof and sang and worshipped by candlelight. Yesterday, I did ballet complete with leaps and lifts and twirls till I couldn't dance anymore. So amazing.
We had our three squad leaders with our two teams for the first week of this adventure. What a blessing they are to all of us. Please keep Caitlin Parker, Hope and Mac Mitchell in your prayers, they work so hard leading us. Also, if you get a chance, blogstalk them. They're hilarious!
On one of our first days off, we went to an organic macadamia nut farm. They showed us around, gave us samples of their chocolate, and offered free face massages with their macadamia oil. 'Is this real life?' we kept asking.
Entering their bathroom, I asked the same question. You walk into this bamboo slatted hug, covered in beautiful flowering vines, in the shade of the macadamia trees. Every inch of the walls and floor and ceiling is covered with luscious plants. The sink has flowers growing on it, the whole place smelled, well, alive, and very much not like a bathroom.
Magical.
The way they have chosen to deal with a necessity of life is a great reminder to me that we can create beauty out of any circumstance, all it takes is a little bit of work and a lot of fun and creativity!
