HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM GUATEMALA!
I hope your Thanksgiving was filled with food, family, football, and naps. My Thanksgivings this year looked a little different then years past, but were the best I have had thus far! This year I had four different Thanksgivings- one squad Thanksgiving, one street Thanksgiving, one with my team of 6 sisters, and one with my Guatemalan family! All were filled with lots of love, laughs, and most importantly food!
My first Thanksgiving took place in Antigua, Guatemala, with my 46 squad mates and 3 squad leaders. Three of our teams have been working in Antigua for the past 3 months so the party took place at their house. We had mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole, cake, ice cream, and lots of bread! Four ladies on my team, including myself, were sick so we ended the day with a mega slumber party in our living room. Cheers to good friends, good food, and midnight tienda runs for M&M’s and Coke.
My second Thanksgiving, and by far my favorite, took place in Zone 4 of Guatemala City. It was filled with family, food, food, and more food. My team and I put on this Thanksgiving for the 20+ people we work with on a daily basis. These people have become my family over the past 3 months and I love them more than words can describe. Thanksgiving is not culturally celebrated outside the United States, but we decided to bring Thanksgiving to the streets of Guat! Our Thanksgiving took place in The Spark (La Chispa)! The Spark is the garage front we have been working on over the past 3 months! It has been open for about a month now and is such a blessing to both my team and my street family. Last Wednesday we filled The Spark with 9 x-large pizza’s from Pizza Hut, 4 large buckets of chicken, 25 large french fries, 10 3-liters, 3 pies, 2 cheesecakes, 2 chocolate cakes, cookies, and 20 hungry street people. Everyone left with happy hearts and full bellies! The picture below was taken after our Thanksgiving celebration with some of my street family that is nearest to my heart!
My third Thanksgiving took place with my 6 teammates at my home in Zone 11 of Guatemala City. We had fried chicken, biscuits, gravy, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, bread, and 5 different pies. The day was filled with cooking, Walmart runs, and Fish-Bowl: Thanksgiving edition.
My fourth Thanksgiving took place last night with my Guatemalan family, aka Mafer’s family. Mafer is one of my teammates who is originally from Guatemala City. Throughout the past three months Mafer’s Mom and Dad, Mama D and Papi, have taken care of both my team and the squad. They have fed us, drove us, loved us, and above all invited us into their home as though we were their own. Last night we had one final family outing at one of our favorite places in Guatemala, Cayala. The evening was filled with christmas lights, Starbucks, and one huge (fake) Christmas tree. I LOVE surprises so you can imagine my excitement when we came home to a plethora of turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, rolls, salad, green beans, and cake. As we sat around the table we stuffed our faces and cried as we shared what we are thankful for this year. It was wonderful.
This Thanksgiving I was away from my family in the states, but my heart is as full as ever. I am thankful for the journey I am currently on and the adventures still to come. I am thankful for my squad, team, and leadership team I have supporting me everyday. I am thankful for an AMAZING ministry and the people of Guatemala who have stolen my heart. I am thankful for God’s faithfulness and His grace today and forever.
I leave Guatemala in about a week and SURPRISE! I GET TO SEE MY SISTER! While traveling to Malaysia I have a 12 hour layover in NYC and Logan is flying in as a little Christmas present! Pray for safe travels and some good sister time. Expect some blog overload within the next few days as I have been very behind. Pray as I prepare to leave Guat, face team changes, and dive into a whole new culture in Malaysia.
Now that Thanksgiving is over… TIS’ THE SEASON FOR CHRISTMAS! I expect everyone is breaking out their Christmas tunes, apple cider, REAL Christmas tree, car scrapers, lights, and most importantly the Christmas attire. As they say in Guat, JOJOJO MERRY CHRISTMAS.
Gobble Gobble,
Dubs
