Something really normal on the world race is taking the bus. In Ecuador, we took the bus to ministry everyday, and we also do that here in Guatemala. On Monday’s and Wednesdays, we take 7 buses total to go to both our ministries and to get home.
In Ecuador, the buses were similar to your typical metropolitan buses. They were tall and blue, and the drivers usually found a way to uniquely decorate the inside with nike stickers, weird furry seat covers, or curtains on the inside of the windows. You could sometimes get a seat in one of the plastic chairs if you were lucky, but other times you would get a spot leaning against the railing lining the standing room on the bus. At least once a day, someone would get on your bus and rap or sing with a speaker try to sell you candy or peanuts.
Here in Guatemala, Americans call the buses “chicken buses” because there are sometimes chickens in baskets strapped to the roof or in someone’s lap on the bus. The buses in Guatemala are actually old school buses- usually old blue bird buses from the 60’s and 70’s from the states. They are usually redecorated with fresh colorful paint, chrome, extra metal handrails attached to the roof above the aisle, really loud speakers, strange decals/stickers, and some of them have television screens at the front that play very odd Spanish music videos. It is very normal to sit 3 on a seat, and if only half your butt is on the seat it is usually okay because the third person in the row next to yours also has half their butt on the seat and the two of you just kinda lean on each other.
The thing I have learned throughout the countless bus rides we have taken, is that bus rides are also ministry. Sometimes I do get frustrated, like when the bus driver yells “SIGA, SIGA POR FAVOR” (this means forward, forward please) and you can’t move at all because the bus is so packed. Or when the rest of your team got on the bus and you jump on the step and the bus attendant physical shoves you and the surrounding people in so that the door will close.
The bus can be really overwhelming and sometimes even a bit frustrating. But some of my favorite moments and memories from the race have been made on buses. Like the time we accidentally left Chooch, one of my teammates, on the platform for the C5 bus in Quito because the bus was too packed and she literally couldn’t squeeze in before the doors closed. We met up at the next stop and we all laughed about it and still laugh about the face Chooch made as the doors closed and we drove away. Or the time I got to talk to the sweetest old lady named Mercia. She spoke English and was from Quito but lived in New York for most of her life, and she told me about her kids and family. I told her about my family and where I lived in the states, and I got the opportunity to pray for her. Or the fact that we met the sweetest old Guatemalan couple, Maria Elena & Guadalupe while we were waiting for our bus stop. Waiting at that bus stop opened the door to meeting them, building a beautiful relationship with them, and getting to share more of the Bible with them.
Even though the bus is wild, and a huge cultural difference from the states, it is also a beautiful place. We spend a large portion of our day on the bus, and viewing it as a chance to get to know people or pray over people changes the atmosphere. There have been a lot of beautiful (or funny) moments spent on buses or at bus stops on the race, and I am looking forward to sharing kingdom the same way in the states- even if the buses or trains don’t have chickens, decals, and people selling peanuts on them.
This is Maria Elena, our Guatemalan Abuela. Her house is right where our bus stop is, which means we get to see her almost everyday! She is very sweet, loving, and feisty.
Here is one of the chicken buses! They are all painted with different colors and designs.
This is my team at one of our regular bus stops here in Guatemala, down the street from Maria Elena’s house.
