Everywhere you turn in Chimaltenango, Parramos, or Antigua (the cities near our base), you will hear a *slap slap slap slap* sound. What is that sound you ask? It is the sound of the tortilla vendors! Experienced women make tortillas three times a day everyday for people to purchase. In the two weeks I have lived here, I have learned that tortillas are a huge staple in guatemalan culture. Here are the ingredients:
-corn meal
-water
-love
I have had the wonderful opportunity to learn how to make tortillas with my ministry host Josephina and one of our cooks Teresa. I can already say so much about these women, but that will be for another blog post 🙂 I asked Teresa how long she has been making them, and she said since she was 10 years old! People here have grown up on tortillas, and I can see how they truly bring people together. Every night at the base before dinner, we help Teresa make tortillas for 50 people. It’s a ton, but she lets us help her even if we drop the dough or if we don’t make them as efficiently as she does. Her response is always “Esta bien, es para los pollos” (it’s okay, it’ll go to the chickens) whenever we mess up. Tortillas bring families together all over guatemala as well as our family at the base.
Life in Guatemala reminds me of the early church in Acts:
“And they devoted themselves to the apostles teaching, and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread (tortillas), and to prayer… and day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread (tortillas) in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people.” – Acts 2:42-47
On the world race we learn together, play together, eat tortillas together, and pray together. That is the church, people.
I praise God for the gift of community. Community with my squad, with my team, and with the village we partner with. I am seeing God’s true purpose of church right before my eyes.
Peace and Blessings,
Hannah Keller
