So the “G” squad just went through some major culture shock (and jet lag) as we traveled from Budapest, Hungary through Boston, Myrtle Beach, and Ft. Lauderdale before reaching our destination of Guatemala City. We actually stayed in Boston for a good amount of time, so many of us ventured out into American soil. Steph, Janina, and I excitedly went to Whole Foods and Target, finishing our time up with a steak dinner at Texas Roadhouse. Having been in third world countries most of the past year, Target felt more overwhelming than anything I have encountered in awhile.
The first thing that made my jaw drop was the HUGE parking lot leading up to the store. As most of the rest of the world walks, or takes a train or bus to most places, I realized I have rarely even seen a parking lot in the past year. Once I steaded myself and moved on, I got inside where I thought I’d look for a big hat to keep the sun off my face while we’ll be in Central America. Bad idea. I easily found some and was overwhelmed by the choice of the three options I had. Then it was like I got tunnel vision and I realized that a whole side of the aisle was filled with them, with maybe thirty different designs to choose from. I ended up running away and not getting one…
I decided it was best to look for things I really needed like shower-shoes before I would need to leave the store. I found the flip-flop aisle with what seemed like HUNDREDS of flip-flops, grabbed the plain black ones and made a mad dash away from all the options once again. I also managed to find a plain black skirt and some peanut butter m&m’s and then we were out of there. We walked to Texas Roadhouse and ate the first steak and green beans that I have seen all year and got entirely too full. At some point during the day Steph said something about how she was spending too much money, and without even thinking I replied to her, “well, you’re only in America once”. Its how we really felt, like we were in some once-in-a-lifetime dreamland. It was absurd to be standing with a map and have someone ask us if we needed to directions in English and actually give us directions we could understand.
Since our short time in America we spent a couple of days debriefing in Antigua, Guatemala (where we hiked a ridiculous volcano – pictures to follow) and Team FUSE is now in Puerto Barrios, our ministry site for the month. Even though we currently have no running water and the weather is a bit unpredictable (yesterday the sun was beating down on us one minute and the next we were wading up a muddy river that used to be the street), we are still overjoyed to be back in the third world. We are glad to be away from the materialism and fast-paced schedules that rule so much of America. We have been helping the local Christian radio station raise money and we have found that poor people are so giving. When we first began asking these people for money I could only see the run-down places they were living in, but now all I see is their giving hearts.
On top of Pacaya Volcano – I wish I could describe how hard it is to climb sharp, crumbling lava!
Lava oozing out of Pacaya
Another volcano erupting in the distance
Roasting marshmallows! So hot hot hot!
