(Quick pic on our way to cultural orientation with our contact.
I keep waiting for a clear day to get the whole of the volcano…for now, it is hide and go seek.)
We are based out of Antigua, Guatemala this month and this photogenic little tourist town is living up to its delightful reputation. Every Guatemalan I’ve worked with to get us here, settled and oriented to various opportunities has been lovely. The colors pop off the walls, the cobblestones demand attention and the volcanoes loom. I am looking forward to wandering the streets one free afternoon to exercise my amature photography skills.
This month is unique on many levels. We shipped all the men off to Puerto Barrios (on the eastern coast of Guatemala) for the month so it is all women in Antigua. These women are spread across three ministry opportunities: elderly care, malnourished infant care and teaching.
My ministry team is first class. We are the teachers. There are five of us and I feel honored to be serving along side such a high caliber group of women. Our charge is to bring a 15-lesson curriculum on ethics to schools in and around Antigua. The curriculum was written in response to a request by the First Lady of Guatemala to combat gang membership among the youth. The lessons, at her request, are biblically based and cover everything from honoring your parents, to making good choices, to healthy dating relationships. I am genuinely excited and hopeful about what this month holds. It is a nice blend of structure and creative that will most certainly keep me engaged.
(The Teachers: Ashley E. Jamie, Shannon, Me and Rebecca)
Five Sense Showdown for Guatemala:
Sight – Green with steep hills and bursting color, my neck got sore on the drive in turning from side to side.
Smell – Think warm tortillas mixed with exhaust and the sweetness of flowers; weird, I know.
Sound – Church bells, mortars, fireworks, motorbikes, tires on cobblestone and the bustle of bartering; it is energizing and anything but serene.
Taste – Praise God for the return of salsa and avocadoes to my palette!
Touch – Sunshine on my shoulders does makes me happy…60ies at night and 80ies during the day with steady rays that haven’t burned me yet!
