Some simple observations about Guatemala:
The people are kind. The kids are adorable & are full of life. Their clothing is colorful and covered in stripes. Everything is so green! The mountains are beautiful and are found in every direction. It is a lot cooler here than I expected. There is no shortage of fruit stands. I am taller than the majority of everyone I have seen. They must get horrible gas mileage with all the mountains and million speed bumps, but they show no concern about that. It gets dark really early [like 7 pm], but therefore it gets light rather early. Cramming an excessive number of people on a bus or van is not an issue. Timeliness isn’t much of a priority; waiting around is perfectly acceptable. The people I have met have all been generous, yet so many that I have seen are in great need. I have seen numerous hard workers, as well as a lot of risk takers—I saw a guy on the roof of a bus who climbed down while it was going pretty fast around a curve, then opened the back door and went in! The turns in the roads in the mountains are amazing; they are like 180 degrees. The food smells great and has all been really good. There are random animals out and about; I saw a pet monkey and two Spanish speaking parrots.
My “routine”:
There really is no normal day on the Race, but some things I have done thus far include bonding with my entire squad and team Mates [that’s our name :]], as we are spending the whole first month together as a squad (60 people). Normally I will just be living and serving with my team of 6. We are all living in our tents this month, which has been going well thus far. I have stayed pretty dry and warm most nights.
I have gotten the privilege to serve at an orphanage this month. I have been painting mostly, but also get to give at least a dozen hugs and get another dozen daily. It’s wonderfully precious. There are 22 kids at “Casa de mi padre” (My Father’s house). They are all adorable. I am actually moving in there tomorrow night to help give the full time staff there a break and help run the house. I am excited that I have already gotten to and will get to go to another clinic tomorrow and use some of my nursing skills, as well! Tomorrow I will be in a rural area where people walk up to 4 hours to be seen! A majority of the time they simply need Tylenol or something for their stomach. The Lord has used it to remind me of how blessed I am.
Please ask me any questions!
Oh! And a couple random updates to our route… instead of Honduras we are going to Nicaragua. Also, Australia is off the route because there is a greater need elsewhere, but our new country is still being determined. The Lord is using this to teach me flexibility, which is good. 🙂
Prayer requests:
That 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 would be true of me. “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing and give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
That I would learn to be more compassionate. That my heart would break for what breaks His. That I would have the eyes to see people as He does.
That the last of my support comes in. $5,500 to go! [Ask me if you need more information on how to give].
