I spent the weekend at a retreat at Lake Atitlan. It’s a beautiful lake in Guatemala surrounded by volcanoes and mountains with small towns tucked in the mountainside. My weekend was spent with time in worship, swinging in hammocks, kayaking, hiking, randomly playing with local kids from a nearby town, a birthday-eve dance party, and just enjoying God’s creation while growing in friendship with other squad mates.
The best part was Sunday —my 26th birthday! =) I woke up to this view in the morning.
I also sat on my porch and read some birthday cards I was saving for this day. Thanks Mom and Beck!!
I took a long, hot shower and walked down to breakfast. When I walked in, my entire squad sang happy birthday to me, and my team handed me a homemade birthday card they made for me! I had a great breakfast with hot chocolate! (It’s funny how that’s already a special treat overseas.) Then at 10:00 I had an appointment for a massage! Oh yes! Never had a professional one before and now I’m addicted!
After my massage, my team jumped in the lake in honor of my birthday…still don’t get the point of that, but it was entertaining to watch!
Micah also surprised me with a strawberry banana smoothie, which she remembered is my favorite flavor smoothie from our first airport visit. How thoughtful!! 🙂
Time to pack up and head for home! We ate an exciting PB&J sandwich and cookies for lunch before we had our 2 ½ hour bus ride back to base camp. Bad thing is, most people felt sick on that entire ride home…including me! :/ We got home around 4 and started setting our tents up for our last week here. Team leaders pulled up soon after. (They were at a leader’s training retreat at another hostel on the lake.) My leader, Travis, had the idea to go out and celebrate my day by going out to dinner. Heck yea! There’s only two places I feel are safe enough to eat, so we went to a restaurant called Pollo Campero for some chicken, which is kind of like a Zaxby’s. Yum!
They sang to me again at dinner and went around the table with each person encouraging me, and telling me what I mean to them…Yes, I did tear up! So sweet!! I was so touched! After that, we went to a local bakery in town and had some delicious cake!
** Still doesn’t compare to yours, Mom 😉
This birthday was better than I thought it would be. I did miss my family and friends SO MUCH, especially when I couldn’t even talk to them that day. Despite that, God made it very special with my “new family”. He placed ideas on people’s hearts that He knew would make me feel loved even being miles away from the comforts of home. I am very blessed!
