Back in Guate!

Well, many of you probably heard that I’ve made it back from a quick trip to the states. Thanks so much for your prayers and words of encouragement as I was able to go home and be with my family as we buried my grandpa. It was a tough week with a wide range of emotions, but I was blessed to be able to be among friends and family as we both mourned our loss and rejoiced at his homecoming. We would all covet your continued prayers as we adjust to life without him.

I was excited to come back to a bunch of kids excited to see me! They had covered my desk with letters and the marker board with the following messages:

I didn't even have to bribe them! They did that all on their own- they like me!

See you at the Pole!

Question: How does a school hold a "See You At the Pole" when there is no one international flag that all the kids hold allegaince to?

Answer: Put up all of the flags and pray for other countries!

These kids are really amazing. First, they organized the event. Then, the put up flags from the U.S., Guatemala, and Korea (our top three represented schools). Next, we sang and then prayed for not only our own countries, but also for the top persecuted countries around the world. Then, for lunch, there was an international hot lunch in which there was food served from the various countries: China, India, and the Phillipines. My elementary kids loved it!

Guatemalan Independance Day

This past Monday we had a day off (when you live in Guatemala, you get to celebrate Guatemalan Independence Day). My roommate and I went to Antigua, a town about half an hour from here. While there, we were able to spend some time at a hospital. It really stuck with me because I have never seen anything like it before. The conditions can't be described with anything I've ever seen back home before. There was the waiting room for people just wanting to see a doctor, and then wards of disabled men, women, and children who have spent most of their lives there. It was truly heartbreaking to see the way that these people lived, especially the children. There were just so many of them and it was so understaffed. There were two boys in particular with the biggest, most mischievous smiles whose faces are burned in my memory. They were so charming and it's just really been plaguing me to think about them living their whole lives there. Granted, there has been a lot in the way of improvements just in the last couple of years. My roommate says that donations are way up and they are actually able to get the kids motor wheelchairs, but it's no Spectrum Health. Not to mention, many of these kids were abandoned because the Indians here believe that they are possessed by evil spirits. All that to say, if you could just say a prayer for those people as well as those seeking to run the hospital. There are some truly amazing people there, but there's so much to do!

A tour of the house

Okay, what you've all been waiting for (drumroll please): Where do I live. No, it's not a mud hut, I was very relieved, in fact, it is quite beautiful. As far as location goes, we are about 5 minutes from school. We (my roommate Trisha and I, she's a highschool English teacher) live in a gated, barbed wired, armed guarded, walled... subdivision thing. To give you an idea of the size, it takes me roughly 20 minutes to run up and down all of the streets in it. I'll have to post pictures of it and the incredible gorge on one side. So, back to our house, within our subdivision, our small "yard" is also gated and walled. We live in it with another couple who also teaches at the school. It's very nice as he takes care of all the things we gals just don't even care to think about. (And comes and gets us when we lock our keys in our car.) And now pictures. To the left is walking up to our door. Below is when you first walk in. My room is the one on the left.

Our kitchen is as soon as you walk in on the left. It's quite cozy. It I'm just pleased by the fact that I have sucessfully figured out how to light it. I have yet to bake anything. It's a little tricky since there's no controlling the temperature, not to mention the whole change in altitude thing. (But don't worry, I never used the oven at home, so I don't miss it!)

Here's walking into my room. I have a fun Guatemalan desk and I just learned that everything here is stained with shoe polish, whether is indoors or outdoors.

Here's my room facing towards the door. I'm hoping to repaint soon to make the mint green walls a little less toothpasty. (Hey, it's going to be home for a while, so I'm going to make it homey.)

And that is it in a nutshell. I hope you've enjoyed this tour. I know it's not exactly like Parade of Homes, but at least it gives you an idea!

Checking out some sweet ruins of a monastery. Yes we are on the send level, and no, there are no railings! But that's Guatemala... Side note, there were beautiful gardens and look who caught a butterfly!

The whole, hungry gang, waiting for our meal. The family down the right is actually from West Michigan as well. Don't tell me it's a small world either. God knew I needed someone to compare potholes with. Are they truly worse here or in Guatemala?!?! It's a toss up.

You really can't beat this for restaurant ambiance. We ate at Las Palmas in Antigua today, truly some of the best food I've had since arriving. Not to mention we did it Guatemalan style, relaxing until we were done relaxing!