Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Companeros=Housemates
Just to clarify, I am going to profile each of my housemates-companeros. I live in the most amazing house. We live on 3 Sebastian with Elvira and Marco Antonio Gonzalez. There are five of us right now and it is absolutely amazing. We really are a little family. I pretty much am the Mama of the house...I think because I am the most responsible one. (Everyone else would just say that I am bossy). We have adventures together, play cards together, eat together (though that's forced...no just joking), make fun of each other together, play frisbee together, watch movies together...It's swell. I love humans.
Compañero Profiling: Number One
Melissa Gartner-Saskwatch who was born and raised in Regina. She has three siblings-an older brother and a younger sister and younger brother. She has great parents- Mama Brenda and Papa Collin. She is in International Studies. She is 21 and her birthday is April 13.
If I had to describe this girl in one word, I would use the word “Special”. There are many reasons for this.
1. Licking elbow-I think the most important thing that contributes to her being labeled as such is the fact that she can lick her elbow. Although this is not deemed as something that would make the world records, it is pretty close in my books. First, she had to take the time to learn that she could do that. Who does that? Melissa.
2. Straight faced insults-I have also never met someone who can insult another person so effectively without actually making the person feel like they are an idiot while maintaining a straight face the entire time. She has named me Bossy Pants and Curly, and insists on using those with me. I like it.
3. Tastefully corny-Without fail, if I was to ask a question such as “How did you sleep last night?”, her response would immediately be, “Do you really want to know? Well, for the first half of the night, I was on my left side and the second half, I was sprawled out face-down?” I find myself setting my questions up so I get perfect hilarious responses. In addition, she can recycle a joke over and over and it NEVER gets old. Ever.
4. Ice cream Hips-Yes, that’s what I said, Ice Cream Hips. She has an incredible dance move that involves scooping ice cream. I have never seen anything quite like it.
5. Girl guides are Cool-Although I had previously bought into the stereotype that girl guides simply sell cookies and wear unfortunate uniforms, Melissa has demonstrated the very opposite. First of all, girl guides is a fountain of information. I learn everything about life, love and girl guide pledges. Also, the cookies are not top priority. AND, girl guides take amazing trips and do incredible development projects. And Melissa is in the top ranks. She will actually be taking her ‘troops’ to Costa Rica next summer. So cool.
6. Animal/Science Expert-Yes, Melissa has worked both at a science center and indeed has worked at a zoo, which means she has had both poop and slime all over her body. Did you know that ferrets are stretched out rats with the face of a raccoon?
7. Closest to narcolepsis as they come- Oh this brings me such delight. The process of her falling asleep is hilarious.I will walk into her room and having just talked to her three minutes before and she has her head down her knee, fully asleep with her baby computer on her lap. That brings me to number 8.
8. Computer that went through the dryer-She has a computer that is the size of a miniature book. It looks like it was made for a child.
9. Allergy to the sun-She is the most incessant person I have ever met about her dislike for the sun. Daily, she lathers up with SPF 50 and insists on walking only in the shade.
10. Hears sounds only dogs can hear-Yup. She can hear the buzz of a light bulb. She is very happy when the power goes out because then there is not ringing in her ears.
I love this girl a lot. She is amazing and has taught me an abundant amount. If we didn’t live together, I don’t know if we would have been friends, which actually would have been very tragic! She has brought so much joy and laughter to my life. She is so compassionate and thoughtful and expresses it in ways I wouldn’t think of. She is caring and listens so well (partly because she can’t help it because her ears are so dang good so even if she wanted to tune you out-which she would say she was doing-she couldn’t). I wish you all could meet her. She would probably say she wouldn’t want to meet you, but that’s just her way.
If I had to describe this girl in one word, I would use the word “Special”. There are many reasons for this.
1. Licking elbow-I think the most important thing that contributes to her being labeled as such is the fact that she can lick her elbow. Although this is not deemed as something that would make the world records, it is pretty close in my books. First, she had to take the time to learn that she could do that. Who does that? Melissa.
2. Straight faced insults-I have also never met someone who can insult another person so effectively without actually making the person feel like they are an idiot while maintaining a straight face the entire time. She has named me Bossy Pants and Curly, and insists on using those with me. I like it.
3. Tastefully corny-Without fail, if I was to ask a question such as “How did you sleep last night?”, her response would immediately be, “Do you really want to know? Well, for the first half of the night, I was on my left side and the second half, I was sprawled out face-down?” I find myself setting my questions up so I get perfect hilarious responses. In addition, she can recycle a joke over and over and it NEVER gets old. Ever.
4. Ice cream Hips-Yes, that’s what I said, Ice Cream Hips. She has an incredible dance move that involves scooping ice cream. I have never seen anything quite like it.
5. Girl guides are Cool-Although I had previously bought into the stereotype that girl guides simply sell cookies and wear unfortunate uniforms, Melissa has demonstrated the very opposite. First of all, girl guides is a fountain of information. I learn everything about life, love and girl guide pledges. Also, the cookies are not top priority. AND, girl guides take amazing trips and do incredible development projects. And Melissa is in the top ranks. She will actually be taking her ‘troops’ to Costa Rica next summer. So cool.
6. Animal/Science Expert-Yes, Melissa has worked both at a science center and indeed has worked at a zoo, which means she has had both poop and slime all over her body. Did you know that ferrets are stretched out rats with the face of a raccoon?
7. Closest to narcolepsis as they come- Oh this brings me such delight. The process of her falling asleep is hilarious.I will walk into her room and having just talked to her three minutes before and she has her head down her knee, fully asleep with her baby computer on her lap. That brings me to number 8.
8. Computer that went through the dryer-She has a computer that is the size of a miniature book. It looks like it was made for a child.
9. Allergy to the sun-She is the most incessant person I have ever met about her dislike for the sun. Daily, she lathers up with SPF 50 and insists on walking only in the shade.
10. Hears sounds only dogs can hear-Yup. She can hear the buzz of a light bulb. She is very happy when the power goes out because then there is not ringing in her ears.
I love this girl a lot. She is amazing and has taught me an abundant amount. If we didn’t live together, I don’t know if we would have been friends, which actually would have been very tragic! She has brought so much joy and laughter to my life. She is so compassionate and thoughtful and expresses it in ways I wouldn’t think of. She is caring and listens so well (partly because she can’t help it because her ears are so dang good so even if she wanted to tune you out-which she would say she was doing-she couldn’t). I wish you all could meet her. She would probably say she wouldn’t want to meet you, but that’s just her way.
Death and Life
Standing enveloped in the mist, I looked out across the mountainous forest scene, overcome with the bittersweet silence. The images of death, torture and massacre poisoned my mind while the screaming voices resounded in my ears. It was a Sunday-the same day the massacre occurred 26 years ago. On July 18, 1982, Plan de Sanchez, a small Mayan village was slaughtered by the state military in the most brutal way possible. Women raped and tortured. Children beaten and dashed against the rocks. Others abducted and tortured. Why? What was the reason for this horrendous act? There is no explanation. It was simply an act of utter genocide, which has never been brought to justice. Although the bodies have been exhumed and have received proper burials in this particular case, their deaths have not been justified.
Now there is a church built on top of their remains, which I feel, is a beautiful image- love and grace reigning over death and evil. (Not that a building holds that power by any means; rather the symbolism of what it represents acts as such). At this place, we were able to see the names of the people who had been killed and meet one of the survivors. It was heartbreaking to hear him describe how he had lost his entire family and he even pointed out the names of all his family members that were killed that day. In addition, we were able to see the paintings that people created on the walls of the church that depict the interpretations of that fateful day. Helicopters dropping bombs; women being led to be raped; children lying naked on the ground, bleeding to death. And then, in the middle of the horrific scene, which I actually did not notice at first, there was Jesus hanging on the cross with His blood pouring down. It was an interesting realization for me. Prior to that moment, not only was I feeling broken and sad, I had begun to have feelings of anger and bitterness. However, my demeanor slowly began to change as I stared at the image. Because of the brokenness of this world-the evil and selfishness of human beings, there is such pain and suffering. Often, the blame is immediately placed on God. People ask the question “Why God? Why do you let this happen if you were a loving God?” And if I was to be completely honest, I have asked the same question. But I began thinking more in that moment and I’ll let you in on my thoughts.
I was able to recognize this truth: the heart of the Father breaks at the sight of His creation destroying one another. He hates the evil, the greed, the suffering, but He endlessly and unconditionally loves the people. And seeing that none of us in ourselves can bring healing, He acts as the only hope in this broken, torn world is. He is the one who actually can restore and heal. Simplistic? Seemingly. But for me, I think the only answer that brings me to a place of hope and understanding and that makes the most sense. There are so many times in history in which
And then my thoughts went to some lyrics by Shad K that say the following:
“‘Like Lord please can we speak on this frankly
Like God why you letting this happen?’
‘Amen, he answered, son I'm askin you the same thing
Cause you're supposed to be my servants
Out here working like you're my hands reaching out to those that's hurtin
You don't have long on this earth
And I hope you won't compromise’...”
We let these things happen. We are so much a cause of things in this world. Our selfish greed; our desire for material and economic gain; our hunger for power-all these things contribute to the world that we live in. As in this war that went on for thirty-six years, it began due to the United Fruit Company wanting the fertile land that had been redistributed back to the indigenous. The greed of the few, destroyed the lives of thousands. Now, we have the ability, for example, to demand less things such as gold or nickel, which is a point of contention in Guatemala because the Canadian mines are exploiting and displacing thousands of indigenous people who are not at all reaping the benefits. If we demanded less or if our demand was conscious the environmental needs and physical/cultural needs of the people, than things would be different.
I also thought about the fact that I am no better than those killers. I, as a human being, am very capable of doing the same thing that those men did during the civil war. That realization was almost too much to bear. I wanted to point a finger and hate those men and make them out in my mind to be nothing and the scum of the earth, but I could not. Yes, they are going to receive the justice they deserve, but I too deserve it to be served since I have hated people at times through my actions and, by my words I have killed people’s spirits. I have allowed greed and selfishness to reign at times and have caused pain in the lives of others as a result. Thankfully, I have received forgiveness and healing and now God has allowed me to bring healing to the lives of others. And that hope that manifested itself in me, again brought me to a place of hope with Guatemala. God can heal. God can restore. God can redeem. And I know that He is beginning that here in Guatemala.
I was going to apologize for the heaviness of this post, but then decided against it. I felt it necessary to share this because it is such a large component of me being here. Daily, Guatemala faces the challenges of the 36 year civil war and its effects. I know that later posts will include more of this war. I hope you are able to process this with me and that it does create dialogue (whether external or internal)in your lives.
Now there is a church built on top of their remains, which I feel, is a beautiful image- love and grace reigning over death and evil. (Not that a building holds that power by any means; rather the symbolism of what it represents acts as such). At this place, we were able to see the names of the people who had been killed and meet one of the survivors. It was heartbreaking to hear him describe how he had lost his entire family and he even pointed out the names of all his family members that were killed that day. In addition, we were able to see the paintings that people created on the walls of the church that depict the interpretations of that fateful day. Helicopters dropping bombs; women being led to be raped; children lying naked on the ground, bleeding to death. And then, in the middle of the horrific scene, which I actually did not notice at first, there was Jesus hanging on the cross with His blood pouring down. It was an interesting realization for me. Prior to that moment, not only was I feeling broken and sad, I had begun to have feelings of anger and bitterness. However, my demeanor slowly began to change as I stared at the image. Because of the brokenness of this world-the evil and selfishness of human beings, there is such pain and suffering. Often, the blame is immediately placed on God. People ask the question “Why God? Why do you let this happen if you were a loving God?” And if I was to be completely honest, I have asked the same question. But I began thinking more in that moment and I’ll let you in on my thoughts.
I was able to recognize this truth: the heart of the Father breaks at the sight of His creation destroying one another. He hates the evil, the greed, the suffering, but He endlessly and unconditionally loves the people. And seeing that none of us in ourselves can bring healing, He acts as the only hope in this broken, torn world is. He is the one who actually can restore and heal. Simplistic? Seemingly. But for me, I think the only answer that brings me to a place of hope and understanding and that makes the most sense. There are so many times in history in which
And then my thoughts went to some lyrics by Shad K that say the following:
“‘Like Lord please can we speak on this frankly
Like God why you letting this happen?’
‘Amen, he answered, son I'm askin you the same thing
Cause you're supposed to be my servants
Out here working like you're my hands reaching out to those that's hurtin
You don't have long on this earth
And I hope you won't compromise’...”
We let these things happen. We are so much a cause of things in this world. Our selfish greed; our desire for material and economic gain; our hunger for power-all these things contribute to the world that we live in. As in this war that went on for thirty-six years, it began due to the United Fruit Company wanting the fertile land that had been redistributed back to the indigenous. The greed of the few, destroyed the lives of thousands. Now, we have the ability, for example, to demand less things such as gold or nickel, which is a point of contention in Guatemala because the Canadian mines are exploiting and displacing thousands of indigenous people who are not at all reaping the benefits. If we demanded less or if our demand was conscious the environmental needs and physical/cultural needs of the people, than things would be different.
I also thought about the fact that I am no better than those killers. I, as a human being, am very capable of doing the same thing that those men did during the civil war. That realization was almost too much to bear. I wanted to point a finger and hate those men and make them out in my mind to be nothing and the scum of the earth, but I could not. Yes, they are going to receive the justice they deserve, but I too deserve it to be served since I have hated people at times through my actions and, by my words I have killed people’s spirits. I have allowed greed and selfishness to reign at times and have caused pain in the lives of others as a result. Thankfully, I have received forgiveness and healing and now God has allowed me to bring healing to the lives of others. And that hope that manifested itself in me, again brought me to a place of hope with Guatemala. God can heal. God can restore. God can redeem. And I know that He is beginning that here in Guatemala.
I was going to apologize for the heaviness of this post, but then decided against it. I felt it necessary to share this because it is such a large component of me being here. Daily, Guatemala faces the challenges of the 36 year civil war and its effects. I know that later posts will include more of this war. I hope you are able to process this with me and that it does create dialogue (whether external or internal)in your lives.
Monday, January 19, 2009
alarmes de carros
Important notice: I am currently at 76 car alarms since being in Antigua. Oh wait, make that 77. I will at some point put up a video of the sequence of sounds. It's hilarious. If I can't catch it for real, I'll do it myself. I have it memorized now.
Child-magnet
As many of you know, I have a healthy obsession with children. From their quirky little habits to their hilariously innocent inquiries, I just love everything about them. No matter what the culture, the first people I am drawn to are the children. They are such bundles of energy, creativity and joy. Before coming to Guatemala, I had high hopes that I would build friendships with children and this is what I have done. Let me tell you about a few of them.
Hide and Deek Boy
I must reiterate the power of silence. There is such depth in being able to enjoy the company of another human without any words spoken at all. I must also introduce to one of my most favored form of human interaction-the wonder of games! (Allison, how I hope you learn to like them!) Let me introduce you to a game called street hide and deek. My Wiscy housemate, Shannon (she’s from Wisconsin therefore I gave her the most endearing name I could possibly come up with) and I were walking down the street to the bank and I spotted a little fella hiding in the inlet of a doorway. I of course jumped on the opportunity to play along with the game he was playing. I crept up to the doorway and then jumped around the bend and playfully tickled his tummy. And then the games began! The game proceeded as such: I would run ahead and then when I felt I had given him enough time to catch up, I would turn around. At that moment, I would see his head duck down behind a car or deek into doorway. This game kept up for about three blocks until we reached the bank and then all the way back. It was amazing!! As I neared my final destination, I asked him his name, but he just answered me with giggles. I sadly never discovered this little wonder’s name, but do hope that Hide and Seek Boy becomes a regular playmate in my life.
Lovely Lady
Lady is a precious young indigenous girl from a village just outside of the city of Antigua. Yesterday, Leanne and I ventured into a new church where we were welcomed almost immediately with name tags and coffee. (So you can picture my existence here, my name is Root. Most people can not say the ‘th’ in my name, so I resort to telling people my name is the feeding tube of a tree) I did my usual scanning for children to hang out with and my radar sensed a precious smiling face. Before I could even initiate a ‘hola’, she was at my side, sitting in the seat next to me. I initiated a fragmented conversation and was delighted to hear her sweet voice answering my questions. The beauty of talking with her was that she allowed me to make mistakes in my Spanish and helped me when I struggled. I quickly discovered that she had a little brother and that she was ten years old. She loves mathematics and art. I am brainstorming ways in which we can bond over either one of those two things. As the singing began, she quickly grabbed my hands, making us a clapping team. (If we were graded on keeping time, we failed. But if we were graded on teamwork, we definitely won.) Then, she wrapped her little arms around my waist and clung to me the rest of the time. I just felt a beautiful love from her-essentially a stranger. Her ragged clothing, dirty hair and worn out hands saddened my heart, but what I saw beyond her appearance was a precious young girl that was filled with love, acceptance and joy. I look forward to spending time with this gem in the future Sundays.
Shoeshining Antonio and Domingo
Oh shoeshiners. They are definitely my favorite humans in Antigua. I struggle with their profession greatly because it seems entirely belittling and a form of forced humbling. I feel it creates a hierarchical scale that frustrates me. Despite their daily struggle of rejection and neglect, these little boys are the sweetest and most precious humans. Two such boys caught my eye this past Saturday. They were walking around the park looking for customers when we ran into each other. I gave them a big smile and both of them blushed and ran away. However, they kept coming back and smiling at me. I waved at them and they both giggled right out loud. I sadly had to leave and was unable to talk to them. The next day, however, our paths crossed again. They were working though so they did not come and hang out with me. However, that night, as I was walking home, I saw them eating with their mother. From the setting, I realized that they are indigenous children of a woman who is a vendor by the cathedral close to my house. Due to circumstances beyond their control, they are a very poor family from what I could see, but that did not seem to stop them from finding joy in life. When I said ‘hola’, they both squealed with delight and were saying a lot of things I could not understand. We had passed them, but I looked back and waved at them. Before I knew it, they had run up to me with food-filled smiles spread across their face. It was hilarious because the look on their faces quickly changed from delight to “what do we do now”, as if they had not thought through their purpose of running up to me. Their expressions brought me such happiness. I got down to their level and asked them their names. The older of the two was called Domingo and the younger was Antonio. They were ten and six, but due to stunting (which is a severe problem in Guatemala among indigenous children specifically due to malnourishment), they looked more like six and four years of age. We had to leave, however, not before getting a hug from both of them. Their precious blackened hands touched mine and I immediately became so overwhelmed with a love for those two boys that it brought tears to my eyes. Again, they are strangers, yet I experienced love from them with very few words exchanged. We will be friends again. I will be sure of that.
Hide and Deek Boy
I must reiterate the power of silence. There is such depth in being able to enjoy the company of another human without any words spoken at all. I must also introduce to one of my most favored form of human interaction-the wonder of games! (Allison, how I hope you learn to like them!) Let me introduce you to a game called street hide and deek. My Wiscy housemate, Shannon (she’s from Wisconsin therefore I gave her the most endearing name I could possibly come up with) and I were walking down the street to the bank and I spotted a little fella hiding in the inlet of a doorway. I of course jumped on the opportunity to play along with the game he was playing. I crept up to the doorway and then jumped around the bend and playfully tickled his tummy. And then the games began! The game proceeded as such: I would run ahead and then when I felt I had given him enough time to catch up, I would turn around. At that moment, I would see his head duck down behind a car or deek into doorway. This game kept up for about three blocks until we reached the bank and then all the way back. It was amazing!! As I neared my final destination, I asked him his name, but he just answered me with giggles. I sadly never discovered this little wonder’s name, but do hope that Hide and Seek Boy becomes a regular playmate in my life.
Lovely Lady
Lady is a precious young indigenous girl from a village just outside of the city of Antigua. Yesterday, Leanne and I ventured into a new church where we were welcomed almost immediately with name tags and coffee. (So you can picture my existence here, my name is Root. Most people can not say the ‘th’ in my name, so I resort to telling people my name is the feeding tube of a tree) I did my usual scanning for children to hang out with and my radar sensed a precious smiling face. Before I could even initiate a ‘hola’, she was at my side, sitting in the seat next to me. I initiated a fragmented conversation and was delighted to hear her sweet voice answering my questions. The beauty of talking with her was that she allowed me to make mistakes in my Spanish and helped me when I struggled. I quickly discovered that she had a little brother and that she was ten years old. She loves mathematics and art. I am brainstorming ways in which we can bond over either one of those two things. As the singing began, she quickly grabbed my hands, making us a clapping team. (If we were graded on keeping time, we failed. But if we were graded on teamwork, we definitely won.) Then, she wrapped her little arms around my waist and clung to me the rest of the time. I just felt a beautiful love from her-essentially a stranger. Her ragged clothing, dirty hair and worn out hands saddened my heart, but what I saw beyond her appearance was a precious young girl that was filled with love, acceptance and joy. I look forward to spending time with this gem in the future Sundays.
Shoeshining Antonio and Domingo
Oh shoeshiners. They are definitely my favorite humans in Antigua. I struggle with their profession greatly because it seems entirely belittling and a form of forced humbling. I feel it creates a hierarchical scale that frustrates me. Despite their daily struggle of rejection and neglect, these little boys are the sweetest and most precious humans. Two such boys caught my eye this past Saturday. They were walking around the park looking for customers when we ran into each other. I gave them a big smile and both of them blushed and ran away. However, they kept coming back and smiling at me. I waved at them and they both giggled right out loud. I sadly had to leave and was unable to talk to them. The next day, however, our paths crossed again. They were working though so they did not come and hang out with me. However, that night, as I was walking home, I saw them eating with their mother. From the setting, I realized that they are indigenous children of a woman who is a vendor by the cathedral close to my house. Due to circumstances beyond their control, they are a very poor family from what I could see, but that did not seem to stop them from finding joy in life. When I said ‘hola’, they both squealed with delight and were saying a lot of things I could not understand. We had passed them, but I looked back and waved at them. Before I knew it, they had run up to me with food-filled smiles spread across their face. It was hilarious because the look on their faces quickly changed from delight to “what do we do now”, as if they had not thought through their purpose of running up to me. Their expressions brought me such happiness. I got down to their level and asked them their names. The older of the two was called Domingo and the younger was Antonio. They were ten and six, but due to stunting (which is a severe problem in Guatemala among indigenous children specifically due to malnourishment), they looked more like six and four years of age. We had to leave, however, not before getting a hug from both of them. Their precious blackened hands touched mine and I immediately became so overwhelmed with a love for those two boys that it brought tears to my eyes. Again, they are strangers, yet I experienced love from them with very few words exchanged. We will be friends again. I will be sure of that.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
El cafe es el mejor el mundo
Well, up until this point in my life, I have never consumed an entire cup of coffee. However, since Guatemala has world renowned coffee I had to embrace a liking to it. And..now..I have it everyday!! And it's dang good! I like it a lot actually. Black as black can get. One day, I even had two cups. (The consequences were severe, however. I was shaking for a good 20 minutes after my second cup) Just thought I'd let you know about this new found love. I thought maybe that I'd acquire a taste for other things like meat or chocolate. Sorry fellas, but this girl's staying a veg and an anti-chocolate lady. Can't change a dog when it's old..or however that saying goes.
And it begins
¡Buenos días mi amigas! In reality, I have been in Guatemala for exactly one week. However, the truth is, I have already had experiences, both in the physical sense in addition to many other levels, that transcend all barriers of time it would seem.
From the moment our plane landed in Guatemala City, Guatemala at approximately 2:09 p.m. (which is 3:09 your time) January 3, 2009, I had an overwhelming sense that I would be able to call this place “home” for the next five months and that adventures lay in wait for me that would be far beyond any presuppositions I may have had.
Instead of boring you with each detail of my life (which is actually quite difficult for me because as most of you may know, I am a detail person and the phrase “long story short” is somewhat of a foreign term to me), I will invite you to enter into some of the highlights of my trip thus far.
Getting here
To begin, I must tell you about my plane ride from Toronto to Newark. The morning began early, yet that did not stop me from being very excited about whoever would be in the seat next to me. I was afraid that the person would simply want to sleep (like a normal human being would on a plane that was leaving at 6:30 in the morning); however, those fears were put to rest quickly after the sweetest elderly Mexican woman took the seat next to me. We began talking and within moments, I knew I had found a friend. She was a vibrant woman filled with passion for her Lord and did not take long to share her faith with me in the most sincere and genuine spirit I have ever experienced in a complete stranger. She shared how her life was transformed after she had discovered Jesus, who, before that time, had had no significance in her life as she had grown up Catholic. Nearing the end of the flight, she took out a bag that was filled with food and we shared a breakfast together, consisting of all things “grandma”. We had half a banana, whole wheat crackers and prunes (she said they help your stomach, but we all know what they are really good for-“keeping you regular” as my father would say). I was so blessed to have her even for those moments. When we parted, she embraced me and told me she would be praying for me and looked forward to meeting me in heaven where we would exchange stories of what God did in our lives in our respective trips. I walked away elated knowing that I had made a new friend and that, faithfully, God had spoken a breath of encouragement into my life as I embarked on this adventure.
(It is worth mentioning within this section that for some reason, Leanne and I were placed in first class for our long flight from Newark to Guatemala City. This was one of the strangest experiences I have had in my life. To be served with such attentiveness was rather humbling. Since I enjoy the presence of humans so immensely, it was rather odd to be in a section that made the plane feel so small due to the dividing curtain. And for the record, it became obvious quickly that I was not meant for first class because I didn’t understand the purpose of the burning hot towels.)
Mi Casa es Su Casa
Living in the north side of Antigua, it would seem that we are more separated from the rest of the world here. Regardless, I love it! My family’s name is Gonzalez. I have two brothers and a sister as well as a few nieces and a nephew. They are a precious family whom I love a lot. They are patient with me in my Spanish since only my one brother (Marco Antonio) speaks English. My housemate Melissa (who is a Sasquatch-from University of Saskatoon) and I are treated like princesses. We are served breakfast, lunch and dinner, yet we are never allowed to help clean up after ourselves. When I get back from breakfast, my bed has been made perfectly and my room has been cleaned. Again, I am being humbled by the loving generosity and servant hood of others. I will keep you posted on my family. They are so lovely. I am in wonderful hands!
Sights and Sounds
From my bedroom window (which actually looks out into the hallway and then to a window), I am able to see mountains. And then when I step outside and look west, I am able to see a volcano called “Fuego” which means “fire” and from time to time, you are able to see smoke rising from its mouth. Every direction, you can see mountains. I can’t help but think of them as beautifully mysterious giants who act as the protectors of the valley people-I being one of them.
This past week, we ventured to “La Cruz” (a famous cross part way up one of the mountains). It is hard to describe just how I felt in that moment as I looked out across the city and was able to take in the view at 180 degrees. Vibrant colors are painted throughout your entire view, either from the brightly painted buildings or the glorious array of flowers and plants that find their place in the picture. When you look beyond the city, you then are able to catch a glimpse of the countryside that spawns up to the foothills of the mountains. Fifty percent of the population of Guatemala works in the agricultural sector, though my view is not necessarily very representative of that since Antigua is almost entirely a tourist area. Beyond the view, there was something that rose in my soul as I stood at the foot of the cross. Although simply a symbol in this context, I couldn’t help but find such satisfaction when realizing that all that I saw in front of me was connected to that very symbol. The beauty, the pain, the laughter, the tears-all of these point back to Christ and the need that is in every human being for Him in some way. I am looking forward to seeing to what capacity He desires for me to perpetuate the acknowledgement of His presence in Guatemala and how I will experience Him as well.
Another sight that is worth noting is the PDA that is so prominent. I’m not talking about a cute little peck on the lips; rather, I’m referring to entire make-out sessions, whether they are in broad day light or late into the evening. The two most memorable are the two making out while walking (multi-taskers around here) as well as two on a motorcycle cuddling (had no idea it was possible, but OH it is). I have established a favorite make-out couple and that is the woman who works at the bookstore and her man. Everyday, without fail, when I walk home from school, they will be making out in the window. Hilarious. Don’t worry mom-I won’t be making out anytime soon.
Now, this section is sights AND sounds. Oh boy. What an eclectic number of sounds within this city! From the moment I entered the city, I was blown away with the variety of sounds, which I at first assumed were out of the ordinary but soon discovered that all of them are regular occurrences. Here are some of the most familiar sounds that are consistent throughout my days:
honking of horns, fire crackers (Guatemalans make up excuses to use them! I’ve never jumped so much in my entire life!), motorcycle engines, dogs barking, sirens AND car alarms. As of today, I am at 43 car alarms since I’ve been here. If you want to know the exact sequence of sounds, ask Leanne Ropp. She has it memorized. I am not sure if it is because everyone and their dog are attempting to steal cars, but it is still rather amusing regardless of the source of the racket.
The Silent Conversation
One of the most beautiful moments I have had while on this adventure was in el parqe de central. There are many men, young and old, who go about shoeshining. Majority of these shoeshiners are indigenous who have been severely marginalized and have been forced to a place of working as shoeshiners. One day, a friendly looking fellow with beautifully weathered black hands motioned to shine my burkeinstocks. Although I didn’t need a shine, I was drawn to this man. Before I could begin to fumble through the little list of vocab words I had in my repertoire at that point, he made it clear that he could neither hear nor speak. From my studying of sign language as a child (Good ol’ sesame street!), I began signing to him. Although somethings were different, we were able to communicate with one another through signals and charades. I discovered where he was from, his age, his name, his story essentially. We were able to break through an abundance of barriers and communicate in the most beautiful way possible. Not only did I have the opportunity to meet him, but I was able to communicate with three young shoeshiner boys who were also deaf in addition to three other boys who could speak but not in Spanish. It was again, humbling. Words are overrated I’ve concluded. I feel as though you can see into the soul of a person with the absence of words since words can often be distracting from seeing the true person.
From the moment our plane landed in Guatemala City, Guatemala at approximately 2:09 p.m. (which is 3:09 your time) January 3, 2009, I had an overwhelming sense that I would be able to call this place “home” for the next five months and that adventures lay in wait for me that would be far beyond any presuppositions I may have had.
Instead of boring you with each detail of my life (which is actually quite difficult for me because as most of you may know, I am a detail person and the phrase “long story short” is somewhat of a foreign term to me), I will invite you to enter into some of the highlights of my trip thus far.
Getting here
To begin, I must tell you about my plane ride from Toronto to Newark. The morning began early, yet that did not stop me from being very excited about whoever would be in the seat next to me. I was afraid that the person would simply want to sleep (like a normal human being would on a plane that was leaving at 6:30 in the morning); however, those fears were put to rest quickly after the sweetest elderly Mexican woman took the seat next to me. We began talking and within moments, I knew I had found a friend. She was a vibrant woman filled with passion for her Lord and did not take long to share her faith with me in the most sincere and genuine spirit I have ever experienced in a complete stranger. She shared how her life was transformed after she had discovered Jesus, who, before that time, had had no significance in her life as she had grown up Catholic. Nearing the end of the flight, she took out a bag that was filled with food and we shared a breakfast together, consisting of all things “grandma”. We had half a banana, whole wheat crackers and prunes (she said they help your stomach, but we all know what they are really good for-“keeping you regular” as my father would say). I was so blessed to have her even for those moments. When we parted, she embraced me and told me she would be praying for me and looked forward to meeting me in heaven where we would exchange stories of what God did in our lives in our respective trips. I walked away elated knowing that I had made a new friend and that, faithfully, God had spoken a breath of encouragement into my life as I embarked on this adventure.
(It is worth mentioning within this section that for some reason, Leanne and I were placed in first class for our long flight from Newark to Guatemala City. This was one of the strangest experiences I have had in my life. To be served with such attentiveness was rather humbling. Since I enjoy the presence of humans so immensely, it was rather odd to be in a section that made the plane feel so small due to the dividing curtain. And for the record, it became obvious quickly that I was not meant for first class because I didn’t understand the purpose of the burning hot towels.)
Mi Casa es Su Casa
Living in the north side of Antigua, it would seem that we are more separated from the rest of the world here. Regardless, I love it! My family’s name is Gonzalez. I have two brothers and a sister as well as a few nieces and a nephew. They are a precious family whom I love a lot. They are patient with me in my Spanish since only my one brother (Marco Antonio) speaks English. My housemate Melissa (who is a Sasquatch-from University of Saskatoon) and I are treated like princesses. We are served breakfast, lunch and dinner, yet we are never allowed to help clean up after ourselves. When I get back from breakfast, my bed has been made perfectly and my room has been cleaned. Again, I am being humbled by the loving generosity and servant hood of others. I will keep you posted on my family. They are so lovely. I am in wonderful hands!
Sights and Sounds
From my bedroom window (which actually looks out into the hallway and then to a window), I am able to see mountains. And then when I step outside and look west, I am able to see a volcano called “Fuego” which means “fire” and from time to time, you are able to see smoke rising from its mouth. Every direction, you can see mountains. I can’t help but think of them as beautifully mysterious giants who act as the protectors of the valley people-I being one of them.
This past week, we ventured to “La Cruz” (a famous cross part way up one of the mountains). It is hard to describe just how I felt in that moment as I looked out across the city and was able to take in the view at 180 degrees. Vibrant colors are painted throughout your entire view, either from the brightly painted buildings or the glorious array of flowers and plants that find their place in the picture. When you look beyond the city, you then are able to catch a glimpse of the countryside that spawns up to the foothills of the mountains. Fifty percent of the population of Guatemala works in the agricultural sector, though my view is not necessarily very representative of that since Antigua is almost entirely a tourist area. Beyond the view, there was something that rose in my soul as I stood at the foot of the cross. Although simply a symbol in this context, I couldn’t help but find such satisfaction when realizing that all that I saw in front of me was connected to that very symbol. The beauty, the pain, the laughter, the tears-all of these point back to Christ and the need that is in every human being for Him in some way. I am looking forward to seeing to what capacity He desires for me to perpetuate the acknowledgement of His presence in Guatemala and how I will experience Him as well.
Another sight that is worth noting is the PDA that is so prominent. I’m not talking about a cute little peck on the lips; rather, I’m referring to entire make-out sessions, whether they are in broad day light or late into the evening. The two most memorable are the two making out while walking (multi-taskers around here) as well as two on a motorcycle cuddling (had no idea it was possible, but OH it is). I have established a favorite make-out couple and that is the woman who works at the bookstore and her man. Everyday, without fail, when I walk home from school, they will be making out in the window. Hilarious. Don’t worry mom-I won’t be making out anytime soon.
Now, this section is sights AND sounds. Oh boy. What an eclectic number of sounds within this city! From the moment I entered the city, I was blown away with the variety of sounds, which I at first assumed were out of the ordinary but soon discovered that all of them are regular occurrences. Here are some of the most familiar sounds that are consistent throughout my days:
honking of horns, fire crackers (Guatemalans make up excuses to use them! I’ve never jumped so much in my entire life!), motorcycle engines, dogs barking, sirens AND car alarms. As of today, I am at 43 car alarms since I’ve been here. If you want to know the exact sequence of sounds, ask Leanne Ropp. She has it memorized. I am not sure if it is because everyone and their dog are attempting to steal cars, but it is still rather amusing regardless of the source of the racket.
The Silent Conversation
One of the most beautiful moments I have had while on this adventure was in el parqe de central. There are many men, young and old, who go about shoeshining. Majority of these shoeshiners are indigenous who have been severely marginalized and have been forced to a place of working as shoeshiners. One day, a friendly looking fellow with beautifully weathered black hands motioned to shine my burkeinstocks. Although I didn’t need a shine, I was drawn to this man. Before I could begin to fumble through the little list of vocab words I had in my repertoire at that point, he made it clear that he could neither hear nor speak. From my studying of sign language as a child (Good ol’ sesame street!), I began signing to him. Although somethings were different, we were able to communicate with one another through signals and charades. I discovered where he was from, his age, his name, his story essentially. We were able to break through an abundance of barriers and communicate in the most beautiful way possible. Not only did I have the opportunity to meet him, but I was able to communicate with three young shoeshiner boys who were also deaf in addition to three other boys who could speak but not in Spanish. It was again, humbling. Words are overrated I’ve concluded. I feel as though you can see into the soul of a person with the absence of words since words can often be distracting from seeing the true person.
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