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.