I'm very sad to go, but I know that there is much ahead of me. I'm looking forward to hanging at home for a few days before Alaska with my family, and seeing my friend Hailey get married!
Tomorrow is my last day teaching so we are taking classroom pictures and playing games to say goodbye! I can't believe how fast the time has gone and I will miss all 113 of my children! I may be paying extra for the weight of my bags as I sneak them home. =)
Last week wrapped up nicely as we said goodbyes to our host families. I played some futbol and frisbee with my little bro Aaron and gave them the gifts I brought from Canada for their hospitalidad. They loved the quilt, thanks Mary!
Early Saturday morning we headed into Lake Atitlan, the largest lake in Guatemala. It was absolutely stunning! We drove to the town of Panajachel, which took about three hours, and then we hiked through paradise for about an hour. As we summit ted the crest of our hill, I looked down the cliff to see a beautiful house situated against the mountain with a sprawling staircase that led directly to the lake. I had barely turned to my friend to express my delight when I heard my prof say that the house/resort was our destination. All of us screamed and were loud Americans for a few mintues. We were soon relaxing on the upper deck with a view of the lake and volcanoes as our breakfast backdrop. It was unreal surprise. After breakfast we jumped into the lake and swam for a few hours. I jumped off heights I never though I would. Yikes. Man, I wish you all could have been with me. It was absolutely incredible. To top it all off, we rode in a boat back to Panajachel. Probably one of my top 10 favorite days ever!
We took another boat ride to a random villa near Panajachel, and as we hiked up we found a Catholic church where the local people were praying to Maximon- the native god who has an unquenchable thirst for the local moonshine and cigars. The sculpture dresses in western clothing with a cowboy hat and layers and layers of silk scarves. People from the village offer their houses for the Maximón sculpture for a one year period that starts right after Easter. Usually in place next to Maximon is a sculpture of Jesus, which shows the merging of Mayan and Catholic faiths into their own form of religion. It was very sad to hear the people's wails and pleas to Maximon for his help and I prayed that they would instead know and be filled with the peace of Christ. It was a haunting and moving experience.
I have felt so blessed to take part in this travel studies. I've been reflecting on what it means for the Lord to give us the desires of our heart- I often don't want to ask for these things because I feel selfish or silly as I juxtapose it against the needs of people around the world who live without the knowledge of him, in persecution, or in absolute poverty. But then I came to the realization that sometimes it isn't about asking, but instead acknowledging my Lord who already knows me in the most intimate way possible and so desires a relationship with me- whether I'm in a time of rejoicing or not feeling His presence at all.
Jeremiah 17:7
But blessed are those who trust in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream and doesn't fear the heat.
North to the Future- Alaska bound I am!
Monday, May 18, 2009
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Beans, beans...the magical fruit?
Hi friends and family! I miss you all and love you...
Update from Central:
We took off last Saturday for Copan, Honduras...and as we got in the van I was personally informed by our driver that we wouldn't be stopping for two hours, so go now if you need to. I wasn't sure if I should laugh or not. I didn't think it was funny. haha. (besides, i'm told i need to stay hydrated. anywho.) It took about 8 hours to get to Copan from Antigua and parts of it were hairpin turns like the Sea to Sky. Thankfully we all did great and passed the time playing silly games. Customs was hilarious...they didn't match our faces to our passports and waved us in..after a health check for the swine of course.
I never thought I would have the privilege of going to Honduras, so I was stoked out of my mind. Seeing the Mayan ruins was incredibly beautiful and educational. To actually walk through the ruins and in vision what life must have been like for the Mayan people was an experience like no other I've had before. We had a Mayan guide led us through and he informed us of how the Mayan people revolved their lives around pleasing gods and did so through the means of a seasonal calender. It was a bizarre feeling to see the places where they conducted human and animal sacrifices to appease the gods. Very sad.
The town of Copan is quaint and I soon found a coffee shop near our hotel to try out Honduran coffee. It did not disappoint! Our hotel was shockingly nice and we had a veranda that overlooked the cobble stone street below. We relaxed there and watched the thunderstorm after scoping the village for interesting things.
After getting back from Honduras on Sunday night, we went to our homestays in the surronding town villas of Antigua. I'm staying with an older couple with my friend Brittany. They have two very cute grandchildren and one boy who lives at home. Their names are Rolando and Alicia and they love the Lord. I can see the joy of the Lord in their faces, even though they have little. They offered us both their room and their son's room for sleeping....but Brittany and I told them that we can share one room. I still don't like the fact that I'm sleeping in their room (I'm not sure where they sleep) but graciously accept. I've met their entire family now as we eat every meal with them and sleep there. Well, sleep is a relative word. I believe I have taken after Dad in my talent of "sleeping lightly," so I wake up once an hour as the church bells chime a lovely tune. We are a stone's throw away from the church and the entire town of Antigua can hear the bells...so it is LOUD. But it is only for a week...
If you could pray for strength for my body, I'd appreciate it! Although it is a great experience living with this family, it is exhausting. I'm finding I don't have as much time as I need for planning my English lessons...and although my spirit doesn't want to complain, my body is. We eat beans, and sometimes only beans, for all three meals. Need I say more? This evening I'm working with one of the daughters who owns a store in town. Should be fun.
I also got to go with Luis Carlos (Youth Worker) yesterday and teach with him in a local high school so that was awesome again! It was with the same students as last week and I spoke on honoring your parents. =)
This weekend we are off to Lake Atitlan. Can't wait! Will post pics soon...
Love you all.
Update from Central:
We took off last Saturday for Copan, Honduras...and as we got in the van I was personally informed by our driver that we wouldn't be stopping for two hours, so go now if you need to. I wasn't sure if I should laugh or not. I didn't think it was funny. haha. (besides, i'm told i need to stay hydrated. anywho.) It took about 8 hours to get to Copan from Antigua and parts of it were hairpin turns like the Sea to Sky. Thankfully we all did great and passed the time playing silly games. Customs was hilarious...they didn't match our faces to our passports and waved us in..after a health check for the swine of course.
I never thought I would have the privilege of going to Honduras, so I was stoked out of my mind. Seeing the Mayan ruins was incredibly beautiful and educational. To actually walk through the ruins and in vision what life must have been like for the Mayan people was an experience like no other I've had before. We had a Mayan guide led us through and he informed us of how the Mayan people revolved their lives around pleasing gods and did so through the means of a seasonal calender. It was a bizarre feeling to see the places where they conducted human and animal sacrifices to appease the gods. Very sad.
The town of Copan is quaint and I soon found a coffee shop near our hotel to try out Honduran coffee. It did not disappoint! Our hotel was shockingly nice and we had a veranda that overlooked the cobble stone street below. We relaxed there and watched the thunderstorm after scoping the village for interesting things.
After getting back from Honduras on Sunday night, we went to our homestays in the surronding town villas of Antigua. I'm staying with an older couple with my friend Brittany. They have two very cute grandchildren and one boy who lives at home. Their names are Rolando and Alicia and they love the Lord. I can see the joy of the Lord in their faces, even though they have little. They offered us both their room and their son's room for sleeping....but Brittany and I told them that we can share one room. I still don't like the fact that I'm sleeping in their room (I'm not sure where they sleep) but graciously accept. I've met their entire family now as we eat every meal with them and sleep there. Well, sleep is a relative word. I believe I have taken after Dad in my talent of "sleeping lightly," so I wake up once an hour as the church bells chime a lovely tune. We are a stone's throw away from the church and the entire town of Antigua can hear the bells...so it is LOUD. But it is only for a week...
If you could pray for strength for my body, I'd appreciate it! Although it is a great experience living with this family, it is exhausting. I'm finding I don't have as much time as I need for planning my English lessons...and although my spirit doesn't want to complain, my body is. We eat beans, and sometimes only beans, for all three meals. Need I say more? This evening I'm working with one of the daughters who owns a store in town. Should be fun.
I also got to go with Luis Carlos (Youth Worker) yesterday and teach with him in a local high school so that was awesome again! It was with the same students as last week and I spoke on honoring your parents. =)
This weekend we are off to Lake Atitlan. Can't wait! Will post pics soon...
Love you all.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
I'm a "loud bird."
Hi everyone!
I pray that you are well and having an enjoyable week! An update from Central America....
Apparently Mom and Dad named be appropriately as my name in Spanish sound like the meaning for "loud bird!" Isn't that hilarious Dad? My Dad used to call me Tweetie bird because I made noises like a bird when I was little (i'm guessing before I could talk) and the loud came later. Too funny! I came to this bit of info as I was introducing myself infront of a high school class. They all started laughing so when I asked why...they explained that they thought it was funny that my name sounded like the word for "loud bird" or parrot. I laughed even harder as I shared our family joke about "Louda."
Being at the high school was awesome! Luis Carlos, the head leader for Principles and Values class and the Youth program picked us up in his little mazda and we headed out to a school about fifteen minutes from where we are staying. He is a typical Youth Pastor type...so we all got along right away. Pretty soon we were swapping stories about getting diarrhea in foreign countries. I think I have my YFC leader to thank for my background in loving this kind of work. Woohoo! I have loved working with my primary students but being with older students was awesome. It was fun joking around with them and performing dramas...as well as teaching. We taught our lesson on "the mind" and I encouraged the students to think of a "head connected to heart" model (thanks Dr. Pudlas!!). It was a blast.
Yesterday we went to La Azotea, a museum that taught us all about the production of coffee and the musical history of Guatemala. I now know that I consume around 18lbs of coffee a year (that 1 or 2 cups a day) and that coffee goes through a five step process to get to stage of being coffee grounds! Coffee starts out as a fruit-like blossom on a tree...and then the skins are peeled to reveal the bean. The bean then goes through four stages. The part of me that may or may not be slightly addicted to coffee came alive as I discovered how the process works. I'm sure I'm now more qualified to work at a coffee shop. =) We are going to a privately owned coffee farm soon so I'm looking forward to that.
The weather is still really nice...probably around 70F with a constant breeze. Very pleasant! We are off to visit Mayan ruins this weekend in Honduras...will write more soon! Love Laura
I pray that you are well and having an enjoyable week! An update from Central America....
Apparently Mom and Dad named be appropriately as my name in Spanish sound like the meaning for "loud bird!" Isn't that hilarious Dad? My Dad used to call me Tweetie bird because I made noises like a bird when I was little (i'm guessing before I could talk) and the loud came later. Too funny! I came to this bit of info as I was introducing myself infront of a high school class. They all started laughing so when I asked why...they explained that they thought it was funny that my name sounded like the word for "loud bird" or parrot. I laughed even harder as I shared our family joke about "Louda."
Being at the high school was awesome! Luis Carlos, the head leader for Principles and Values class and the Youth program picked us up in his little mazda and we headed out to a school about fifteen minutes from where we are staying. He is a typical Youth Pastor type...so we all got along right away. Pretty soon we were swapping stories about getting diarrhea in foreign countries. I think I have my YFC leader to thank for my background in loving this kind of work. Woohoo! I have loved working with my primary students but being with older students was awesome. It was fun joking around with them and performing dramas...as well as teaching. We taught our lesson on "the mind" and I encouraged the students to think of a "head connected to heart" model (thanks Dr. Pudlas!!). It was a blast.
Yesterday we went to La Azotea, a museum that taught us all about the production of coffee and the musical history of Guatemala. I now know that I consume around 18lbs of coffee a year (that 1 or 2 cups a day) and that coffee goes through a five step process to get to stage of being coffee grounds! Coffee starts out as a fruit-like blossom on a tree...and then the skins are peeled to reveal the bean. The bean then goes through four stages. The part of me that may or may not be slightly addicted to coffee came alive as I discovered how the process works. I'm sure I'm now more qualified to work at a coffee shop. =) We are going to a privately owned coffee farm soon so I'm looking forward to that.
The weather is still really nice...probably around 70F with a constant breeze. Very pleasant! We are off to visit Mayan ruins this weekend in Honduras...will write more soon! Love Laura
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Catholic Mass, Protestant Service, Earthquake-all before noon.
Who knew that being in Guat would also be great practice for tour directing?! Not only did I wake up at 5am today, but I saw people on the street who screamed Holland America guests as they were a big group who looked confused and were worried about what time it was. My suspicions were confirmed as I soon located our company's sticker on their shirts. So I went over to find out what was going on and introduced myself as a TD who works in Alaska. That got some laughs, it was great! I helped them exchange money and gave them advice about making ship time...too funny! A few guests were from New West; what a small world! Speaking of small worlds, I was walking the streets a few days ago and I noticed some gringos to my right. As I looked closer, my heart skipped a beat as I realized one of the girls was my friend Chars from TWU! I yelled her name and we then had one sweet reunion. We haven't seen each other for three years as she left TWU and now lives in Manitoba. She is here for a friend's wedding. I love how God randomly does that! So sweet.
This morning we went to early mass at a nearby church that our cook Carmen goes to. I enjoyed the quiet reverance of the service but I was also saddened by the many rituals it held in praying to the Saints and lining up for the Priest's blessing. It was a beautiful cultural experience though and I felt honored to go. We then went a mission church and I clapped my hands on the off beat until they were red! Just before the service started I was talking to my friend Jordan and halfway through our conversation we both realized that the ground was shaking (we have been de-sensitized to the ground shaking as a train passes through TWU pretty much every hour). For the next five minutes we experienced a Guatemalan earthquake! It was no big deal- we kinda felt like we were on a boat and since none of the Guatemalans looked concerned, we just clenched the sides of our plastic chairs until it was over. Neat.
We went to the coast yesterday and had a blast exploring around! I think it was like 102F plus humidity. But we all had a blast. The beach was unlike any beach I've been too- it wasn't a tourist beach so we were with all Guatemalans, which was way cool...and the sand was really dark (like ash). The under tow was super strong so we had to be ultra careful...the Guatemalans don't really swim either so that was interesting. I'm a lil crispy today but it was awesome!
We've being going non stop, but that is just they way we like it! All fun and educational things....the restaurants here are super nice and we found one after church today that had a garden room just for us. I had the most amazing chicken avocado baguette possible with fresh salsa and fruit and coffee. Heaven. I'm really feeling like I'm on vacation as I join with the culture here and teach! I also got to ride a tuk-tuk (Guatemalan Rickshaw) from the marketplace and we were flyin through the cobble streets! Total blast. I haven't felt so relaxed and free since the school year began!
I'm praying that the Lord will continue to give me his eyes as I interact with the people and play with the kids I meet! The poverty here is quite prevalent....there are major power distances between the rich and poor...and I have come across children many times who are being forced to beg from the man that owns them and is watching with a sneer on his face from around the corner. I have to pray for God's grace as I just want to throw down and give the man a piece of my mind in Espanol. My heart continues to break as I see injustice but I know that God's love reigns and I'm learning to hold tight to his truths:
Job 5:8-16 "But if it were I, I would appeal to God; I would lay my cause before him. He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted. He bestows rain on the earth; he sends water upon the countryside. The lowly he sets on high, and those who mourn are lifted to safety. He thwarts the plans of the crafty, so that their hands achieve no success. He catches the wise in their craftiness, and the schemes of the wily are swept away. Darkness comes upon them in the daytime; at noon they grope as in the night. He saves the needy from the sword in their mouth; he saves them from the clutches of the powerful. So the poor have hope, and injustice shuts its mouth." I thought this verse was so true for Antigua as we are in the rainy season of Guat's countryside- and the fact that God has power to silence the mouth of injustice towards the powerless!
The Lord has also blessed me with an incredible team- there isn't one complainer in the group and laugh until we are crying...pretty much hourly. We also choose to go everywhere together, even though we don't have to. It is funny...because we are all leaders the only time we are quiet is when we need to make a decision of what we are doing next because everyone is wondering about the other person's thoughts. So sweet! During devos last week we shared what we were learning from each other-and all of us agreed that we have noticed how we care for one another. It is just natural for this group. Praise the Lord!
Love you all, Lou
This morning we went to early mass at a nearby church that our cook Carmen goes to. I enjoyed the quiet reverance of the service but I was also saddened by the many rituals it held in praying to the Saints and lining up for the Priest's blessing. It was a beautiful cultural experience though and I felt honored to go. We then went a mission church and I clapped my hands on the off beat until they were red! Just before the service started I was talking to my friend Jordan and halfway through our conversation we both realized that the ground was shaking (we have been de-sensitized to the ground shaking as a train passes through TWU pretty much every hour). For the next five minutes we experienced a Guatemalan earthquake! It was no big deal- we kinda felt like we were on a boat and since none of the Guatemalans looked concerned, we just clenched the sides of our plastic chairs until it was over. Neat.
We went to the coast yesterday and had a blast exploring around! I think it was like 102F plus humidity. But we all had a blast. The beach was unlike any beach I've been too- it wasn't a tourist beach so we were with all Guatemalans, which was way cool...and the sand was really dark (like ash). The under tow was super strong so we had to be ultra careful...the Guatemalans don't really swim either so that was interesting. I'm a lil crispy today but it was awesome!
We've being going non stop, but that is just they way we like it! All fun and educational things....the restaurants here are super nice and we found one after church today that had a garden room just for us. I had the most amazing chicken avocado baguette possible with fresh salsa and fruit and coffee. Heaven. I'm really feeling like I'm on vacation as I join with the culture here and teach! I also got to ride a tuk-tuk (Guatemalan Rickshaw) from the marketplace and we were flyin through the cobble streets! Total blast. I haven't felt so relaxed and free since the school year began!
I'm praying that the Lord will continue to give me his eyes as I interact with the people and play with the kids I meet! The poverty here is quite prevalent....there are major power distances between the rich and poor...and I have come across children many times who are being forced to beg from the man that owns them and is watching with a sneer on his face from around the corner. I have to pray for God's grace as I just want to throw down and give the man a piece of my mind in Espanol. My heart continues to break as I see injustice but I know that God's love reigns and I'm learning to hold tight to his truths:
Job 5:8-16 "But if it were I, I would appeal to God; I would lay my cause before him. He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted. He bestows rain on the earth; he sends water upon the countryside. The lowly he sets on high, and those who mourn are lifted to safety. He thwarts the plans of the crafty, so that their hands achieve no success. He catches the wise in their craftiness, and the schemes of the wily are swept away. Darkness comes upon them in the daytime; at noon they grope as in the night. He saves the needy from the sword in their mouth; he saves them from the clutches of the powerful. So the poor have hope, and injustice shuts its mouth." I thought this verse was so true for Antigua as we are in the rainy season of Guat's countryside- and the fact that God has power to silence the mouth of injustice towards the powerless!
The Lord has also blessed me with an incredible team- there isn't one complainer in the group and laugh until we are crying...pretty much hourly. We also choose to go everywhere together, even though we don't have to. It is funny...because we are all leaders the only time we are quiet is when we need to make a decision of what we are doing next because everyone is wondering about the other person's thoughts. So sweet! During devos last week we shared what we were learning from each other-and all of us agreed that we have noticed how we care for one another. It is just natural for this group. Praise the Lord!
Love you all, Lou
Saturday, May 2, 2009
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