This semester has been full of first for me in so many ways. First year teaching, first Thanksgiving away from family, and my first time creating finals (although oddly satisfying!). For me this has been a year of firsts but for our Director and his wife, Joe and Sharon Rosa, this is a year of good-byes. Joe and Sharon have been here at CAG for 15 years and on the mission field for 27 years. Personally, I have known them for three years this March and they are a big reason I am here serving in Guatemala. This past Saturday was our faculty Christmas party/lunch and Joe and Sharon made it an absolutely delight. Joe dressing up like "Joe the Elf" and delivering Christmas gifts to all the faculty is just a perfect representation of his care and devotion not only to CAG but to all us teachers as well. I am so grateful for everything they have meant to me over the time that I have been here and I hope you will join me in praying for them as they search God's calling for this next stage in their ministry.
Missing a major holiday (especially one so "American") is hard to make up for, no matter how exciting the trip. I would have to say that by the end of the trip, I had forgotten what Thanksgiving even was! This was SUCH an amazing trip. El Salvador is gorgeous but that is not the coolest thing. Although there was surfing, reading, kayaking, swimming, laying by the pool, and all those other wonderful things about a getaway that we love, the awesome thing was the impact on the community. I went with the Osborn family from school. Dave and Many are teachers and their kids attend CAG (Spencer (18) and Nicolas (14) are in the photo). They have chosen to vacation with a purpose. El Zonte, our destination, is just a spot on the map. It has a few hostels (very basic!) but has amazing waves for surfing so this family has chosen to combine their love of the water with their desire to serve God by serving this community.
Watching them interact with the people they now call family was so encouraging to me and shed a whole new light on their idea of ministry. So please remember the town of El Zonte in your prayers because they are really a great community and have so little.
This past Thursday marked four months that I have been living in Guatemala. It's amazing how time flies...but also how easy the money does as well! That's why many people here (as I'm sure many of you do as well) participate in membership shopping such as Costco, Sam's Club, etc. Well I've been going to our equivalent of those American stores known as Pricesmart once a month since I've been here. It has always been a hassle though because I am always needing to time it with someone else and make a day of it. This Thursday though that all changed with the acquisition of my very own Pricesmart card. Now some of you may be wondering "Why does this matter at all?" Let me explain: with the simple act of purchasing a membership card here I really feel as though in a small way I'm putting roots down here. I'm investing in the country, in the way of life. I'm not simply trying to "survive" anymore but really learning how to "live" here. It's a funny thing how much a little card with your face and name on it can mean. Take it as you may but after only four months it's amazing the familiarity I feel with this country.
When you and I have a birthday, a few people remember and maybe some even call. When the Marine Core has a birthday, everyone knows about it! November 7th was the celebration of it's 234th year being established and let me tell you, your tax dollars were never harder at work. The US Embassy spared no expense in throwing the biggest and loudest ball that Guatemala will have all year. And here's the best part: I was able to surprise Rachel with a ticket to come and join me for it. It was an incredible night. The ceremony was one of tradition and honor and it was a privilege to witness the history of the marines and the testimony from marines current and past. After the ceremony came the dancing and it was a blast. I felt truly blessed that Rachel could come and visit and look forward to Christmas when I'm able to see the rest of my family.
Being in Guatemala and working at CAG is an interesting combination. There have been many times where I get so encapsulated with work I seem to forget that I'm actually in a third world country. That is why when days like Dia de los Muertos comes around, it really makes me appreciate and understand where I am. November 1st was Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) and there is a traditional kite-flying fair that takes place in a few different places. A few other teachers and myself went up to Sumpango and witnessed the great hand-made kites there. The message of the kites was quite interesting themselves. Many spoke about the drought that Guatemala has had this year, man's destructive impact on nature and the loss of their Mayan heritage. Needless to say, riding in the back of a pick up truck on the highway to go to a festival celebrated mostly by Guatemalans is a scene I won't soon forget.
My apologies that this update has not come sooner but I was without the proper photo that describes it (blame Rachel...). Yes, Rachel visited at the beginning of October and needless to say the time together was much needed. The photo is a picture of us in Antigua on the roof of one of the MANY popular restaurants. Having her here and meeting all of the people that I work with and now call family was great but having time to really connect again without internet interference or other distractions was so refreshing. This being her trip to her future home I don't think we could have asked for a better weekend. Although when you go to all the five-star places you can make any place look good! If nothing else I think we both were just encouraged more of the plan God has for us here in Guatemala and most importantly, together. It is going to be a long year until July but I know through this waiting God is doing great things.
What is Harvest Fair you ask? Well, if you as elementary students, it's a fun-filled evening with games, activities and candy galore! If you ask a middle/high schooler, it's a week's worth of work raising money for your senior trip. If you ask one of the two Student Council advisers (see photo above) we would answer this: an insurmountable amount of work that SOMEHOW comes together at the end to put on something truly memorable, but only after 48 hours of pretty much pure work. This actually was my first rodeo as they say and it was a blast. The hours were long, the days seemed endless but it was definitely worth it at the end. I was really proud of all the kids with their ingenuity and optimism when some things really didn't go their way. I wish you all could have experienced the excitement and thrill of the fair. It was truly a site to see. (Did I forget the theme was Dr. Seuss and somehow I dressed up as the Grinch? I guess self-respect and being a teacher aren't reconcilable...ha!)
Well this past Friday marked the end of the First Quarter of school which meant two things: report cards and the end of middle school soccer. For those of you who didn't know, I was the middle school soccer coach. That's right, me, a soccer coach. What can I say except that beggars can't be choosers! Although we didn't win as many games as we would have liked (actually we went 0-2) it did have it's bright spots such as getting to know some of the boys in a different context other than their boring history teacher! Needless to say, I am excited to have some free time now with which to take the school up on their offer for free Spanish lessons for new teachers for a semester. I could definitely use some more practice. As for the boys, as they say, "there's always next year!"
It's a normal day when a few kids are running through the door when the bell rings. It's an odd day when half of your class is missing and teachers still haven't shown up. Something isn't right when your typical seven minute commute turns into forty-five minutes. Today is "Columbus Day" in the States but here it is something quiet different. Here, today is the Day of the Spanish and there are always demonstrations but today was different. Today there were deaths and injuries caused by an unsatisfied country and a stagnate government. I pray that tomorrow would be better and that this unrest may come to an end. It was hard today hearing the truth about things that are and are not being done in this country. It's the little things in democracy we take for granted the most...
My parents had left the airport already and now I just had one more good-bye to give. It was four in the morning and my fiance and I were standing there staring at each other. Both of us unsure about what the next year would hold and neither one of us wanting to say "good-bye" first. That day I wrote in my journal that leaving her and everything I knew was the hardest thing I have ever had to do. Now, looking back on the past two months, I have never been more certain of my purpose here in Guatemala. My time here as been so challenging and frustrating and heartbreaking it's hard to describe. But now I rest in the hope I have in the future. That is something I'm learning while being here. God is in control and my hope is in the unseen future and I carry the conviction of God's providence through it all.
My home church pastor defined the Church where God is readily visible and amplified to the world. The Gathering Sunday night service is the embodiment of that definition. On the fringe of yet another week I am just so excited to see what God has for us tonight when we go to meet and just to glorify His name. Last week I had the chance to help lead music and it was just a Spirit-filled time. I feel so blessed to have the fellowship of believers here in this place. At the church we have been doing a study of how to manage God's money and it has been very eye-opening and challenging. It's an interesting perspective to view God's money while being completely dependent on support. My first thought was "Why do we need to hear this? We're missionaries! I doubt that money is our big downfall." But as this series goes on I've come to realize that money is exactly our biggest distraction from God. But God is good, giving us just the Words that we can handle and providing the faith to hear it, especially when I am faithless.
Week two of teaching completed. Thank goodness! This weekend I had the chance to go to a natural hot springs about thirty minutes away. It was a great, relaxing time that was definitely needed. Although being there and having my muscles messaged by the extremely hot water, a few things struck me. The first is the stark contrast between the "haves" and the "have-nots". The funny thing is, unlike in the States, here there really isn't any effort to try to separate the two. They live side by side. The Springs are a perfect example. Here we are, sitting in an oasis of bliss with the sun on our faces, soaking up all the relaxation possible yet it only takes looking over the wall to see the tin-shacks with no electricity or water.There's something very wrong with that to me and I hope I don't get used to it.
The second thing I noticed is how good it felt to drive somewhere. Guatemala is very restricting. The US Embassy ranks cities on a danger scale from one to ten and Guatemala is a ten. There are not many places it is safe to go and coming from the states with the freedom of travel we have, being here is very confining. It felt great to break in my car with a little road trip, even if it did burn up my breaks something awful!
I struggled to hand over the most enormous check I've written since I've been down here. Once it's gone, it's gone and there's nothing I can do about it but I had to take a leap of faith. I bought a car. Yes, I bought a red, four-door, 1998 Ford Escort (trying to help the Big Three out...) Now let me tell you, this was no easy thing. In the States you buy a car there is a mountain of paperwork, you're able to talk with the mechanic, talk with your mechanic to find out what's really wrong with it, etc. Not so in developing countries. Forget about long, drawn out paperwork. Speaking with a mechanic? Not likely unless you happen to know slang-Spanish (and he tells you the truth). What are you left with? Prayer. And that's what I've been doing since I've been down here and God has just answered enormously. Thank you all who have given to this cause/prayed for this to come to pass. It has truly been a huge answer to prayer!
No matter how much Spanish I learned in Antigua, I had the hardest time understanding my host mother, Dora. (Yes, just like Dora the Explorer). It took me forever just to figure out "Buen Provecho", which means "good benefit" and is like saying "bon appetit". She was the oddest woman. She would cook for us three times a day, six days a week and when the meal was served a little bell would ring and all who were staying there would mush in like cattle. Now there were two very simple rules: first, you are always on time and, second, you always clean your plate. A girl broke rule number two and was served smaller portions for the remainder of her THREE WEEKS! haha. Oh Dora...
I never knew that the teachers could be more nervous than the students. Monday was only a half day but still I knew that I had to make a good, tough impression on these kids or it was only a matter of time until they drive me out of here. I've been told that bees and 8th graders can smell fear and I was determined to fool them all with my confident and strong attitude. Although knowing if I succeeded is still a ways off, one student did raise her hand sheepishly only to ask "Are you a nice guy?". In my head I couldn't help but burst out laughing but it took all my strength to hold it together. All in all, the first day was a success! (
I even dressed the part!!)
