21 Faces of Hope

I'm beginning to believe that there will never be a "normal" schedule here in Guatemala. I'm growing more and more convinced that the chief characteristic of a missionary ought to be flexibility.

On that note. I've been attending group therapy and planning activities for future group sessions. I was supposed to be leading an activity for groups this Friday, but I just found out there won't be any sessions, entonces, I'm saved for a few more weeks. But here is a glamorous photo from groups last week. Why we're in these outfits, I have yet to understand.

Also, last week, we had 21 of our girls get baptized! Seeing these girls and knowing what they've come through and how much they still hurt, it was truly an incredible experience seeing and hearing them say yes to following Jesus and giving their lives to him. There isn't a truer form of beauty than when Jesus is restoring and making you new. Each one of these 21 girls represents hope and healing. I see Jesus in each one of them and it astounds me.

Not only did we have 21 girls get baptized, but we got to enjoy a beautiful day at a gorgeous park. There were woods to explore, trees to climb, rivers to forge.... Even the head psychologist was in on the fun. I think we're going to have a good 15 months together. She's adventurous, dedicated, silly, and deeply loves each of the girls here. I think we just may get along wonderfully.

I also got to spend time with this beauty. I'm so proud of who she is becoming and her decision to get baptized. She encourages me daily and jokes with me and forces me to practice my Spanish... With incessant giggling. She has grown so much since two Mays ago when I was here visiting, but I love getting to know her now and see her flourishing and growing into a confident, happy, beautiful young woman.

In other exciting news, I finished language school, which is both exciting and sad at the same time. I loved getting to spend 4 hours a day with my teacher and force myself to learn more Spanish. BUT, I'm excited that now I can fully immerse myself in my job here. I can see the girls in the morning and I can get way more accomplished than is possible during language school. It's kind of sad not studying and laughing each day with my teacher, but seeing as we live close to each other we have decided to stay in contact. :)

For my homework, Monday, my last night of homework, Heissel asked me to write a description of my job at Oasis. Ultimately, my job will look like (more or less), helping out with the homeschooled girls when school starts back up in January, counseling 5 girls on my own, assisting and leading (at times) group therapy, researching better counseling techniques and ways to measure/chart growth, as well as just assist the psychologists in any way possible. Who knows what is really in store, but I'm excited. Seeing in writing all that is expected of me is both overwhelming, but exciting and I know that God has something in store through all this.

Also, Christmas is even bigger here than in the states and I've already been to a few Christmas parties and we have a big one at work today, as well as the giant Christmas eve party here. My parents are coming for the week of Christmas and we have some fun things planned and right after, two camp friends are coming to visit Jenny and I the first week in January.

There are lots of happenings here in Guatemala. Definitely never a dull moment. I was reading through my Jesus Storybook Bible recently and I came across this...

"Todo lo triste ya no lo es. Y vean yo he limpiado toda lágrima de todo ojo! Y entonces una voz profunda, hermosa, que sonaba como trueno, en el cielo dice: "Miren, yo hago nuevas todas las cosas.""

It's always been one of my favorite parts of the book because I think the author does such a good job paraphrasing Revelation. More or less, this part is talking about how when Jesus comes, all that was sad won't be anymore. God will wash away our tears and He is going to make all things new. Every time I think of this, I think of Oasis. I think of the ministry here, the tragic stories that each girl here has, and I think that a little bit of heaven has come to earth. The Spirit is transforming lives. Jesus is drying tears, God is calling his children to him. He's doing it here. And let me tell you, it is beautiful.

Feliz Día de Acción de Gracias

Feliz Día de Acción de Gracias. Happy Thanksgiving and holiday season from Guatemala! Can you believe that I have been here exactly one month now? I certainly cannot. This month has flown past, but it has been one of the best months of my life.

I have been learning so much. Between going to language school four hours every morning and having a one-on-one private tutor in Spanish and then spending anywhere from 4-6 hours at the Oasis each day of the week, I'm getting a little bit of Spanish overload. But it's so good. I can actually communicate now! Thank you, Jesus.

These are the three beautiful sisters that my family supports here in Guate. They are such a wonderful example of what little girls should look like when God is restoring them and making them new. Their story still gets me every time I hear it or think about it, but they are a prime example of why the Oasis ministry needs to be in existence. This picture was taken after I had been talking with them about my exam in language school. I told them that it had gone well. After a few more sentences in the conversation, one of the girls looked at me and said, "I can tell you're getting better and understanding us and able to talk with us better." Such sweet and encouraging words to my soul.

Even better, my homework for the day of Thanksgiving was to take pictures and show my teacher/tell her all about the feast that we had at the Oasis. Over 100 people were present and it was such a fun time. We didn't eat until about 4, but we had so much food and there was so much laughter and happiness. I got to play American Football with some of the girls and jump in the trampoline and just have fun being in their company. Also, some of my good friends from language school came to join in on the fun.

Though the day wasn't spent with the people I usually celebrate with, it was such a fun and encouraging day. I have so much to be grateful here in my little corner of the world. I even got to Skype home with Jenny, to a house full of family and friends!

Here are some pictures from the feast and some of the missionaries in attendance!

This week, I also got to attend my first set of group counseling sessions. The sessions weren't what I was expecting, but then again, they were doing perception tests. I got to help all of the girls and speak with them and talk to the counselor who was so excited to have someone else there. I look forward to when the sessions won't just be tests, but I'm excited that my job here is really beginning. And folks, I think I'm really going to enjoy it.

On top of all of the exciting things happening, I also drove to school three times this week (on my own!), had my first experience hanging out the door of the school bus on the way into Antigua via Camioneta, and went black friday (Black Weekend) shopping in Guatemala city with my sister and our other housemate. So much fun.

This was a fantastic week and I am so grateful for all that I got to experience. I think I'm starting to get used to life here in Guatemala and right now I am loving it. I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to live and work here. Thank you for participating in getting me this far, for rooting for me, for sitting on the side lines as I plunge in, and for supporting me.

"In ordinary life we hardly realize that we receive a great deal more than we give, and that it is only with gratitude that life becomes rich." Dietrich Bonhoeffer

May you be filled with an over abundance of gratitude as we celebrate the holiday season. Both today and every day, we can find joy in the simple things, if only we remember to give thanks.

Poco a Poco (Little by Little)

If you're wondering, yes, this really is the beautiful place where I get to work every day. But even more beautiful than the scenery are the girls that live here and the staff that work here. 

Never in a million years did I think that I would be this lucky. 

Quick Recap: I am working at a home in Guatemala for girls who have been rescued out of abusive homes. There are over 50 girls currently living here and they live at this home, which is a safe house for them, free from the abuse they have been rescued from. They get to attend school, live in a house with about 7-10 other girls and two house moms, receive one-on-one counseling and group therapy, as well as experience the love of Christ through all of the fantastic Guatemalan workers, the Tias (house moms) and the missionaries who are full time. 

The girls are so helpful with the language learning and they aren't scared to correct my improper grammar, or suggest words for me when I can't think in Spanish anymore because I'm so tired. The Guatemalan staff are even more gracious than the girls and they are so patient with me. And luckily I have a lot of help from fluent missionaries as well.

Language school has been hard and draining, but FANTASTIC.

I also had my FIRST meeting with the psychologist I will be working with, as well as a long list of things to accomplish. You all know how much I love to do lists!!! (for real though, I do). I get to start attending counseling sessions this week! 

Everyday I take a bus just like this (this is one of my buses, by the way. I finally got a good picture!) to Antigua and then I walk ten blocks to my school. I have lessons for 4 hours and then I return home to San Lucas via camioneta (chicken bus). My teacher, Heisell, is the same age as me and we laugh a lot together.  Can you imagine that? Me? Laugh a lot? But it's so good. We only speak in Spanish, unless we are practicing vocab, in which case, we will both use English. She is so gracious with me and even though there is a language barrier, it is being broken down day by day and we can actually share life together.

Heisell had me memorize Psalm 23 in Spanish for my homework two weeks ago and then one day we just spent time talking about social justice. Let me tell you, to hear her talk with such passion and care about the poor, in Guatemala, it amazes me. I think we are a great match and I'm so grateful for all that she has taught me so far and I look forward to when we can communicate even better. Poco a Poco. Little by Little, my Spanish is getting better. Luckily no one expects me to be fluent, yet. Hah.

I also get to see my friends from the Center for Intercultural Training every day during language school! Three of the girls who were in my dorm at training attend school with me and we get to hangout during breaks, which is wonderful. I am so grateful for them and for their friendship. 

This past weekend, we held the Quincenara for 10 girls at the Oasis. We had a record breaking 10, fifteen year olds and the celebration was huge. So much planning went into the weekend and I got to be a part of the planning the week leading up to the celebration and then participate the day of.

I have loved getting to know the girls so far and I was thrilled to share in their special day. I can't wait to get to know them better during my time here. Let me remind you friends. God is indeed in the act of restoring what has been broken and transforming hearts and lives. These girls are living testimonies of that. Beauty out of ashes.

2 silly Quincenaras waiting to get dressed up and done up right ;)

My sister Jenny and I dressed up for the Quince

A really sassy, fantastic picture I got of the girls as they were getting ready for their professional photo. I think this one shows much better personality than the smiles ;)

Also, this week there was the first Keeping Families Together Retreat at the Oasis.  It was three days and my sister Jenny, ran this retreat and 10 girls who have left the Oasis to live with their families again, as the government deemed their families stable, but are still supported by Kids Alive. It was a great time of fun, crafts, games and devotionals. Something I love about the Oasis is that Jesus is all over it. Everything is centered around what God is doing and how he is transforming lives.

I spent one night with the girls and planned to drive into Antigua for school on Thursday, but I woke up super sick. I spend Thursday, Friday, most of Saturday and a lot of today on the couch or in bed, sleeping over 18 hours each day. Crazy, right? So, sadly I didn't get to spend as much time with the girls as I would have liked to and I didn't get to go to the birthday party for the little girl I sponsor, Saturday, and I missed two days of language school, but God has been showing off his graciousness and mercy.

I listened to a sermon today from back home, and I was reminded that Jesus is the God who weeps with us. He won't turn us away and He has unlimited time for us. It is so encouraging to see that lived out here in Guatemala. 

One last story. This goes back to my first week here in Guatemala. I was at the Oasis Wednesday night for devotional. We were singing the song Beautiful Things, by Gungor (in Spanish of course) and I just closed my eyes and listened to the girls in the room singing out at the top of their lungs to the God who is making them new and restoring them. 55 beautiful girls who have been abused, hurt, mocked, spit upon. Ages 5 -18. Proclaiming that God IS making them new. He IS making them beautiful. And then to see tears streaming down the faces of some of the girls as the words were so powerful to them. God is in the act of restoring broken things and making things new. And until the day that he dries every tear, His son, Jesus weeps with us and continually makes us new and beautiful.

May your week be one filled with love, joy and thanks as you celebrate Thanksgiving this Thursday. Thank you for your support and love for me as well as your prayers and encouragement. I plan to blog again this week and I promise it won't be this long.

Much love and appreciation. 

Bienvenidos a Guatemala

I have finally made it to Guatemala and I am loving it here. Today I am simply going to post a few pictures and describe them a little bit. I plan on writing more this weekend. Currently I cannot manage to muster up the energy to tell many stories. Language school drains a lot from me.

So this will have to do.

Anywho. The first two pictures, the panorama and then the photo of Jenny and I, were taken at Lake Atitlan. It is one of the most gorgeous places on earth. And we went on such a gorgeous day. There are three volcanoes on the lake, but in the panorama, you can only see two of them as one is straight behind the other. Last weekend, my first weekend here, Jenny had to go to the Lake to figure out some information regarding kayaking for a conference event that she is helping to plan. Of course I wanted to go along for the 2.5 hour windy ride each way. I'm so happy we went. We got to see a town on the lake (Santiago) which I have never been to before and we took a boat across, as well as just enjoyed the warmth. It was at least 20 degrees warmer than it was in San Lucas, my always cold new home.

Next you see a picture of a decked out school bus. While I myself did not take this photo, this is indeed one of my "trusty steeds" that brings me to school. At 7:25 every morning, I hop on a bus in San Lucas (where I am living) and head into Antigua. As long as all goes properly, I get off the bus around 7:50 and quick walk 10 blocks in Antigua to my school, arriving by 8:00am.

You would think I would be used to riding a school bus after 13 years of practice in the public school system. Please let me kindly correct you. Or if you already know what a chicken bus is, then you can just re-imagine for yourself what it is like. This painted bus is an old, retired school bus from the U.S. that has long since passed it's prime and definitely could not pass inspection in the states, yet 100 people OR MORE get on this bus with me every morning to go into Antigua. There are generally 7-10 people in a row that usually holds 4-6 elementary students and MAYBE one of those 7-10 people is a little person, if you're lucky. I promise I'm not exaggerating. I have counted!!!! The first morning I rode on the bus, I couldn't help but laugh to myself at the comedy unfolding before my eyes as person after person smushed through me and every turn and curve in the road sent me or the person next to me flying. And since I am a 5'8'' white female, I have the tendency to stand a head or two higher on the bus than everyone around me, when I'm not lucky enough to get to sit... so it's always entertaining for those around me to watch my reactions to situations on the bus.

I'm generally not a touchy feely person and the aroma (a mixture of air pollution (dust, gasoline, etc..) and sweat and sometimes animals or food) that fills the bus is enough to make you sick. I was petrified the first time I got on the bus, but after a week of riding it to and from school, I've become much more comfortable. It's definitely an experience, though can be very dangerous, as I hear of robberies almost daily and sometimes even murders, but the need to get to and from school outweighs the danger. God has had His angels watching over me and I have learned that the bus isn't something to fear. It's something to be smart about. It can also be kind of fun.

Below is a picture of my bedroom. It's a panorama from inside my closet... I just thought I'd include this and let you know I'm making myself at home. I'm starting to call this home too, so that's exciting. I have told several people in passing, "Oh, yes, I live in San Lucas." Later I think to myself, I REALLY AM LIVING IN SAN LUCAS! This isn't a dream anymore Heidi. This is reality for now.

I have many more pictures to come and stories about the girls and adventures I have been having in Guatemala, but this is enough for one night.

Buenas noches. Hasta Luego.

The Colors of Fall

I've missed the beauty of the Northeast in the fall. School in Ohio stole these views from me. I've missed the sound of crunching leaves under my feet and that satisfying feeling of seeing the leaves in big piles after raking them.

Life has been a whirlwind, the past week and a half after getting home from NC. I can hardly believe that in just one week, at this very time, I will be out of the country, beginning my time overseas. God has been so faithful! The waiting is almost over! But now that the time is coming close to leave, I am remembering all that I wish to accomplish. My to-do list seems to get longer with every new thing I check off. How is that even possible?

Over the past few days, I have gotten to hike in the Catskills with my mom and a dear family friend, as well as spend time with some good friends and I even got to go to camp for the day! I've also rested well, watched all the Harry Potter movies, read some books (for fun!) and got to spend time at church.

I am officially fully funded and I fly out of Albany at 5:55am on October 29th.

The adventure has only just begun. 

Please continue to pray for me as I prepare to leave!

Intercultural Training Take Away Points

Tonight is my final night in Union Mills, NC and it is a tad bit bittersweet. Today in class we had a "graduation" of sorts for those of us who were leaving this weekend. There are two more sessions to follow, of which many of our classmates are attending. Therefore, a few of us got to go forward and get our certificates of completion, shake all of the professors' hands and then engage in the typical conversations that always seem to follow graduations. Suddenly everyone is talking to you and wishing you luck and proclaiming the great times that have been had...

Who knew a month would go so quickly or that 34 adults and 20 children could mesh so incredibly well together? This community was great and the people here will definitely hold a special place in my heart. It's funny how quickly you can bond with people because you're all in the same place (so to speak). All of us are going overseas. We're doing countless different things, but we're all going and we all have things we're nervous about and excited about. And we're all striving towards a common purpose: to serve God and his people. Because of that, there is an understanding amongst us that a lot of people cannot grasp, since they don't have the same desires or plans.

There are also a lot of nicknames, lots of deep conversation (and not so deep) and above all, constant laughter :)

Nonetheless, I just wanted to jot down some take away points from this month. These are things I learned through classes, activities, the people here, you name it.

1. It's not right. It's not wrong. It's different. It may in fact be better.

2. Transitions lead to transformation.

3. Good intentions are often the monuments of destruction.

4. To accept others is to love God.

5. We do a terrible injustice when we only use words to portray the gospel.

6. God is still writing HIS story in all of the hurt and pain. There isn't a hurt that God won't use if we let him write the rest of the story.

7. The absence of trust is the basis of team dysfunction.

8. Breathe Grace.

9. Things are not always what they seem.

10. Shut up, so God can speak.

oh and 11. be sure to take time to enjoy WHO God is.


There you have it folks.

Guatemala Here I Come. (soon)

Training sessions have been underway for just over three weeks, here in itty bitty Union Mills, NC and I am learning so much. I have spent lots of time reflecting, but I have also been enjoying time with people from all walks of life who are headed out onto the missions field. It’s crazy how fast such a diverse group of people can bond. I find myself constantly in awe of how God works. I almost feel like I am a camper again. And fun fact: once again, I am the youngest adult in attendance. That theme never seems to leave me. 

I am planning on leaving October 29th!

I will be at home for the missions conference at LCC and I would love to sit down with you and talk about how God is leading me and how God is working in your life as well. I’m always up for getting coffee/tea, going for a walk, or just sitting and talking.

I am on the home stretch with support raising and I am in need of just a few more monthly partners, in order for all of this to come together. This is a team effort that I cannot do on my own. If 10 people commit to $25/month, I will be fully funded!! We’re so close! Not everyone can or should go overseas, but for those of you who are home, please consider giving or encouraging others to give. If you have already given, I cannot express how thankful I am and if you cannot give, then I cherish your well wishes and prayers. I know that God is working in this time. A reminder, you can donate online (paper free) at: https://secure.kidsalive.org/p-2821-heidi-johnson.aspx. 

Please join me in praying that I would trust God’s timing and be at peace as I wait for God to provide the remaining support that I need. Also, please continue praying for the team and girls in Guatemala. Attached is a daily prayer schedule. I have found that this is helpful in reminding me to pray for the ministry of Kids Alive in Guatemala and what God is doing all around the world.

Please join me on the adventure of a life time.