I can hardly believe that my time in Guatemala is already over and will
not be happening again for a while. Last night I was convinced that I dreamt
the fact that I was actually there in Guatemala , so I had to check my
bank account to see if I really bought a ticket. Low and behold, a large chunk
of money had been taken out for the trip, thus confirming the fact that I did go.
My mom thinks that I am too old to be experiencing this, but it just seems like
I waited so long to go and when it finally came, it was over in a flash. I
guess that is how it is with a lot of things in life. Enough about the sadness
of returning to the states though- My goal in this post is to give you a small
glimpse of what I experienced in Guatemala .
I woke up bright and early Wednesday morning (3:55am to be
exact), May 8th, in order to leave for the airport by 4:15 in order
to make my 6am flight. I woke up before my alarm though, even after sleeping
only 3 hours. The plane ride to Atlanta went
smoothly, arriving early in Atlanta
so that I could take my time getting to my gate. Praise the Lord my ears didn’t
act up on this flight. Then began my flight from Atlanta
to Guatemala City .
Landing early in Guatemala …
the rest of the day was a bit of a blur. I remember going to Dunkin Donuts in
the city (Jenny’s favorite treat) and eating my first mango of my time there…
delicious! I also got to see some of the girls and missionaries, as well as meet
two of the girls my family will be sponsoring. I brought stuffed animals and
necklaces for them…small gifts, as we are not yet their sponsors and Jenny
didn’t want me to spoil them too much, YET! Anywho. Devotions were cancelled so
that fumigation could begin, to rid the Oasis of fleas. So Jenny and I went
home. Now if I gave this detailed an account of everyday, I would have zero
readers at the end, so I am just going to give you an overview of the
highlights for the rest of the time.
Each morning Jenny and I woke around 5 or 6am doing our
devotions, working out, eating breakfast and just being silly together until
8:20 when we would leave for the Oasis… a 10 minute drive from her little house
in San Lucas, Sacatepéquez. After arriving at the Oasis on Thursday and Friday,
Jenny would teach two math classes, the first class with only one girl and the
second with three girls. I played math games with Sandra every day during class
and it quickly grew to be one of my favorite times. After the two classes,
Jenny and I left around 11 both days because the fumigation was occurring. So
Thursday, Jenny, Renae, and I went to Antigua .
We hiked to the cross overlooking Antigua ,
explored a convent ruin and went to a huge artisan market. I met some of
Jenny’s market friends and just looked around. The colors are astounding. After
exploring all day, we ate dinner at MonoLoco with Renae and went back to the
house, sleepy and full. Friday afternoon, Jenny and I went up to a really
pretty restaurant that she had wanted to go to. It was so delicious and
filling. Friday afternoon we hung out and watched a movie together, going to
bed early so that bright and early Saturday morning we could go to the beach at
Monterrico. We took a bus to the beach (2.5 hours away) and spent the day,
laying in the sand, eating delicious quesadillas, exploring the little beach
town and swimming in a pool, as the ocean was far too rough to swim in.
Arriving home, sunburned and all, tired out from a long sunny day.
Sunday morning, we went to Jenny’s church and brought Renae
with us. I don’t know about you, but I love Spanish worship music. I knew a lot
of the songs and the songs I did not know, I caught on quickly with. The power
of the Spirit was sensed through the church and I just loved every second of
it. After Church Jenny and I walked to a market near her house to get some
fresh fruit/veggies and saw puppy corner (the corner that every weekend has
hundreds of purebred puppies for super cheap). I wanted to steal one of the
huskies. We bought some blue tortillas and enjoyed a yummy dinner of tilapia
tacos. Jenny and I wanted to try something new, so on Friday we had gotten tilapia
(scales, eyeballs and all) at the grocery store. They were yummy.
On Monday morning, after her typical morning routine, I
joined in her math class and then acted as the librarian for the week during
homework time, allowing the girls to come into the library and get books during
homework time. After lunch on Monday, another girl was brought to the Oasis to
live. Now the three sisters (the ones we will be sponsoring) were together and
safe. We thought the newer girl would be quiet and shy at first, but she was
crazy. She ran around giving hugs and kisses, talking non-stop. It was quite
entertaining. All throughout the week she ran around giving hugs and kisses,
quickly latching on to me and calling me Tia. We all tried to explain to her
that I was only visiting, but she wouldn’t believe anyone and seemed to think I
would be there forever. (I wish I was). So Tuesday morning, Jenny and Addie
took 3 of their students to Antigua to go on a
field trip and see what they had been learning about in their social studies
class. It was so much fun. I felt like a child again as I participated in their
activities and hopped around the ruins with the three girls. Later that day,
Jenny and I went to a restaurant overlooking all of Antigua
for lunch and had some really yummy pizza. For being so incredibly destructive,
volcanoes are gorgeous. Arriving back at the Oasis in time for homework help,
we did homework and library time. I played with and read to a few of the little
girls. One of the older girls and I read Arthur together and she helped me work
on my Spanish, as her English is okay. Wednesday was probably one of my
favorite days. Jenny and I went to class inn the morning and then before lunch
at the Oasis we drove to the market in San Lucas and found a small puppy
stuffed animal and pink bag for Carmen (the new girl), so that she wouldn’t
have to use her sister’s backpack anymore. After eating lunch with the girls,
we brought Carmen up to Jenny’s office and gave her the presents. She was so
excited and wouldn’t stop kissing us both. The rest of the afternoon (after
library time) I played basketball, soccer, on the trampoline with and tickling
her. At around 5:30, all of the girls came in for devotions. We sang songs and
then Jenny gave the message.
Thursday followed the same sort of order as the other days
at the Oasis. I was reluctant to leave Thursday because that would be my last
full day at the Oasis. On Friday, one of the girls asked me to write her a
letter so that she would remember me. It took me a long time to put into words
just how much she meant to me and impacted me in the ten days that I spent with
her. She is the most selfless, loving, silly, little girl that I have ever met.
She loves Jesus so much and trusts in his power, knowing that she is loved by
God, even when her father did terrible things. We left after lunch, picking up
laundry and spending the evening in Antigua .
Saturday morning, we left the house around 5:20, to drive to Antigua
and take the bus to Volcan de Pacaya. We hiked up the volcano all morning and
had lots of fun, though both Jenny and I got carsick. We ate lunch at Jenny’s
favorite restaurant and watched a movie the rest of the afternoon, going to bed
early as we were both exhausted. On Sunday, we went to church again and I fell
in love with her church. The pastor preached on 1 Corinthians 13, discussing
love and the fact that we are supposed to be love, because love reflects God.
Even though I didn’t get the entire sermon, seeing as I am not fluent in
Spanish, I understood the majority of his sermon and it was something I really
needed to hear.
After church on Sunday, Jenny and I went to the Oasis for a
few hours. We brought her crazy dog, Chula (which means cute in Spanish) and
popcorn, lollipops and soda for the girls. Almost all 50 came out to play, as
it was beautiful out. But I think I spent the majority of the time with the
three sisters and a few other little girls, as well as another who wanted to
take my picture because she thought it was really funny when I hid from the
camera. We laughed, had swinging competitions, played silly games, ran with
Chula, but all too soon, Jenny looked at me and said it was time to go. The
three sisters held on to me and said goodbye to Jenny (knowing she would be
back Monday) but I had told them I was leaving in the morning… so that told me
I wasn’t allowed to leave. Several other girls joined in and I realized for one
of the first times that I had absolutely no desire to leave. I would stay there
forever if I could. Sandra fake cried and Ingrid blew on my belly button… the
grossest, funniest thing ever as Carmen held on to me hugging and kissing. I
hugged the girls goodbye and Sandra looked me in the eyes and said, Hasta
Pronto Heidi, si? I hugged her and promised that I would see her again soon,
Lord willing.
I didn’t want to get out of the car Monday morning in Guatemala City when Jenny
dropped me off at the airport. I didn’t want to leave. Reluctantly I slipped
out of the car and walked into the airport with all of the girls’ names on my
heart and sadness hovering over me. I want to go back. I want to see the girls.
I want to be able to really talk to them… to have my conversational Spanish
grow… to live near them and be with them everyday… I have no idea what the
future holds, but I do know that God did not give me the desire to be there,
just to dwindle. I fully intend on going back. I fully intend on pursuing what
God may have in store for me in a country I didn’t dream of falling in love
with. And while I wish I could just quit school and go now, I have one year
left and instead of going straight to graduate school, I think I am going to
look into extending my loans and raising money to go to Guatemala for
two years. And I have already heard some positive feedback from the director of
the home. They would gratefully accept a psych major.
My God is in the rescuing business. I want to be a part of
it. I will never forget my time in Guatemala this May. Nor do I want
to grow complacent from what I experienced. May God always break my heart for
the things that break His. May my heart always break for these little girls. To
Him be all glory. Frederick Buechner
once said “Your vocation in life is where your greatest joy meets the world's
greatest need.” I think I may have found part of that.
