We made it back to Barillas, checked into the hotel and headed into town to do a little shopping and have lunch. Lela and Andrea stayed with us to show us around the market to find the things we were looking for and to show us a place for lunch. This is a pretty "rustic" town and there was nothing like a McDonalds to eat at so them showing us around was very helpful.
Back at the hotel we had worship and intercession time together and then tuna sandwiches for dinner. We were all pretty exhausted so I for one went to bed early.
We left the next morning for Huehuetenango in the bus ride from hell that I described in an earlier blog. The bus we were on did not know what a "shock absorber" was so our bodies absorbed the shock all the bumps along the way.
So we were back to Huehuetenango which is a fairly large city, if you have a McDonalds and a mall you have to be a large city, right? The drive to get there from Barillas is about 7 hours so we got to town about 4 in the afternoon and went after settling in we all walked down to Pollo Campero for dinner.
The next morning we had breakfast at the hotel, mine was good, then we went up on the roof for intercessary prayer. After that we took taxis and went to the mall, had lunch and then spent an hour walking around finding people we could talk to or pray with and then we got to shop. Most of us went to the MegaPaca which I think is fun. I didn't have anything warm to wear home so I found a sweater to wear. We had dinner at the hotel which again I thought was good and then I had some time to relax in my room that I really enjoyed.
The following morning we were off to the bus station to catch the bus back to the base. The bus left at 07:15 and dropped us off in a town called Chimaltenango which was closer for us to get to the base than going all the way back to Guatemala City. A couple of vans came to get us and we were back to the base about noon. It felt so good to be back.
I will finish my tale with one more blog about our happenings after getting back to the base.
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
MINISTRY @ YULMACAP & I'm Home
I'm home! ! ! Today is Wednesday December 17th and I am just finding the the time and energy to catch up on my blog. It is great to be home safely.
Ministry at Yulmacap was busy. We would have breakfast at 8:00, we had a variety from cold cereal to French toast and pancakes. Afterwards we would meet for ministry like going to visit a family. Lunch at noon followed by intercession or worship then ministry preparation for the afternoon kids ministry. That would be from 3:00 - 4:30. We would do a variety of kids songs, games, testimonies and then each day we shared from the bible an a bible verse. We did the kids program every day Tueaday thru Saturday. There were always lots of kids, they enjoyed the program and they enjoyed us being there. Whether it was the kids ministry or the evening family ministry it seemed the whole town loved is and would all come out to watch.
Then at 5:00 we would meet again to plan the evening family ministry. We would hang a sheet on the fence at the basketball court and Bruce would show a movie (a Christian movie of course). We would do a drama and have a testimony also. We did this ministry Tuesday -Friday and then on Satursay night we went to church.
Going to church was quite interesting, walking through a jungle like landscape in the dark by flashlight. The town was in the middle of nowhere so you can imagine where the church was, in the middle of nowhere in the middle of nowhere. It was kind of freaky and scary walking there. There was a lady who had a mentally retarded three year old son who came to town and wanted us to pray for her, she was at the church service that night and we prayed for her and others.
It was interesting doing our ministry there and I believe very powerful. I don't think I mentioned before that the people there speak a different indigenous language, the kids do learn Spanish in school but many of the people don't so we had a 16 year old girl named Andrea with us to translate. So if an English speaker was talking we would have someone translate into Spanish, usually Emma would, and then Andrea would translate into their language.
Everyone who could come out would come out to watch us for one because we were the only entertainment in town and I believe God will mightly use all He called us there to do to touch the lives of the people He loves there.
For all of us the sights, cement floors, cold showers, and busy schedule, will somewhat fade as time passes but not the powerful ministry God called us to at Yulmacap, I know that will be forever etched in our hearts and minds.
Sunday morning after having rained off and on the previous day and causing some worry that if the rain kept up we would never get out of there, the pickup trucks arrived bright and early to take us back to semi-civilization.
Ministry at Yulmacap was busy. We would have breakfast at 8:00, we had a variety from cold cereal to French toast and pancakes. Afterwards we would meet for ministry like going to visit a family. Lunch at noon followed by intercession or worship then ministry preparation for the afternoon kids ministry. That would be from 3:00 - 4:30. We would do a variety of kids songs, games, testimonies and then each day we shared from the bible an a bible verse. We did the kids program every day Tueaday thru Saturday. There were always lots of kids, they enjoyed the program and they enjoyed us being there. Whether it was the kids ministry or the evening family ministry it seemed the whole town loved is and would all come out to watch.
Then at 5:00 we would meet again to plan the evening family ministry. We would hang a sheet on the fence at the basketball court and Bruce would show a movie (a Christian movie of course). We would do a drama and have a testimony also. We did this ministry Tuesday -Friday and then on Satursay night we went to church.
Going to church was quite interesting, walking through a jungle like landscape in the dark by flashlight. The town was in the middle of nowhere so you can imagine where the church was, in the middle of nowhere in the middle of nowhere. It was kind of freaky and scary walking there. There was a lady who had a mentally retarded three year old son who came to town and wanted us to pray for her, she was at the church service that night and we prayed for her and others.
It was interesting doing our ministry there and I believe very powerful. I don't think I mentioned before that the people there speak a different indigenous language, the kids do learn Spanish in school but many of the people don't so we had a 16 year old girl named Andrea with us to translate. So if an English speaker was talking we would have someone translate into Spanish, usually Emma would, and then Andrea would translate into their language.
Everyone who could come out would come out to watch us for one because we were the only entertainment in town and I believe God will mightly use all He called us there to do to touch the lives of the people He loves there.
For all of us the sights, cement floors, cold showers, and busy schedule, will somewhat fade as time passes but not the powerful ministry God called us to at Yulmacap, I know that will be forever etched in our hearts and minds.
Sunday morning after having rained off and on the previous day and causing some worry that if the rain kept up we would never get out of there, the pickup trucks arrived bright and early to take us back to semi-civilization.
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
WHERE IN THE HECK AM I
Well I was not looking forward to our trip to Yulmacap. From what I had been able to discern about the place I thought what in the heck are we going to do there for a week, please oh Lord let them cut the trip shorter. I continued to think those same thoughts for several days after arriving, or more or less the whole time I was there.
We slept in two of the rooms of the school, boys in one room and girls in the other. It was bug infested, no power, cement floors, and certainly no bathrooms anywhere in sight. This was not what I was looking forward to to finish off our outreach experience.
A man who lived not too far from the school was the one who kind of hosted us being there. He had a very unpleasant outhouse but had built a small building with a shower and toilette that although was a little questionable with it's pieces of black plastic for doors but was inviting with it's running water although the water in the shower was freezing cold and took your breath away when you stood under it.
There were 14 in our group and he had a wife and 8 children with a random variety of other people that lived there we shared these facilities with.
Also they had a room that I think used to be there house that they now used for a kitchen with a wood burning stove to cook on, that is how all the cooking is done by the people there is a wood burning stove. A lady came with us and another girl who helped us with the things we were doing and they cooked our meals for us. We would sit on the stairs going up into the house to eat our meals. Bruce and Kalissa are thoughtful in the food they buy and bring for us so we did eat pretty good even in these somewhat primitive conditions. Also there is no refrigeration so a couple of times they killed chickens which we ate and one day someone in town was slaughtering a cow so we had beef that day.
I will tell of our ministry there next.
We slept in two of the rooms of the school, boys in one room and girls in the other. It was bug infested, no power, cement floors, and certainly no bathrooms anywhere in sight. This was not what I was looking forward to to finish off our outreach experience.
A man who lived not too far from the school was the one who kind of hosted us being there. He had a very unpleasant outhouse but had built a small building with a shower and toilette that although was a little questionable with it's pieces of black plastic for doors but was inviting with it's running water although the water in the shower was freezing cold and took your breath away when you stood under it.
There were 14 in our group and he had a wife and 8 children with a random variety of other people that lived there we shared these facilities with.
Also they had a room that I think used to be there house that they now used for a kitchen with a wood burning stove to cook on, that is how all the cooking is done by the people there is a wood burning stove. A lady came with us and another girl who helped us with the things we were doing and they cooked our meals for us. We would sit on the stairs going up into the house to eat our meals. Bruce and Kalissa are thoughtful in the food they buy and bring for us so we did eat pretty good even in these somewhat primitive conditions. Also there is no refrigeration so a couple of times they killed chickens which we ate and one day someone in town was slaughtering a cow so we had beef that day.
I will tell of our ministry there next.
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
YULMACAP
Yulmacap is a village in a remote not easy to get to place in Northern Guatemala. From Barillas on to Yulmacap the only people who live there or go there are the indigenous people from the area, it is not a vacation destination, white people do not go there so we were more than noticeable when we showed up. The whole area around Yulmacap only has around 400 people. They are very poor people and grow crops on the mountain sides to survive.
The area is very beautiful, it is in a valley surrounded by mountains lush with vegetation. The drive there was spectacular, driving high up in incredibly beautiful mountains with amazing views. For all it's beauty there is a very sad thing there that touches the lives of many of the people. It is a horrible, ugly, painful genetic disease called "XP". It is a very rare disease except for in this particular place in the world. I don't know how many kids have it but one family had four daughters who had it and another three of there eight children had it. They start to notice it when the babies are a few months old. If the kids go outside in the sun it speeds up the effects of the disease and many die in there teens after having suffered terribly for years. It affects there eyes where it is painful to be in the light and they eventually go blind. They get a rash all over there skin and then tumors begin to grow mainly on their face and head which are very painful.
That is the downside to this very beautiful place that The Lord allowed us to go to and share His love with the people there. A "good time" was not to be had by all but a powerful time of ministry was. I think all of us were challenged by the difficulty and hardship of being there but we were all thankful God allowed us to be there.
Bruce and Kalissa had gone there two years ago and that was the first time a group like ours had ever gone there to share Jesus with them and we were the second time. Besides us, some medical teams have been there and other than that it is not the kind of place people go to.
In my next blog I will share what it was like staying there and what we did during our week there.
The area is very beautiful, it is in a valley surrounded by mountains lush with vegetation. The drive there was spectacular, driving high up in incredibly beautiful mountains with amazing views. For all it's beauty there is a very sad thing there that touches the lives of many of the people. It is a horrible, ugly, painful genetic disease called "XP". It is a very rare disease except for in this particular place in the world. I don't know how many kids have it but one family had four daughters who had it and another three of there eight children had it. They start to notice it when the babies are a few months old. If the kids go outside in the sun it speeds up the effects of the disease and many die in there teens after having suffered terribly for years. It affects there eyes where it is painful to be in the light and they eventually go blind. They get a rash all over there skin and then tumors begin to grow mainly on their face and head which are very painful.
That is the downside to this very beautiful place that The Lord allowed us to go to and share His love with the people there. A "good time" was not to be had by all but a powerful time of ministry was. I think all of us were challenged by the difficulty and hardship of being there but we were all thankful God allowed us to be there.
Bruce and Kalissa had gone there two years ago and that was the first time a group like ours had ever gone there to share Jesus with them and we were the second time. Besides us, some medical teams have been there and other than that it is not the kind of place people go to.
In my next blog I will share what it was like staying there and what we did during our week there.
THE ENDS OF THE EARTH - THE BEGINNING
We arrived back in Huehuetenango yesterday after a long, rough ride from Barillas. The 20 passenger bus we were on was not as nice as the one we had taken on our way there. This bus was lacking any kind of shock absorbers. The first 2 hours of the drive is on a bad dirt road and the next 5 hours is bad paved road and that bus would bounce and jar you around with every bump in the road. It was so nice to get here and checked into the Hotel we are staying in called 'The Conquistador'. We are going to be here for two nights and one of the great things about this place is the free wi-fi. We left civilization for the great unknown back on December 1st and yesterday was the 9th so we have had no contact wih the outside world during that time.
God calls us to go into all the world, even to the ends of the earth and that is what I feel we have done this past week. Since I have over a week to catch up on I will just begin with some of my tale.
Last Sunday Morning we went to Guatemala City to catch a bus (like a big Greyhound bus) for the first part of our journey. That took us to Huehuetenango. We had lunch at McDonalds and then we continued on our way on a smaller shuttle bus, the bigger buses don't go any further in the direction we we going. We continued to travel another 7 hours, the last 2 hours were on a dirt & rocky road to a town called Barillas. There we spent the night in one of the two hotels in that town. It was a pretty nice place by local standards (certainly not somewhere you would stay in the states).
The next morning 2 old Toyota Land Rover pick up trucks arrive and we load in our gear along with ourselves in the back of the pickups to continue on the final leg of our journey. Oh yes, I got to ride in the cab of the pickup instead of the back which was a real blessing. We drove for just over 2 hours on an incredibly bad, rough, rocky, muddy, road to arrive at the town of Yulmacap, our destination, which was "the ends of the earth".
God calls us to go into all the world, even to the ends of the earth and that is what I feel we have done this past week. Since I have over a week to catch up on I will just begin with some of my tale.
Last Sunday Morning we went to Guatemala City to catch a bus (like a big Greyhound bus) for the first part of our journey. That took us to Huehuetenango. We had lunch at McDonalds and then we continued on our way on a smaller shuttle bus, the bigger buses don't go any further in the direction we we going. We continued to travel another 7 hours, the last 2 hours were on a dirt & rocky road to a town called Barillas. There we spent the night in one of the two hotels in that town. It was a pretty nice place by local standards (certainly not somewhere you would stay in the states).
The next morning 2 old Toyota Land Rover pick up trucks arrive and we load in our gear along with ourselves in the back of the pickups to continue on the final leg of our journey. Oh yes, I got to ride in the cab of the pickup instead of the back which was a real blessing. We drove for just over 2 hours on an incredibly bad, rough, rocky, muddy, road to arrive at the town of Yulmacap, our destination, which was "the ends of the earth".
Saturday, November 30, 2013
COSTA RICA AIRPORT
This morning we went ino Heredia and helped with the fund raiser they were doing to raise money to build a Recreation Center in that poor area. I think the Catholic Church was sponsoring the event, it was quite a big to-do, very organized with lots and lots of people volunteering. Our group went out along with a lot of other people to ask people for donations. I talked to a Costa Rican kid who was 19 and was with our group helping out today and he was telling me how the Costa Ricans don't like the Nicaraguans which 80% of the community we were fund raising for is Nicaraguan. He said if the people on the streets we were asking for donations from knew it was a fund raiser for Nicaraguans they wouldn't give. It's just interesting how no matter where you go there are persecuted minorities.
About 3 this afternoon we loaded up the van from the base and headed to the Airport. We stopped at McDonalds on the way and got that for our dinner. Now we are hanging out in the airport waiting to board our plane for our home away from home, Guatemala. Then at 4:30 in the morning we will head out for our newest and I hope LAST GREAT ADVENTURE, a remote village in Northern Guatemala that will take 2 days to travel there. Many of the kids there suffer from a rare generic disorder that causes cancer if they go out in the sun. This is the only known community in the world that has so many with this rare disorder which causes them to die young.
Two weeks from today, if God's plan for my life lines up with mine, I will be sitting in my house in Utah relaxing, HALLELUJAH!!!
About 3 this afternoon we loaded up the van from the base and headed to the Airport. We stopped at McDonalds on the way and got that for our dinner. Now we are hanging out in the airport waiting to board our plane for our home away from home, Guatemala. Then at 4:30 in the morning we will head out for our newest and I hope LAST GREAT ADVENTURE, a remote village in Northern Guatemala that will take 2 days to travel there. Many of the kids there suffer from a rare generic disorder that causes cancer if they go out in the sun. This is the only known community in the world that has so many with this rare disorder which causes them to die young.
Two weeks from today, if God's plan for my life lines up with mine, I will be sitting in my house in Utah relaxing, HALLELUJAH!!!
Friday, November 29, 2013
GOOD BYE TO COSTA RICA
Thanksgiving is behind for this year but there is more adventure and excitement ahead for me before the year is over. Today we went to a migrant worker camp. The workers are Nicorauguans who pick the coffee beans. It was very intersting. They live in this really poor housing if you can even call it housing. The coffee beans don't all ripen at the same time so it takes about 3 months for them to go through 3 times to get all the ripe beans picked and then they move on.
We went in the morning and there weren't many people around because all the ones that were capable of picking including the older kids were out working. We left and came back after lunch and they were coming back to their small little shacks. We played with the kids, sang songs with them and played games, did a couple of dramas and a couple of testimonies and shared the gospel. The kids seemed to really enjoy it. Whenever we a program for the kids the parents are always right there watching and enjoying it also. It really is a blessing to go to these kinds of places and share the Love of God with people.
Tomorrow we are going to go help with a fund raiser they are doing to build a Rec Center in that area we went to last week that is a very bad, very poor, very crime ridden area that is mostly Nicorauguans They said nobody goes into that neighborhood after 4 in the afternoon because it is just to scary.
Then we fly back to Guatemala tomorrow night. The following morning we are leaving to go to a remote village in Northern Guatemala for about 10 days.
After tomorrow I don't know when I will have Internet available but probably not until about the 10th of December when we get back to the base in Antigua. I will have to report on my travels once we get back to civilization.
We went in the morning and there weren't many people around because all the ones that were capable of picking including the older kids were out working. We left and came back after lunch and they were coming back to their small little shacks. We played with the kids, sang songs with them and played games, did a couple of dramas and a couple of testimonies and shared the gospel. The kids seemed to really enjoy it. Whenever we a program for the kids the parents are always right there watching and enjoying it also. It really is a blessing to go to these kinds of places and share the Love of God with people.
Tomorrow we are going to go help with a fund raiser they are doing to build a Rec Center in that area we went to last week that is a very bad, very poor, very crime ridden area that is mostly Nicorauguans They said nobody goes into that neighborhood after 4 in the afternoon because it is just to scary.
Then we fly back to Guatemala tomorrow night. The following morning we are leaving to go to a remote village in Northern Guatemala for about 10 days.
After tomorrow I don't know when I will have Internet available but probably not until about the 10th of December when we get back to the base in Antigua. I will have to report on my travels once we get back to civilization.
Thursday, November 28, 2013
BLUSTERY THANKSGIVING
Here it is Thanksgiving and it is a very blustery day in Costa Rica. It started raining last night and all through the night. It is raining really hard and the wind is blowing now and it feels cold, not what I would expect for Thanksgiving in Costa Rica. People here have been busy, busy preparing food for the big feast. Yesterday they baked apple, cherry, pecan, and pumpkin pies. This is suppose to be a real traditional dinner so I will soon find out if it is "just like home".
We did a Thanksgiving dinner at the base before we left for outreach thinking we would not have one while we were out so now we are having our second Thanksgiving.
Tuesday morning we made sandwiches and went out to a park in Heredia and feed homeless people. There was one kid there who was maybe 18 and he and his brother had been living on te streets for years. He was on drugs, depressed, hopeless and told one guy on our team he was planning on killing himself. So Terry, Bruce, and Reno were able to talk to him and then pray with him and he left feeling better. In the afternoon we went to a different park and did ministry with our dramas and testimonies. It started to rain pretty food so we continued under a big gazebo in the park. It was good.
Yesterday we went out to the neighborhood we had been going door to door and giving out bibles and continued with that and then in the afternoon went to a park in San Rafael and did kids ministry in the park. That was good. Kalissa and I talked to a lady who was there who had 3 kids and a baby. She said she wished we were there every doing what we were doing, that it was very needed. We asked if we could pray with her and she asked for prayer for her husband who works about 16 hours a day providing for the family, health for her kids, and protection because she said it can be quite dangerous around there. It was a privilege to talk with and pray for her.
Besides that we continue with our almost daily meetings of intercession, worship, devotions, debrief, and whatever. I am really to the end of my patience of having someone dictate what I do 24/7. Other than that, life is good and God is Great!
Amen.
We did a Thanksgiving dinner at the base before we left for outreach thinking we would not have one while we were out so now we are having our second Thanksgiving.
Tuesday morning we made sandwiches and went out to a park in Heredia and feed homeless people. There was one kid there who was maybe 18 and he and his brother had been living on te streets for years. He was on drugs, depressed, hopeless and told one guy on our team he was planning on killing himself. So Terry, Bruce, and Reno were able to talk to him and then pray with him and he left feeling better. In the afternoon we went to a different park and did ministry with our dramas and testimonies. It started to rain pretty food so we continued under a big gazebo in the park. It was good.
Yesterday we went out to the neighborhood we had been going door to door and giving out bibles and continued with that and then in the afternoon went to a park in San Rafael and did kids ministry in the park. That was good. Kalissa and I talked to a lady who was there who had 3 kids and a baby. She said she wished we were there every doing what we were doing, that it was very needed. We asked if we could pray with her and she asked for prayer for her husband who works about 16 hours a day providing for the family, health for her kids, and protection because she said it can be quite dangerous around there. It was a privilege to talk with and pray for her.
Besides that we continue with our almost daily meetings of intercession, worship, devotions, debrief, and whatever. I am really to the end of my patience of having someone dictate what I do 24/7. Other than that, life is good and God is Great!
Amen.
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
DOMINGO Y LUNES
Yesterday, Sunday we were going to do something at a church but it didn't work out for some reason so they kindly have us the day off (only because they didn't have anything else for us to do). Today we went out to a neighborhood and went door to door and gave people a Bible if they wanted one and asked if we could pray for them. It was an interesting area in that there were some pretty nice houses but also some small, not so nice ones mixed in.
I did enjoy the day off on Sunday even though there was nothing that we could go and do but I have no problem relaxing and amusing myself for the day. What's interesting though is here we are in "Wonderful Costa Rica" which is suppose to be so beautiful and famous for Eco tourism and beautiful rain Forrest's and I don't think we will see anything to do with nature while we are here. Such is the life of a YWAMer.
I did enjoy the day off on Sunday even though there was nothing that we could go and do but I have no problem relaxing and amusing myself for the day. What's interesting though is here we are in "Wonderful Costa Rica" which is suppose to be so beautiful and famous for Eco tourism and beautiful rain Forrest's and I don't think we will see anything to do with nature while we are here. Such is the life of a YWAMer.
Saturday, November 23, 2013
SOMETHING NEW
Yesterday when I wrote I was starting to sound rather boring, doing more or less the same thing 2 days in a row but today was something new. Last night the DTS from here that had been gone since we got here came back and that was different with about 16 new and different people around. My room downstairs that I was so happy about, I has to leave. But I am still enjoying the goodness of God in that I got to move into a smaller room that one other girl is in. I have the bottom bunk, there is a door on the room, it is on the main floor and it is right across the hall from a bathroom. I have no complaints. All the other girls in my group are up on the top floor (or attic) on triple bunks that are horrible, half of them are sleeping on mattresses on the floor, you can hardly move around up there and the bathroom is downstairs.
Terry, the director of the base that we all know from his teaching one week during our classroom phase has been gone with the group from here so he is back also which is really nice. He knows what is going on, where before he got back we for the most part were just left to figure things out on our own for three days.
So for ministry today we went down to Heredia to a "slum" area where he said 80% of the people there were Nicaraguans. They use to all live in these tin shanty's but now a lot of those are gone and the government has built some housing. Anyway as always in these places there is lots of crime and drugs but a local lady has started a ministry for kids there and has been working with them for the past 8 years. They have had teams come in the last 4 years and have built a building for the ministry. On Saturday which is today the kids come and they feed them lunch. Some of the mothers come with their kids. They have really sown the gospel and the love of Jesus to the kids and I thought it really made a difference. Some of the kids who has been going for a few years were now there helping out with the younger kids and with things that needed to be done.
We did a couple of dramas, played games, sang songs, and then did face painting with them. Then they all had lunch. It was a good day.
The place was by a mall so after we all got to go to the mall which was nice for a change. I went with Bruce, Kalissa, and Terry and got coffee and a pastry. The coffee was good.
Now we are back at the base and had a really lousy dinner but I am enjoying time alone in my room. My roommate left early this morning for the beach and won't be back until tomorrow afternoon.
We have to meet in 15 minutes for some kind meeting as usual.
Terry, the director of the base that we all know from his teaching one week during our classroom phase has been gone with the group from here so he is back also which is really nice. He knows what is going on, where before he got back we for the most part were just left to figure things out on our own for three days.
So for ministry today we went down to Heredia to a "slum" area where he said 80% of the people there were Nicaraguans. They use to all live in these tin shanty's but now a lot of those are gone and the government has built some housing. Anyway as always in these places there is lots of crime and drugs but a local lady has started a ministry for kids there and has been working with them for the past 8 years. They have had teams come in the last 4 years and have built a building for the ministry. On Saturday which is today the kids come and they feed them lunch. Some of the mothers come with their kids. They have really sown the gospel and the love of Jesus to the kids and I thought it really made a difference. Some of the kids who has been going for a few years were now there helping out with the younger kids and with things that needed to be done.
We did a couple of dramas, played games, sang songs, and then did face painting with them. Then they all had lunch. It was a good day.
The place was by a mall so after we all got to go to the mall which was nice for a change. I went with Bruce, Kalissa, and Terry and got coffee and a pastry. The coffee was good.
Now we are back at the base and had a really lousy dinner but I am enjoying time alone in my room. My roommate left early this morning for the beach and won't be back until tomorrow afternoon.
We have to meet in 15 minutes for some kind meeting as usual.
Friday, November 22, 2013
ANOTHER DAY
Another day of cleaning the goat stalls, ministry in the park, and rice & beans. Life is good. At least I don't feel as exhausted today. The weather has been nice, it didn't rain yesterday or today, maybe the rainy season really is coming to an end. It gets like maybe low 70's in the day but at night here it gets quite cool like down in the 50's.
They are planning on having a big Thanksgiving dinner here for about 40 people so because of the cost they have been cutting back on the quality of the meals they are preparing so we have been having more rice and beans then they usually have. We had lots of rice and beans in San Jose,
they really seemed to have a tight food budget there. I think I have eaten more rice and beans since I have been in this DTS than I have in my life all combined together before I came and that is no exaggeration.
We are going to be having a meeting here in a few minutes and I think I have been to more meetings since I have been in the DTS than in my whole life combined also. It will be a blessing when I can have my own agenda again.
Thursday, November 21, 2013
ROOM WITH A VIEW
My room really doesn't have a view but it is wonderful. My own room with a regular bed, it's awesome, I really praise The Lord for this room.
We got here Tuesday and as usual there was no time for rest. We went out Wednesday morning and learned how to so the farm chores. We took out the goats and cleaned their stalls, watered and fed the chickens, took care of the dogs and puppies, let the horses out so they could graze. It was a lot of work but lots of us to do it all.
After lunch we wet to town, to a park to evangelize but before we for going it started to rain and continued for quite a while so we finally went under a pavilion and did a couple of dramas and testimonies. We had a captive audience under the pavilion because of the rain but the weren't the most receptive but it was good all the same.
Today same routine, farm chores in the morning then we took a bus to town and broke up into groups and talked to people, went in businesses, asked if we could pray for them. It was pretty interesting. Then in the evenings after dinner we get together to have devotions and discuss the day along with other things some days.
I am just getting really exhausted from constantly going and doing. They think id we have any kind of quiet restful time it is too much, but all the going is what I find to be "too much".
Tonight they said tomorrow is the same routine. They have a DTS going on here at the base but the students have been gone to another place since we have been here and they get back tomorrow. Things will be different then because there will be a whole lot more people around then. It has been nice and peaceful because there has just been our group here.
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
ARRIVED
We arrived at the base in Heredia. It really wasn't that far from where we were but it is very different here, it's not in te city it's up te mountain. They have chickens, goats, horses, dogs, a garden, and I don't know what else. Tomorrow we get to do chores in the morning and help out taking care of what all they have outside.
So far it seems nice here, it is a smaller base so there are a lot less people and it is much quieter. In San Jose they had Internet but you had to buy time to use it but here it is free which is very nice. Dinner was good and a pleasant change from all the rice and beans we had been having in San Jose.
Every place we have been (except Chiriqui) they have had the girls rooms at the very top, either the top of the hill or the top of the stairs and then the restrooms are down a level which has been hard for me and it is the same here. But Praise The Lord there is a room downstairs that has a bathroom on the same level very close that is available until Friday and they asked if I would like to stay there. My answer of course was YES! It has a double bed and not a bunk bed, it will be the first non-bunk bed I have slept in in over 4 months and a room to myself. I am really excited about it and look forward to having my own space.
I guess I will go down and enjoy my "own space" for the rest of the evening.
So far it seems nice here, it is a smaller base so there are a lot less people and it is much quieter. In San Jose they had Internet but you had to buy time to use it but here it is free which is very nice. Dinner was good and a pleasant change from all the rice and beans we had been having in San Jose.
Every place we have been (except Chiriqui) they have had the girls rooms at the very top, either the top of the hill or the top of the stairs and then the restrooms are down a level which has been hard for me and it is the same here. But Praise The Lord there is a room downstairs that has a bathroom on the same level very close that is available until Friday and they asked if I would like to stay there. My answer of course was YES! It has a double bed and not a bunk bed, it will be the first non-bunk bed I have slept in in over 4 months and a room to myself. I am really excited about it and look forward to having my own space.
I guess I will go down and enjoy my "own space" for the rest of the evening.
HEREDIA - COSTA RICA
We are leaving here, San Jose, to go to another YWAM base about an hour away in Heredia. I am looking forward to the change.
Yesterday we went to a church in this really bad, poor area that needs lots of work and that is what we did, WORK! We started cleaning it up, we had gone there a few days ago and did some work but yesterday we went in the morning and then again in the afternoon and did a lot more.
One of the ladies from YWAM explained to us yesterday it is something YWAM here has commited to taking on long term, to help them and see the community change around there. She said that it was a community of people from Nicaragua that live around there and sometimes 3 families will live in a space about 12X20. People come here from Nicaragua looking for work because it is a poorer country. This neighborhood is suppose to have the highest rate of teen births in the entire country. There is crime, drugs, and the kids are molested and raped in high numbers.
She said there is no park for the kids to go to so they open up the yard of the church for the kids to come play. On Sunday there is only about 10 adults that come and 50 to 60 kids. There is lots of work that needs to be done.
This morning we went to a park downtown and was going to do open air evangelism but we didn't get some of our stuff in the van before we left so we didn't have stuff to do our dramas or the microphone for the speaker so we just wandered around the park and looked for people to talk to. It was good. We came back to the base for lunch and now we are waiting for a bus that is coming to take us to Heredia.
Yesterday we went to a church in this really bad, poor area that needs lots of work and that is what we did, WORK! We started cleaning it up, we had gone there a few days ago and did some work but yesterday we went in the morning and then again in the afternoon and did a lot more.
One of the ladies from YWAM explained to us yesterday it is something YWAM here has commited to taking on long term, to help them and see the community change around there. She said that it was a community of people from Nicaragua that live around there and sometimes 3 families will live in a space about 12X20. People come here from Nicaragua looking for work because it is a poorer country. This neighborhood is suppose to have the highest rate of teen births in the entire country. There is crime, drugs, and the kids are molested and raped in high numbers.
She said there is no park for the kids to go to so they open up the yard of the church for the kids to come play. On Sunday there is only about 10 adults that come and 50 to 60 kids. There is lots of work that needs to be done.
This morning we went to a park downtown and was going to do open air evangelism but we didn't get some of our stuff in the van before we left so we didn't have stuff to do our dramas or the microphone for the speaker so we just wandered around the park and looked for people to talk to. It was good. We came back to the base for lunch and now we are waiting for a bus that is coming to take us to Heredia.
Sunday, November 17, 2013
Today It's Taco Bell
It's our day off, YEAH! We have come to downtown San Jose and some of us are in the Taco Bell looking like we are all permanently attached to our cellular devices frantically using the free wi-fi. We do have Internet at the base which is nice but we have to buy the time we use so we take advantage of free wi-fi.
We only have an hour left until we head back to the base so we are going to go souvenir hunting.
Nothing else to report for now.
We only have an hour left until we head back to the base so we are going to go souvenir hunting.
Nothing else to report for now.
Saturday, November 16, 2013
BIBLES & McDonalds
It's Saturday and after breakfast we went out to a neighborhood to give out the rest of the bibles we had. This afternoon we were going to go to a park and do Evangelism again but it looked like it was going to rain so we all went and got dropped off at kind of a shopping area where there are some fast food places, McDonalds being one and most of us have come here for the free wi-fi. What an exciting life. Never know what might change or what is going to happen next. I do like the free wi-fi.
Tonight we are going to go to the hospital again to give coffee and cookies to people and pray for those who want prayer. That is a good ministry.
The weather here has been cool for the most part. The first few days it rained a lot, they say this is the end of the rainy season. Yesterday in downtown San Jose it got quite warm. It seems to be cooler at the base and during the night it seems to really cool off.
We leave here on Tuesday and go to a base in a place called Heredia about an hour away and it's up a mountain and they say it is even cooler there. None of us really have clothes for really cool weather.
Alicia, Olga, and I are going to wander across the street and see what we can find.
Tonight we are going to go to the hospital again to give coffee and cookies to people and pray for those who want prayer. That is a good ministry.
The weather here has been cool for the most part. The first few days it rained a lot, they say this is the end of the rainy season. Yesterday in downtown San Jose it got quite warm. It seems to be cooler at the base and during the night it seems to really cool off.
We leave here on Tuesday and go to a base in a place called Heredia about an hour away and it's up a mountain and they say it is even cooler there. None of us really have clothes for really cool weather.
Alicia, Olga, and I are going to wander across the street and see what we can find.
Friday, November 15, 2013
WALMART
We went to a Walmart here in San Jose yesterday afternoon because a couple of people needed to get some things. That was the sorryiest Walmart I have ever seen. This is the first time I have been to a Walmart outside of the states and it was nothing like ours. The selection was really bad, they hardly has anything, at least not like we have at home. The cost of everything here in Costa Rica is high so the prices at Walmart were also.
Last night we did go out to downtown San Jose where the prostitues hang out and took them coffee and cookies. It was very interesting but quite disturbing at the same time. Today we went downtown and did street ministry again, did some dramas and testimonies then talked to people, it was pretty good.
This afternoon then let us relax for about 4 hours, it was great. I don't know what is on the agenda for tomorrow. On the weekends they do breakfast at 8 instead of 6:30 like during the week but all they serve in cold cereal with milk and if the milk runs out before you get your turn its "oh well". Then they don't do lunch on the weekends, during breakfast you can make a peanut butter sandwich or a lunch meat and cheese sandwich that you pull out at lunch time to eat.
Last night we did go out to downtown San Jose where the prostitues hang out and took them coffee and cookies. It was very interesting but quite disturbing at the same time. Today we went downtown and did street ministry again, did some dramas and testimonies then talked to people, it was pretty good.
This afternoon then let us relax for about 4 hours, it was great. I don't know what is on the agenda for tomorrow. On the weekends they do breakfast at 8 instead of 6:30 like during the week but all they serve in cold cereal with milk and if the milk runs out before you get your turn its "oh well". Then they don't do lunch on the weekends, during breakfast you can make a peanut butter sandwich or a lunch meat and cheese sandwich that you pull out at lunch time to eat.
Thursday, November 14, 2013
BUSY BUSY
You would think we were on some kind of marathon with how busy they are keeping us. Sometimes going out morning, noon, and night. We have gone to five coffee and cookies to those waiting outside the hospital twice, done kids ministry on the streets, went out and night with coffee and cookies to the homeless in downtown San Jose, and yesterday did street evangelism passing out gospel tracts and doing some dramas in downtown San Jose. Today it is going to a school to pick up trash and play soccer with the kids, clean up at the base this afternoon and then tonight down with the prostitues.
It's all been good but busier than I like.
Off to intercession now. We still have to do 3 hours of intercession each week
It's all been good but busier than I like.
Off to intercession now. We still have to do 3 hours of intercession each week
Monday, November 11, 2013
Day 4 Costa Rica
Last night we took coffee and cookies and went to a hospital and gave them out to people who were waiting outside waiting to hear about their loved ones inside. We would ask them if we could pray for them so it was pretty interesting.
Today we went to the University of Costa Rica and walked the campus and prayed and looked for people to talk to. The base here has some people that work with those involved in "human trafficking" and we talked with them today about their ministry because we are going to go out with them on Thursday night. Costa Rica has a huge market for sex trafficking. It's one of the biggest "Tourism Sex" destinations in the world. Prostitution is legal here and the government has ignored illegal sex trafficking.
The food today has not been very good, it was just cold cereal for breakfast and lunch and dinner didn't her much better. On have it in good authority we are having pancakes for breakfast and that should be good.
Well I am going to call it a night.
Costa Rica
I am in Costa Rica. We got here Friday night. We left Panama on a bus at 8:30 in the morning and got here about 5:30 in the afternoon, it was one long hot day. No airconditioning in the bus. The border crossing was grueling, about 2 hours to check out of Panama and into Costa Rica. Neither side has any kind of modern or speedy process and it was hot and humid, not my favorite 2 things.
What I have seen of Costa Rica so far is different from Guatemala or Panama and I haven't seen anything too impressive yet.
Yesterday we went out at night to a church service and did one of our dramas and a couple of testimonies. It was a pretty good service. This morning after breakfast we took a public bus downtown to a church we went to. It was ok, young people with gaged ears and tattoos and loud music but they were praising God. Now we have walked over to MacDonalds and that is exciting for all. It was going to be cold sandwiches at the base so it is nice to get something different.
It has rained a lot since we have been here and it will start earlier in the day than other places we have been which puts a damper on the things we can do to go out and shared the gospel.
The base is interesting and not too bad, I don't like it as well as Chiriqui but it is better than Panama City. It's a big old wharehouse building that use to be a coffee processing plant.
What I have seen of Costa Rica so far is different from Guatemala or Panama and I haven't seen anything too impressive yet.
Yesterday we went out at night to a church service and did one of our dramas and a couple of testimonies. It was a pretty good service. This morning after breakfast we took a public bus downtown to a church we went to. It was ok, young people with gaged ears and tattoos and loud music but they were praising God. Now we have walked over to MacDonalds and that is exciting for all. It was going to be cold sandwiches at the base so it is nice to get something different.
It has rained a lot since we have been here and it will start earlier in the day than other places we have been which puts a damper on the things we can do to go out and shared the gospel.
The base is interesting and not too bad, I don't like it as well as Chiriqui but it is better than Panama City. It's a big old wharehouse building that use to be a coffee processing plant.
Thursday, November 7, 2013
LAST DAY IN PANAMA
We have been really busy the last couple of days and today is our last day here in Panama. We leave at 6:30 in the morning to go and catch a bus for Costa Rica so it's packing again tonight and off to new places tomorrow.
Yesterday we went in the morning to a neighborhood to go house to house and give people a bible if they wanted and to pray for them. It went well and then we came back for lunch and then left to for another town to a small church we put on the service. First we went out door to door and invited people to the service and that was interesting. At one house the lady had her sin climb up a coconut tree and cut us down coconuts then wack the top off with a machete so we could sip out coconut water. That was something I had never done.
We were there from about 2:30 until 9:00 last night so it was a pretty exhausting day. Today it was off to a nursing home this morning and then to a place where kids go after school until there parent can pick them up. We drove to David to do that stuff today and for back about 5:30.
Hopefully we will have Internet at our next stop.
Yesterday we went in the morning to a neighborhood to go house to house and give people a bible if they wanted and to pray for them. It went well and then we came back for lunch and then left to for another town to a small church we put on the service. First we went out door to door and invited people to the service and that was interesting. At one house the lady had her sin climb up a coconut tree and cut us down coconuts then wack the top off with a machete so we could sip out coconut water. That was something I had never done.
We were there from about 2:30 until 9:00 last night so it was a pretty exhausting day. Today it was off to a nursing home this morning and then to a place where kids go after school until there parent can pick them up. We drove to David to do that stuff today and for back about 5:30.
Hopefully we will have Internet at our next stop.
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
NGOBE CAMPS
Today we drove back to Boquete where we had been a couple of days ago. It so so beautiful there. We drove up in the mountains where they grow coffee and they have these places where the owners of the coffee farms will build these small one level type apartment houses and have the workers live there. Most of the workers are the indigenous Ngobe so we stopped at three different areas and asked if it was ok if we shared with them and they all said yes.
We would all get out, get our sound system out and the kids would come and gather and the moms and dads would stand in there doorways and we would sing kid songs, do some of our dramas, play games with the kids and tell about Jesus.
Every stop was different as far as the number of kids but always the adults would stop what they were doing and watch and listen to us.
Kalissa had said the other day she wanted us to share the bible and gospel message in a more direct way as we are sharing because its possible that many of these people have never heard about Jesus. I wanted to share the gospel so at one of the stops I did tell about God our creator and sun and Jesus and Emma translated for me. I really liked doing it and am thankful to have had the opportunity.
We would all get out, get our sound system out and the kids would come and gather and the moms and dads would stand in there doorways and we would sing kid songs, do some of our dramas, play games with the kids and tell about Jesus.
Every stop was different as far as the number of kids but always the adults would stop what they were doing and watch and listen to us.
Kalissa had said the other day she wanted us to share the bible and gospel message in a more direct way as we are sharing because its possible that many of these people have never heard about Jesus. I wanted to share the gospel so at one of the stops I did tell about God our creator and sun and Jesus and Emma translated for me. I really liked doing it and am thankful to have had the opportunity.
Monday, November 4, 2013
QUIET DAY
Today was a "day off" which was great but what made it even better is 5 of the noisiest kids left early this morning to go to the ocean. That made it very tranquil and peaceful. Then after lunch everyone else except Kalissa and I went to a river. I enjoyed the layed back day, I read, looked at stuff on the Internet, listened to some Spanish podcasts and took a nap.
Everyone is back now and we just had dinner. The kids that went to the beach seriously had one girl almost drown out in the ocean today. There were huge waves and she was dumb and just went way out but by the grace of God she got rescued.
We are going to have a movie night and watch The End of the Spear. Tomorrow will be a new day of going and doing.
Everyone is back now and we just had dinner. The kids that went to the beach seriously had one girl almost drown out in the ocean today. There were huge waves and she was dumb and just went way out but by the grace of God she got rescued.
We are going to have a movie night and watch The End of the Spear. Tomorrow will be a new day of going and doing.
Sunday, November 3, 2013
Sunday
Today being Sunday we drove to the City of David which is the largest city in this area and went to church. We did one of our dramas at the end of the service and it's one that I am in so that was fun. Today is Panama's Independence Day so there were parades and festivities going on everywhere. After church there was a group of about 25 of us and we went to a store that is like a Costco that they have here in Central America called PriceSmart and ordered pizzas and sat and ate in the snack bar area. It was pretty good.
After we went to the Central Park and walked around and asked people if we could pray for them or if they knew Jesus. It was pretty interesting.
We are back now
And have had dinner here at the base. Tomorrow is going to be a free day which will be awesome to have some down time. Some are going to go to the beach but you have to take a couple of different buses to get there and it takes about three hours so I am not going to partake.
Saturday, November 2, 2013
Boquete
This morning we had brunch at 10, is was good and then a little quiet time before leaving at 11:45 to go to a town called Boquete. It is a beautiful place located in a valley in the midst of some huge mountains all around. It is the are where most of the coffee in Panama is grown. We went to a church that was having a mission conference and we participated by doing a couple of our dramas, and some of us sharing about missions. I was one that had to get up and talk and it wasn't too bad.
After we went for a drive way up the mountain side and say some of the coffee they grow here. The mountains here are huge and really beautiful. It was a nice afternoon.
Tomorrow it is off to church and then out to do some ministry. I will report on that later tomorrow I hope.
After we went for a drive way up the mountain side and say some of the coffee they grow here. The mountains here are huge and really beautiful. It was a nice afternoon.
Tomorrow it is off to church and then out to do some ministry. I will report on that later tomorrow I hope.
Friday, November 1, 2013
YES IT WAS
Yes, that was quite an experience. We left here Wednesday on a bus they rented along with a driver and we drove to a City called San Felix, that was about an hour and forty five minute drive. There they rented a pickup truck and van with drivers to take us up the mountain about an hour drive to a Ngobe village we were going to. There were 18 of us in the group and we had to pack in food and everything we needed.
The road winds with hairpin curves, goes up and down, is misty, foggy, rain cloud shrouded 3/4 of the way. Pretty scary to me. The road used to be gravel and only 4-wheel drive vehicles could make it up part of the way. In the last year the government has come in and paved it and while we were there the government is bringing in power.
We went up the mountains to the end of the road, there is a school there and then up the mountain side a ways is where the pastor and his family lives and that is where we stayed. We had to carry everything up the mountain and sleep on dirt floors in a small wood cabin structure. The outhouse was way far away.
The day we got there it poured down rain like there was no tomorrow. It rained all three days but not as much as that first day. Today when we had to walk down to leave it was raining. Everywhere was a slick muddy mess. I slipped and almost fell a few times but managed to stay upright.
It was a beautiful place and certainly an interesting experience. Yesterday we went on a walk to visit some families where some of the family members were believers. The walk was for me a difficult mountain hike and it was wet and muddy but seeing the places and people was unique and moving. These people live very remotely and with very little.
Last night they had a church service where we were staying. It started at 7 last night and I was surprised people actually come out in the dark and rain with just a flashlight and walk up the mountain to the service. I would be challenged to get in my car and drive to a Thursday night service where there would be electricity and comfortable chairs but here these people had none of those things and they came. Some of the women and children come at the risk of making their husbands angry with them because they are not believers and don't like them to go.
Today we went to the school and did our presentation and that was good. The drivers with the truck and van showed up to get us when they were suppose to and when we got down the mountain to San Felix the bus was waiting for us so we made it back safe for dinner at the base.
The bottom line is I have survived another wild experience.
The road winds with hairpin curves, goes up and down, is misty, foggy, rain cloud shrouded 3/4 of the way. Pretty scary to me. The road used to be gravel and only 4-wheel drive vehicles could make it up part of the way. In the last year the government has come in and paved it and while we were there the government is bringing in power.
We went up the mountains to the end of the road, there is a school there and then up the mountain side a ways is where the pastor and his family lives and that is where we stayed. We had to carry everything up the mountain and sleep on dirt floors in a small wood cabin structure. The outhouse was way far away.
The day we got there it poured down rain like there was no tomorrow. It rained all three days but not as much as that first day. Today when we had to walk down to leave it was raining. Everywhere was a slick muddy mess. I slipped and almost fell a few times but managed to stay upright.
It was a beautiful place and certainly an interesting experience. Yesterday we went on a walk to visit some families where some of the family members were believers. The walk was for me a difficult mountain hike and it was wet and muddy but seeing the places and people was unique and moving. These people live very remotely and with very little.
Last night they had a church service where we were staying. It started at 7 last night and I was surprised people actually come out in the dark and rain with just a flashlight and walk up the mountain to the service. I would be challenged to get in my car and drive to a Thursday night service where there would be electricity and comfortable chairs but here these people had none of those things and they came. Some of the women and children come at the risk of making their husbands angry with them because they are not believers and don't like them to go.
Today we went to the school and did our presentation and that was good. The drivers with the truck and van showed up to get us when they were suppose to and when we got down the mountain to San Felix the bus was waiting for us so we made it back safe for dinner at the base.
The bottom line is I have survived another wild experience.
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
TUESDAY OCTOBER 29TH
We just for done with dinner. The food here so far (2 days) has been really good. Last night it was pork chops, potatoes, and green salad, it was all good. Tonight it was baked chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, coleslaw and brownies and it was delicious. That was another thing I didn't like about Panama City was the food usually wasn't very good.
We went to a boys catholic school this afternoon and did ministry. Tomorrow after breakfast we are leaving for a remote area where the native Ngobe people live and stay there a couple of days. We have to take all of our food and water with us. There are no stores and we don't even know where we are going to sleep for sure. Oh there is no power and sometimes no water either. This sounds like it will be another real adventure. Obviously there will be no Internet so I won't be posting anything again until Friday night if I get a chance or Saturday.
We went to a boys catholic school this afternoon and did ministry. Tomorrow after breakfast we are leaving for a remote area where the native Ngobe people live and stay there a couple of days. We have to take all of our food and water with us. There are no stores and we don't even know where we are going to sleep for sure. Oh there is no power and sometimes no water either. This sounds like it will be another real adventure. Obviously there will be no Internet so I won't be posting anything again until Friday night if I get a chance or Saturday.
MINISTRY BEGINS
Wednesday begins our first day of actually going out to do some ministry. The first thing we did is the kind of thing I really like because it is such an unlikely and unusual thing. We went to a private Christian Chinese School in Panama City to share, sing, and perform drama for. Now how many people do you know who have ever done that? It was fun and the staff was really happy to have us be there. I sure didn't know this before coming here but there is a really large Chinese population in Panama, about 5-10 percent of the population is Chinese. They run all the small stores around. Whether I went to the laundry, the Internet cafe, of the grocery store they were all run by Chinese, now I thought that was odd.
So anyway they are not very friendly and they don't want to be bothered with talking to people so these Chinese Chriatians decided to start this school in the hopes of opening the door for the gospel to them. Seventy percent of the kids that attend the school are Chinese. The school teaches English, Spanish, and Chinese so the kids learn all 3 languages and when they graduate they will be able to communicate with 90% of the worlds population. Chinese parents are attracted to sending their kids to this school where they get a better education. It really was a cool school.
In the afternoon we went and shared at another smaller private school that is affiliated with YWAM and the kids that go there come from not such good homes so they were fun too.
The next day we actually went to men's prison and did our dramas, sang and gave testimonies. Now that was pretty wild going to a prison. We had to have papers from a pastor that goes there and works with them and then going through all the security checks was interesting. The kids from the Panama team are quite musical, they play instruments and a couple are quite good singers so they really do a great job. All of together really do a pretty good job of ministering in all these different situations.
In the afternoon we went to a girls orphanage. It was sad to think of those girls having no family but it was good to be able to go there.
Finally on Friday we went to the worst most dangerous neighborhood in Panama City. There are 18 gangs in the area, it's full of crime, drugs, and prostitution. Recently the police have started having a real strong presence in the area and things a improved a little. A Christian group has come in and started a school there and one of the guys who has been there for a couple of years says that he has seen some positive changes since he has been there. We did our program at the school, the kids were really cute. A little lady from YWAM has been working with the kids and some of the moms who are prostitutes trying to show them the love of God and help in raising their kids so she made arrangements for us to also do a prayer walk while we were there so one guy from the school walked with us to the police station around the corner and a policeman went with us on our prayer walk to help keep us safe. It was pretty powerful and quite interesting.
So anyway they are not very friendly and they don't want to be bothered with talking to people so these Chinese Chriatians decided to start this school in the hopes of opening the door for the gospel to them. Seventy percent of the kids that attend the school are Chinese. The school teaches English, Spanish, and Chinese so the kids learn all 3 languages and when they graduate they will be able to communicate with 90% of the worlds population. Chinese parents are attracted to sending their kids to this school where they get a better education. It really was a cool school.
In the afternoon we went and shared at another smaller private school that is affiliated with YWAM and the kids that go there come from not such good homes so they were fun too.
The next day we actually went to men's prison and did our dramas, sang and gave testimonies. Now that was pretty wild going to a prison. We had to have papers from a pastor that goes there and works with them and then going through all the security checks was interesting. The kids from the Panama team are quite musical, they play instruments and a couple are quite good singers so they really do a great job. All of together really do a pretty good job of ministering in all these different situations.
In the afternoon we went to a girls orphanage. It was sad to think of those girls having no family but it was good to be able to go there.
Finally on Friday we went to the worst most dangerous neighborhood in Panama City. There are 18 gangs in the area, it's full of crime, drugs, and prostitution. Recently the police have started having a real strong presence in the area and things a improved a little. A Christian group has come in and started a school there and one of the guys who has been there for a couple of years says that he has seen some positive changes since he has been there. We did our program at the school, the kids were really cute. A little lady from YWAM has been working with the kids and some of the moms who are prostitutes trying to show them the love of God and help in raising their kids so she made arrangements for us to also do a prayer walk while we were there so one guy from the school walked with us to the police station around the corner and a policeman went with us on our prayer walk to help keep us safe. It was pretty powerful and quite interesting.
CATCH UP
I going to try and start some catch up on what has been happening. The Panama City base was beautiful, as was all the surrounding area around the city, it was like a tropical jungle everywhere but I did not really like the base. It was on the side of a mountain almost straight up and down with the girls dorm where I had to stay with about 15 other girls was the very top building with the bathrooms we had to use about in the middle so . . . it was walking up and down the hill and up and down stairs constantly, it about did me in.
The DTS from the Panama Base was suppose to be leaving for their outreach a couple of days after we got there but they had some problems so they didn't leave while we were there and we ended teaming up with them to so our ministry while we were there. There were 10 on their team and it did work out pretty good working with them.
Sunday we went to a church service in a town called Gamboa and it was across the street from part of the Panama Canal so that was my first view of the canal. Then on Monday we had a free day and got to relax for the most part and recover from traveling. It was hot and humid there and the dorm only had a few fans to cool it off (which they never did).
Tuesday we all had a work day at the base which is never my idea of a good time. We all worked all day up until dinner.
The DTS from the Panama Base was suppose to be leaving for their outreach a couple of days after we got there but they had some problems so they didn't leave while we were there and we ended teaming up with them to so our ministry while we were there. There were 10 on their team and it did work out pretty good working with them.
Sunday we went to a church service in a town called Gamboa and it was across the street from part of the Panama Canal so that was my first view of the canal. Then on Monday we had a free day and got to relax for the most part and recover from traveling. It was hot and humid there and the dorm only had a few fans to cool it off (which they never did).
Tuesday we all had a work day at the base which is never my idea of a good time. We all worked all day up until dinner.
Monday, October 28, 2013
FINALLY
Finally I have wi-fi again and the Internet is about to shut off for the day. We finished our time in Panama City were there was no Internet available and that was not good. Today we took a bus the Chiriqui Panama and that took all day.
Hopefully will have time to update all my goings on tomorrow.
Hopefully will have time to update all my goings on tomorrow.
Saturday, October 19, 2013
Panama
Here we are, Panama City. What a day, left at 4 this morning for the airport in Guatemala City and was suppose to be in Panama about 10, it's 7:00 at night right now, we finally arrived and got picked up by the YWAM base and are stopped at a Taco Bell to get some dinner. It has been a crazy, wild day but we are all safe and I'm thankful for that. I pray things smooth out from here.
Our last day of class yesterday was good, Praise The Lord that part is over and we all made it. We gathered together after lunch and had worship and took communion together. It was really nice. Then had an exhausting night of final packing and getting ready
Foods here.
Our last day of class yesterday was good, Praise The Lord that part is over and we all made it. We gathered together after lunch and had worship and took communion together. It was really nice. Then had an exhausting night of final packing and getting ready
Foods here.
Thursday, October 17, 2013
ALMOST OVER
This part of the DTS is almost over. Tomorrow is the last day of class. We have been busy trying to get last minute stuff done before we leave Saturday morning. We are suppose to be leaving here at 4 in morning to go to the airport in Guatemala City. Our flight to Panama is suppose to be a couple hours.
Yesterday afternoon we all went to town for some last minute shopping. Today I started to tackle to task of sorting through my too much stuff, deciding what I need to take and what I should leave behind for now. That is one nice thing that we can leave all our extra stuff here at the base.
One thing I don't like is changing currency again although they say Panama takes American dollars and they say Costa Rica takes dollars also. I think the time is a little different in Panama also. It has been nice to be on the same time here as it is at home but that will change when we go off daylight savings time.
We had my favorite thing for dinner tonight, these chile rellano things with finely chopped veggies and chicken that Floricita makes.
Yesterday afternoon we all went to town for some last minute shopping. Today I started to tackle to task of sorting through my too much stuff, deciding what I need to take and what I should leave behind for now. That is one nice thing that we can leave all our extra stuff here at the base.
One thing I don't like is changing currency again although they say Panama takes American dollars and they say Costa Rica takes dollars also. I think the time is a little different in Panama also. It has been nice to be on the same time here as it is at home but that will change when we go off daylight savings time.
We had my favorite thing for dinner tonight, these chile rellano things with finely chopped veggies and chicken that Floricita makes.
Sunday, October 13, 2013
LAST WEEKEND
This is the last weekend we have in Guatrmala. Next Saturday we leave for Panama. Our Thanksgiving was good and it all went well yesterday. Aaron and Bri found an old Macy's Thanksgiving parade online they played for us along with Christmas music, it was a fun day. Last night, Saturday night was I think the quietest Saturday nights we have had. Everyone was so wiped out from working on the preparations all day and then eating a big meal it was like everyone was in bed before 10:00.
Today after church a group of us went out to eat together. We went to a restaurant called Monoloco (Crazy Monkey). I had heard they had good nachos there so I ordered the Nacho Apocalypto. It was huge, enough for a complete meal for at least four. We all partook and none went to waste.
I have some homework I need to finish up so I better get that done.
Today after church a group of us went out to eat together. We went to a restaurant called Monoloco (Crazy Monkey). I had heard they had good nachos there so I ordered the Nacho Apocalypto. It was huge, enough for a complete meal for at least four. We all partook and none went to waste.
I have some homework I need to finish up so I better get that done.
Saturday, October 12, 2013
THANKSGIVING
It is Thanksgiving here at the base since we will be out traveling when the real Thanksgiving arrives. Since early this morning people have been busy, busy cooking and washing dishes in the kitchen preparing the feast for about 24 of is to eat. It is smelling really good and I hope we will soon be feasting.
I had my work duty from 8-10 this morning and that is about all I have done.
Only one more week of class and then off to Panama. I washed my tennis shoes by hand this afternoon in preparation for leaving soon. Tomorrow I plan on doing a little shopping after church and getting some last minute things for outreach.
Just like when I packed to come here it is hard knowing what you really need to bring and what you can just buy along the way as needed but all I can do is give it my beat shot.
I am going to check in dinner. Later
I had my work duty from 8-10 this morning and that is about all I have done.
Only one more week of class and then off to Panama. I washed my tennis shoes by hand this afternoon in preparation for leaving soon. Tomorrow I plan on doing a little shopping after church and getting some last minute things for outreach.
Just like when I packed to come here it is hard knowing what you really need to bring and what you can just buy along the way as needed but all I can do is give it my beat shot.
I am going to check in dinner. Later
Thursday, October 10, 2013
NO GYM
Here I am taking advantage of "no gym" today and having a little "free time". Life of good. There are 2 washing machines here, one built this century and one that could be in a museum, one that works and one that is broke. We can pay $1.00 a load to use one of those washing machines and the one we choose is not our choice, can you guess which one we can pay to use. . . well it is the broke machine we are allowed to use and since it is broke there is no point in using it. The alternative the past couple of weeks has been to allow our dirty clothes to pile up and hope we can still find something to wear or break down and wash by hand which is what I did yesterday.
I hated it, it was hard work, took way too long and ruined my nails. Next week before we leave for outreach those of us who have money we are willing to part with are sending it out to a laundry service to be done and I plan in being first in line.
That was my tale of wow for the day. Enjoy!
I hated it, it was hard work, took way too long and ruined my nails. Next week before we leave for outreach those of us who have money we are willing to part with are sending it out to a laundry service to be done and I plan in being first in line.
That was my tale of wow for the day. Enjoy!
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
TIME
I actually have a little time and energy to write something tonight. As of October we have been able to opt out of going to the gym, which I did, so that gives me some extra time and I love that. We are gearing up to get ready for our outreach. We are preparing some dramas and kids ministry stuff for it.
One thing I don't think I have mentioned is my Mother fell in her kitchen a couple of weeks ago and had to go to the hospital. The good thing about it is she didn't break any bones and while she was in the hospital they had wi-fi and I was able to FaceTime with her. She doesn't have the Internet so I haven't talked to or been able to communicate with her since I left. Any way it was on my birthday I was able to talk to her and I enjoyed it and so did she.
It looks like I am going to make it through the classroom phase of the DTS along with all my chores and other activities. Now the challenge will be success out in the field. One thing that doesn't seem to change is school work/home work and I guess when we go out into the world there will still be some of those things to do.
I guess I better be off to read my book.
One thing I don't think I have mentioned is my Mother fell in her kitchen a couple of weeks ago and had to go to the hospital. The good thing about it is she didn't break any bones and while she was in the hospital they had wi-fi and I was able to FaceTime with her. She doesn't have the Internet so I haven't talked to or been able to communicate with her since I left. Any way it was on my birthday I was able to talk to her and I enjoyed it and so did she.
It looks like I am going to make it through the classroom phase of the DTS along with all my chores and other activities. Now the challenge will be success out in the field. One thing that doesn't seem to change is school work/home work and I guess when we go out into the world there will still be some of those things to do.
I guess I better be off to read my book.
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
WEEK #11
It's week number eleven. Only one more week of class then outreach begins. Time on the one hand seems to be flying by and then on the other it doesn't seem to go near quick enough.
Rachael was here for a week and left early Monday morning. It was a real blessing to have her here. We flew to Tikal this past weekend, it was a good trip. I enjoyed finally seeing Tikal, very interesting. We stayed at the Tikal Inn which is right there is the jungle and it was hot and humid. After we had walked 4 hours in the jungle seeing the Tikal sights and we had lunch both Rachael and I just went to our room and crashed, too exhausted to do anything else.
She and I went to Antigua last Thursday afternoon, shopped, ate, walked around, had coffee and a good time.
Last week our school was in evangelism and it was pretty good. This week is on Worldview. I am enjoying it and I like the teacher. He came with four other guys from his church that are working at an Orphanage that is being built in San Lucas.
As always I stay too busy, I can't believe I can't manage to keep this blog updated more often than I do. I have a "Country Report" that I need to get done in the next couple of days along with reading a book they just handed out yesterday which the report is due on Monday so I will be busy with those things.
I will sign off for today.
Rachael was here for a week and left early Monday morning. It was a real blessing to have her here. We flew to Tikal this past weekend, it was a good trip. I enjoyed finally seeing Tikal, very interesting. We stayed at the Tikal Inn which is right there is the jungle and it was hot and humid. After we had walked 4 hours in the jungle seeing the Tikal sights and we had lunch both Rachael and I just went to our room and crashed, too exhausted to do anything else.
She and I went to Antigua last Thursday afternoon, shopped, ate, walked around, had coffee and a good time.
Last week our school was in evangelism and it was pretty good. This week is on Worldview. I am enjoying it and I like the teacher. He came with four other guys from his church that are working at an Orphanage that is being built in San Lucas.
As always I stay too busy, I can't believe I can't manage to keep this blog updated more often than I do. I have a "Country Report" that I need to get done in the next couple of days along with reading a book they just handed out yesterday which the report is due on Monday so I will be busy with those things.
I will sign off for today.
Monday, September 30, 2013
BUSY
Well it seems I should have more time to keep my blog up than I did in the beginning but it seems I am even busier and have less time to write.
Last week was week number nine finally done and now we have started week ten. Last week the base director from the YWAM base in Heredia Costa Rica was the teacher, Terry Keith, it was on Spiritial Warfare. We are going to be going to that base during our outreach and I am looking forward to it. At his base they have a farm with animals and they do organic gardening and resource conservation methods.
On Saturday after the gym and lunch Susy and I went into town. We went to a little bakery where I like these sweet breads they make, then we shopped a little, then ate at a restaurant just down from Central Park by the clock tower. It was pretty good and we enjoyed it. Then we met the group for soul patrol and then went to a coffee shop. Just before we left I ran into the lady I had told the week before I would buy something from her so I did. It was a good day.
Sunday we went to a big Mega Church that is in a town called San Cristobol just before you get to Guatemala City. It was a beautiful building and pretty interesting. After we went to a big mall in Guatemala City.
Last week was week number nine finally done and now we have started week ten. Last week the base director from the YWAM base in Heredia Costa Rica was the teacher, Terry Keith, it was on Spiritial Warfare. We are going to be going to that base during our outreach and I am looking forward to it. At his base they have a farm with animals and they do organic gardening and resource conservation methods.
On Saturday after the gym and lunch Susy and I went into town. We went to a little bakery where I like these sweet breads they make, then we shopped a little, then ate at a restaurant just down from Central Park by the clock tower. It was pretty good and we enjoyed it. Then we met the group for soul patrol and then went to a coffee shop. Just before we left I ran into the lady I had told the week before I would buy something from her so I did. It was a good day.
Sunday we went to a big Mega Church that is in a town called San Cristobol just before you get to Guatemala City. It was a beautiful building and pretty interesting. After we went to a big mall in Guatemala City.
Sunday, September 22, 2013
WEEK #8
Week # 8 is now over. It was a good week, the teaching was on Supernatural Ministry and the teachers were Rod Marquette and Cecil Calvert from Minnesota. They were great and I really liked them and the teaching. The week was busy and seemed to go be fast.
This weekend was good, after the gym on Saturday I just came back to the base. Almost all the kids were gone so it was peaceful and I had se nice quiet time. In the afternoon I watched a movie with Kalissa and Susy which was kind of good. We then had dinner and then went out on Soul Patrol. It was kind of a quiet night and Susy, Kalissa, and I had coffee and talked to some of the ladies that sell stuff.
This morning Susy, Kalissa, and I. Went to the Macadamia nut farm and has breakfast. I had Macadamia nut pancakes with macadamia nut butter and blueberry jam. They were different and very good. I bought se macadamia oil which I had been wanting. I really enjoyed the morning. Wh
This weekend was good, after the gym on Saturday I just came back to the base. Almost all the kids were gone so it was peaceful and I had se nice quiet time. In the afternoon I watched a movie with Kalissa and Susy which was kind of good. We then had dinner and then went out on Soul Patrol. It was kind of a quiet night and Susy, Kalissa, and I had coffee and talked to some of the ladies that sell stuff.
This morning Susy, Kalissa, and I. Went to the Macadamia nut farm and has breakfast. I had Macadamia nut pancakes with macadamia nut butter and blueberry jam. They were different and very good. I bought se macadamia oil which I had been wanting. I really enjoyed the morning. Wh
Sunday, September 15, 2013
INDEPENDENCE DAY
Today is Guatemala's Independence Day so this weekend has been crazy with people out doing all their celebration.
Yesterday after breakfast we went to the gym then some of our group ran back to the base to celebrate Independence day because that is what a lot of people do here as part of the celebration and we followed them in the van (incase anyone needed to be picked up). Then after lunch Susy took Olga, Alicia, and I to Finca Fhiladelphia which is a coffee farm that is really beautiful and it's kind of a fancy place.
Last night I went out on Soul Patrol. There were a ton of people out because of Independence Day. We had a good time but by the time I got back I was pretty tired.
This morning I went with Susy, Kalisa, Mykala, to breakfast in Antigua. It was good then Kalisa left and we picked up Alicia and Olga and drove to San Lucas to go to church and then went shopping.
When we got back I was just exhausted. My stomach started bothering me a little and it has continued today, I am just wore out. Tomorrow begins week number 8, Hallelujah! Things are good here but I do look forward to it being over.
Yesterday after breakfast we went to the gym then some of our group ran back to the base to celebrate Independence day because that is what a lot of people do here as part of the celebration and we followed them in the van (incase anyone needed to be picked up). Then after lunch Susy took Olga, Alicia, and I to Finca Fhiladelphia which is a coffee farm that is really beautiful and it's kind of a fancy place.
Last night I went out on Soul Patrol. There were a ton of people out because of Independence Day. We had a good time but by the time I got back I was pretty tired.
This morning I went with Susy, Kalisa, Mykala, to breakfast in Antigua. It was good then Kalisa left and we picked up Alicia and Olga and drove to San Lucas to go to church and then went shopping.
When we got back I was just exhausted. My stomach started bothering me a little and it has continued today, I am just wore out. Tomorrow begins week number 8, Hallelujah! Things are good here but I do look forward to it being over.
Thursday, September 12, 2013
THIS WEEK
Thought I should write something for this week since here it is Thursday already and I haven't written anything. The week has been good but busy as usual. The topic for class this week is "The Renewed Mind" and the teacher is Darrell Doberman from Minnesota. He is a good teacher.
Other things have been pretty uneventful, just the usual school, work, ministry, and homework. Tomorrow is Friday and then the weekend which is always good.
Other things have been pretty uneventful, just the usual school, work, ministry, and homework. Tomorrow is Friday and then the weekend which is always good.
Monday, September 9, 2013
EARTHQUAKES and ADVENTURE
That is what I have been experiencing earthquakes and adventure. Friday evening aboit 6 there was an earthquake which was most definitely noticeable. We were about ready to lesve for our "girls night out" when everthing started to shake and it really shook for quite a long time, about 30 seconds. Since it happened while everyone was up it pretty much freaked everyone out including me. Later I was told it was a 5.6 and that in another town called Xela it was stronger and some people were killed.
Saturday morning I went with Alicia to her home near Lake Atitlan which was quite an adventure. Susy took us to Antigua to take a shuttle to Panahachel but first we had bagels and coffee which were good. When we got to Panahachel we had to take a boat across the Lake to Santiago Atitlan. Then we took a tok-tok up the mountain a ways then in the back of a pickup truck a ways and finally in a van the rest of the way which wasn't much futher.
It was a lot of firsts, first time taking a shuttle in Guatemala, first boat ride on Lake Atitlan, first time in a tok-tok, and first time in the back of a pickup in the mountains of Guatemala like a true native.
When we got to Alicia's it was quite interesting. Her family has an orphanage that currently has about 30 kids. The house is very large and old with rock walls about 1 1/2 feet thick that sits right at the base of a very tall, very steep mountain. What an experience.
Saturday morning I went with Alicia to her home near Lake Atitlan which was quite an adventure. Susy took us to Antigua to take a shuttle to Panahachel but first we had bagels and coffee which were good. When we got to Panahachel we had to take a boat across the Lake to Santiago Atitlan. Then we took a tok-tok up the mountain a ways then in the back of a pickup truck a ways and finally in a van the rest of the way which wasn't much futher.
It was a lot of firsts, first time taking a shuttle in Guatemala, first boat ride on Lake Atitlan, first time in a tok-tok, and first time in the back of a pickup in the mountains of Guatemala like a true native.
When we got to Alicia's it was quite interesting. Her family has an orphanage that currently has about 30 kids. The house is very large and old with rock walls about 1 1/2 feet thick that sits right at the base of a very tall, very steep mountain. What an experience.
Friday, September 6, 2013
OUTREACH
It was finally announced last night where we are going for outreach!
We are flying to Panama and will go to a couple of different places there and then go to Costa Rica and a couple of places there and fly back to Guatemala from there. They said we would be doing ministry in the city and the jungle both.
We are flying to Panama and will go to a couple of different places there and then go to Costa Rica and a couple of places there and fly back to Guatemala from there. They said we would be doing ministry in the city and the jungle both.
FINALLY
Finally I got this blogger.com to work on my tablet again. I have tried and tried and messed with it and now it is workingup right.
Today I got training in the art of machete-ing (now that was training I wasn't expecting and did not enjoy, it killed my arm). As Americanos or gringos as we are at times called here and not always affectionately either I don't believe, we could really be able to save money and energy.
When I return home I won't need hoses and certainly not a pressure washer, simply an inexpensive plastic watering container for cleaning off the cement. Then no more lawnmower or weed trimmer, just get out the machete to mow, cut down weeds, and trim.
These are some really valuable skills to acquire and I am sure there are more to be learned.
Oh, here is something else, instead of buying an expensive car one can buy a motor scooter and fit the whole family on it to get around, dad, mom, and a couple of kids. Imagine the savings there.
Today I got training in the art of machete-ing (now that was training I wasn't expecting and did not enjoy, it killed my arm). As Americanos or gringos as we are at times called here and not always affectionately either I don't believe, we could really be able to save money and energy.
When I return home I won't need hoses and certainly not a pressure washer, simply an inexpensive plastic watering container for cleaning off the cement. Then no more lawnmower or weed trimmer, just get out the machete to mow, cut down weeds, and trim.
These are some really valuable skills to acquire and I am sure there are more to be learned.
Oh, here is something else, instead of buying an expensive car one can buy a motor scooter and fit the whole family on it to get around, dad, mom, and a couple of kids. Imagine the savings there.
BLOGGER PROBLEMS
Wow, it has been since last week I have written anything but at first it was because I didn't have free time when the Internet was available but then I couldn't get my blog to call up on my tablet and I thought the problem would clear up but it hasn't. So,
I am using my phone to
Write this and is seems to be working.
Well I was going to write about my work experience on Thursday at the school we went to work at. It is interesting the cultural differences. We were working in the courtyard cleaning. The ground was cement and we were sweeping and then they brought out a sprinkling can like you use to water flowers and asked us to sprinkle water on the pavement to keep the dust down. Now it's not like the water is not going to dry and there would continue to be dust but when in Rome (or Guatemala) do as the Romans. There was a hose and an outside water spicket but why use those when you can use a watering can. We swept as we watered so I think it did wash some of the dirt off and maybe it was a good idea although I don't plan on using that method when I get home.
I will post this and go back to trying to get my tablet to work.
I am using my phone to
Write this and is seems to be working.
Well I was going to write about my work experience on Thursday at the school we went to work at. It is interesting the cultural differences. We were working in the courtyard cleaning. The ground was cement and we were sweeping and then they brought out a sprinkling can like you use to water flowers and asked us to sprinkle water on the pavement to keep the dust down. Now it's not like the water is not going to dry and there would continue to be dust but when in Rome (or Guatemala) do as the Romans. There was a hose and an outside water spicket but why use those when you can use a watering can. We swept as we watered so I think it did wash some of the dirt off and maybe it was a good idea although I don't plan on using that method when I get home.
I will post this and go back to trying to get my tablet to work.
LAST WEEKEND
I wanted to comment on last weekend. After gym Alicia and I stayed in town and did a little shopping which was good. I got a t-shirt and a purse which I like at the artisan market. Sunday Alicia, Olga, y yo went to San Lucas to church. Alicia had lived in that town for a while with her sister and liked the church she went to there. After breakfast Sunday morning we had to walk down and catch the bus to Antigua where we needed to get a bus to Guatemala City because San Lucas is on the way. I need to comment that it is a beautiful drive through mountains and we made that drive a couple of weeks ago when we went to a park together on Saturday and on the drive home I was sitting by Bruce who pointed out 2 or 3 places where the chicken buses had gone off the road and killed people because the drivers dirve too fast. Now that is exactly what we were doing was taking a "chicken bus" and I was very mindful of the stories Bruce had related to me so we prayed for safety and protection as we waited for the bus.
We were blessed with safe travels. After church we went to Domino's pizza for lunch and it was pretty good. Then we went to the Megapaca which is a kind of nice second hand store and that was kind of fun. Then we braved the chicken bus for our return travel.
Oh, on the way to San Lucas the guy that collects money on the bus tried to rip me off because he thought I was a dumb gringa. But I knew the price was 5Q and the change he tried giving me wasn't right. I like hanging out with Alicia and Olga, they are both Guatemalans.
We were blessed with safe travels. After church we went to Domino's pizza for lunch and it was pretty good. Then we went to the Megapaca which is a kind of nice second hand store and that was kind of fun. Then we braved the chicken bus for our return travel.
Oh, on the way to San Lucas the guy that collects money on the bus tried to rip me off because he thought I was a dumb gringa. But I knew the price was 5Q and the change he tried giving me wasn't right. I like hanging out with Alicia and Olga, they are both Guatemalans.
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
THIRD DAY
Well here it is the third day of the week and this is the first chance I have had to write something here on my blog. Monday they kept us busy until 5 minutes before the Internet shut down for the day. Yesterday they had us busy till 8 last night and then screwed up the Internet for the one hour we would have had it available so we had no Internet at all but now tonight I am just living on the edge because I have been able to be wild and crazy with a whole hour and a half with the Internet at my fingertips.
Class this week has been pretty good, it is "The Father Heart of God". The couple teaching, George and Donna Snow have been with YWAM for over 20 years and have been to a lot of different places. My only complaint is they are a little slower paced than I like.
There was quite a rain downpour this afternoon. Went to the gym and when we went to shower there was no water.
Buenos noches.
Class this week has been pretty good, it is "The Father Heart of God". The couple teaching, George and Donna Snow have been with YWAM for over 20 years and have been to a lot of different places. My only complaint is they are a little slower paced than I like.
There was quite a rain downpour this afternoon. Went to the gym and when we went to shower there was no water.
Buenos noches.
Sunday, August 25, 2013
SHOPPING
Today is Sunday, after church Alicia went with me to do some shopping. Her sister Sabina lives in Antigua and she went with us after church. Alicia's favorite place to eat is Burger King but it is not mine so I stopped at a bakery and bought a sweet bread thing which was really delicious and a coke that I had while Alicia ate her chicken sandwich.
I wanted to by some Jade earrings so Sabina took us to a nice Jade Jewelry store and I found some. Then we had to stop at the grocery store and pick up something for Emma and Alicia bought some Haibiscus tea which I am now trying a cup of and it is pretty darn good, I think I will take some home with me when I leave.
It was raining this morning which was unusual, it usually rains in the afternoon or at night. I thought it would rain while we were in town so I went prepared but it didn't which was god. It has started coming down now though.
Well I will finish this day with dinner and then homework.
I wanted to by some Jade earrings so Sabina took us to a nice Jade Jewelry store and I found some. Then we had to stop at the grocery store and pick up something for Emma and Alicia bought some Haibiscus tea which I am now trying a cup of and it is pretty darn good, I think I will take some home with me when I leave.
It was raining this morning which was unusual, it usually rains in the afternoon or at night. I thought it would rain while we were in town so I went prepared but it didn't which was god. It has started coming down now though.
Well I will finish this day with dinner and then homework.
Saturday, August 24, 2013
STREETS
Today at the gym their was a big spider in the girls locker room and the girls screemed, squilled, and carried on like crazy people. One girl said it was as big as her hand and several said it was the biggest spider they had seen. It was big but nothing as big as a hand, it wasn't like a tarantula or anything. The noise of these kids carring on is starting to wear on me lately, then can be extremely loud and noisy for prolonged periods of time.
The streets here are quite interesting to me. Many of them are only wide enough for about two cars, one in each direction, but you have to see it to believe what is on the streets continually.
There are ladies walking carrying things on their heads, men carrying things, donkeys carrying loads, mothers walking with their kids, kids running all over, dogs and dog poop, trash and garbage, cars, trucks, motorcycles, bicycles, buses, commercial trucks, parked cars, stands set up with women selling vegetables, the streets are alive with activity. There are times when we are driving along and the streets are so narrow and filled with people and cars I think there is no way we are going to get down this street but we always do.
I have had a pretty quiet and nice afternoon.
The streets here are quite interesting to me. Many of them are only wide enough for about two cars, one in each direction, but you have to see it to believe what is on the streets continually.
There are ladies walking carrying things on their heads, men carrying things, donkeys carrying loads, mothers walking with their kids, kids running all over, dogs and dog poop, trash and garbage, cars, trucks, motorcycles, bicycles, buses, commercial trucks, parked cars, stands set up with women selling vegetables, the streets are alive with activity. There are times when we are driving along and the streets are so narrow and filled with people and cars I think there is no way we are going to get down this street but we always do.
I have had a pretty quiet and nice afternoon.
Friday, August 23, 2013
AUGUST 23, 2013
Friday again and I like that. I thought things would smooth out and I would have more time to stay up on my blog but I seem to be getting more behind. Class this week has been pretty good. It has been an exhausting week as every week has been and I am just flat tired. Tomorrow it will be breakfast then off to the gym. After that I am looking forward to a quiet day.
We had all been such good students today they took us into town to MacDonalds and bought us icecream cones. The McDonalds here is quite the place, it's pretty nice with an outdoor area that is really beautiful and then they have a McCafe part to it. I have never seen a McDonalds with one of those before.
Wednesday night I went out on the soup run they do to feed the homeless. That was kind of interesting and sad. It's a ministry they have been doimg for about the last 4 years going out to the hmeless and giving them soup and tortillas once a week.
Hasta manana.
We had all been such good students today they took us into town to MacDonalds and bought us icecream cones. The McDonalds here is quite the place, it's pretty nice with an outdoor area that is really beautiful and then they have a McCafe part to it. I have never seen a McDonalds with one of those before.
Wednesday night I went out on the soup run they do to feed the homeless. That was kind of interesting and sad. It's a ministry they have been doimg for about the last 4 years going out to the hmeless and giving them soup and tortillas once a week.
Hasta manana.
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
PARK
Today is Saturday and we went to the gym at 9 this morning so we could go to a park today. The day started out nice weather wise. Where we went was about a half hour away headed toward Guatemala City. The drive reminded me of when the kids and I were here a few years ago and went traveling on the weekends. It was a beautiful drive. The park was not like any park around Ogden, it was more like a rain forrest. We ate sandwiches we had , made and brought with us. After we had been there a while it started to pour down rain. We were under a small pavilion and waited till there was a break in the rain then headed for the van.
On the way home we got to stop at a mall in a town we went through called San Lucas. It was a pretty nice mall, very , modern. There was a bakery in it that is popular here in Guatemala called San Marlin that I went in with Susy, Bruce, Bri, and jad coffee and pastry, it was good.
I didn't get Saturday's posted on Saturday but was going to on Sunday and then the internet was just not working for crap that day so I still could not and then yesterday they kept us busy all day so I couldn't use the internet. So I will proceed on here with the past couple of days.
Sunday after church Alicia went with me to do some shopping. I didn't bring a jacket with me other than a rain jacket for two reasons, one I didn't think I would need one and two I just had no extra room when packing for anything I didn't think I would absolutely need but it does get a little chilly in the morning or evening at times. Anyway Alicia knew of a place in the market where they sell second hand clothes so we went there and I found a jacket for Q30. It was quite an interesting place as many places are here.
The rest of the day Sunday was nice in that it was restful.
2 daughters who were selling stuff.
Yesterday began a new school week and the teacher is Judy Garcia who is the director of the YWAM base in El Salvador. So far class has been good, a real switch from last week.
Today is my kitchen duty day which makes it so I have some free time here in the afternowhen the internet is on which is nice.
I am going to get this posted because they said they rest of this day is going to be busy with ministry preparation and they movie night which it sounds like we all have to participate in.
Oh, here is one thing I forgot to write about. Saturday night I went with a small group to Central Park in Antigua and did 'soul patrol'. It was interesting and we did have some people pray and accept the Lord and I got to talk to a lady and her
On the way home we got to stop at a mall in a town we went through called San Lucas. It was a pretty nice mall, very , modern. There was a bakery in it that is popular here in Guatemala called San Marlin that I went in with Susy, Bruce, Bri, and jad coffee and pastry, it was good.
I didn't get Saturday's posted on Saturday but was going to on Sunday and then the internet was just not working for crap that day so I still could not and then yesterday they kept us busy all day so I couldn't use the internet. So I will proceed on here with the past couple of days.
Sunday after church Alicia went with me to do some shopping. I didn't bring a jacket with me other than a rain jacket for two reasons, one I didn't think I would need one and two I just had no extra room when packing for anything I didn't think I would absolutely need but it does get a little chilly in the morning or evening at times. Anyway Alicia knew of a place in the market where they sell second hand clothes so we went there and I found a jacket for Q30. It was quite an interesting place as many places are here.
The rest of the day Sunday was nice in that it was restful.
2 daughters who were selling stuff.
Yesterday began a new school week and the teacher is Judy Garcia who is the director of the YWAM base in El Salvador. So far class has been good, a real switch from last week.
Today is my kitchen duty day which makes it so I have some free time here in the afternowhen the internet is on which is nice.
I am going to get this posted because they said they rest of this day is going to be busy with ministry preparation and they movie night which it sounds like we all have to participate in.
Oh, here is one thing I forgot to write about. Saturday night I went with a small group to Central Park in Antigua and did 'soul patrol'. It was interesting and we did have some people pray and accept the Lord and I got to talk to a lady and her
Friday, August 16, 2013
End of 3rd Week of School
Here is what I was writting that I thought I lost so I will post it now.
For school we drive over to a church to have it instead of havimg it here at the base. Today after class we walked back and had a prayer walk. It was pretty good and the walk was nice, it was mostly down hill and not up. The street the church is on gets quite steep.
An interesting thing here is Guatemala is how in the neighborhoods people will turn the front of their houses into little stores. Some have a few snacks and drinks and some have all kinds of things. There is a little store just up from the church, it's very small but it is amazing what all she has in there. There are the usual chips, cookies, candy, and soda but she also has dishes, brooms, balls, toothpaste and all kinds of small drugstore type items, cooking stuff and a bunch more things. I find it interesting to notice the different stuff they carry in these little stores.
For school we drive over to a church to have it instead of havimg it here at the base. Today after class we walked back and had a prayer walk. It was pretty good and the walk was nice, it was mostly down hill and not up. The street the church is on gets quite steep.
An interesting thing here is Guatemala is how in the neighborhoods people will turn the front of their houses into little stores. Some have a few snacks and drinks and some have all kinds of things. There is a little store just up from the church, it's very small but it is amazing what all she has in there. There are the usual chips, cookies, candy, and soda but she also has dishes, brooms, balls, toothpaste and all kinds of small drugstore type items, cooking stuff and a bunch more things. I find it interesting to notice the different stuff they carry in these little stores.
LOST
Darn, I wrote quite s bit earlier about my day and now I logged on to finish it and I have lost it all, bummer.
It is good that I have made it through this week of school and another week of being away. After school we walked back and did a prayer walk. It was a nice afternoon and the walk was good.
I am about done with my book and hope to have my book report finished tomorrow. Also tomorrow we are going to the gym early and then all going to have a "bonding" picnic at a park on the way to Guatemala City tomorrow.
Tonight I am hanging out in the sala having a cup of cocoa with Alicia and Olga watching a DVD on the greatness of God.
Hasta manana.
It is good that I have made it through this week of school and another week of being away. After school we walked back and did a prayer walk. It was a nice afternoon and the walk was good.
I am about done with my book and hope to have my book report finished tomorrow. Also tomorrow we are going to the gym early and then all going to have a "bonding" picnic at a park on the way to Guatemala City tomorrow.
Tonight I am hanging out in the sala having a cup of cocoa with Alicia and Olga watching a DVD on the greatness of God.
Hasta manana.
Thursday, August 15, 2013
Quick Post
It has been a busy day. School was challenging again today, not because the school itself was hard but because of my personality deficit. There was some redemption to be had in that although I again did not like the day st school we had to get together again tonight for class and what we did was go around and each of us had to say something nice about each person in the group as we went around the circle. It turned out to be very powerful and I liked it.
I didn't get the above paragraph posted yesterday because the internet went off before I had a chance so I will just go on with today's happenings.
My comment for class today is I am always amazed how long someome can talk and actually say little to nothing. Or how someone can take 2 hours to say what could easily be said in 5 minutes. Enough said on my part. At the end of class we gathered to pray and that was good.
The rain has not been very consistant since I have been here. Some days it does rain in the afternoon but several days it has not and this is the rainy season. Tonight just before dinner it started to rain and at times it really poured. The lights have flicked out a couple of times and knocked the internet out.
Here in Guatemala they have some extreme fondness for fireworks and there is someone
setting them off 24X7 around here.
I didn't get the above paragraph posted yesterday because the internet went off before I had a chance so I will just go on with today's happenings.
My comment for class today is I am always amazed how long someome can talk and actually say little to nothing. Or how someone can take 2 hours to say what could easily be said in 5 minutes. Enough said on my part. At the end of class we gathered to pray and that was good.
The rain has not been very consistant since I have been here. Some days it does rain in the afternoon but several days it has not and this is the rainy season. Tonight just before dinner it started to rain and at times it really poured. The lights have flicked out a couple of times and knocked the internet out.
Here in Guatemala they have some extreme fondness for fireworks and there is someone
setting them off 24X7 around here.
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
I'M BEHIND
I haven't written anything for a couple of days and I feel behind. Sunday was a nice quite day and I really enjoyed it. The only thing wrong with it was it wasn't long enough.
Yesterday was a different story. Our topic this week is 'Intimacy with God'. Now that would be a great topic with the right teacher but from my perspective (and that is what I have) the teacher's just are not what I would call good. It is a couple and they are music worship leaders who also fancy themselves as teachers.
We had a meeting at the church last nignt where they lead worship for the whole service and it was good. They are really nice people and I like them but when it comes to teaching my description is BORING!!! They are teaching on a level that is so basic it is torture to sit through.
Have I mentioned I'm not telling anyone here about my blog, I might get extra work as penance. Three more days this week and maybe I will become more teachable as the week wears on.
I have been getting 3 square meals a day here and my pants are starting to reflect it. I have
put on weight and am going to scale back on my eating. Tonight for dinner Floricita made tomales and potato tacos, it was delicious but I did cut back, I had only 1 tomale, I refused a second (that wasn't easy) and can feel extra room starting to manifest itself in my pants already. Also earlier I had a diet coke instead of a regular coke.
One sad thing that is happening back home is my niece Kailey is leaving tomorrow morning for her mission. Sorry I was not there for her farewell yesterday. She won't be there when I get home and I will miss her as will everyone else.
Tomorrow will be a new day here in the world of YWAM.
Yesterday was a different story. Our topic this week is 'Intimacy with God'. Now that would be a great topic with the right teacher but from my perspective (and that is what I have) the teacher's just are not what I would call good. It is a couple and they are music worship leaders who also fancy themselves as teachers.
We had a meeting at the church last nignt where they lead worship for the whole service and it was good. They are really nice people and I like them but when it comes to teaching my description is BORING!!! They are teaching on a level that is so basic it is torture to sit through.
Have I mentioned I'm not telling anyone here about my blog, I might get extra work as penance. Three more days this week and maybe I will become more teachable as the week wears on.
I have been getting 3 square meals a day here and my pants are starting to reflect it. I have
put on weight and am going to scale back on my eating. Tonight for dinner Floricita made tomales and potato tacos, it was delicious but I did cut back, I had only 1 tomale, I refused a second (that wasn't easy) and can feel extra room starting to manifest itself in my pants already. Also earlier I had a diet coke instead of a regular coke.
One sad thing that is happening back home is my niece Kailey is leaving tomorrow morning for her mission. Sorry I was not there for her farewell yesterday. She won't be there when I get home and I will miss her as will everyone else.
Tomorrow will be a new day here in the world of YWAM.
Sunday, August 11, 2013
Fin De Segundo Semana
Here I am at the end of the second week. Today was a good day, it is Josh's birthday and he got up and fixed pancakes, we cleaned up and had an hour of prayer then headed to gym. After the gym Dessie met me to go to lunch and shop.
Olga went with us also. We went to a restaurant in Antigua, it was pretty good, I even got to have a coke with ice in it. That was the first ice I have had since I've been here.
I enjoyed shopping, I needed to get a few things, or rather I wanted a few things. The band on my watch broke so I found a new watch. I wanted to buy another purse and found one I really like. Came back on the chicken bus.
Tonight I watched a couple of I love Lucy episodes on dvd with Kalissa and Priscilla, they were pretty funny. Later I had good conversation with Kalissa.
Olga went with us also. We went to a restaurant in Antigua, it was pretty good, I even got to have a coke with ice in it. That was the first ice I have had since I've been here.
I enjoyed shopping, I needed to get a few things, or rather I wanted a few things. The band on my watch broke so I found a new watch. I wanted to buy another purse and found one I really like. Came back on the chicken bus.
Tonight I watched a couple of I love Lucy episodes on dvd with Kalissa and Priscilla, they were pretty funny. Later I had good conversation with Kalissa.
Friday, August 9, 2013
Good Week
This has been a good week. Class was interesting and I learned some things which is the idea. The weather has been really nice the past couple of days. There has been some rain while I have been here but it has not been as rainy as I thouht it would be.
Today has been a less busy day than the past 4 days which has been nice. It is Susy's birthday today and all the kids got together at 5:45 this morning and set off firecrackers outside her door, they were loud.
Tomorrow is Josh's birthday and he is excited to get up and make us all some special birthday pancakes. Pancakes are one of his favorite foods. We won't have 6:00
Today has been a less busy day than the past 4 days which has been nice. It is Susy's birthday today and all the kids got together at 5:45 this morning and set off firecrackers outside her door, they were loud.
Tomorrow is Josh's birthday and he is excited to get up and make us all some special birthday pancakes. Pancakes are one of his favorite foods. We won't have 6:00
Thursday, August 8, 2013
Thursday 8 August
This is my second Thursday and I am exhausted with still one more day of school and work. I'm too tired to even write much so I will just say a couple random things and call it a
night.
The other day I said we were in a town just outside Antigua called Viejo but that was wrong. There is a town called Viejo but it is further down the road I think and the town we are in is San Miguel Escobar.
Guess I better work on some of my school work.
night.
The other day I said we were in a town just outside Antigua called Viejo but that was wrong. There is a town called Viejo but it is further down the road I think and the town we are in is San Miguel Escobar.
Guess I better work on some of my school work.
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
EARTHQUAKE
I forgot to comment that Not last night but the night before there was an earthquake. It was shortly after we went to bed and the beds and everything started to seriously shake. It only lasted about 20 minutes and I found it quite unsettling but the next day when I asked a few people if they felt it they either didn't know it happened or acted like no big deal which it wasn't because it stopped, but it could have got worse. It's not like earthquakes are unheared of around here.
Class was good again today. After lunch for our work assignment we drove to a town about 20 minutes away to help clean at a school. The part I liked about the event was not the cleaning of course but the drive over there. I was able to see some of the countryside, the mountain side was so green and looked like a patchwork quilt with all the different plots of ground being worked. We were driving toward one of the volcanos which was really beautiful, the top half of it was covered in clouds.
After that we drove to the market, set up a couple of tables then the kids who hang out in the market all day because their parents work there come over and hear a kids bible story and then we give them a paper with a picture and crayons to color. I find the whole market scene interesting, the individuals and what they sell. How the whole thing comes together and works is fascinating. I wish I had lots of pictures to post and share so everyone could see what I mean.
Class was good again today. After lunch for our work assignment we drove to a town about 20 minutes away to help clean at a school. The part I liked about the event was not the cleaning of course but the drive over there. I was able to see some of the countryside, the mountain side was so green and looked like a patchwork quilt with all the different plots of ground being worked. We were driving toward one of the volcanos which was really beautiful, the top half of it was covered in clouds.
After that we drove to the market, set up a couple of tables then the kids who hang out in the market all day because their parents work there come over and hear a kids bible story and then we give them a paper with a picture and crayons to color. I find the whole market scene interesting, the individuals and what they sell. How the whole thing comes together and works is fascinating. I wish I had lots of pictures to post and share so everyone could see what I mean.
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
August 6, 2013
Today has been a beautiful day. School was good, each week we study a different topicand this week it is "Intersession, Hearing the Voice of God". The teacher is Dale Harrison who has been the director of YWAM Chico for the past 14 years and just recently retired from that and is looking into ministering in a new area. He is a very good teacher.
After lunch we had our work details to do which was not my favorite part of the day. One thing I was tasked to do was wash windows. Now washing windows in and of itself is not bad, and can be needed but part of my window washing experieyet.was a blatant exercise in futility. The windows upstairs are normal windows and when I got done you coild tell they had been washed and that was fine but the windows downstairs are deeply textured glass behind iron bars. So number one you xan hardly get to the windows unless you completly bruise your arm sticking it through the iron bars and then you cannot tell whether the windows are clean or dirty when you get done because they look exactly the same. The only difference is you have done your assigned task and hopefully somebody feels good abouhose it even if I don't.
My hands have been in so much dish water, clorox water, and other cleaning water I think they have become semi-permanently damaged and I'm not even through 2 weeks yet.
The good thing about the day is after that I got to resr a lottle amd do some of my school work and we didn't have ro run off and do anything else.
We had an hour allocated for study tonight, and they made popcorn for tj
After lunch we had our work details to do which was not my favorite part of the day. One thing I was tasked to do was wash windows. Now washing windows in and of itself is not bad, and can be needed but part of my window washing experieyet.was a blatant exercise in futility. The windows upstairs are normal windows and when I got done you coild tell they had been washed and that was fine but the windows downstairs are deeply textured glass behind iron bars. So number one you xan hardly get to the windows unless you completly bruise your arm sticking it through the iron bars and then you cannot tell whether the windows are clean or dirty when you get done because they look exactly the same. The only difference is you have done your assigned task and hopefully somebody feels good abouhose it even if I don't.
My hands have been in so much dish water, clorox water, and other cleaning water I think they have become semi-permanently damaged and I'm not even through 2 weeks yet.
The good thing about the day is after that I got to resr a lottle amd do some of my school work and we didn't have ro run off and do anything else.
We had an hour allocated for study tonight, and they made popcorn for tj
Monday, August 5, 2013
QUICK
This is going to have to be quick, I've got 10 minutes before the internet is shut off for the night. This was the beginning of the second week of school. It was good today. The down side to the day is I have had about 30 minutes of down time since six this morning and that constant going and doing non-stop wears on me.
I don't have time to share all that has happened today but maybe tomorrow I will get a little more time for important personal things like my blog.
Night.
I don't have time to share all that has happened today but maybe tomorrow I will get a little more time for important personal things like my blog.
Night.
Sunday, August 4, 2013
BEGINING
Beginning semana numero dos. Today is Sunday so after breakfast we gathered to hit the road for church. Another thing I have been doing a lot of since I have been here besides chores is walking.
We are in a town called Viejo just outside Antigua so to get to Antigua we have to walk a couple blocks down the street to a main road to catch the bus, and taking the bus is always a trip. Then once we got off the bus in Antigua we had to walk about a mile to get to the church. It's a church that does the service in both Spanish and English. So by the time we did all that and got back I was pretty tired. Then it was time to get some lunch ready. The cook is off on Sunday so all the meals have to be prepared by some of us.
It has been nice not getting up quite so early Saturday and Sunday but tomorrow it will be back to the 6 a.m. being on duty for chores.
Even though today has been the least demanding day on our time, the day is going by quickly because there are so many other school things we have to take time to keep up on even that keeps me somewhat busy.
I Skyped with my family tonight, Rachael was at Lori's so I got to talk to Lori, Scott, Kailey, and Jake which was nice. Modern technology sure makes it easier to be away like this and I am thankful for that.
I am going to get this posted and get back to my studying.
Buenos Noches.
We are in a town called Viejo just outside Antigua so to get to Antigua we have to walk a couple blocks down the street to a main road to catch the bus, and taking the bus is always a trip. Then once we got off the bus in Antigua we had to walk about a mile to get to the church. It's a church that does the service in both Spanish and English. So by the time we did all that and got back I was pretty tired. Then it was time to get some lunch ready. The cook is off on Sunday so all the meals have to be prepared by some of us.
It has been nice not getting up quite so early Saturday and Sunday but tomorrow it will be back to the 6 a.m. being on duty for chores.
Even though today has been the least demanding day on our time, the day is going by quickly because there are so many other school things we have to take time to keep up on even that keeps me somewhat busy.
I Skyped with my family tonight, Rachael was at Lori's so I got to talk to Lori, Scott, Kailey, and Jake which was nice. Modern technology sure makes it easier to be away like this and I am thankful for that.
I am going to get this posted and get back to my studying.
Buenos Noches.
Saturday, August 3, 2013
Una Semana Under My Belt
One week down and too many more to count right now. Today has been an interesting day so far, as all my days have been. We got to sleep till 8 which has been unheard of since I got here, no rocking chair for me just yet.
After desayuno and prayer time we all headed to town to go to the gym. Most of us were going to stay in town longer and look around and they told us we could put our gym gear in the van when we got done so we wouldn't have to carry it which would have been nice but that didn't happen. There were 10 girls that had to cycle through the showers and only 4 boys so when we all got out those that were coming back had left and we were left to carry everything around and if that wasn't bad enough it had started to seriously rain. Now I know how it can rain here in Antigua in the afternoon so I bought a very nice rain jacket for this trip, brought an umbrella, and cheap rain coats but they hurried us up to go to the gym so in trying to get that stuff ready I forgot to grab rain gear and I don't think any one else did either. So . . . It was a wet afternoon. It would stop raining and then start up again.
Hey Rachael, for lunch we had "Pollo Camperos". One of the girls in my room her name is Olga and she is from Antigua, I asked if she wanted to hang out with me but she only speaks Spanish so there is a couple that is in the class and the wife, Emma speaks some English so we hung with them too.
My only purchase for the day was a bag that cost Q5 which is about .75 cents and I am going to use it for my laundry bag. Then Olga knew the right bus to catch to get back and the right place to get off the bus so here I am.
After desayuno and prayer time we all headed to town to go to the gym. Most of us were going to stay in town longer and look around and they told us we could put our gym gear in the van when we got done so we wouldn't have to carry it which would have been nice but that didn't happen. There were 10 girls that had to cycle through the showers and only 4 boys so when we all got out those that were coming back had left and we were left to carry everything around and if that wasn't bad enough it had started to seriously rain. Now I know how it can rain here in Antigua in the afternoon so I bought a very nice rain jacket for this trip, brought an umbrella, and cheap rain coats but they hurried us up to go to the gym so in trying to get that stuff ready I forgot to grab rain gear and I don't think any one else did either. So . . . It was a wet afternoon. It would stop raining and then start up again.
Hey Rachael, for lunch we had "Pollo Camperos". One of the girls in my room her name is Olga and she is from Antigua, I asked if she wanted to hang out with me but she only speaks Spanish so there is a couple that is in the class and the wife, Emma speaks some English so we hung with them too.
My only purchase for the day was a bag that cost Q5 which is about .75 cents and I am going to use it for my laundry bag. Then Olga knew the right bus to catch to get back and the right place to get off the bus so here I am.
Friday, August 2, 2013
ALMOST
It's almost been a week, tomorrow will be 7 days I have been here but today was the end of the first week of school. Each week we study a different topic in school, this week was the character and nature of God. Each week they bring in a different teacher to teach the different topics.
We had a little extra free time tonight which has been nice and then with tomorrow being Saturday we don't have to show up for breakfast until 8 which is just crazy.
It has been an exhausting week, the time has gone by fast even though it seems like it's been a long week.
I do miss home and being with you Rachael.
We had a little extra free time tonight which has been nice and then with tomorrow being Saturday we don't have to show up for breakfast until 8 which is just crazy.
It has been an exhausting week, the time has gone by fast even though it seems like it's been a long week.
I do miss home and being with you Rachael.
Thursday, August 1, 2013
OK
Ok, here I am at the end of another busy day. Have to hurry and type this before the internet gets shut off for the night.
It's been a good day although I have to say I did get a little frustrated with chores earlier. I took the time in between sweeping and washing dishes to do my first load of wash and with most things here there is a learning curve for something even that basic. Hung the clothes up, up on the roof and did get them down before the rain started even though they weren't quite dry.
Had good food today (it's all been good for the most part), lunch was salad, mashed potatoes, and baked chicken. Florisita is the cook who comes in every day except Sunday, she really is a good cook. Yesterday she made a great banana cake, we don't seem to have dessert often but we have fresh fruit with every meal. Tonight we had tostadas with refried black beans to put on them with some chopped cooked cabbage and there was even a picante sauce that to me was just the right hottness and then there were fried empanadas that had I think was some kind of veggie filling. It was all very tasty.
Oh, I don't want to forget 'more chores' after dinner.
I mentioned how terrifying driving in Guatemala City was, well driving around the small towns is it's own unique experience and not always a pleasant one but ususally interesting none the less.
Rachael, by the way I have now seen several "Jorges". As you know, no surprise there.
I better hit the publish key while I still am connected to the outside world.
It's been a good day although I have to say I did get a little frustrated with chores earlier. I took the time in between sweeping and washing dishes to do my first load of wash and with most things here there is a learning curve for something even that basic. Hung the clothes up, up on the roof and did get them down before the rain started even though they weren't quite dry.
Had good food today (it's all been good for the most part), lunch was salad, mashed potatoes, and baked chicken. Florisita is the cook who comes in every day except Sunday, she really is a good cook. Yesterday she made a great banana cake, we don't seem to have dessert often but we have fresh fruit with every meal. Tonight we had tostadas with refried black beans to put on them with some chopped cooked cabbage and there was even a picante sauce that to me was just the right hottness and then there were fried empanadas that had I think was some kind of veggie filling. It was all very tasty.
Oh, I don't want to forget 'more chores' after dinner.
I mentioned how terrifying driving in Guatemala City was, well driving around the small towns is it's own unique experience and not always a pleasant one but ususally interesting none the less.
Rachael, by the way I have now seen several "Jorges". As you know, no surprise there.
I better hit the publish key while I still am connected to the outside world.
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
First School Day
Well today was the first day we had class, the previous days have been orientation stuff. They are doing the classes about 10 minutes away at a church since we are a bigger group and they wanted more room. So now we not only had all the people loaded in the van but tables loaded on top and a bunch of gear including a big speaker that took more room than another person.
I have done more "chores" since I have been here than I have done the last six months all put together at home. They have us so busy with chores, reading, writting, studying, do this don't do that that I can't keep track of or follow all the fine points of what needs to be done.
So, again this has been a busy day. They will be shutting off the internet soom so I will get this posted. Still have to shower and get to bed so I can be in the kitchen at 6 in the morning to help fix breakfast.
Manana.
I have done more "chores" since I have been here than I have done the last six months all put together at home. They have us so busy with chores, reading, writting, studying, do this don't do that that I can't keep track of or follow all the fine points of what needs to be done.
So, again this has been a busy day. They will be shutting off the internet soom so I will get this posted. Still have to shower and get to bed so I can be in the kitchen at 6 in the morning to help fix breakfast.
Manana.
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Tuesday
Here I am at my first Tuesday away and my first Tuesday being retied. The Guatemalan cook is great, she has prepared some delicious food. The down side is she doesn't do breakfast and starting tomorrow we have to get up and prepare it. There are 12 of us in the class so we are broken up into 3 groups with 4 each. We have to do chores like cleanup after meals and soon much more.
It does take a while to get in the grove and figure out what is going on and what is expected so we are still in the orientation phase.
I am impressed with the group so far, I like everyone. There are 6 Americanos, 6 Guatemalans, and 1 girl from Switzerland.
Went out for a walk this afternoon with a lady who is here as the translator from English to Spanish, she is from El Salvador anf her name is Suzie. It was all cloudy out as we were leaving and I said (knowing how there can be a downpour at any time) should we bring a rain jacket or umbrella but Suzie says no, it will probably be okay. Well on the
way back it started raining pretty good and we got pretty wet but then a little after we got back it was a real downpour. This is the first day it has rained since I've been here.
Tonight here shortly we have to decorate the journals they are giving us that we have to keep.
Journal time, got to go.
It does take a while to get in the grove and figure out what is going on and what is expected so we are still in the orientation phase.
I am impressed with the group so far, I like everyone. There are 6 Americanos, 6 Guatemalans, and 1 girl from Switzerland.
Went out for a walk this afternoon with a lady who is here as the translator from English to Spanish, she is from El Salvador anf her name is Suzie. It was all cloudy out as we were leaving and I said (knowing how there can be a downpour at any time) should we bring a rain jacket or umbrella but Suzie says no, it will probably be okay. Well on the
way back it started raining pretty good and we got pretty wet but then a little after we got back it was a real downpour. This is the first day it has rained since I've been here.
Tonight here shortly we have to decorate the journals they are giving us that we have to keep.
Journal time, got to go.
What a Day
This is the first full day and it has been busy. Breakfast, we had refried beans, boiled plaintains, scrambled eggs and fruit, (papaya and watermelon) now that was a good Guatemalan breakfast, school (orientation stuff), lunch, then we broke up into teams and took the bus into Antigua and had to find certain places and take our pictures there and the first group won. It was not easy bit I guess it was fun. The down side was not being able to enjoy Antigua because we had to hurry hurry. Oh, I have to mention the van, it appears to be an older toyota. I first rode in it the day I got here and there were only 3 of us and I thought it seemed like it would hold about 8. Well Sunday morning when we all loaded up to head to church I found out how wrong I was, it actually fit 16. Now there was just something wrong with that, obviously it was meant for 16 tiny Japanese people and fortunately several of the people I am with are about that size but I definitely don't fit that description.
I am going to post this but it is a day behind due to lack of sufficient time and internet access. Next post will be about todays happenings.
I am going to post this but it is a day behind due to lack of sufficient time and internet access. Next post will be about todays happenings.
Sunday, July 28, 2013
Buenos Tardes
Yesterday when we drove into Antigua it brought a smile to my face remembering last time I was here and conjuring up fond memories. This morning while trying to organize a little and then get ready for church I found the note Rachael had written me and tucked away in my suitcase which brought tears to my eyes and joy to my heart.
Church was good this morning. Coming home we drove through parts of Antigua which were my old stomping grounds when I was here last which was fun for me. Kind of a quiet afternoon and then this evening is the official start. We will have what looks and smells to be a good dinner.
Church was good this morning. Coming home we drove through parts of Antigua which were my old stomping grounds when I was here last which was fun for me. Kind of a quiet afternoon and then this evening is the official start. We will have what looks and smells to be a good dinner.
First Ful Day
I'm experiencing the beginnings of new sites, sounds, and smells here in Guatemala. Off to church.
Saturday, July 27, 2013
ESTOY AQUI
The delayed flight out of SLC made my connection to Guatemala a little closer than I like but it all worked out. The flight here was good and we arrived on time about 11:05. The time here is the same as it is in Utah. Driving in Guatemala City could be described as scary, crazy, and terrifying all at the same time. We had to stop and do some shopping on the way home at a store called Price Savers, Guatemala's version of Sams Club.
Finally got to the base about 4 and was able to rest for a while. Dinner was served a little after 6 and was some shredded chicken wih sliced potatoes in a type of tomatoe sauce with rice that you could put in it, fresh made tortillas (they were good), and watermelon which was really sweet.
Got hooked up to the wi-fi fine and was able to facetime with Rachael. The YWAM base here seems good so far.
Finally got to the base about 4 and was able to rest for a while. Dinner was served a little after 6 and was some shredded chicken wih sliced potatoes in a type of tomatoe sauce with rice that you could put in it, fresh made tortillas (they were good), and watermelon which was really sweet.
Got hooked up to the wi-fi fine and was able to facetime with Rachael. The YWAM base here seems good so far.
0130 in the morning, waiting for a delayed flight, was suppose to depart at 0105 but at least the plane is scheduled to be here in another half hour and depart at 02:43, due into Atlanta at 8:03 a.m. Thankfully I have plenty of time before my flight is due to leave Atlanta so this delay should not be a problem
Friday, July 26, 2013
The Movement Begins
It's five minutes before I leave for the airport, and I decided I had better check in at least once while I was stateside! I'm feeling frazzled with all the prep, but excited for a new adventure! I will try to update once I get to Guatemala, and let you know how the trip went!
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