The Chantilly Bible team from VA is coming to Guatemala this afternoon! I´m excited to see them. It also means that I´ll be talking English all week. I think it will be a nice break so that I can start fresh learning Spanish again when they leave.
Sorry I haven´t posted for a week. Honestly, I felt like there wasn´t anything interesting to post about since everything I´m doing is just everyday stuff. Everyday we go walking in the morning, and everyday we go to the market to buy fresh fruit or vegetables. One of my favorite foods here that Chochy makes is Caldo de Res, which is a beef stew with huge pieces of vegetables. I learned how to make it so hopefully when I get back to the US I can attempt to make it for my family. I went with Rossanita to the market to buy carrots, potatoes, half a squash called guicoy, a potato-like vegetable called guisquil, cilantro and corn. Guess how much it all cost? Q25! That´s less than $3.50!
On Wednesday night we went to the movies as a special treat. It was in a really nice mall. There were palm trees inside and a waterfall type thing. We ate at the food court before the movie started. Everything was really clean and modern. There was a Subway, McDonalds, Pizza Hut and even a sushi place. I didn´t feel like I was in Guatemala haha. I ate salad from a place called ``Go Green``and it was really delicious buuut the next morning I was a little sick...the Ruanos told me it probably was the salad. I thought I would have felt sick sooner, but they said it takes like 6 hours. All day Thursday I felt kind of weird, but I think I´m completely better now. On top of that I was battling a cold. I´ve been trying to eat a lot of fruit to keep up my vitamin C. I´ve been able to eat mango everyday this week! I am so happy.
Thursday we went to Price Smart. It is so similar to Costco. They have some of the same products and even have frozen swirl yogurt at the food court! We bought a bunch of food and supplies for the team. It was so funny how at home I felt there, since my family practically lives at Costco in VA.
I´m really excited about my suitcase coming! Thank you Zellners!! Now I have to organize all my junk and pack for the trip. We are leaving tomorrow for El Faro at 9 so I´d better get on it. Wednesday we will go to Jalapa and then will return Friday afternoon. As far as I know, I will be assisting either Dr. Grieco from the team or Dr. Ruano, but who knows. I don´t think I´ll be able to post all week so I´ll give a summary of the trip when I get back sometime next weekend. Please keep praying that I will completely recover from my cold or whatever it is. I´ve been sneezing like crazy! And pray that they team will accomplish what God wants them to do and that it will be a good week of serving together. Gracias!
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Saturday, July 21, 2012
1 Month in Guate!
Today marks one month in Guate- I don´t know if it went fast or slow. All I know is that it feel like a very, very long time ago when I left my family at the airport.
Chochy Concert
So today I was in my first Chochy concert! I was honored to be a part of it. I got to wear the giant heart costume- haha. I messed up my lines a little, but it´s over now and it´s fine. I had a lot of fun dancing. I got to dance in two songs- ``Caminando`` and ``Te Seguire``. I hope that I can learn some other songs too! Chochy says that there are two more concerts scheduled for now but possibly more. I will get to be ``Amor`` again. Alllright!
Suitcase
I am so pumped because today my mom gave me the good news that Mr. Zellner (from the team that is coming next Saturday) is bringing a suitcase for me!! I am super excited because all day today I was thinking that it wouldn´t be possible to get a suitcase down here and that I´d have to buy everything here. So when I read mom´s email tonight I was ecstatic! Wearing only two weeks worth of clothes has been harder than I thought haha. I´ve been pretty thankful for Apple products lately- over Facetime, my mom was able to ``take me`` to my bedroom so I could pack from Guatemala. It´s a weird feeling. It´s like I´m there...but I´m not.
Baptisms
Tomorrow (Sunday) the three Ruano kids- Dennis Josue, Rossanita and Bryan are getting baptized! I am really excited for them and I think it is so cool that I will be able to witness their public profession of faith.
Chochy Concert
So today I was in my first Chochy concert! I was honored to be a part of it. I got to wear the giant heart costume- haha. I messed up my lines a little, but it´s over now and it´s fine. I had a lot of fun dancing. I got to dance in two songs- ``Caminando`` and ``Te Seguire``. I hope that I can learn some other songs too! Chochy says that there are two more concerts scheduled for now but possibly more. I will get to be ``Amor`` again. Alllright!
Suitcase
I am so pumped because today my mom gave me the good news that Mr. Zellner (from the team that is coming next Saturday) is bringing a suitcase for me!! I am super excited because all day today I was thinking that it wouldn´t be possible to get a suitcase down here and that I´d have to buy everything here. So when I read mom´s email tonight I was ecstatic! Wearing only two weeks worth of clothes has been harder than I thought haha. I´ve been pretty thankful for Apple products lately- over Facetime, my mom was able to ``take me`` to my bedroom so I could pack from Guatemala. It´s a weird feeling. It´s like I´m there...but I´m not.
Baptisms
Tomorrow (Sunday) the three Ruano kids- Dennis Josue, Rossanita and Bryan are getting baptized! I am really excited for them and I think it is so cool that I will be able to witness their public profession of faith.
Friday, July 20, 2012
Guess what?!
I just got my hair cut for less than $6! Oh no wait- that´s not the exciting news. The news is...I just changed my ticket from August 16th to November 19th! Ah it´s so crazy!
So on Tuesday the Ruanos asked me if I could stay longer- they had been joking around about hiding my passport before, but this time they were serious. ``Ask your parents!``
I knew this was going to be a big deal, so I didn´t immediately call my parents about it- I slept on it overnight and prayed a lot. The next day I facetimed my mom to see what she thought.
``I have something to ask you.`` I told her.
She hid her face in her arms.
``Wait, do you already know what I´m going to ask you?``I laughed.
``Just- continue.``
``I was wondering. . . if I could stay until November.``
She proceeded to look surprised and took a few deep breaths before responding.
``Well, actually, I´m relieved,`` she said. `` I thought you were going to ask me if you could get married.``
-blank look from me-
Before last week, I couldn´t even consider staying longer because I was signed up for classes at NOVA, my local community college. I was writing emails back and forth with my parents about school and jobs when they gave me a choice. If I go to college, I have to go for 4 years. It wouldn´t be worth it for me to just get an associates. So it´s college or get a job. I chose work. I´ve never been thrilled about going to college, and I really don´t feel that a college education is necessary for what I want to do in life. My father made sure to let me know that he would support my decision, either way. He didn´t want me to feel forced to go to college, but he didn´t want me to not go because of money. I´d rather just go ahead and get a job. And just because I´m not going to college doesn´t mean I can´t keep learning- learning comes in many forms. I hope to continue to learn healthy cooking, guitar, sewing and other things that interest me, such as learning Spanish. There are so many awesome opportunities out there!
That is why I am so excited to start my non-college education with 5 months in Guatemala. This is the best way to learn Spanish and the time is now or never I feel. Once I get back to the States and get a job, I can´t just leave the country for a few months.
I would appreciate prayer, as always. Here are some specifics:
-First and foremost, that I can somehow get a suitcase down here with more much needed clothes and shoes. hehe.
- That God will bless my efforts in learning Spanish, and that I will make the most of the next 4 months. (4 months! Yikes, that sounds so long!)
-Praise God for the Ruanos and their willingness to bear with me for so long! And praise God for allowing me to come to Guatemala in the first place! I am so grateful.
So on Tuesday the Ruanos asked me if I could stay longer- they had been joking around about hiding my passport before, but this time they were serious. ``Ask your parents!``
I knew this was going to be a big deal, so I didn´t immediately call my parents about it- I slept on it overnight and prayed a lot. The next day I facetimed my mom to see what she thought.
``I have something to ask you.`` I told her.
She hid her face in her arms.
``Wait, do you already know what I´m going to ask you?``I laughed.
``Just- continue.``
``I was wondering. . . if I could stay until November.``
She proceeded to look surprised and took a few deep breaths before responding.
``Well, actually, I´m relieved,`` she said. `` I thought you were going to ask me if you could get married.``
-blank look from me-
Before last week, I couldn´t even consider staying longer because I was signed up for classes at NOVA, my local community college. I was writing emails back and forth with my parents about school and jobs when they gave me a choice. If I go to college, I have to go for 4 years. It wouldn´t be worth it for me to just get an associates. So it´s college or get a job. I chose work. I´ve never been thrilled about going to college, and I really don´t feel that a college education is necessary for what I want to do in life. My father made sure to let me know that he would support my decision, either way. He didn´t want me to feel forced to go to college, but he didn´t want me to not go because of money. I´d rather just go ahead and get a job. And just because I´m not going to college doesn´t mean I can´t keep learning- learning comes in many forms. I hope to continue to learn healthy cooking, guitar, sewing and other things that interest me, such as learning Spanish. There are so many awesome opportunities out there!
That is why I am so excited to start my non-college education with 5 months in Guatemala. This is the best way to learn Spanish and the time is now or never I feel. Once I get back to the States and get a job, I can´t just leave the country for a few months.
I would appreciate prayer, as always. Here are some specifics:
-First and foremost, that I can somehow get a suitcase down here with more much needed clothes and shoes. hehe.
- That God will bless my efforts in learning Spanish, and that I will make the most of the next 4 months. (4 months! Yikes, that sounds so long!)
-Praise God for the Ruanos and their willingness to bear with me for so long! And praise God for allowing me to come to Guatemala in the first place! I am so grateful.
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
This morning I got up earlier than usual to go walking with Chochy, Dennis J. and Bryan. We walked at the beginning, but then decided to run some. We came to a bunch of stairs and went up and down them 3 times. Then we walked the rest of the time and on our walk home Chochy bought plantains, bananas and nectarines from some of the fruit shops we passed. When we got back to the house, she fried the plantains and heated up refried beans for breakfast. I really liked the plantains- they almost reminded me of a fried potato, but sweet.
Yesterday we felt an earthquake! That makes for two times since I´ve been here. It wasn´t very strong.
Yesterday we felt an earthquake! That makes for two times since I´ve been here. It wasn´t very strong.
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Happy Sunday!
Today I had a lot of fun at church raising money for the kid´s camp the church is having in October. They set up tables in the upstairs of the church with different things for the Sunday School kids to do or buy. There were snacks like frozen fruit skewers dipped in chocolate, little bags of chips, and tostadas with guacamole or salsa. Then there were games to play to get prizes (my bracelets were one of them), face painting, and soccer (on the church roof). There was even a beauty salon! I helped with that by painting nails. It was a really fun and the teachers organized it well. They still have a lot more money to raise but I hope it was a good start.
Team
There will be a dental trip with a team from Chantilly Bible Church from July 29th-August 2nd. I´m excited! First we will go to El Faro which is six hours away from Guatemala City and is located on the coast. After a few days there, we will move to Halapa, which is only three hours away. I know some of the people on the team, because I used to go to CBC, so it will be good to see them. Until then, I hope to assist Dr. Ruano at his clinic here so I can be a better help during the trip.
Futbol
We had soccer again on Tuesday and Thursday night, and I think it went better for me than the first few times. Besides being completely wacked in the face by the ball on Tuesday. Hard. I thought I was going to have a headache after that, but thankfully I didn´t and I was fine. It´s so funny that Ï´m finally at eighteen learning soccer. I´ve been wanting to learn soccer for a while now because I´m the only one out of my friends that doesn´t know how to play. I never knew I`d learn in Guatemala!
Frutas
I´ve gotten to try some interesting fruits- this week I ate a pitaya. I think it is also called a dragon fruit. The inside is bright purple-fuchia. It doesn´t have much of a taste, it is mildly sweet and softer and smoother than a kiwi. I also tried guava and rambutan for the first time- guava is really hard in the middle but sort of sweet where it is soft near the outside. Rambutan is this little white ball when peeled- it has a pit inside and is sort of like a grape, but not snappy. Kind of chewy, but juicy. If that makes sense. I really like rambutans because they are sweet. And they bought mangos! Yes, I love mangos.
Learning a language means patience patience patience
So it has been awesome making friends here and being the Ruanos ``gringa daughter``. But I feel so bad not understanding what they say, even when they speak slowly to me! Really praying that I will rely on Christ here. And also that I will have patience with myself. Galations 2:20 `` I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.`` NASB
Today I had a lot of fun at church raising money for the kid´s camp the church is having in October. They set up tables in the upstairs of the church with different things for the Sunday School kids to do or buy. There were snacks like frozen fruit skewers dipped in chocolate, little bags of chips, and tostadas with guacamole or salsa. Then there were games to play to get prizes (my bracelets were one of them), face painting, and soccer (on the church roof). There was even a beauty salon! I helped with that by painting nails. It was a really fun and the teachers organized it well. They still have a lot more money to raise but I hope it was a good start.
Team
There will be a dental trip with a team from Chantilly Bible Church from July 29th-August 2nd. I´m excited! First we will go to El Faro which is six hours away from Guatemala City and is located on the coast. After a few days there, we will move to Halapa, which is only three hours away. I know some of the people on the team, because I used to go to CBC, so it will be good to see them. Until then, I hope to assist Dr. Ruano at his clinic here so I can be a better help during the trip.
Futbol
We had soccer again on Tuesday and Thursday night, and I think it went better for me than the first few times. Besides being completely wacked in the face by the ball on Tuesday. Hard. I thought I was going to have a headache after that, but thankfully I didn´t and I was fine. It´s so funny that Ï´m finally at eighteen learning soccer. I´ve been wanting to learn soccer for a while now because I´m the only one out of my friends that doesn´t know how to play. I never knew I`d learn in Guatemala!
Frutas
I´ve gotten to try some interesting fruits- this week I ate a pitaya. I think it is also called a dragon fruit. The inside is bright purple-fuchia. It doesn´t have much of a taste, it is mildly sweet and softer and smoother than a kiwi. I also tried guava and rambutan for the first time- guava is really hard in the middle but sort of sweet where it is soft near the outside. Rambutan is this little white ball when peeled- it has a pit inside and is sort of like a grape, but not snappy. Kind of chewy, but juicy. If that makes sense. I really like rambutans because they are sweet. And they bought mangos! Yes, I love mangos.
Learning a language means patience patience patience
So it has been awesome making friends here and being the Ruanos ``gringa daughter``. But I feel so bad not understanding what they say, even when they speak slowly to me! Really praying that I will rely on Christ here. And also that I will have patience with myself. Galations 2:20 `` I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.`` NASB
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Chochy concert
I´m going to be in a Chochy kids concert! I have to wear a giant heart costume because I´m the character ``Amor``... haha but I´m excited. Today Chochy gave me the lines I have to memorize. The bad thing about these lines is that they are in Spanish (well, obviously) so if I loose my place during the concert, there is no way for me to recover, you know, make up something on the spot. Hehe. So I have to get these lines down pat, before the concert on the 21st. There will be another concert on August 3. We have practice every Tuesday night with the Chochy´s dance team. I got to watch them this week and learn some of the steps. It´s a lot of fun.
Bracelets
I made a bunch of friendship bracelets before coming to Guatemala and they have come in handy. In order to raise money for their kids camp (VBS) in October, we are going to sell some of my small bracelets for a Quetzal (less than 13 US cents) each. Hopefully I can teach Rossanita and some girls from the church how to make the bracelets too. I was able to buy some more string down here for super cheap from a small store right in the Ruano´s neighborhood.
Facetiming
I got to facetime on Wednesday night for a little while with my friends from the youth group- good to see all your smiling faces! Presh.
Futbol
We had soccer again on Tuesday night, and it went better for me than last time. Besides the time I got completely wacked in the face by the ball. Hard. I thought I was going to have a headache after that, but thankfully I didn´t and I was fine. It´s pretty cool to have this opportunity-I´ve been wanting to learn soccer for a while now because I´m the only one out of my friends who doesn´t know how to play pretty much. I never knew I`d learn in Guatemala!
Dental Clinic
Monday afternoon I got to help Dr. Ruano at his office. I had fun learning Spanish with Kevin and Gaby, two dental students from the church. Kevin helps Dr. Ruano regularly, Gaby only comes sometimes to get help with her homework. I attempted to learn the names of the dental instruments in Spanish- still a work in progress. I will probably go again to the clinic on Monday. The next dental trip is not until the end of July, so it´s nice that I can practice assisting now.
I´m going to be in a Chochy kids concert! I have to wear a giant heart costume because I´m the character ``Amor``... haha but I´m excited. Today Chochy gave me the lines I have to memorize. The bad thing about these lines is that they are in Spanish (well, obviously) so if I loose my place during the concert, there is no way for me to recover, you know, make up something on the spot. Hehe. So I have to get these lines down pat, before the concert on the 21st. There will be another concert on August 3. We have practice every Tuesday night with the Chochy´s dance team. I got to watch them this week and learn some of the steps. It´s a lot of fun.
Bracelets
I made a bunch of friendship bracelets before coming to Guatemala and they have come in handy. In order to raise money for their kids camp (VBS) in October, we are going to sell some of my small bracelets for a Quetzal (less than 13 US cents) each. Hopefully I can teach Rossanita and some girls from the church how to make the bracelets too. I was able to buy some more string down here for super cheap from a small store right in the Ruano´s neighborhood.
Facetiming
I got to facetime on Wednesday night for a little while with my friends from the youth group- good to see all your smiling faces! Presh.
Futbol
We had soccer again on Tuesday night, and it went better for me than last time. Besides the time I got completely wacked in the face by the ball. Hard. I thought I was going to have a headache after that, but thankfully I didn´t and I was fine. It´s pretty cool to have this opportunity-I´ve been wanting to learn soccer for a while now because I´m the only one out of my friends who doesn´t know how to play pretty much. I never knew I`d learn in Guatemala!
Dental Clinic
Monday afternoon I got to help Dr. Ruano at his office. I had fun learning Spanish with Kevin and Gaby, two dental students from the church. Kevin helps Dr. Ruano regularly, Gaby only comes sometimes to get help with her homework. I attempted to learn the names of the dental instruments in Spanish- still a work in progress. I will probably go again to the clinic on Monday. The next dental trip is not until the end of July, so it´s nice that I can practice assisting now.
Friday, July 6, 2012
If God let me come on this trip for only one reason it would be this- to humble me. Everyday I am put into situations that are out of my comfort zone. I don´t want to sound like I´m complaining, but quite plainly I can not hear, understand or speak Spanish for the life of me. Quite literately I would say. It is humbling to speak Spanish because my accent is very bad. So every time I speak I am making myself vulnerable. I´ve gotten to the point where I don´t want to speak at all for fear that they will make fun of me! It is tough. Thursday afternoon the Ruanos told me that I had to choose a sport to do because the kids go twice a week. I chose soccer training with Rossanita and Bryan. I didn´t have any soccer shoes but I fit a pair of Bryan`s shoes perfectly. The whole soccer thing was humbling for me because here I am, obviously a gringo, trying to play soccer but getting run over by ten year old girls. I just keep thinking that even though this is really tough for me to go through, if I rely on Christ instead of myself this will make me stronger. It is not a pleasant process, that´s for sure. Prayers would be appreciated! Pray that I can keep the right perspective ( the big picture) and glorify God in all that I do. When I take my eyes off of Christ I fall and I fall hard. Shout out to all of my P-ville friends! I miss you all and I´m glad that the IATETHEM event went well! The link takes you to the website and explains it all. And here is another link for the time-lapse video of the event. I was just reading Jeremiah the other day (I sort of stumbled upon it) and that was before I remembered that IATETHEM came from Jeremiah! Jeremiah 15:16 ``Your words were found and I ate them, And Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart; For I have been called by Your name,O Lord God of hosts.``
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