Yes, I finally made it back to the very place where this crazy adventure started. In the exact same spot where I so tearfully said goodbye on September 25, 2008 I found two wonderful people waiting to give me the warmest welcome I could have ever imagined - complete with balloons. On September 10, 2009 I landed at my final destination (for now), Denver. My parents picked me up and took me home. A place where they have encouraged, loved and supported me over the past couple of weeks. It has been really amazing and more than I could have ever asked for. So, thank you!
One of the questions I have been asked several times is, "Are you finding it difficult to adjust back to live in America?" A bit sheepishly and very honestly my response has been, "No." I know that seems like an odd answer, even to me. I attribute my answer to one large cause - over the course of this last year we had to adapt to each culture so quickly that it never fully registered in my head. Sure I have had a few "freak out" moments since being back, but I am able to count those moments on one hand. There are things I definitely miss about the cultures around the world - I miss the public transportation, I miss having roommates, I miss bargaining for everything! Quickly reality hits me in the face and I get into my own car usually by myself and head off to the store to pay the listed tag price. Why? Because that is the culture I am in now. There is no sense complaining about missing certain things when that just isn't the way this part of the world works.
A year ago I felt like I knew where I fit in the spectrum of life. I knew where my little cave of safety and where my little comfort places were, but now my spectrum has exploded. It is now a world wide spectrum and honestly I don't know where I fit in all of it. On Sunday my sweet friend came and picked me up for church as it was much too icy for me to drive. There was a surprise guest at church that day, Brother Yun. The book The Heavenly Man was written about Brother Yun, a modern day Paul. He is an active leader and member of the underground church in China. He has been imprisoned countless times and has experienced more prosecution than many of us could ever imagine. He spoke briefly and then prayed over the congregation; he prayed for the spirit of David to fall over us and over America. At that moment a light bulb went off in my head ... I thought, "I can do that." The heart of David was worship. I could do that, I could worship - that is what I did in all the other countries and that is what I can do here. While I still don't know where I lie in the spectrum, I do know that I can worship no matter where I am.
Yesterday, I met this girl named Megan. We first met because she complimented me on my shoes. I was wearing a pair of shoes that I picked up in India - they are gold flats with tons of jewels and sparklies all over them. Megan was sitting on a bench outside of a store on her lunch break. She not only complimented me on my shoes, but was fascinated by them. So I sat down and we began talking. I told her of my last year and she told me a bit of her story too. This is the essence of who we are. We were created for relationship. And that is what Megan was seeking - she was a girl sitting on a bench desperately wanting relationship with someone. And so for now, I don't know what the future holds or what my purpose is in this huge spectrum, but I do know that I was created to have a heart of worship and I do know that there are a lot of people all over the world just sitting on a bench waiting, hoping for someone to talk with.
A HUGE thank you to each person that has encouraged and supported me over this past year. I will never take you for granted as you are precious and near to my heart!
Birthdays are one of my favorite things in the entire world ... why?!?!
I feel like birthdays are great milestones to reflect over the past year and recognize the Lord's faithfulness; and a time to forecast vision for the future. This past week has always been a week of milestones in my life - three of my favorite people on the entire planet celebrated their birthdays - my sister, Michelle, on the 13th, my mom, Gayle, on the 14th, and my brother, Jeff, on the 17th.
And here they are ... celebrating all together last year, 2008!
Since I'm not there this year, here is my tribute to them ...
Michelle (13th): I'm thankful for her lighthearted spirit. She is always the one that can be counted on for turning a bad situation to good. She is always up for a challenge and loves trying new things. The way she view life is always through the eyes of the Lord - she NEVER loses focus and I admire her for that. She will be waiting for me when we arrive in Boston on September 1 and I am absolutely thrilled!
Mom (14th): I'm thankful for her encouragement. She has always wanted what is best for me and my siblings. For years she has put others before herself and that has not gone unnoticed. Thank you! I feel like she truly knows how to live each day with the new mercies that the Lord gives us!
Jeff (17th): You can always count on Jeff to bring a smile to your face! He makes situations in life seem easy because of the grace that he approaches life with - he truly has a unique gift for that. His heart is the core of his being and he lives from it each and every day - at 21 - WOW!
4 separate bus rides, 3 days, 8 hours at the Honduran/Nicaraguan border, the favor of God and great Spanish speakers later Holy Banditz and Remnant hit Granada, Nicaragua on August 2.
We are still getting settled in - to our dorm home, to our city and to several different ministry options for the month (including feeding programs, nursing homes, visiting the dump, helping at different schools).
Over the past couple of days I've been writing down some of my random, silly little thoughts. I thought I would let you into my crazy cranium!
I'm amused by the chickens and frogs in the kitchen.
Today I "petted" an African turtle in Nicaragua.
I cook for 14 people now. What?!?! Really?!?!
Getting ready in the morning consists of: washing my face, brushing my teeth and an application of deodorant.
It's August already?!
I'm so lucky that this is my life.
I love hammocks.
Air conditioning is a luxury.
I love being a regular at the market - yep, I already have my fruit/veggie lady for the month - Maria.
Cab ride for 50 cents - yes please!
I am absolutely thrilled about our time in Nicaragua!
My boyz
HBz
At the nursing home with Mr. Herrera. He's blind.
At the nursing home with (L to R): Jess, Ben and Annie
African turtle in Nicaragua - always have that camera ready!!
We just finished month 10 in Puerto Barrios, Guatemala. Each month has seemed to fly by, but our time in Guatemala seemed to speed by even faster than any other previous month.
Every month we arrive in a new place and it still amazes me how quickly the Lord provides community for us. Almost instantaneously each month we find our "regular places". We find our fruit lady and our favorite snack lady and our neighbors. This past month our favorite snack was the chocobananas - frozen, chocolate covered bananas. YUM!
We lived next to a small tienda (store) where the mother sold street food most every night. She had two small sons - Cesar and Emmanuel. Emmanuel was never caught without a deck of cards in his hands and he would often sweet talk his way into a few games of cards most days. They were a precious family - even though we didn't speak the same language with our mouths we did speak the same language in our hearts.
Our fruit lady was precious too. We were always guaranteed delicious watermelon, mangos and pineapple. Each day as we walked by we would get the greeting of, "Buenas"!
Dennis, Edgar and Jonathan would often drop by the house to hang out and spend time with us. Edgar was our driver for the month. Dennis and Jonathan we involved with the ministries that we worked with. The entire Holy Banditz team and Fuse team fell in love with these guys.
The Lord has truly taken care of us - in all ways - even our hearts. He has put all kinds of people in our path throughout this year and I am so thankful for all the precious hearts I've met that I now consider family.
While the goodbyes are terribly hard each month, I wouldn't trade them for the world. I know there will either be a reunion sometime in my earthly existence or a HUGE reunion in heaven!
Our street in Guatemala
Our house in Guatemala. The upper porch was my favorite spot!
Our mango lady
Our next door neighbor - she made delicious food!
Our next door neighbor boys - Emmanuel (on the left) and Cesar (in the middle)
How is it that one soul can touch your heart so much?
Last weekend our contacts took us by ferry to a little Guatemalan Caribbean town, Livingston. Our contacts thought that it would be a nice way for us to spend our day off. We spent a little time at the beach where we swam in what looked like "chocolate milk". We also spent some time exploring the town. And we were able to spent the night on the floor of a local church. The plan was to leave early the next morning by ferry for our casa en Puerto Barrios. Somehow word spread quickly that we were in Livingston and we were invited to a traditional Guatemalan wedding. Some folks headed home to Puerto Barrios and the rest of us stayed for the wedding.
We walked about 20 minutes along a paved road and then we walked/slid for about 5 minutes down a little trail that looked as though it didn't lead anywhere. And then all of the sudden there it was - a cinder block church, with unfinished openings as entry ways and windows. There were tamales wrapped in banana leaves cooking over an open flame. And there were a bunch of children with eyes full of expectations! Alex and I both agreed that It was as if we stepped back into Africa for a time.
After setting our bags down we immediately began to lead children songs - such as: Making Melodies, Shake a Friends Hand - they love it when we sing songs that make us look like fools. I told the story of Jonah. And then it was time for the wedding to begin.
There wasn't enough room in the church for us, so we simply peeked our heads in through the window openings. After a while we ended up sitting on a patio area outside of the kitchen and the church. There was a little three month old girl named Roxana that completely captured my heart. I don't know what it is about this year, but whenever there is a baby around my heart is pulled to it and of course I end up holding it! Within the first few minutes of seeing Roxana I had her in my arms. She was beautiful, as was her young mama.
It is really interesting to me that even though a baby can't speak they can affect someone's life so much. It is much the same when you cannot speak the same language as someone else - there is still communication that happens without words. That has been one of the lessons I've learned this year - that communication transcends languages - it's about so much more. Our hearts speak so much more than our mouths actually do - no matter our age or language or ethnicity.
At the beach
Our bedroom
Making Melodies Song
The Kiddos
More Making Melodies
Guatemalan Kitchen
Tamales and Banana Leaves
Bride and Groom not looking too happy - very serious
This month we have the privilege of having our "own kids". We have been to the orphanage here in Puerto Barrios, Guatemala twice since we have been here and will have the opportunity to go back almost every afternoon. There are about 25 children in the orphanage longing for attention and love.
As you can see in the pictures below we have been telling them Bible stories like David and Goliath and singing songs with them and playing games with them - water games are amazing in the heat!
On our first trip to the orphanage the children were a bit guarded and at an arms length. When we went back yesterday we noticed more of a warmth - they were instantly hugging us and ready to play. That got me thinking a bit. This year has been a little bit difficult for me in the sense of always saying hello at the beginning of each month and then having to say goodbye at the end of each month. But the orphanage gave me a new perspective. These children are constantly dealing with letting people into their hearts and then having to say goodbye - and not just for a year, but for their whole life.
I love these kids and am SO excited to go back this afternoon, but I know that goodbyes are going to be heart wrenching at the end of the month.
The Israelites
The Philistines
Goliath (nearer) and David looking a bit sheepish (in the red shirt).
Alex speaking Spanish!!
Mi amiga Josephine.
Shiloh, Julio and Helen.
Water games day with the kiddos (Yes, I had a special water games day shirt).
You know that feeling deep in your gut ... when something just doesn't settle right. I had that feeling today - except that is was deeper than just a feeling in my gut, it was like someone had just punched me harder than I've ever thought possible. And there was a lump stuck in my throat too, almost paralyzing me from doing anything. Honestly, I just wanted to throw up.
All of this was in response to our visit to the dump today. This was my first trip to the dump and I was not prepared for the emotions that hit me.
We went with soda, apples and taquitos to hand out to the people there. The people there were a combination of garbage workers and nearby dwellers sorting through the trash to find things for recycling or to find things for their homes. The smell was a mixture of burning trash and old stale foods. The amount bees and flies were enough for me to wish I had a fly swater.
Taking out the trash is one of my least favorite chores. So to think of working or living in the trash was something my mind couldn't comprehend.
Patrick and I met a little boy named Elmen. He was nine years old and didn't go to school, but came to the dumps with his uncle each day to help provide for his family. We asked Elmen what he wanted to be when he grew up and he didn't even know how to answer the question - he just said that he wanted to work. We told him that he was special and that someone bigger than us loved him even more than we did. In that moment I felt to useless, all my heart could do was be in continuous prayer for Elmer - that miraculously Elmer will know that he is loved beyond a shadow of a doubt.
Every time I talk to my dad there is always one question that is guaranteed that he will ask ... how is your health, physically?
And every time I have the same answer ... I'm totally fine. I mean, sure I've had a few minor bumps and bruises along the way, mostly from my own clumsiness or from the volcano hike here in Guatemala. But honestly, I haven't been down a day on the race due to sickness.
I have definitely taken it for granted, but each time my dad asks the question I am always reminded of the blessing of my health over this past year.
The Guatemalan water has almost been guaranteed to give us a fun little friend, known as a worm or parasite, but I choose to believe that there is favor on all 50 of us here as we finish out our last two months in Central America. Please pray for continued health.
Our route from Europe to Central America was one of our longest travel ventures of the year so far.
From Blankenheim, Germany, the Holy Banditz home for the month of June and a DEAR place in our hearts, we headed for a 30 hour tour extravaganza of Paris. A bus and train later we found ourselves in Frankfurt, Germany where we caught our last over ocean flight to Boston. Boston welcomed us with Cherry Coke and real, non-European deodorant. Boston to Houston. Houston to Guatemala City.
On the flight to Guatemala City I found myself in my ideal seat - window, exit row seat ... perfect! About 30 minutes into the flight I found myself in conversation with the woman next to me, Cindy. Turns out that she too is a missionary. She is originally from Ohio, but has lived as a missionary here in Guatemala for the last five years. We exchanged stories and memories from each of our different experiences and we came to one conclusion ... no matter what culture, no matter what location people need to know they are loved.
We were sitting there in an exit row enjoying our extra leg room with tears streaming down our cheeks as we talked about the necessity of love in each and every human beings' life. It could have been the nostalgia of flying or the fact that I had been up for enough hours that I didn't even know what day it was anymore, but I think that it really was the Lord using us in each other's lives to spur us on further. It was an encouragement to my heart as we finish our last two months here in Central Guatemala.
HBz hit up Paris
HBz waiting for subway to Frankfurt International Airport
Cara and I doing what we do best - shopping in Antigua, Guatemala. Volcano in the background.
Capitan and I - rode her part way up the volcano - so worth it!
25 years ago ... you became a dad! I'm so thankful that the Lord picked you for me - I would have chosen you too if I would have had the choice! I hope you have a beautiful day! I love you!
