T - 2 Days

Well, our adventures in Guatemala are now coming to an end. We have one day left here until we leave early Friday morning to return to Canada, school and life "as usual". Though I have to wonder how many of us are going to go back to being the same as we were before. Guatemala certainly has left its mark on me, in more ways than one. And I mean that literally as well as metaphorically and our trip to Volcan de Pacaya about a month ago has left me scarred. In the past two weeks, we have experienced a great deal of things that were new to us, as the first year students were sent out to do our practicum and experience intercultural ministry first hand, the ups and the downs. We have all learned numerous lessons, many of which cannot be accounted for through a blog; personal lessons of growth, community, and much, much more. I know that I will not be able to accurately express all of what I have learned, even if I were to sit down and talk for a few days straight.

I am looking forward to returning home and seeing where God brings me next, what lies ahead and how I can apply the things I have learned here to life back in Canada. I hope and pray that I will not return the same person, or that I will go back to the same life, but that the changes in me that have occurred in the last two months would rather be permanent and would have a never ending effect on my life. This is but a brief update, that really gives no insight into the happenings of recent times, but I will one day sit down with whoever wants to listen and give an account of just how life changing two months in a foreign country can be. God bless you all and see you soon!

Spiritual Retreat

The past three days we went on a Spiritual Retreat in a compound in the middle of Guatemala City. It was a time for us to relax and recuperate before heading off for our ten day practicum, which we leave for on Saturday. During our time in the compound, we covered a series of five sessions which were: Identity in Christ, Comparison Will Kill You, Forgiveness and Bitterness, Carrying the Name of Jesus and Passions and Giftings. These sessions worked well to reveal to us all as individuals areas in our lives and in our faiths that needed attention, and brought about at least a start to a change in some of these areas. For me personally, I found a lot in what I learned these past few days. I learned a lot about myself, about my friends around me and even more about God. It was a wonderful experience, though difficult at times, working through some issues that have been a part of my life for some time, learning to let go of things that have hurt me, and finding true freedom in God and His almighty love.

This time was greatly beneficial to our teams as well, as it gave us opportunities to work through some tense situations to bring about resolve and restoration of broken relationships. It also aided us to see the unique skill sets and giftings of each member of the group, and such knowledge will be a tremendous help during practicum. In amongst the sessions, we were also giving a fair amount of solo time and free time, which many of us used to further seek out God, freedom and intensive conversations about revelations and realizations. Our interviews for the Discover Internship were also today, and from what I have heard, they all went well and the Directors and Interns have a tough decision ahead of them.

One of the biggest things for me this weekend was started by a quote in my prayer journal that read: "We don't walk spiritually by electric light, but by a hand-held lantern. And a lantern shows only the next step - not several steps ahead." Trying to figure out my future after finishing Discover has been a huge thing on my mind lately, as I don't yet know if I will be offered the internship, or if I'll be able to afford to return to Bible College right away. I don't know if I will be able to get a decent job in my home town or if I'll branch out and move in with my dad in a bigger city to find a better job. Through meditation, prayer, and many conversations, however, the not knowing no longer bothers me. I know God has a plan, and He will reveal it to me in due time, and things will work out for the better in the end.

The next two days we have here will be spent mostly in meetings planning our practicum, and then on Saturday we leave for our ten day practicum, and unfortunately I won't have internet for that so I will not be able to post any updates. When we reach Panajachel after the practicum, I will do my best to fill everyone in on the happenings of practicum. Prayer for our practicums would be very much appreciated, especially as now the other team has lost a member and a member on my team has been having rather serious medical problems. Prayer for good team dynamics and relationships, for smooth operations in the planned ministries and God's guidance as we seek to plan the most effective ways we can be a light and support in this community would be wonderful!

La Limonada

La Limonada is the name of the Guatemala City slums, one of the largest slum cities in Latin America, and one of the most dangerous, gang ridden areas. La Limonada is also the place we spent our day today, learning about an amazing woman named Tita, the schools she has started and the hope she has brought to countless people living in La Limonada. La Limonada is home to about 80, 000 people, and the living conditions within it would make many Western World people sick to their stomachs. Whoever derived the term "concrete jungle" seemed to have been describing La Limonada, because that is probably the easiest, clearest description one can give of a first impression. Towering concrete buildings, ram-shackle houses stacked awkwardly on top of each other, leaning over narrow, even streets that are littered with trash is what one sees at first glance. It is a destitute looking place, a place that literally looks "God-forsaken"; home to abuse, drugs, extreme poverty and a very rare chance of escape.

Yet the people who live in La Limonada are not as one may expect. We started our tour of La Limonada by visiting one of the schools that Tita has started, and meeting some of the children who are lucky enough to be blessed by the work of the school. Shortly after, we split off into groups, some staying at the school and playing with the children there, and some of us going out into the neighbourhood to a nearby building that acts as an extension of sorts of the school. The school itself is painted bright red on the outside, a beacon, a shining ray of hope in the midst of the crumbling cement and scrap metal buildings that line the streets. The other building, one would not be able to tell from the outside it was acting as a classroom until the gate was opened to the flood of smiling children who were eager to take your hand and play with you. These children come from broken homes full of abuse, malnutrition, abandonment, and much, much more. Yet their smiles can break your heart; their hearts are full of joy and a sense of hope for the future that brings one to the brink of tears.

After a while of interacting with these beautiful children, we bade them good bye and started on the next chapter of our tour: House visits. We were led by guides through the streets to several houses, where we would go inside, meet the inhabitants, and talk with them for a time. During the break in between classes, the teachers from the schools that Tita has established in La Limonada visit people nearby who are struggling and could use some encouragement. At the first house we went to, we were taught how to make tortillas, which are a staple in every meal here. We learned that the lady who lived there was having a lot of problems with her kidney, and she needed an operation but couldn't afford it. She also owed a huge debt to the man who brought her corn for her tortillas because she hadn't written down how much she owed him, and he told her that she owes him much more than she thought she did. Her tortilla business supports her, her daughter and her two grandsons, who live with her. After talking with her for a while, we prayed with her and went on to the next house.

At the next house visit, we met an old man who had been in an accident that caused him to lose his vision. He lived with his wife and sister, the three of them in a house that's less than half the size of my garage back home. All three were older and had health issues and no money for food, no way to provide for themselves. The old man had been having trouble walking because of his knee, and was in bed when we arrived. When we were introduced to him, we offered our hands because he could not see our faces. He commented on how he thought each of us must look, whether we were big and strong or small and gentle. Although his pain and suffering were clearly evident, this man was so full of joy and so happy that we visited him, that he stood up, with help, and danced. The joy the emanated from him was contagious, and he brought a smile to all our faces.

After finishing the house visits, we met up with the rest of our program, and did a short debrief with Tita, a woman who had grown up in La Limonada, gotten caught up in drugs and pain, and then decided that wasn't the life she wanted to live. She got cleaned up and went back to offer hope and love to the other residents. Since she began her ministry, she has now opened three schools in different neighbourhoods within La Limonada, as people within the shanty town are not allowed to cross neighbourhoods due to the gang activity; crossing into another gang's territory would not end well. Many of the ladies who work with Tita also grew up there, and their love for the people in La Limonada is evident in all they do. It was a heart breaking, but truly beautiful experience, though it wouldn't have been so beautiful if it hadn't been for the hope seen in the work of Tita and her ministry.

While I will never forget trying to navigate through the narrow streets, trying to avoid stepping in vomit or dog feces, the smell of pollution and rotting garbage overwhelming my senses and the thoughts of the terrible living conditions and brokenness that runs rampant throughout La Limonada, I will also never forget the wonderful joy, hope and love that also exists within the community.

Santa Cena

This weekend, my team had the blessing of attending our host church's Santa Cena (Holy Supper, or communion). I had been having some thoughts about Communion, as I hadn't heard much about it since our arrival in Guatemala, and I was very curious as to how the Guatemalans held communion, because it varies quite a lot within Canada. Our service started an hour early, and begun with just over two solid hours of worship. The worship was extremely charismatic, and it was a unique experience that I am very grateful for. There were the normal people crying, dancing and praying loudly over the music, but on a much larger scale, and there were also flags of an assortment of colours, some proclaiming messages such as, "Jesus is my Saviour!", "I am Free in Him," and so on. The music was louder, and nearly overwhelming. There were more people dancing in the center than usual as well.

One thing I found particularly interesting was there were women in uniforms of sorts, who would gather around some of the ladies who were dancing, one a a time, and form a circle around the lady, holding her up while she danced until she collapsed. Then they would lower her to the ground, cover her legs with a scarf and then some other ladies in another uniform would step in and make sure no one stepped on them while they rested. At first I was incredibly confused. At my home church in Canada, it is never a good thing if someone collapses. After watching it happen a few times, my concern lessened, because seeing how the women were prepared for this told me it was a common occurrence, and that it wasn't a medical emergency that was being neglected. After the service ended, several hours later, I asked around to see if I could make sense of what had happened and why these ladies were collapsing. It turns out, the collapsing is in response to being "slain by the Spirit", which was certainly something I had not heard much about, nor ever experienced.

The church service included a "First Fruits" offering, which was another aspect I found interesting, as the church was taking Deuteronomy 26:2 literally. The verse states, "You shall take some of the first of all the fruit of the ground, which you harvest from your land that the LORD your God is giving you, and you shall place it in a basket, and you shall go to the place that the LORD your God will choose, to make his name to dwell there." This is exactly what the congregation did, complete with the basket at the front of the sanctuary. Shortly after the offering, the freshmen students in my group went upstairs to do Sunday School with the children. We were upstairs until the call for communion was made, then we made our way downstairs to join the congregation in partaking. The congregation had spent nearly an hour taking about communion prior to partaking, or so I was told. The service ended shortly after we partook, totaling around four hours in length, give or take. It was likely the longest service I have attended, but I didn't notice the time. It was a wonderful experience, and I will hold the memories in my heart, as partaking with my Guatemalan brothers and sisters was very much a blessing on my week.

An Interesting Thought on Poverty

Well, you may not find it as interesting as I do, but you haven't necessarily shared the same experiences that I have in the last month. First off, I find it hard to believe that we have already been here for a month. The time has gone by quickly, and we only have one more month here. Actually, today is exactly one month from the date we return to Canada. But I won't go on about that, because many of us are starting to miss home very much as we have been very sick the past week and a half or so. Getting back to the main idea I wanted to right about now, staying in Guatemala for this amount of time and traveling between a few of the different towns and cities has shown us the variety of levels within the poverty cycle here in Guatemala. The contrast between the rich and the poor is quite steep, and it is evident in the different towns. During our first two weeks in Guatemala, when we were in Antigua, it was very common for us to pass beggars on the streets, people who were not able to work because of illness or injury.

Spending a week on crutches myself, it was easy for me to see why injured people here are either forced to beg or hide themselves indoors until they recover. Guatemala is most definitely not built to accommodate injured people. The side walks are narrow, uneven and incredibly difficult to maneuver on crutches. This can have a huge affect on those who need crutches, as it makes them slower, and less capable of the work around Guatemala. Being unable to work, even for a short period of time, can have resounding effects on the financial status of a family, especially one already marked by poverty. The poverty cycle in the majority world is vicious and life-consuming. It is nearly impossible for one to escape without a significant amount of outside help, which does not reach nearly enough of those trapped within it.

This might not be something that everyone can relate to, but it has opened my eyes to how easily one can fall into poverty cycle and become entrapped. It is a sad reality that so many face issues like this, and much worse on a day to day basis. The needs of the people here are clearly evident, and it amazes me that a few simple changes could potentially change the lives of thousands of people.

To Be a Missionary...

This last weekend was our first of three Ministry weekends, where our teams are divided into smaller groups and living in Host Homes in El Tejar. Both teams are working with different churches to help out where they could use help during this time, and are seeking to learn as much as possible from the church, the people and the culture. For the coming weekends, we will be staying in the same host homes, giving us a chance to get the know the families better and to interact with them more. I am in a host home with Sam and Keryn, who are both interns this year. Our home is small and busy, with people, dogs and a parakeet all making it their own home. The food is wonderful, though after this weekend I have become sick; my "Canadian Stomach" is finally catching up with me.

At first, getting sick was wearing on me emotionally as well as physically, because it seems I have only been presented physical challenges to overcome in our time here; first the crutches, than my hand, and now my stomach. I awoke this morning with a nasty fever, so sick that I could hardly make it down the hallway to the bathroom without fainting. Another girl in the program has been on bed rest for the last week or so, due to an extreme case of food poisoning, and I have been worried by the idea that my sickness might last that long. Spending the afternoon in bed unable to move is never something I enjoy, but especially when I know I could be out and about doing things, being involved in helping people or seeking God's will in some way. In the midst of my feeling awful about my condition, however, God sent me some encouragement through the form of one of the friends I have made here at GBS.

Before leaving for the weekend, I had added one of the Guatemalan guys on Facebook, a friend I had met through meal times. When I came back from the weekend, I was surprised to see that he had gone through a bunch of my photos and commented on them. He was particularly taken with a photo that captured the sunset from my dorm room back at Prairie. He liked it so much that he made it his profile picture, with a caption explaining that I, his Canadian missionary friend, had taken this photo at my school back in Canada. He also wrote about how it, for him, captured the glory and vastness of God in a simple photograph. The fact that he called me a missionary, when that is what I have been going to school for for the last few months, surprised me, as in Canada most would not consider me a missionary, but a missionary in training. This, however, reminded me of the concept that we are all missionaries, all put on the earth to fulfill God's will; we don't have to have special training or be in a foreign country to be a missionary, I can be a missionary wherever God puts me.

I also found this encouraging looking into the future. Ii have no idea what I am going to do after this year of school. I have applied for the internship in my program, and I would love the opportunity to do it, but I don't know if that's where I'm supposed to go, what I am supposed to be doing. My best friend is also applying for the male internship, which would present a very interesting situation were he and I to receive the internships. The reminder that I can do God's will no matter where I am or what I am doing was comforting in this time of not knowing whether or not I will be returning to Prairie in the fall. God is good; even, especially, when times are hard down here. His grace is evident in all of creation, and His providence is a blessing I do not deserve.

Volcan de Pacaya

Yesterday we had our first adventure day of our stay in Guatemala, and we climbed Volcan de Pacaya (Pacaya Volcano). The hike was about 2-3 hours to where we stopped. The hike itself was fairly difficult at times, as the trails were covered in deep volcanic sand and rocks that made walking difficult for most. For me, it was my first day off crutches in a week, so it was even harder for me. I hadn't used my left leg in a week due to a small fracture in my foot, so suddenly doing something so strenuous was quite hard on my leg. But although it hurt, I kept going, knowing that I would hate myself if I missed out on climbing a volcano because of a little pain.

The original plan was to go all the way to the top, which would have been intense, as Volcan de Pacaya is an active volcano, but the wind, weather conditions and more frequent earthquakes lately made it dangerous, so we didn't reach the top. On the way up, the views were amazing. You could see the other neighboring volcanoes, the rolling hills, Guatemala City off in the distance, and the hardened lava from the last big eruption that occurred in 2010. When we were about three quarters of the way up, we came across a small shop called "The Lava Store". It is the only store I know of that is set up on the edge of an active volcano. It sells handmade jewelry made with volcanic rocks. All the proceeds go toward community support in the areas around the volcano, as the local communities have suffered much loss and property damage due to the eruptions. The pieces they sell are unique and quite beautiful. If you would like to learn more about them, you can visit their website: www.pacayadesigns. com.

A short ways past the Lava Store, I got the bright idea to climb up on a giant volcanic rock for a photo opportunity. The rock I was climbing on to get on to the bigger one decided to give out, and I found myself caught between two large lava rocks, my left hand slightly mangled in the process of my fall. Climbing back to the group, I had to be especially careful as to not get any more rocks in the gash, so it could be easier to clean out. Just after we got my hand bandaged up well enough to keep my from bleeding everywhere, we stopped to roast marshmallows and toast our sandwiches over a vent. Then we explored some of the caves. We spent a lot of time goofing off, taking crazy pictures and examining the varying colours in the rocks. When we had had our fun, asked our questions about the volcano and nearly had our fill of being goofs, we began our descent back down the volcano, piled onto the bus and headed back to GBS.

It was a crazy fun experience, though I would have loved it if we could have gone all the way to the top and seen the lava pools. Maybe next year!