Today... We Lived For Today.

(From journal June 25th)

Today, I woke up at 5:45 am. 

Today, I got on a boat and traveled across Lake Atitlan.

Today, I arrived in a little town called San Pedro. 

Today, I was totally not prepared for what I was getting myself into.

Today, I hiked four hours up volcano San Pedro- which made for one of the hardest experiences of my life. 

Today, I did a rope swing off the side of a volcano (may or may not have been one of my smartest decisions :) )

Today, I saw the view from the top that made the hike totally worth it.

Today.

Today, I experienced just an ounce of God's magnificent beauty and grace. 

Today, I grew closer to three amazing friends.

Today, I have been blessed so much more that I ever deserve. 

Today, we lived for today. 

A Divine Romance

Just a few pictures from my weekend in Antigua! 

 they had a thing for yellow churches in Antigua, I loved it! 

These are from a museum we went to on Guatemalan culture: 

 Mauximon!

 the marimba... they play them everywhere here!

 

 daily life for women here: weaving or selling things in the market

coffee museum! i know more than I ever though I would about coffee.. its kinda ridiculous. 

in case you were wondering... this is where coffee comes from 

Lisa, Elyse, Scotty and I at lunch in a garden thingy

more yellow! :) and a beautiful arch that marks the middle-ish of the city

I had to... :)

Really old church that made it through the earthquake 

If I could design a city, it would be a lot like Antigua.. almost every building was a different color and every street was made from cobble stone! 

The most beautiful church I've ever seen! 

some of my favorite girls: megan, eliza and monica :)

After four weeks in Guatemala... wow I don't even know how to feel. I wish I could say that God has used me as much as He has been doing work in my life, but I really don't think thats the case. I am completely amazed and blown away by all the things that have changed for me here recently. I have made some really great friends, have about 100 kids who I want to bring home with me, and have a better relationship with God than ever before. 

Three weeks from tomorrow, I'll be packing my bags and heading back my wonderful North Carolina. Which I now have a whole new appreciation for. Sweet Tea... I think I may drink a gallon in the car ride home. :) But seriously, this trip has made me value family, friends, and home so much more than I ever thought possible. I miss everyone! 

"The fullness of Your grace is here with me

The richness of Your beauty’s all I see

The brightness of Your glory has arrived

In Your presence God, I’m completely satisfied

For You I sing I dance

Rejoice in this divine romance

Lift my heart and my hands

To show my love, to show my love

A deep deep flood, an Ocean flows from You

Of deep deep love, yeah it’s filling up the room

Your innocent blood, has washed my guilty life

In Your presence God I’m completely satisfied"

In a place where God seem so far away, I've found that He is closer than ever before.

Father's Day

There's two things I know for sure:

She was sent here from heaven and she's

daddy's little girl.

As I drop to my knees by her bed at night

She talks to Jesus and I close my eyes and

I thank god for all the joy in my life

Oh, but most of all

For butterfly kisses after bedtime prayer;

sticking little white flowers all up in her

hair; "Walk beside the pony, Daddy, it's my first ride."

"I know the cake looks funny, Daddy, but I sure tried."

In all that I've done wrong I know I must

have done something right to deserve a hug

every morning and butterfly kisses at night.

Sweet 16 today

She's looking like her mama a little more everyday

One part woman, the other part girl.

To perfume and make-up from ribbons and curls

Trying her wings out in a great big world.

But I remember

Butterfly kisses after bedtime prayer; sticking

little white flowers all up in her hair.

"You know how much I love you, Daddy, But if you

don't mind I'm only gonna kiss you on the cheek this time."

With all that I've done wrong I must have done

something right to deserve her love every morning

and butterfly kisses at night.

All the precious time

Like the wind, the years go by.

Precious butterfly.

Spread your wings and fly.

She'll change her name today.

She'll make a promise and I'll give her away.

Standing in the bride-room just staring at her.

She asked me what I'm thinking and I said "I'm not

sure-I just feel like I'm losing my baby girl."

She leaned over...gave me butterfly kisses with her mama there,

Sticking little white flowers all up in her hair

"Walk my down the aisle, Daddy-it's just about time."

"Does my wedding gown look pretty, Daddy? Daddy, don't cry!"

Oh, with all that I've done wrong I must have

done something right.

To deserve your love every morning and butterfly

kisses-I couldn't ask God for more, man this is what love is.

I know I gotta let her go, but I'll always remember

every hug in the morning and butterfly kisses.

I hope you have a wonderful father's day Dad! I miss you and everyone like crazy and I wish I was home to spend the day with you! Thanks for everything you do!  I love you! 

"Today"

Today is a big day back at home, and one I would probably be spending at Davidson College. About four years ago today, I was starting the trip that would totally change my life and I had absolutely no idea. I was leaving for the twenty three day adventure with eighty three strangers that is Teens Westward Bound.

If I could leave and go again today, I would do it in a heartbeat. There are absolutely no words to describe not only the love  I have for Mr. Dennis Deaton and all my counselors, the love for all my fellow campers, or the appreciation for life I got from this trip. There was a song on this trip that we sang so many times around camp fires, I don't ever think I'll forget the words:

"Today, while the blossoms still cling to the vine, I'll taste your strawberries, I'll drink your sweet wine. A million tomorrows shall all pass away... ere I forget all the joy that is ours, Today."

So heres to wonderful memories, friends that I'll never forget and a appreciation for our amazing country and life itself that I'll hold on to forever. 

After being almost half way done with my Guatemala experience, I realize that this trip is very similar in a lot of ways to Teens Westward Bound. I didn't really want to go on either trip and was more nervous/ sick to my stomach that anything else on the first day. But seeing the way that TWB changed my life gives me hope that this trip will do that too. I have already seen God working in so many ways here, so I'm sure thats the case. 

For example, this weekend I had the opportunity to travel to Antigua. While a lot of the students looked forward to this weekend as a vacation, I was really looking forward to getting to see and work with the God's Child Organization, and of course have a break from the rice and beans :) But getting to see this organization and the things that these people are doing for the children of Guatemala was amazing. It was a beautiful environment and you could feel the love from these children as soon as you walked in the door. The part that got to me the most was when we went to the malnourished babies clinic. As I dressed in scrubs and headed up the stairs there was absolutely nothing that could prepare me for what I was about to see. There were two and three year olds who could neither walk nor talk, there were babies who had limbs that looked like they would crack in half and huge, bloated bellies from the malnutrition. One of the most heartbreaking cases was a little boy who would be a permanent resident in the clinic because when the doctors had tried to return him to his mother, she said that she didn't want him and that she would sell him. He was one of the cutest and sweetest little boys and it absolutely broke my heart. 

These children have so so so many needs here in Guatemala and I feel that there are several ways that we can help. One of the things that they said that they really needed here are clothes. These children are mostly between the ages of newborn- 4 years so if anyone has any clothes they are willing to donate, I would love to start a collection and mail them to the clinic. Please either pass them along to my parents, or I can collect any when I return on July 16th. Even if you are not able to help these children with material needs, please keep them in your prayers. They are amazing kids who got dealt a difficult card and have no choice but to fight through it. 

The story of the men and the starfish was one that came to my head as I walked through the clinic:

Once upon a time, there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work.

One day, as he was walking along the shore, he looked down the beach and saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself at the thought of someone who would dance to the day, and so, he walked faster to catch up.

As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young man, and that what he was doing was not dancing at all. The young man was reaching down to the shore, picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean.

He came closer still and called out "Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?"

The young man paused, looked up, and replied "Throwing starfish into the ocean."

"I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?" asked the somewhat startled wise man.

To this, the young man replied, "The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don't throw them in, they'll die."

Upon hearing this, the wise man commented, "But, young man, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can't possibly make a difference!"

At this, the young man bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, he said, "It made a difference for that one."

While I know there is not any way that I can even begin to help even a fraction of the malnourished children in Guatemala, planting seeds to even make a difference in one childs life is enough motivation for me. 

Where Your Love is All I Need

This past weekend was one filled with excitement and of course new adventures and experiences. Saturday, my group and I went on an excursion to Santiago. It was the first time I had been in a lancha to cross the lake and it was absolutely beautiful.

Monica and I 

Arriving in Santiago, we moved from the lancha (small boat) straight to a pick-up… yeah like a pick up truck that had a big cage on the back for people to sit in and hold on to. Apparently it’s a pretty popular mode of transportation here; so much for seat belts! About fifteen of us piled into the back of this truck and made our way to the hospitalito where the mudslide devastated most of the area last year. 

Me in the pick up! 

We then headed to the church and got to watch mass. It was really interesting even though I really didn’t have much idea what was going on.

the catholic church we saw

In Santiago, they are known for their tradition/ belief in a wooden statue… thing… called Mauxi Mon. After having to go through a maze and up what seemed like a thousand hills, we found the house where the Mauxi Mon “lives.”

Sunday, Monica (my roommate) and I decided we would go on an adventure of our own. We ended up walking to a nearby town called Santa Catarina and then taking a pick up to San Antonio. Both places were absolutely beautiful but I think the walk to Santa Catarina held some of the most beautiful sights of the lake I have seen yet.

 

We arrived in San Antonio to find a huge festival going on. At first, we had no idea what was going on because hundreds of children were running through the streets dressed  the traditional blue mayan clothing and Guatemalan men were dancing around in masks. All of it was centered around the huge Catholic church in the middle of the town and  I got to witness the playing of the marimba. We never really quite figured out what the festival was for but we knew it was legit because we were the only foreigners to be seen.

The Festival! 

This really big awesome looking ferris wheel.. no I didn't ride it.. you're welcome mom and dad.

The super precious little girl dress in the traditional mayan wear.

When getting to explore San Antonio a little more we found that this was the town known for weaving and ceramics. Getting to see things being woven first hand gave me a whole new appreciation for all the textiles made. It was amazing!

Since Spanish class is (FINALLY) over, this week I got to start working in the elementary school in Pana with the special needs children.  If I wasn’t in good shape before now, I will absolutely be when I leave. These kids keep me running for the entire time Im there!  But, after only being there two days, it is so easy to see how loving and sweet each of these kids are. They are absolutely blowing me away and I love being able to work with and help them. :)

the school

The cutest one of my little students :)

Last night I was listening to my ipod on shuffle and the song “You Hold Me Now” by Hillsong come on. While I would love to say it was a coincidence, I think God shows us miracles daily and this one just one of those for me. Since I have started working here in Guatemala, I have been surrounded by suffering children for at least six hours every day. It has been such a growing experience already. Not only have I been so humbled by everything I see here on a daily basis, but I’ve only caught a glimpse of the lifestyles that these children have to live everyday. In Guatemala,I’ve learned having a mental disability is discouraged, as if that is even possible. Most of these sweet and amazing special needs children I have gotten to know are ignored daily by their parents, siblings, and the community outside of school and therapy. Because of this, I don’t think I have ever had more compassion for a group of children in my life. It is just so sad to see the conditions that they have to live in on a daily basis, and it was something that I was really struggling with dealing with. Then I heard this song, and something about it helped me to remind me that these are all just earthly conditions and there is a reason for everything going on right now.  Please just pray that seeds will be planted in the lives of these children and parents daily. I would love to help them realize there is something so much bigger and more amazing than any of the struggles they are going through now.

“No weeping, no hurt or pain, no suffering. You hold me now.

No darkness, no sick or lame, no hiding. You hold me now.

For eternity all my heart will give all the glory to your name.”