I have been here less than a week, yet already I am fully convinced that there is no place quite like Guatemala. The last few days have been crazy. We were hit by Tropical Storm Agatha on Friday and Saturday. Commpared to the kind of rain we saw this weekend, even the worst storms in Buffalo, NY are just a drizzle! We lost power and water for three days. It gets dark here at around 6:30, so we have really been making use of the candles in our house! I was so thankful today when the electricity came on and I could finally take a shower!
We also have had more volcano eruptions. Picaya erupted again. From here, it looks beautiful, but there has been a lot of damage to the towns closer to the volcano.
Guatemala City is a mess right now. There is ash rainfall everywhere, and a huge sinkhole. Much of the public transportation has been put on hold.
The Guatemalan people are another thing entirely to adjust to. It is so strange, having grown up and gone to college in primarily white areas, to suddenly be stared and pointed at, and called, "la gringa" (white girl), or "la colocha" (the curly haired girl). The girls love to stare at and touch my eyes too, which can be painful rather awkward at times.
Despite feeling like I am on display, I have loved getting to know some of the girls here. I am helping to teach kindergarten. The girls are so much fun, and have really helped me with my Spanish. Today, some of the girls taught me their latino dance moves. Their hips don't lie for sure! These girls love Justin Beiber and High School Musical. It is so funny watching them try to sing "Baby, Baby, Baby" in English!
I have heard that the Guatemalan people are the most complicated in Latin America. I am finding that to be true. Politness and saving face are very important here. In general, Guatemalans seem to always say what they think you want to hear. For example, if I am lost and ask for directions, even if the Guatemalan doesn't have an answer, he will make something up, because he doesn't want to disappoint me by saying he doesn't know. Also, they seem to be very easily offended, and won't say anything to your face, but will often hold grudges.
Slowly, I am starting to find my place here. In my short time here, I have discovered so many needs below the surface. Please pray that God will continue to give me the grace I need to understand the language and to adapt to the culture, and that he will use me here in whatever way he sees fit. Please pray that he will fill me with love and confidence. Please pray that I will not be so focused on winning the approval of these people that I forget why I am here- to bring the gospel where it isn't.
Please pray for the people of Guatemala- especially the poor. Last I heard, there have been almost 100 deaths this past week. The deaths are mostly the poor, because they do not have solid housing.
Please pray for the girls at the Oasis. Please pray that God will open their hearts and remove them of their hurt, and will fill them with love, for each other and for him.
Please pray for the staff here, that God will encourage them and will use them to bring the light of the gospel to this place.
If any of you get a chance, write me an email! I would love to hear how you are doing!
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith- not by works, so that no one can boast. for we are God's workmnship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:9-10
"I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God." Ezekiel 11:19-20
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Sis, you bring tears to my eyes. I am so proud of you and will definitely be praying for you!
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