Alberto is back!

I found out that Alberto is now back at Casa Jackson, so thank you for all your thoughts and prayers.  He is apparently still a little under the weather but he is doing a lot better!  Praise God!

A little about what I've been up to the last couple days...

The Chapel and Dining Area I helped dig the trenches for!

But the last two mornings have been spent at one of Impact's schools - Colegio Vida de Mocohan.  Every child who attends an Impact school gets an annual checkup so we are working through all of the children there.  It is such a blessing to be able to help these children!  Also this is the school where my team did our construction project four years ago.  We were digging trenches for a future dining and worship area.  And now it is complete!  Every morning the children have morning assembly, which is one of the most moving things I think anyone can experience, and this happens in the building that I had a hand in 'building'.  It is so cool how God works and allows us to see things that He has allowed to be brought into completion that we each have a hand in.  God is definitely good and these children understand and believe that.  They worship with all their hearts and during prayer time feel no shame in asking God to help them or just to praise Him out loud.  Worship is something else here.  It is not just one more thing to do on the checklist of Christianity but it is sought after and something children long for.  One of the boys that I believe I talked about from when I was in Tactic with my Trinity team was able to get a job at the school as he is 19 and because of his age cannot further his education past the grade 4 level he received with Impact.  But he is the custodian there because he couldn't imagine now having that time of worship and learning.  Wow, Lord give me that passion and longing.  This trip has taught me a lot so far and one of those things is definitely a longing to be in His presence all the time, to fall in love more and more with my Creator and Father.  And a lot of this was learned from the children.  I think we all could benefit from stepping back from our lives and observing children.  We can learn to laugh and live without worry, we can learn to accept the truth and not always need to know how or why, we can learn to rest, etc.  I am just so grateful to be able to observe these children and really be challenged to grow closer to God.

Love you all and I hope you can be challenged too.

Blessings.

Rebecca

In Tactic

I made it safely to Tactic Friday late morning.  The drive up was beautiful and I couldn't help but think of what was to come.  My excitement for my time here grew with each hour that passed on the drive.  Usually I sleep on long car rides but this trip I barely slept at all.  Exciting discussion about the week to come filled the car as the doctor I am working with and her daughter who just finished Med school were also in the car.  
Once we arrived, we had a couple hours before the medical clinic was open!  Wow, I had no idea that we would be doing anything that day - yay!  We all had a lovely lunch with Les and Rita, the founders of Impact Ministries, and then off we went.  After a brief orientation of the electronic medical record program, the first patient arrived.  I observed Cathie, the doctor, and saw how much I was going to learn.  Throughout the day, I was able to aid Cathie in a few different tests and also work in the pharmacy, filling prescriptions she had prescribed and then explaining them to the patients.  My Spanish is already improving, which excites me a lot as I think to what it will hopefully be by the end of my trip!  The medical clinic is truly a blessing to the community and surrounding communities that make the trek to get here.  We are able to give them simple things like Tylenol as it is unattainable to the majority of the people.  It makes me realize how much healthcare and healthcare products are taken for granted at home.  This makes me really sad as people can die from simple things like diarrhea here.  But God is good and provides what to many was viewed as completely unattainable.
Monday morning we are going to one of Impact's schools to perform regular medical check ups for all the children and then sometime later this week we will be going up into a mountain town to provide much needed care.  In some ways I feel inadequate but I know that Cathie has so much knowledge and that God can use me in things I may see as impossible. 

Saturday was special as along with Cathie's family and Karey (one of my roommates who is an English teacher), I was able to enjoy a relaxing day at a park nearby.  We relaxed, went for a lovely walk, and roasted hotdogs (yes I actually ate one...) and marshmellows.  It was a really fun afternoon of community and relaxation.  The rest of the day was spent with my roommates, who are all great.  
Today we are going to a church service at 4, which I am really looking forward to.  There is something amazing about worship in another language.  
I'm sure many stories will be coming your way shortly.
Love and blessings.
Rebecca

Walking with God

Where I am staying, there is a wonderful library; however, a book that stood out to me wasn't in the bookshelves at all.  This book was sitting on a table and had been for a few days.  Today for some reason, I decided to pick it up.  I started reading and have been captivated.  The main message of this book is how we were created to be in communion with God - to have an intimate relationship with Him.  It challenges us to ask God what life He wants us to live...."This is the transition to a better life.  To be asking him where he is headed and what he is doing throughout the day.  So that while he is going on ahead of me, I am following" (p.46).  May we all take on this challenge.  May we seek to be in further intimate communion with our Father and Savior.  May we seek and listen to His gentle voice.
He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out... He goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. - John 10:3-4

Your Glory and Beauty

Your glory and beauty O Lord are so astounding.  You have created this world to reflect you.  May my life reflect your beauty and bring you glory.
Wow God is good.  This past week has been amazing!

On May 19, we went to an organization called As Green As it Gets (www.asgreenasitgets.org).  They originally started out by partnering with local farmers and helping them to grow coffee and then export it.  They have now been innovating and making their farms more sustainable.  They are growing many different crops in each field so they can produce something year round.  They also have classes to help teach children and current farmers how to best use the land and preserve it - to keep it as green as possible.  We then visited a local coffee farmer and we roasted, ground, and made our own coffee.  Wow I didn't realize how much work went into getting a cup of coffee.  I hope I never forget this and from this experience ensure that I am supporting fair trade because otherwise these people get next to nothing for work unimaginable to us.  
The next day happened to be one of the best days.  Not just because it was my 20th birthday but because of what we got to do.  I had a special cake made for me and we had a pinata to celebrate and then got to go to Rosas de Amor.  Rosa is a true woman of the Lord.  She answered a call from the Lord to open a home for the neglected and abused children and teenage mothers of Guatemala.  She is such an example of trusting in the Lord for she has no steady donations.  She houses up to 50 children and provides them with food, education, and most importantly the love of the Lord.  She has great dreams to one day own her own property where she can house more children and have a proper school.  This lady is a true example for all believers of someone who answered God's call on her life, trusts completely in Him, and lives to serve Him.  So while we were there our task was to simply love these children.  It wasn't hard for they were so full of joy when they saw us arrive.  We played with them, hugged them, and just poured God's love onto them.  Hearing ¡feliz cumpleaños! from a few of these girls followed by some of the best hugs I have ever received was truly a blessing and something I will never forget.   
The next day we traveled to Lake Atitlan.  This is probably one of the most beautiful places I have ever been.  It is surrounded by volcanoes and lush green forests.  We took a boat ride across the lake and saw some of the culture there.  The city we went to was very much under the powers of darkness as they believed that their god, Maximon, lived there.  The church that was on the top of the hill had a room completely dedicated to him and sadly, almost every person who was in that church, was in that room.  However, I met a lovely lady whom I bought a painting from.  She was very kind hearted and appreciated art like I do.  I noticed she didn't sign the painting so I asked her why.  The answer was not one I was expecting or ever wanted to hear.  She cannot read or write.  How is it that we are so blessed to read and write?  It is something we all take so for granted.  May we all take this privilege and use it for the glory of God.
After staying overnight in Hotel Playa Linda, we took a boat to another town on the lake.  We hiked through the mountainside for 45 minutes and reached one of the most beautiful locations.  There was a hotel there called La Casa Del Mundo.  We ate breakfast there and went swimming in the lake.  It was a place where God's beautiful was so evident and where I was able to find rest and rejuvenation.  It was truly spectacular.  
Monday was the last full day with the group.  It was bitter sweet for sure.  Bitter because I have grown to love all of them so much but sweet because it meant that I would soon be going to Tactic to serve the Lord through nursing.  We went into the city and just spent time together.  It was a great day.  Cabree and I bought a small jade heart necklace for Lydia, a 15 year old girl who works in the market everyday and doesn't go to school.  She always remembered our names and chatted with us when we were in town.  Our friendship was something special.  So we wrote her a note and blessed her with a little gift.  I pray that she will see God and that the little we could do will impact her life for she has something special to give.
That evening we all gathered in our host's house and talked about our time here.  We were asked to think of one word to describe our time here.  My word was 'itching'.  Yes partly because I got a lot of bug bites but also because God has placed an itching on my heart to know Him better and to grow in Him, to hear and respond to the calling He has in my life.
The past two days I have been here able to just journal and reflect.  God has been so good.  I cannot even wait for the experiences that are in store once I get to Impact Ministries.  
Please pray for safety as I am traveling to Tactic Friday morning and that I will be receptive to God's voice and truly be a blessing to those there.
Love you all.
PS. Alberto is still in the hospital - so keep him in your prayers!
 

Some thoughts...

So an actually post about that last week is still to come but here are some of my thoughts about Catholicism and Christianity in general....

While I was in the Catholic service I was so struck with the negative connotations I have previously heard about Catholicism. It all seemed like a big ritual to me that you press repeat on week after week.  Sure this is a generalization as a few people's passion was very obvious but nonetheless this was a general observation.  The chants were all known and everything had its order.  All the images around the church were so dark - either in the picture they portrayed or in the colours.  People were crying, Christ was dying, and a sense of heaviness or sadness could be felt when I looked at them.  I then began to question myself.  Was all of this really just going through the motions?  Where they truly showing a realistic depiction of Christ and do we too often glamorize him?

Maybe we have something to learn as Evangelical Christians from the Catholic church....

Some of the things I saw as empty rituals really make an impact is done in the right spirit.  They treat the host with such respect.  This got me thinking - shouldn't we approach communion with more respect and awe? As a holy sanction? It does represent one of the most meaningful things in the Church after all.  Also, the sprinkling of water at the end of the service was to remind us of our baptism.  Maybe we should go back to our roots.  The big steps we took for Christ but seem to rarely reflect back on.  We need to remember these things as they have such importance.  Yes, their artwork was dark but maybe they are portraying reality.  Maybe we need to learn to take off our church faces - especially while we are at church...

I hate that it is them and us.  We worship the same God, don't we?  Maybe, just maybe, we all should to reevaluate our walks, gain more understanding behind our practices, and make sure we aren't just walking through the motions.

Please pray for little Alberto as was rushed to the 

hospital on Tuesday due to a high fever!

I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations

I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations,
I will sing of you among the peoples
For great is your love, higher than the heavens;
Your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

 ~ Psalm 108:3-4

I am so blessed to be able to praise my Lord and Savior among the people of Guatemala and to see Him through these people.  He is so good.

So a little more of my story.... (I apologize for not writing sooner)

Wednesday was an absolutely wonderful day.  I took part in a home stay with one of the local families near where I am staying.  Two other students and myself stayed in a wonderful family's home.  In Guatemalan standards, they were very well off as they had electricity and running water.  One of their daughters, Sofia, was currently attending university for Psychology.  She knew a little bit of English and was so patient and kindhearted.  She helped us a lot with our Spanish and encouraged us.  The other students had stayed the evening before at their place, as I, unfortunately, was sick all day Tuesday.  Nonetheless, Wednesday was a new day and I felt a lot better.  So after morning classes, we had a Guatemalan lunch at their place - chicken, rice, and soup.  My whole group then had the privilege of going to Casa Jackson.  This is a home for extremely malnourished children under the age of 5.  It is part of the organization that I talked about before, Our Godchildren.  When we arrived, all the children were napping.  Once they started to wake up, we were able to play and simply give them love.  Originally, I was caring for a girl named Laura.  She was one of the worst cases they had ever had.  She was three and only weighed 12 pounds.  It was so heartbreaking.  However, she reached out to me and just wanted to be held.  She smiled and enjoyed life but had obvious developmental setbacks.  After feeding time, I held a beautiful boy named Alberto.  Alberto had a severe fungus rash on his bottom and was unable to leave his room

as he could not wear a diaper.  My friend Cabree was holding him earlier and when she put him down in order for us to change our coats (they had coats for each child to decrease the spread of any possible diseases), he started to cry and got very anxious.  Once I picked him up, he immediately quieted down and snuggled into my arms.  All he wanted was love.  Since he was confined to his room I have no idea when the last time he was held for hours straight.  You could tell that he needed to be held and cared for more than just in the physical sense.  I quickly realized that he didn't want to play but just to be snuggled.  So I held him tight in my arms and started to hum Jesus Loves Me.  He quickly relaxed and nuzzled his ear so it was right over my heart.  I was so blessed to be able to spend an hour just giving my full attention and love to Alberto.  It was so hard to put him down when it was time to leave.  I wanted to take him home and just be able to give him unending love.  I was so reminded about God as the Father.  He is always there for us with his arms wide open, inviting us to climb onto his lap for the greatest hug ever.  He is always giving us his unending and perfect love.  He protects us and gives us a place to come and rest.  Praise God that we are able to have a relationship like this with our Creator!

After Casa Jackson, we returned back to our home stay for dinner.  It was so great to be able to communicate with our family and learn more about their culture.  Slowly throughout the evening and the next day, a friendship was built.  Sofia and I traded email addresses and communicate in Spanish, which is so great!

Friday, we spent time with the family and also went into town.  Cabree and I found a wonderful cafe and got blended coffees.  We then sat in the main square and chatted with an older man.  A cultural difference was made really clear as he kept asking us if we had boyfriends and why we were single.  He wasn't asking in a creepy way at all but just because it was unusual.  This conversation got me thinking a lot about relationships and what I valued.  The next evening in Honduras a few of us in the group had a really good conversation about this and just how in cultures like this and also some Christian communities, it is almost expected that you are dating and married young.  It was really encouraging to hear some of the grad students talk about their journeys and how it will happen when it is meant to.  Rewind just a little bit... Early Friday morning we left for a 7 hour

drive to Honduras to see the Copan Mayan Ruins.  When we arrived it was the middle of the afternoon and the power was out.  I was probably the hottest that I have ever been and close to heat stroke but we found a hotel that had a generator and made the best smoothies that I have ever had.  The next day we went to see the ruins, which was totally surreal.  They were so beautiful and it was amazing to see an ancient culture.  The carvings were all so intricate.  I cannot even begin to imagine how carved each stone and put it all together.  We were told that some of the carvings took two years to complete - talk about a lesson in perseverance!  

 After the ruins, we started the drive back to Guatemala.  Sunday we attended two different church services in Antigua - one was catholic and the other evangelical.  It was every interesting to go to both services back to back.  I am still sifting through what I observed and what I have learned from both services.  I think that as an evangelical Christian, I have a lot to learn from the Catholic church.  However, I am still thinking about this and will post a blog later specifically about Catholicism and Evangelical Christianity.

Today, Tuesday (Happy Birthday April!), we hiked the Pacaya Volcano.  It was an intense hike but very interesting.  Although through was no active lava flow, it was so interesting to see hardened lava and feel the heat from the volcano.  We hiked up in the morning so it was not too hot and thankfully, we hiked up through the clouds so it was almost refreshing.  I conquered the volcano and am glad to be able to add this to my life experiences!

Wow, what a week!  I only have one more week until I leave Antigua to go and work with Impact Ministries.  How time flies!  

Many blessings.

Blessings upon blessings

Wow, there is so much to say.  I have officially been in Guatemala for one week now and it already feels like home!  We have gone into the city multiple times and had the chance to chat with vendors, see how traditional Guatemalan clothing is made, and visit various cathedrals and convents.  Antigua truly is beautiful - although I was reminded once again that it is not 'typical' Guatemala.  
My group visited an organization called Nuestros Ahijados (Our Godchildren).  It truly is a diamond amongst the rough.  From the road it looks like nothing special but when you drive further onto their property you see an abundance of life through the children, the plants, and the running water.  We learned about the organization and how they strive to make a holistic difference in the community.  They have a school program, a feeding program, programs for mothers and fathers about domestic violence, nutritional needs, etc., a medical and dental clinic, and a place called Casa Jackson, which is dedicated to feeding malnourished children (we may be fortunate enough to go and feed some of these babies!).  God's love and providence was so prominent in this place.  Although it was beautiful, it truly was a place of restoration and cleansing for the children and their families, a place where they could rise out of the ashes and learn how to then affect their community.  It was beautiful and touching.
Friday we had the privilege of taking a break from classes and going to the south of Guatemala - to the beach!  We arrived around 10 am and it was already muy calor y sol (very hot and sunny) but the water was so refreshing.  It was not cold but it was just right.  We played in the water and just chatted.  It almost seemed like a holiday, which felt weird, but it was so amazing to see the vast differences among Guatemala itself.    
That evening while walking through one of the local artisan markets back at home, a lady's smile caught my eye.  We easily began to communicate as she was extremely patient with me and just wanted to hear my story.  Unlike many of the vendors, she did not start showing me what she had for sale but instead continued her weaving and engaged in conversation.  I told her why I was here and what I was doing.  I told her that I am studying to become a nurse and she told me a bit of her story and how she is needing to see the doctor and is hoping to go tomorrow.  She told me that she wished I could go with her and be her nurse!  I was so touched.  How could a woman who has never met me say such a thing?  She was so sweet and genuine - I didn't ask but I believe she was a Christian because she shone so brightly.  After having this connection with her, I was so happy to find a beautiful blanket made of pieces of the traditional women's clothing here.  Although I could not be with her longer, I was so happy to be able to make a contribution to help her and her family.  She was so amazing - I will not forget her.  Hopefully I will be able to visit with her again in the market and get a picture with her.

Saturday morning we then left to visit Impact Ministries - who I will be working with in a few weeks.  We got to attend a church service of theirs, have a tour of their ministry, visit the sink hole (a place of Mayan worship to the underworld), do some home visits, and attend a school morning chapel.  Our team really bonded and felt God's hand here.  I was again reminded of the importance of visions and dreams that seem unattainable.  Full reliance on God is key for we can do all things in Him who gives us strength and Impact is truly a representation of this.  I poured myself into God's word this weekend and had an amazing conversation with one of my team members about Ruth and Philemon.  God is good no matter the circumstance and He is always there.  Regardless if times are great or not, He deserves our full praise and a spilling of our souls to Him without restrain.  The children here believe this and it is so evident.  We visited the sink hole in Chicoy and this time I was able to view it as a place of beauty and of God's creation, rather than of darkness and spiritual warfare as I did last time.  We then did two home visits in the surrounding community and brought food to two families who were in need.  We learned about their families and prayed for them.  This truly was touching.  I was again reminded of my privilege and blessing as one of the boys we talked to was my age.  Last year he finished grade four and was unable to return to Impact's school as he was now considered an adult.  Grade four... O the opportunities that this poor young man is missing out on.  It is evident he knows he is missing going to high school (and even finishing elementary school) but his love for God is great.  He worked out with Impact a deal.  He became the custodian of their school so he could still attend their devotional times and learn about God.  How amazing!  This morning we attended Impact's first school's assembly/devotional time.  It was so moving.  The children truly understand what a passion for God's name and Word is!  I have so much to learn from them.  They are beautiful and so joyful.  After the assembly they all came and gave us hugs - a lot of hugs full of love.  I could never get bored of those hugs!  God has truly blessed this ministry and I cannot wait to go back and give to the people of Tactic and the surrounding communities!
On our way home, we stopped at Guatemala city and got to walk through a cemetery.  It was unlike anything I had ever been in.  There were ornate houses and monuments built for the dead.  Figures of the Saints, Christ, and the Virgin were everywhere.  This place was so beautiful but my heart felt uneasy here.  I was not quite sure we walked to the edge of the cemetery.  The edge brought us to a cliff that overlooked the city dump.  It is estimated that 11,000 people live, work, and survive from that place.  Why do the dead get more praise and adoration than the people below?  Why are they treated as if they do not exist?  So many questions went through my head as my heart began to break for these people.  Why am I granted the privilege of knowing that I will have enough to survive each day, that I will have a place to sleep, that I will be warm, and that I am surrounded by people that I love and that love me back?  The vultures surrounded the dump making it feel even more like a place of death, yet there was so much life there!  I pray that God will reveal to me how I as an outsider can make a difference for these people.

I love you all and pray that God will reveal Himself to you in new ways as He has done for me.

First experiences in Guatemala

I’m sorry this is going to be short because today was jam packed with exciting adventures and classes so I am exhausted and still have a Spanish quiz to study for (crazy, one day into classes and the homework is already full force!).  Anyways for the exciting things…

My day of travel went really smoothly.  I made all of my connections and my luggage arrived complete (minus one wheel)!  I had a few hours at LAX before I left for Houston and this time was extremely rewarding for me.  God used this time to open my eyes to what was to come and just gave me peace that everything was going to work out for His perfect preplanned will for the trip. 

Once I arrived in Guatemala, we drove to our new home for the next 23 days!  It is so beautiful and full with lush gardens, amazing quiet places, great food, and good people.  I am rooming with one of my greatest friends and mentors, so that is super great!

Today started early with breakfast and then classes.  I couldn’t believe how much Spanish I lost, as I haven’t been in Spanish for a few weeks.  But it is all coming back and I have already learned so much.  After lunch we went into town today and saw some of the beautiful cathedrals and ruins, and most excitingly the amazing people.  I was able to interact with some Guatemalans using Spanish, which was super exciting.  I bought 5 oranges in the market using only Spanish!

God is so good.  Although this day has been overwhelming, I know my time with Trinity Western is really going to be a life changing experience.  I have found a special place where I can rest, read, and meet with God.  It is a hammock (I think I may need to buy one for home) that overlooks a water feature with lush plants surrounding it and also has a view of one of the surrounding volcanoes.  This place is great and I cannot wait for what is to come in the form of cultural experience, knowledge of the Spanish language, and most importantly, the teaching and transformation that is to come in my journey with my Creator.

I love you all and wish you could all be here in this amazing place.

The Group!