Guatemala Bound!

5-28-11
Today felt like the longest day. Once we actually arrived in Guatemala, it felt like we had been here for days. Two buses picked us up at the airport to take us to the compound. The compound is guarded and surrounded by gates. Within these walls was a community and we were able to walk around in small groups without worry. Not long after we unpacked our things, we met Pastor Luiz and his family. We also met some other members of the Impacto staff.
The last time I was in a foreign country, people did not greet each other with a hug and kiss. In India, the most that was acceptable was a handshake. Greeting one another with a hug and kiss on the cheek is part of the Latin culture. After lunch we had free time. Right down the street from where we stayed, there was a little park with a basketball court(complete with soccer goals on each end), a zipline and places to sit and talk with one another. Today has been very relaxed. I can´t wait to see what the rest of the week has instore.


5-29-11

At breakfast this morning our leader picked a few people to share their favorite verses and then explain why that verse was their favorite. I found this a very refreshing way to start the day. There are a few verses that I love but one has been in my heart lately. 2nd Corinthians 12:9-10 ¨But he said to me, ¨ My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.¨ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ´s power may rest on me. That is why for Christs sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.¨ I can go back to very specific times in my life where this verse showed me so much truth about God. It is in those times of weakness that God is growing and stretching you. He never fails to show up.
After breakfast, we headed to church. I got to connect with a 20-year old girl named Maria. There were moments when nothing was said, but we just sat in silence. Every now and then we would strike conversation and it was nice to understand a little. I really enjoyed being able to connect with her.
After church, we headed to Lake Atitlan. We drove 4 hours in the mountains. As we were driving through, for a long period of time we were in a cloud. I was sitting by the window and could see the edge of the road. But that was it. I knew we were up very high, but there was nothing to see but cloud. There was an eerie feeling inside of me. I was reminded of the third lord of the rings: the return of the king. The part when Aragorn had no choice but to go through the mountain to seek the dead spirits for help. Anyone who tried to pass through, never made it back alive. You can see where my imagination took ahold of me and ran. I also thought of Jurassic Park. Mountains, forest, eerie cloud fog...I was certain I was going to see a raptor dart in and out of the trees.
We made it to the hotel safe and sound. I founda beast with wings in our bathroom( AKA the largest moth I´ve ever seen) and happily killed it with my sparkly purple flip flops. I named it Thor. Not because the movie just came out, thats just the name it deserved.