Guatemala Day 7: Off to Antigua!

To get on the road for Antigua, we had to go to breakfast super early... Once again our 4 hour drive turned into a 7 hour one. This happened because one van got a ticket and there was this huge union protest blocking traffic. The roads were going to be closed until 5 that night so we had to take back roads to get around the mob. And by back roads I mean like -desert and mountain, not completely a road, side of cliff, one way- roads. It certainly was an adventure. Jusui, our driver, was awesome at navigating and conducting traffic so that we could finally get going.

When we finally got to Antigua, we left our stuff in the Hotel Carmen and went off to shop. First dad and I went to the market where you can barder just like Mexico. Then we went into real stores. I got a shirt, a scarf, coffee, bracelets, a stuffed donkey and elephant, a nativity, knives, and 2 bags.

At 6 we met up with the whole group at La Casa de Flan which had yucky food so Kelly, Linsy, Kaylah, Byanat, and I went to McDonald's for McFlurries.(: After that we all got our rooms and I went out shopping again, this time with some other teens since dad wasn't feeling well. We were in the center square when Walker and Jeremy decide that we are all going to walk into a big crowd of people at different times and freeze in random positions. People were staring at us and taking pictures of us. It was out of character for me but still a lot of fun. Jonathan scared Mariela and Marylin by jumping out of a bush to which they both screamed LOUD and declared they'd get revenge. I got back to the hotel at 11, packed my souvenirs and went to bed...

Guatemala Day 6: Last Ministry Day

Today is our last day to actually do ministry work. :/ We didn't have to wake up to 7:30.. Now in the summer that's early, on a missions trip it's a blessing! :P Breakfast was simply eggs and toast.
We went to the last school which was younger kids. We did the Daniel Skit, the Noah skit, the Doctor Skit, and the Statue Skit...They just kept yelling "Mas dramas, mas dramas!" They wanted more and more skits and we just kept going! I loved it because we really got to go and meet the kids like Sophia. (There was an iguana on the wall)


After that we went back to Palabra de Vida (The church) and splatterpainted 2 of the nursery rooms. Erica and I did alot of the work. We were worried we'd get high on the paint fumes..:P Hahaha it was alot of fun, even though we ended up covered in many different colors.
We got a long break from 2-4:45 to pack and hang out at the hotel. So a bunch of us went swimming and Amy even came along. (: When we got back to church I put everything back where it went while some others packed more beans. Lunch was chicken and beans.
The team got the chance to go to the Cordero's house which had a breathtaking (literally) view from the roof. It was just amazing... Jane took a couple people to the grocery store. On the way a girl on a moped crashed into the side of our van. We all screamed of course. At the store, I got powder for the yummy drinks, some chocolate, and some mint chocolate gum.
Dinner was rice, pork, and pina. (pineapple). A special treat was chocolate covered strawberries. Then we had to say goodbye to our amazing host family. <3 Amy cried as we said our goodbyes and I got a hug from the whole family.

Guat. Day 5

• we needed to get up at 6ish to be ready to leave by 6:45ish to eat pancakes and eggs for breakfast



• soon after we left for a long day in the mountains which was about an hour away.



• _____, dad, Todd, and John talked while Erica, Denise, Nolan, Leigh, and I talked until the twists and turns made me dizzy



• dad actually made us stop for a snake



• we stopped at a church/ house of Pastor Eliu and had to ride standing up on the back of a truck which was alot of fun with Denise and Jeremy



• when we got there Erica and I painted hands for hours while others colored, and played. (it felt like 20 minutes)



• one really cute girl just stood and stared... I don't think she spoke Spanish



• I taught one group of boys how to blow bubbles because they've never seen them before. I also taught them to say it in English because no one knew the Spanish word for them. I also taught others how to throw a frisbee and one how to jump rope.



• we gave out candy and bags of food



• it was beautiful... the hills, mountains, fields... were just amazing



• on the van ride back to Chiquimula I felt sick again so I got to sit in the front which helped a lot



• we got a surprise and went to natural hot springs which felt SO good...it relaxed us a little to much because after that is when everyone started feeling sick



• Kevin and I washed dinner dishes all alone and he didn't want anyone else to help. We talked some, got soaking wet, and just had a great time. Jane kept calling us the 2 KC's.

Guat. Day 4

• not as dizzy today as I normally am


• breakfast was yummy mush cereal with "egg mcmuffins"


• finally talked to mom on Johnathan's phone


• Team 2 went to the mts and dad went to San Juan to work on wiring


• Team 1&2 went to a mostly boys tech school where some of the girls felt uncomfortable


• at the end only 2 people came up for prayer but when in was over we to just take to people. So me, Erika, Kaylah, Bethany , and Courtney spoke in broken Spanish to 3 girls. We asked if they went to church and 2 of them did. We ran out of things to ask so we told them to ask us anything. Finally, the one girl who's name is Heidy (didn't go to church) asked when we became Christians. When we answered we all knew she was interested in Christ. So we went and found Jane to translate and Heidy accepted Christ. We got her inf to put her in a cell group and told her we are now sisters in Christ. In the mist of the sunny, 100+ degree weather courtyard~ I was cold. Amazing.


• We then had lunch of mush mix with peppers and rice and mango juice.


• We bagged beans and made piles of food to take to the mountains with us tomorrow. (100+ bags)


• Since we had extra they're going to distribute it at a land full


• After that we went to an all girls school of girls wanting to be teachers. They were definitely more responsive than the guys. At the end the guys were just singing and Marilyn invited them up to pray; almost immediately girls came up alone or in pairs. This one girl came up to me and we just stood and hugged and rocked for 20+ minutes. I prayed and sang while holding her. She left a tear stain on my Orlando shirt with the Mexican tar.


• Next we went to a college but I mostly just played with Amy while they did testimony's and a statue skit because we were only in each classroom for 10-15 minutes.


• Dinner was meat, tortilla, cucumber, and potato


• I had the opportunity to have a nice long talk with Kevin and he made an awesome statement. "I cannot declare something that I don't really know."

I'll post the rest at a different time.

Guat. Day 3

• tried to call home with no luck at front desk
• Breakfast was eggs, yucky beans with cheese, bread, and this awesome cereal drink thing that you sprinkle cookie on. It was was amazing.
• we to a school and did Alleu song, name game, and Daniel skit.
• Had 2 "services" there. One for younger and one for older. They really liked how wise men (which I was one of) were eaten by the lions at the end.
• Went to 'Amigo' school and did a funny Noah skit (three services)
• The team has lots of dramas- Sin skit (picato), a 'demon skit', and a hilarious doctor skit.
• While Erica and I were walking out we stopped at a door with a weird lock on it. Josue came up behind and said, "Ladies, ladies its easy!" and then made fun of us for not figuring it out. :p :)
• Lunch was stir fry and we each got a 'bag of water'
• Dad built the church a stage
• Went back to both schools to do a high school service
• played with Erica and Amy afterward for a long time
• 3 people we saved and 3 people told us of how they were struggling with ideas of suicide
• Dinner was fried tortilla with egg ans cheese inside, tomato sauce outside, with rice
• Girls had a testimony time
• Still homesick and dizzy.
• Oseas' family sing their grace, "Gracias Senor por al pan, Muchos gracias Senor por al pan."

Quote: "Prayer is as natural an expression of faith as breathing is of life." -Edwards

Guat. Day 2

• Loud birds woke m up but I staying in a ACed bed till 6:30


• went to breakfast of eggs, cinnamon buns, and fruit


• We split into 2 groups and walked about 2 blocks handing out tracks that invited people to the church~Palabra de Vida (Word of Life)


• The area of Chiquimula that we were in was not as poverty stricken as we imagined it to be. Looked very nice and well kept for the most part.


• I walked up to this one lady and her granddaughter (Mariela) and gave them a tract and she kept talking. I got Marilyn to translate and she said that her daughter's leg was injured so we asked if we could pray for her. She actually took us back to her house so we could pray there. And in Guatemala that's a big dead. Zach lead us in an amazing prayer and we were on our way. The house inside the door was mostly like an outdoor courtyard.


• We also met a lady with a cute little daughter named Natalie.


• Church service was amazing. The spirit of God was felt by everyone. We sang "Friend of God," "Mighty to Save," and more.


• Zach preached and Park West did their drama.


• The church introduce their cell groups who also each did a skit.


• They gave an altar call and lots of people came forward and we just put out hands on the nearest person and prayed in English for them. The lady I prayed for had a decision about work and a man. We cried and sang.


• In Sunday School we got this string and we were told we couldn't cross out legs or arms and if we did anyone could take our string. Some 10yr year old kid tricked me and took mine. Kevin translated the whole time. We played this game where you stand in a circle congo line style and they say something the say A-Chi, a- chi, a chi, then faster. And you get closer and closer till the circle is really small.


• A different game was 1,2,3 Chocolate? and you jump back (you can only move once). Then one person starts and they have to hop on the other toes and the other people can move once to try to get away.


• Kevin is sometimes called K.C. because of his initials so we became the two KC's.


• Lunch was awesome. Mashed potatoes, chicken, and green beans.


• Had a youth service~ long and hot~ but dad rocked out on guitar.


• Again really homesick especially in down times. Stressed.


• Taco dinner.


• Kevin came and gave me a string from the game that I could keep (:

me and kevin. the kid that took my string.

Bible Verse: "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my fave and turn from their wicked ways, then I will forgive their sin and will heal their land." - 2 Chronicles 7:14