How did THAT happen?!?!?!?

As I'm sitting here, working late and working during the weekend writing tests for my 8 English classes, I am in shock. 

HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?

This photo has absolutely nothing to do with this post :)

How did I go from being a youth and children's pastor in Walla Walla to driving across the states and trying (and failing) to read Junie B Jones in Spanish? 

How did I go from living in Antigua completely shocked by the culture of Guatemala (and that's Gringoized Guatemala!) to happily walking through the terminal to buy my orange juice, papaya, and peanuts every day?

How did I go from not knowing a word in Spanish to writing my monthly finals in that language? 

Wow... life has lots of change.  And change is good.

And interesting....

Orange Juice Man

This morning, I went to buy orange juice.

This isn't a new thing for me.  In fact, it's almost a daily occurrence.  With fresh squeezed orange juice costing 5Q (about 60 cents), it's a really hard thing to pass up.  It's SO GOOD!   They serve it in a bag, with a straw, and you just walk away smiling like an idiot because you're so happy.  I think that in heaven, Jesus and I will be drinking orange juice out of a bag as we talk about life.

Anyways, as I was saying, I went to buy orange juice today, and I decided to try out a new guy.

As I will probably begin alluding to a lot, there is a lack of critical thinking that is taught in school here; uniformity is valued much more than individualism and creative problem solving, particularly in the public school system. This fact is especially true if you are talking about education for the older generations who live in Guatemala.

Case in point: Orange Juice.  There are so many vendors, and this man is the epitome of that.  His daily stand is about four meters from the corner of a street and another stand is six meters on the other side... aka as a crow flies, they are umm... (thanks to the Pythagorean Theorem...) 7.7meters away from one another.  So, normally, I walk past these two vendors with my juice (purchased two blocks earlier) and try not to look at them as I feel bad that their businesses are so similar and therefore doomed to lack in success.

But today was different.  I walked down a different street this morning and missed my early person so I came up to the "double juiced" corner. I was a bit nervous about the decision but the little man was just standing there juicing away while his around the corner comrade was no where to be seen.  So, I went to the little man.  Due to the warm culture here, it is necessary to budget at least 2 minutes for the orange juice exchange, but once it took 15 minutes (I haven't had time to return to that lady... it is an investment!), I knew that I had about 5 minutes to spare on my "schedule" to get to class, so I stopped and asked for some orange juice.


"How much does orange juice cost?" 
"5Q"
"Can I have one please?"
"Of course. Just hold on, I need to juice a lot more."
then, he takes a bunch or oranges, washes them, and begins cutting them and juicing them.
"How are you today?"
"I am alive and well, Gracias a Dios.  and you?"
"I am doing quite well. It is a beautiful day."
"That is true. I am grateful to be alive.  Every day is a gift" 
"You usually walk past here with a friend, right?"
"Yes."
"You guys usually look really happy."
"Thanks"
I think:  wow!  This guy is super genuine and remembers a whole lot for being an old man.
he is still juicing away.
"Okay.  That should be sufficient"
then he walks away and talks to a truck down the street.
I think: what is he doing?
then he returns.  With a glass.  And he washes it and pours my orange juice. It is missing about 3cm.
"Hold on."
and he begins juicing again
"It's okay, really" 
I think:  Okay... it's been over 5 minutes, I'm going to get the ever fun opportunity of running to school now...
"No, it's not.  It's missing some."
so he keeps on juicing.
"I can't give you less than you asked for; it's not right."
I think:  wow!  that's the definition of integrity!
"Wow - okay, thank you"
and he pours the remaining 3cm into the glass and the glass into the bag and gives me a straw.
"Go with God and have a great day"
"You too!  Thank you!"

And there you have it.  Right at a time when I am frustrated with mysterious parasitelike substances taking over my intestines, living in a rejoiceful flea free time but wondering when the next attack will be, and bracing myself for the next onslaught of 250 elementary school kids learning the ABCs, this man, lacking in teeth, gives me three life lessons.
1) Every day is a good day (especially when you have orange juice)... it's probably just a state of mind that makes it a bad one; you forget that God is there.
2) There are still people in this world who are genuinely interested in you and your life (and they aren't all creepy!).  and
3) Integrity and honesty are still alive.

Thank you orange juice man!

Daily Life Blog Post - Insects!

This is the second of many (hopefully) editions featuring aspects of daily life here in Guatemala... in writing these, I hope to share funny things, ironic things, and things I admire and I want to share them not as a form of judgment... in ANY way... but in a form of telling a story... with that being said...  here's information about insects!

 I like to think of myself as an equal opportunity type of person, but I'm beginning to question my adherence to those values.  I'm a big believer that everyone should have access to jobs, education, clean water, healthy food, clean food, and opportunities for fun.  I think that I am called to share my belongings and blessings with those around me.  I think that these are all things that God wants us to do.

But there are somethings I cannot share and some species I cannot share with.

Insects.

This summer, I made a vow that I would allow myself to be afraid of bugs and spiders and all those types of species, just a little bit, so I could get all the fear out of my system before coming to Guatemala.  I thought I did a good job.  I haven't had any instances where I've freaked out about spiders, etc, and I've even been the designated bug killer when necessary, but, it's getting to me.  There are just some bugs I can't handle sharing with any longer...

Take for instance, the little dime sized bugs that live in our sugar and bread bags.  They are gross.  They just walk around in it all day and all night and no one seems to be too interested in fixing that problem except for me.  I'm learning that I'm a bit of a neat freak. 


Then, there is the snail.  He too is gross and every time I think he's dead, he either pulls a resurrection act or his twin brother comes and visits.  He lives in two places 1) on the stairs going to my room and 2) right next to the toilet.  I have seriously thought I killed this thing multiple times.  I have given up.


Then, the nickel-quarter sized multi-legged bugs that enjoy showering with me.  Hey, bugs!  I too am a fan of cleanliness, but let's take our turns in the shower, ok?

And... the fleas - They are small, itchy, and incredibly sneaky.  They have decided to share with me the most intimate surfaces on my body and the ways to get rid of them and not have them come back are at times baffling.

And... finally... the parasites.  Or parasite substances.  They aren't able to be seen by me, nor, evidently, by the hospital's microscope, but they sure are felt by me.  Talk about invasive... and disgusting.


To my future house, housemates, clothing, and abdominal lining: I promise to keep you clean forever.  

Monterrico Retreat!

 Friends watching the sunset from the balcony!  And having really great talks, creating great memories, and just enjoying one another in general!

 Taking a boat out at sunrise to see the mangroves, men fishing, lots of eggrets, AND i  learned how to "paddle"!

(You push off the ground with a really long, glorified stick)

 Watching lots of sunrises and lots of sunsets... and being on the WATER!

 Racing baby sea turtles... 

(letting them in the wild and seeing which turtle crosses the line on its way to the ocean first)

And calling one my own!

Isn't he cute!?!??!?!

 We took lots of pictures of them... :)

and had some classic, varied reactions!

In sum, a great retreat.

POR FIN!

School has started!!!!!

I got my teaching schedule yesterday (my first day of teaching) at 8am (the time I started classes).  And despite the craziness, I'm totally digging it and think it's going to be a good year!  It will be especially crazy because I'm essentially teaching 16 classes, 8 classes of English 3 days a week and 8 music classes Friday.  It should be fun! 

And yes... just like when I teach Sunday School, I seem to continue getting very much into my lessons and getting a workout out of teaching! :)