Guatemala - Part 4

This will be my last post about our trip.  It's been a month now :( and it's time I guess. (Well, over a month at this point).

It will be long so I hope you can bear with me.  Pictures follow my post.  Hope you can put up with reading before scrolling down to check them out :)

Most of our time in Amatitlan we were told we were mainly to build relationships by teaching English & just interacting with the kids & others we meet. 

We held 2 sessions each day.  The earlier session was the older kids (14 yr old +) and the later session was to be the younger kids.  They go to school at different times so that was the easiest way to do it.  The younger kids were at school in the morning (only about 3 hours in school!) and they older ones, if they were still in school, went in the afternoon.  Many older kids had to stop school & get a job for money for the family. 

It turned out our morning session was 4 young girls.  They were just precious.  We painted nails & talked about their lives & of course taught English & we taught each other songs. 

This is where we learned they had something like 14 classes!  Then as we talked more we found out that they would have music class maybe one time in 4 weeks.  It's amazing they could retain the information they are learning from that class at all.

The afternoon was our largest group. There were some children in this session that were older but they hadn't made it out of the Primary school yet.  This group was lots of fun.  They played musical chairs, soccer, painted nails, UNO.  This of course was after the part of the session that we taught the English words for colors & parts of the body, different greetings like "Hello" and "How are you?".  It was fun for us to teach them these things & they also taught us as well. 

They never came to a session dragging their feet like we may see our kids do for school.  They came happy & very much wanting to be there with us.  Many were shy at first but after that initial few minutes they opened right up.  We were getting hugs & kisses before they would leave. 

Wednesday & Thursday we were blessed to go & visit the schools.  Wednesday we visited the school closest to where we were staying.  We were able to walk there.  We sang songs & our kids did a skit that showed 2 girls struggling with the temptation of walking away from God.  Every time I watched this I cried.  They did an amazing job each & every time.  They did this at the schools twice.  The second time they did it Dr Elry had explained what was happening beforehand so they could understand it a little better.    If I'm able to I will post the video of this soon. 

Thursday's trip to the school was a bit more exciting.  We got to ride the CHICKEN BUS!!!!!  It got it's name "Chicken Bus" from the coin they used to use to be able to ride it.  There was a chicken on one side of the coin.  We found out where our school busses from the states go to die.  They get our busses & totally pimp them out.  Oh and there is NO maximum occupancy in Guatemala!!  Oh my.  At one point we were squeezed in there like sardines.  People standing in the aisle & squished on the seats.  We got to take 2 buses going up to the school.  WAY up a mountain. 

When we got the school all the children were already waiting for us in the courtyard.  We spent a lot more time here singing & doing the skit (again 2 times).  After we were done our boys played soccer with their 6th grade boys.  Then  (get this) the teachers of this school wanted to know if the ladies in our group would play them in basketball.  Ok, seriously, the extent of my basketball knowledge you could fit on the end of a pin!  I go out & shoot hoops every once in a while with my son or daughter but that is it.  I didn't go in at first then realized I needed to help out my team (mostly because it was HOT & a never ending game)!  We were NOT doing well!  I call this Guatemala team of women AMAZONS!!  They seemed like they were 10ft tall & just about as wide but that isn't the truth -  as you see in this picture.  All I kept thinking was WHEN WILL THIS GAME EVER END!!!  At one point my son hollered at me "Mom, you have to JUMP!!".  Wow. 

Basketball -  Guatemala vs USA

We stayed there all morning until the kids left to go home.  We went for a walk & saw a beautiful sight.  I think the Dr called it a lagoon.  Not sure why.  It was just gorgeous though.  The vans picked us up there (no Chicken Bus :(  ) and we headed back for our last session.  This session lasted into the night.  Usually we were good about sending the kids home so we could have dinner etc but this night was special.  All the kids from the whole week were there.  Taking pictures & just hanging out.  No one wanted to leave.  Them or us.  It was very bittersweet. 

I can honestly say this trip started out for me as something I could give to children & people that maybe didn't have much.  I left there with so much more than I gave.  I left knowing I will go back some day.  I left knowing Dr Elry, Liz, Sammy, Andres & all the kids there are my extended family.  I left knowing that while we might think a language barrier will stop us from communicating, it really only does that if we CHOOSE for it to.  There is always a way to communicate. 

I watched my daughter that last night by the edge of the lake catching little minnows with a couple girls from the village.  They talked & used hand signals & they were just loving being with each other. 

So now I want to remember my time there. I want to see things the way God sees them.  I want to remember that I am blessed.  REALLY Blessed.  but while I may not live in a 3rd world country, there is so much that I wish I had that they have.  Simplicity is a big one.  I'm working on that.  Relationship.  I'm working on that too.  My priorities have been out of whack.  I'm working on that.

Oh and I'm working on my husband saying ok to heading back down next year. 

I hope you enjoyed my posts about our trip.  I wish we could be sitting across from each other so you can look at the pictures with me & just feel my excitement & passion for what we were doing.  I am trying to share what's in my heart but I'm not sure this is doing it justice.

Thanks for reading.  I hope you stick around.  My passions have grown but fitness & healthy living is still my big one.  I'll be back with more of that & more of my family stuff. 

Let me know what you think about our trip.  Have you been out of the country on a mission trip?   I would love to hear about it. 

You can follow me on Facebook & Twitter too at Imperfectlypamela 

Be Blessed & Healthy!!!!

This black tank is what held all the water for showers & toilet flushing for the day! 

Prepping the front wall of the clinic to be painted & leveling out the ground.

Painting the wall :)

What color would you like?

Such a little thing we take forgranted but these girls did not.  They LOVED this!

Painted the wall in the back yard.  This is out background for the last picture here :)

Teaching......

Who doesn't LOVE a game of musical chairs??!!

More painting....inside the waiting room of the clinic.

The men deserved every minute of their break.



School #1

School #1 - kids doing the drama

School #2

School #2 (soccer with the kids)

A last round of backyard soccer.

No communication problem here.  They were intent on catching minnows together.

The sun was setting but we couldn't say good bye to our new friends.

My Guatemala sister in Christ - Liz

Us with our Amatitlan family.  Forever in our hearts.



Ah, the finished wall & garden.  Beautiful.

Well, I know there were so many pictures I didn't post.  I will probably do that periodically just because.

Be Blessed & Healthy!! 

Gautemala - Part 2

Part of the view.  This volcano (Agua) kept peeking out from the clouds. It was shy & hiding most days.
 

A mission team in awe of the view

When we arrived at our host's house we were really taken in by the view.  It was just magnificent.  The clouds would lift & reveal more mountains & the beautiful volcano "Agua".  We spent some time enjoying the view then enjoyed some lunch.  Our first taste of things to come.






on the balcony outside the dorms

We also went up to see the dormitories the men from our church helped to build.  There were 4 that pretty much just looked like hotel rooms with more beds :)  They were perfect.  My family of 5 was comfortable in our room.  We also didn't spend a lot of time in there either.  I think since there was no dresser or TV it was roomier.

Just a light taste of what was to come for the rest of the week. YUM

We had a light lunch of yummy HOMEMADE tortillas, guacamole, lunch meat, & fruit.  It was really amazing.   I am very sad that I didn't think to take a picture of every meal.  While I know that might have been boring for you, each meal Liz made was an incredible treat.  I did my happy dance at EVERY meal.  She was very sweet about my food allergies, etc & was able to help me have some delish food along with everyone else. 

The soccer field.  A great meeting
place & on Sundays legit soccer games
were played here. 

The girls that came with us brought nail polish
and painted nails.  This was a great tool in
meeting the kids & also teaching them
colors!

The kids went to the empty lot on the side of the building & played soccer with some of the local kids (this happened just about EVERY day).
We also got to be part of & watch Dr Elry's children's church group that he & a Pastor lead every Saturday afternoon.








Every time we looked more girls had
joined the group to get manicures :)

Childrens church











Some of our team helping
with songs during Children's Church

Children's church continued outside
with Sammy leading the little children

The view from our balcony looking toward the village.  Many people live in these little shacks.

Village to the left. Lake & gorgeous view to the right. Soccer field at center/bottom of pic.

A view we never grew tired of.

The community room where we ate, worshiped and taught the village children & moms English, games & songs.

 

Some things are the same in a 3rd world country.  You would
think the kids would want these on their feet!!

My daughter writing in her journal about the trip.

Games after learning time - in the backyard.

 HIKING PACAYA (the volcano I wrote about)

 (please scroll down after the pictures for info about our hike.  There are a lot of pictures and I didn't make them small so you can see them better.  Sorry if you aren't into the pictures.  I tried to limit them but I just couldn't help myself!!.)

We were VERY excited about this.   Saturday night there was some SERIOUS rain.  The roof of the dorms we were sleeping in was tin.  This was actually quite nice to sleep to the sound of the rain like that.  We also got to experience the other sounds of the night as well.  Dogs barking & some of the men in the village who stayed up late.  Very late. 

In the morning we awoke to the beautiful view again & gorgeous skies.  Oh & the Chicken Bus horn WAILING as it came down out street.  That is how they let people know they are coming so they can come out to the road & catch a ride. 

We awoke to a pancake breakfast ( I was told they were amazing) and we were on our way.  The van took us to the volcano.  This is where we had to sign waivers saying we wouldn't steal any thing from the volcano & we wouldn't sue if we fell in (well something like that :)  ) 

And the journey begins......

The initial climb felt like it was STRAIGHT UP.  I remember thinking "Oh I can do this!  I just finished P90X with Turbo!!"  Ok, listen up fitness peeps.  Pacaya will KICK YOUR BUTT!!!!  More than Tony & Chalene for sure!   That was only the first 200 yards or so.  I remember getting to that first rest point thinking "If I don't make this hike I will never be able to live it down!".  We got about 2/3rds of the way up the volcano & my daughter (age 7) was crying & others were wondering if they would be able to make it.  Until we looked up and saw the beautiful sight of the crater. 

Most of us stuffed in the van for the trip to Pacaya.

Trees down into the road from the big storm the night before.

Another beautiful volcano (not sure which one this was)

Debris in the road from being washed down from big storm.  LOTS of lava rock.

 

Our guide hanging on to Dr Elry's car up the mountain!

Our 1st rest stop.  Well deserved!!

The horse guys would constantly ask us if we wanted a ride.  As soon as you even LOOKED tired they were on you like white on rice!!

Another rest stop
 

Our guide.  He does this hike3-4 times a week during this time of year and every day November - February.  Wow, this is really a serious hike!



almost there!  We can SEE the top!!!

She made it!  Very Very proud of her.  There were some tears but a 7 year old that walked the whole way up (2.2miles up).  That is something!
 

My oldest enjoying the rest & the view.

My middle child.  Lovin the view
 

Pacaya, up close & personal.

Our youth part of the team. Look at those smiles!

 

My family :)  Love Love them SO much.

This guy was explaining how they made jewelry with some of the lava.

The Lava Store at the top

 

I was told it was VERY warm in this hole

Our guide helping the kids roast (steam) marshmallows

YUM!!  and YES I let her have a marshmallow or two.  I wanted her to be able to say she roasted marshmallows at the top of a volcano!!!
 

Our way down :(

The End :( 
PACAYA -- we conquered you & plan to come back & do it again.  Thanks for the memories and the AWESOME one of a kind workout!!

(This last picture shows the 1st part of the hike but taken at the end :).  This picture does NOT do the steep angle justice.  The whole path was NOT this concrete/rocky stuff.  It was mostly just dirt & rock the rest of the way.  Oh & horse poop :p)


When we reached the top, there was this little "Lava Shop" with jewelry & do-dads that had lava in them.  They also were selling soda & junk food for those that needed the sugar rush I guess.  I was smart & rationed my water on the way up & also had KIND bars in my bag.  Love it when I think ahead like that.

The kids found out before our trip that at the top of the volcano they could roast marshmallows at the hot-spots.  It was more like steaming marshmallows but they had fun doing it.  It's fun to be able to say you roasted marshmallows at the top of a volcano.

The trip down was FUN FUN FUN!!!  Lots of times we were running & jumping over the horse poop that was in the middle of the trail.  Yes, they do have horses for those that don't want to exert themselves to get to the top.  It went A LOT faster going down (duh) and no one was crying.   It was so much fun I didn't take any pictures until we were all the way to the end.

We were all very proud that we accomplished that hike.  For days after though we were all sore.  I was sore all on the outside of my thighs.  It was a strange soreness for me because I don't think any workout has left me sore like that.  WELL worth it though!! 

Hope you enjoy the pictures.  My next post will be covering the rest of the week. 
 
I love reliving the week of this mission trip.  It's wonderful to be able to share all this with you.  I hope you aren't getting too bored.  I actually am keeping so much out so this doesn't end up being a book!! 


Thanks for taking the time to read this post.  I know it's long & has a lot of pictures.  I just can't help it.  I hope the pictures do the scenery justice.  It was something I will never forget & want to go back ASAP!!!!!

If you have any questions just ask.

Be Blessed & Healthy!!!