.. torn

You know, I was inspired to write this blog by someone tonight who I am actually not a fan of. Someone who wanted to argue with me about the condition of the place I currently call "home." Guatemala has become part of my heart for the past couple of years now, and will forever be in my heart. The times I have visited here, and now living here I have seen a lot of things that cannot be explained unless you visit here. Many people have ridiculed me as to why I feel I need to come here and help when there are several people in your own cities that are hungry. As that may be the case, I find it very hard to explain how much help this country needs help. As many of you know Guatemala has two seasons, a rainy one, and a dry season. We are "supposed" to be in the rainy season, yet there is no rain. Being a third world country, Guatemala is very dependent on this season for crops, a main source of food for a lot of the country. Guatemala is currently on a drought, and I was informed today, has called upon United Nations to help during this time of need. There are 400,000 families that are starving, and many dying because of the fact that they are hungry. It sounds like something that should easily be fixed, but its not. I realize there are so many people starving in cities all across America. Living in an inner city, working in an inner city school, and working in rehab shelters, and food banks of Cincinnati, I saw poverty. I was immersed in it with those I came into contact with. It was a condition that made my heart saddened every single day. We are so fortunate in America to have options though, food banks, shelters, there are people on the streets, there are children starving, and it is such a heart wrenching thing. In Guatemala there is not even conditions for a 'shelter' or a 'food bank.' I guess the more I am here, the more I realize what exactly I am blessed with. For there to be an entire village living in the actual dump itself, scraping for the scraps that have been dug through atleast three times already is something that is so hard to explain. Seeing different parts of Guatemala and the joy that come from people that have nothing at all, is what keeps bringing me back here. These are people who are blessed by family and faith alone. Thats all they have, and that really touches you. It really makes you look at the condition of your heart and all that you have to be thankful for, and is something I have to reconsider everyday.

What a weekend

This weekend was perfect. I could not have asked for a better weekend, even in the states! It was filled of new experiences, lots of quality friend time, and definitely memories I will never forget. Going for a night out participating in Korean Karaoke is something everyone must experience atleast two times in their lives! l Having wonderful weekends, make for a better call home to mama. It's not the usual, "how many days until Chrsitmas" phone call. For the e-mails, yes the ear is getting better, it sounds like I have a gallon or two of water in my ear, but I atleast am hearing! I got to go visit the orphange this weekend. It was the smiles and tender hearts of those girls, that drew me to Guatemala. The way 50 orphan girls loving on you the way they do, is a feeling of love that wraps you in, and intoxicates you... in a good way. Those girls hold a very special place in my heart, and forever will. I was surprised pleasantly when I went for a visit, and saw one of my favorite girls Blankita. Blankita lived at the orphanage almost all of her life, and had left the last time I was down in Guatemala. This news of one of the girls leaving the home is always bittersweet. You want the best for them, but at the same time know that the chances of seeing them are very slim to none. Walking up the hill to the girl's home (many of you know the hill very well) and having Blankita run down to greet me, brought a feeling that I haven't felt in awhile. She remembered me, after not seeing me in years!..and of course asked about Chad, my brother as well.

..no really, can all my weekends be this good? :)

Here I am..5,000 miles away

I am finally going to start writing my thoughts and experiences for all of you to read. I have now been in Guatemala a little over a month, and it has been a roller coaster of emotions, and experiences. There are things that I definitely miss from America, but there are things that I could also get used to here as well. My children in my class are extremely sweet, way diverse, but super sweet. The school in general that I teach in is pretty awesome. I have already been blessed to be apart of a community that really loves people, and I am definitely thankful for that.Living here is not like a week or even two week mission trip. There are a lot more "changes" that happen when you actually live cross-culturally, and I am experiencing them daily. It is so weird being a minority, and having everyone speak a language you are not familar with (however my spanglish skills are increasing). Everytime you leave your house, you are reminded you no longer are in America, purely by the way Guatemalans live. Scorpions are something that I have quickly developed a fear of. They are the scariest little creatures ever. Some of my students found one on the playground last week, and I screamed like a 6 year old girl. I hate them, and everynight I pray to God that I will not be awakened by one in my bed, (this happens frequently to people here). I also experienced my first doctor's visit in Guatemala today. It was actually an ear specialist. Its a long story, and I can hear many of you laughing as I write this, due to the fact I am an extremely clutz of a person, but I got shocked! I got shocked inside of my ear. My ipod cord got caught in a metal fan, and it cut the cord, and caught on fire.. and shocked the inner ear drum canal apparently. I currently do not have hearing in my right ear, but on a brighter side the doctor said my hearing should come back. It also only cost me about 18 que for my medicine and doctor, which is like two dollars and twenty cents.. perfect huh!?