Puebla

And here we are in Puebla, on the second leg of our journey. For the next month we will be studying, and living in the beautiful country of Mexico. Mornings consist of a two hour culture class, two hour one on one conversation and going home for the evening with our host families.

During this time I have been aware of the 'thin places' all around. A thin place, as defined by Eric Weiner in his New York Times article " Where Heaven and Earth come closer" explains a thin place to be a location where we become our more essential selfs. Where one is able to loosen their grip on life and breathe. Where heaven and earth seem to come closer. A few thin places I have experienced in Mexico include...

Drinking a cup of coffee on the bustling streets downtown.

Worshiping with others at my host parents church.

Basking in awe of the beautiful boys choir as its melodies sailed through the Cathedral of Mexico City.

As we near the end of our journey, I find my self relating to Kierkegaard when he explained that "travel, like life, is best understood backward but must be experienced forward". Though I may find my self worn, tired, and filled with information- it does not mean that God has revealed everything I need to have learned. As I type this, I am trying to remind myself that by experiencing the forward motion of travel we may better understand the upside down kingdom of God.

Free Travel

And we are back from our week of FREE TRAVEL! Here is a little review of the adventures of Emily and Rose....

Day 1: Travel to Rio Dulce

Our current state of being after 5 hours of a Guatemalan style traffic jam.

Early Thursday morning, Emily Hedrick and I headed off on our bus ride to the city Rio Dulce. Little did we know, a crash along our trip would leave us in a 7 hour trafic jam with 6 kms of back up both directions. What a way to start off! :) Nonetheless, we got to our hotel safe and sound and were ready for the adventure ahead.

Day 2: Relaxation in Rio Dulce



View of the port by our hotel.

Our day in Rio Dulce consisted of reading, relaxing, swinging in our hamock, watching the boats on Lake Isabal, swimming in the pool and reflecting on our time thus far in Guatemala.



One highlight of our trip was trying yummy foods during our travels. Some of our favorite dishes included the typical Guatemalan breakfast, Coconut bread, Tapdo (a typical coconut milk seafood soup dish filled with shrimp, crab, fish and clams), and authentic Italian pasta.


Day 3: Livingston



Beautiful view of Rio Dulce during our two hour boat ride.

The next morning, we headed to Livingston, a Caribbean town on the coast of Guatemala famous for its unique Garifuna culture. One of the only ways to reach Livingston is by boat on the Rio Dulce. Due to heavy rains the night before, the ride was a wet one and by the end we were happy to make it to dry land.

Day 4: Adventures in Livingston



Getting ready to take a traditional dug out boat to our next destination on the tour- the beach.

We were lucky to find a steal of a tour for a free day in Livingston that took us on a walk through town, a hike through the jungle, a canoe ride, beach side stroll, swimming at Los Siete Altares (seven beautiful waterfalls) AND a packed lunch. What a blessings it was to get such an adventure packed day of fun in Livingston!




A panoramic view of one of the swimming holes at Los Siete Altares.

Day 5: Travel to Semuc Champey

For a planner like me, this was a difficult travel day. :) We spent the whole day heading back down Rio Dulce, waiting for our shuttle to our next destination in Semuc Champey, and traveling the bumpy, muddy roads for six to our remote hotel. The craziness of the day´s travels was well worth it when we made it to...

Day 6: Semuc Champey



A birds eye view of one section of the falls at Semuc Champey.

Day six of our free travel, Emily and I devoted to our time exploring the park of Semuc Champey. As we visited the pools, waterfalls, and natural beauty surrounding Semuc, I felt blessed to have the opportunity to be awe struck once again by God and his power.

Though this post does not give a complete view of our experience, it does give a taste. I am thankful for the opportunity to connect to Christ through the backwards learning that travel has to offer.

¨Travel, like life, is best understood backward but must be experienced forward¨ -Kierkegaard

A Review of Guatemala

It is hard to believe that our time here in Guatemala is almost over. Here is a little review of my favorite memories from Guatemala. :)

The times of peace and insight during our travels.

Visiting awesome sights filled with history.

Getting to know and respsect our two leaders, Don and Ester Clymer.

Having the opportunity to pass time with one of my best friends, Peyton Erb.

Soaking up the stunning natural beauty of Guatemala.

Getting to know my host family and in particular my host brother, Juan Carlos.

Spending some awesome times with our group.

The blessing of community support on my birthday.

I am so grateful for these experiences thus far. As we head into free travel, I hope to take the time and reflect on these once in a life time opportunities.