My Best Friend in Guatemala

About a week after I arrived in Guatemala my host family hired a new auydante (or house help) named Epep. Epep is a 25 year old mother of two from the province of San Marcos (about five hours away from the capital). She left her two daughters and family to come to the city for work, which is not an unusual thing for someone from the countryside to do. From the beginning, Epep was a bubbly friend and wonderful company.

Over time we spent many moments talking over hot cups of incaparina and pan dulce. Epep and I share a strong desire to seek and serve God in our communities, which has made conversation with her very easy and life giving. I am so thankful to have someone here with whom I can discuss life. Not only that, but Epep reminds me daily the importance of relying on God for daily strength.

One of my fondest memories with Epep so far was the day I came back from the local landfill with CASAS. My mind that afternoon was filled with thoughts on inequality of the world, which I shared with her. After listening to my disjointed thought process, she reminded me that despite how unfair or unjust our situations here on earth, we are all given the same choice to follow Christ. That someday we will all be given the same judgment and opportunity to be with God. What a testimony Epep showed to me that day, as she exhaled the glory of Christ within the hardships and difficulties of her own life.

Epep and I passing time together in the kitchen.

A Stranger Within the Familiar

This weekend our group went to visit Tikal National Park in the region of Petén, Guatemala. After a day traveling and visiting Tikal´s Mayan Ruins we headed to our hotel for the night, Gringo Perdido (or lost gringo). This rustic lake side hotel gave our group the opportunity to relax, reconnect with one another, and overall have a fun time.

I was suprised to find myself actually feeling like a stranger in this Westernized hotel. While there, I felt diconnected from the local culture, people and spirit. I felt out of place and unable to engage in conversation with the locals. Here the hotel workers were use to keeping disconnected from the visitors. I on the other hand wanted to engage in conversation with the people working in the kitchen as I heard them sharing jokes together. I think the biggest reason I felt the desire to join in the conversation was because of my previous experiences in Paraguay. Why coulden´t I connect with those around me in the same way that I engaged in conversation there? In this moment I felt on the outside within a ¨gringo¨culture, trapped between two worlds and unsure where to go.

Reading for my EMU class thus far has been very helpful as I work through feelings of being a stranger within the familiar. Henri Nouwen states that we must remember not to derive knowledge from the center of who we are, but from the center of who God is and find life from the Divine Life. David Smith in his book ¨Learning from the Stranger¨ has reminded me that ¨to be a Christian is to hope, trust, and participate in this work of renewal and reconciliation and to seek, with God´s help and continuing forgiveness, to order our own lives in its light¨(p. 57). So as I come to points on this journey where my own self feels out of place or disconnected, I hope to continue deeply participating in seeking God´s grace, order and divine life. That within the sense of unfamiliar I may continue to learn and grow.

Lakeside view of our hotel, Gringo Perdido.

Lesson of Generosity

This weekend out group climbed the active volcano called Pacaega. Not everyday you can say that you climbed a volcano! It was amazing. Sights like this remind me of how awesome a God we serve.

But what impacted me the most was what happened when we finished our climb. When I was walking to the bus, a 12 year old girl named Melissa started walking beside me trying to sell me a walking stick for 5 quetzales. I started to engage in conversation and during this time I told her that I thought the bracelet she was wearing was beautiful. She smiled a beautiful grin at me and took that same bracelet off her wrist and placed it on my own wrist. I was shocked. How can she be giving me this bracelet so freely and generously? I searched my bag for something to give her in return, but all I had was my empty lunch bag, a water bottle and my camera. It seemed like such an ironic situation, that she was able to give so freely and I was not able to give her anything. And not only that, but that she did not want anything in return. When I returned to the van I remembered the walking sticks she was selling and quickly called her over to buy one. As our van drove away I called out to my new friend "Adios Melissa!!" and was left with the image of her big brown eyed smile.

Melissa taught me an important and priceless lesson that day. Generosity is a sign that God is at work. I am so thankful for the example Melissa served today for me. The gift of generosity is a priceless treasure that I too want to live out in my life.

The bracelet Melissa gave me and the stick I bought from her.

Pictures from Life

Me and my classmate Louise eating our lunch at a Mayan Ruins site.



Some classmates showing off their host family bio at CASAS.



My host parents and I at Atitlan on our way to San Marcos (sorry it is so dark!).

Chichicastenango

First weekend trip of our Cross Cultural took us to Chichicastenango, a town in the region of El Quiche famous for their Mayan culture and beautiful markets.

One experience that will continue to stay with me was our interaction with the women of Proyecto Ruth y Noemi. This project was formed in response to Guatemala's Civil War in 1980, which greatly affected the people of El Quiche. After the war, many women were left without their husbands and in need of an income for their families. In response, the Guatemalan Methodist church formed this community which gave widows the tools to support themselves.

After talking with the pastor who started the program, our group went to visit a coop of women who produce traditional handmade merchandise for Proyecto Ruth y Noemi. Together our group sat with the widows in an open room filled with the bright colors of their merchandise. Siting with these women and children, I was happy for the opportunity to witness a true sisterhood community and to feel the strength God has equipped them with in their unity. To see the joy and pride the women held in who they are, where they had come from, and what they had accomplished. It was beautiful.

After this experience I was reading from Henri Nouwen's book "Gracias!" and came across a quote that stated, "Ministry is entering with our human brokenness into community with others and speaking a word of hope". I was blessed to witness this form of ministry as we talked with the pastor and fellowshiped with the women. Here in Guatemala, Christians joined together in brokenness and created something beautiful from the ashes of war.

Playing with the grandchildren of the widows at the coop.
Photo Credit: Peyton Erb

Hola desde Guatemala

Hello friends and family!!

Well here we are, a little over a week since we have arrived here. The journey has begun! A little time line thus far starts Thursday the 12th when we arrived at CASAS, the language school a part of the seminary Semillas. The next day included orientation and then being passed on to host families. From the outside, it may have looked like the EMU students were a group of lost puppies looking for a home. :) After a weekend in our new homes with our host families, classes started on Monday as well as mid day adventures throughout the week to various historical sights as well as having guest speakers come in to share.

Some highlights so far include...

• random adventures with my host family
• seeing the new president live at a Sunday afternoon Mega Church Service.
• getting to know/talk with my host families auydante (househelp) Epep
• learning more of the history social make up and reformation going on in Guatemala
• studying Spanish grammar- hopefully it will help improve my Spanish!

Coming back into a culture different than my own does have its fair share of challenges as well. Cultural norms, language, and being the stranger make certain tasks more difficult, but I find life from these challenges. After having lived and reflected (which I am sure the reflection process is sure to continue) on another previous cross cultural experience, I greatly appreciate the importance of living each moment to the fullest, reflecting and keeping God at the center of everything I do.

With that said, some more "everyday" yet profound events have included...

• being able to engage in conversation (at home, CASAS, the street, and with other host families)
• figuring out a new bus system
• pulling un chiste (a joke) in Spanish!
• reflecting with our ayudante Epep on the inequalities in Guatemala

Hopefully this gives a taste of what I am thinking and experience. I hope for the following blog entries to focus on stories, encounters, and observations of my experience. From these experiences both you and I will be given new ways to view the world and most importantly bits of truth from God.

Desde Guatemala,
Rosita <3

Orientation

I find myself feeling so many different emotions right now...

Excitement for the beautiful adventures to come.

Anxiety of the strong emotions that come for me within Latino culture and the reliving of memories from Paraguay.

Wonder at the world and the diversity it holds.

"Culture is not something achieved by a few. It is our way of being in the world together."

-"Learning from the Stranger"

Gratitude for this amazing opportunity.

Pray for our group as we open up to God and the journey he has in store.