Author: Adventures

One hazy afternoon, we walked into one of the most serene places I’ve ever been. The courtyard of the elderly home we had come to visit was filled with cacao trees and flowers in full bloom. It was incredibly quiet in contrast with the chaotic streets outside. Clothes lines were strung at random across the paths. The faded shirts and dresses appeared to be flags upon first look, moving gently in the cool breeze. Upon entering, we were directed to a pagoda where several of the residents were sitting quietly in the shade. Many of them struggled to rise and greet us. We tried to assure...

     It seems the resonating theme of this week, pertinent to Guatemala’s independence day being today, Saturday September 15th, is freedom.      Freedom was the overarching refrain that graced Sunday sermons these past few days. It was the underlying axiom that appeared in testimonies and freedom was the profound blessing that needed recognition in my life this week.      I tend to conceptualize freedom as a mandated, apportioned right, like everything the Constitution enumerates. But in fact, true freedom is not the right...

     Over the two weeks I have now been living in Guatemala, those few expectations I clung to so feebly have vanished. Not quite vanished as in evaporate entirely, but more like shot down from the clear blue sky with .22 caliber rifle. Being enveloped by such graciousness and compassion by the people here was not what I had anticipated. But the most unexpected surprise probably came from which area my knowledge grew most— not in that about the country or the culture, the food or the language, but about myself.      It’s funny really....

“Happy One Week Anniversary!!!” That was the main theme of this past Monday. All seven of us “Guat Girls” took a moment to realize that we’d known each other for an entire week. And during that week, we had grown closer than most people will over years of friendship. Already we had been through a lot as a team. We had left our homes, are families, and our ideas of normal behind to train for a few days in Georgia. When we finally met each other, we were the giggliest bunch of girls I’ve ever come across. By day 2 ½, we began to wonder if our...