Sometimes during my life I just stop for a second and ask myself, “What is my life?” I examine the crazy situations and then I assess it. Today I had one of those moments.
I’m finally getting used to the crazy, non-sensical driving that makes up Guatemala, so the hourish drive yesterday morning to a Mayan 7th-12th grade school was no big deal.
We walked through a parade, finally learning not to respond to the vendors cries of “Special price for you my friend!” and into the high school. Up some stairs, through some hallways, and then I looked around and found that I was standing in the middle of a “Queen of the School” election. All 5 of us Americans sat front row listening to the speakers, watching choreography, and tapping our feet to the incredibly loud dance music.
And the a sudden whisper from our Guatemalan contact informed me that we were next. After the dance was over, we would be leading some kind of game to entertain 150-200 Guatemalan high schoolers. Right here. Right now. SURPRISE!
I am proud to say Guatemalan teenagers have now fully embraced “Ninja!”
I thought our time was up for the day, until of course I was pushed to grab one of the “Queen” nominees and told to dance with her for the next 20 minutes while the entire school took pictures of the Mayan girl dancing with the white American.
It was then that I had my moment. As I was dancing, I asked myself “What is my life?” And I couldn’t stop smiling!
Adjusting here hasn’t been easy. Living with 18 others in a house with only two bathrooms, a complicated water cleaning process, and absolutely no “me time” is one thing, but seeing awful animal abuses and extreme poverty is another. It’s been difficult, but so worth it.
I don’t know if I would have chosen the journey that my life has always taken, but I’m so glad that God did!
