Sick :(

Last night I started not feeling well, and woke up this morning feeling even worse, so they made me go to the doctor.  They literally made me because I didn't want to go. I had my grumpy face on and just thought I could rest some and would feel better later.  But my stomach hurt, and I had a headache and felt dizzy and tired and nauseated, so off we went.  Going to the doctor's office was interesting.  Not bad, because it seemed really clean and professional, but I definitely miss my Dr. Brian (and my mommy) right about now.  Frank came along to help me translate, which was a little awkward, but we managed, and after some tests, I was diagnosed with having parasites and an infection.  Ummmm.....parasites???!!!!  Yikes.  So, please please pray for quick healing and good health. 

This past Saturday I went to the National Palace with Hermano Neftali, Hermana Lety, and their kids.  It was a lot of fun and seeing the palace was very interesting.  We also went to the market nearby, which is likely where I picked up the parasite, since we ate lunch there.  Last Wednesday was a national holiday, Revolution Day, and the exhibits at the Palace centered around that.  There was a billboard right outside the entrance that said "Conocer tu historia es conocerte a ti." or To know your history is to know yourself.  I really liked that because knowing our story is how we determine who we are and who we want to become, and how we recognize the work of God in our lives. 

Untitled

A lot has been happening here over the past week and a half, and I haven't really known what to say about it, so I decided not to say anything.  Since I love you all and appreciate your support, I'm back and ready to talk about what's happening in my life. 

First, my favorite part of this experience is being involved in the community and building relationships with people.  One girl I'm working with, Andrea, has become a good friend and both her little brother and sister had birthday parties in the past week that I was invited to.  It was very fun to be a part of that.  For her brother's party her mom made us a meal, sharing what little they had with us, which was kind of hard to accept because it wasn't necessary for them to do that, but it was a very nice meal and really sweet that they shared that with us.  For her sister's party, Won and I bought pizza and Won and Frank made a chocolate cake to share.  Esmerelda turned 6, and she put away 3 pieces of pizza and 2 pieces of cake!!  :)  What a little sweetheart.  She was so excited that she got all dressed up in a fancy pink dress for her party!  It's so fun to be a part of these things. 

This past Sunday was Baptism Sunday.  We went to Aguas Termales, near Chimaltenango.  It was like a big swimming pool that was a hot spring.  Both Frank and Andrea got baptized, along with 8 other people.  It was a very cool experience, seeing their excitement about taking this step in their relationship with Christ, and making this public acknowledgment that they belong to God. 

Last week Friday was a really terrible day.  In some ways I can see how God was working, and on the other hand I'm still all jumbled up.  Without going into much painful detail, God led me to go next door earlier than usual last week Friday morning, and Frank and I, along with the three boys, ended up seeing a girl being sexually assaulted in a vacant lot behind the house.  When I went down to talk with the girl, she was frozen with fear, in shock.  I went with her to the police station/government offices where the report was filed, and I was glad to be there with her.  What I've been wrestling with most is that I could have done something more to stop it, lots of guilt feelings, and I keep seeing the whole thing replaying in my head, over and over.  I get scared for all these precious children, knowing that this is danger they face up close everyday.  One of the blessings that came out of this was the opportunity it presented to debrief the incident with the boys.  We talked about what we had seen, how it made us feel, what we were thinking.  Because I was so vulnerable and emotional at that point, they opened up a little more and we were able to connect in a way that we hadn't been able to previously, especially the oldest one.  As a follow up, today the oldest boy shared part of his story with me, talking about the abuse he suffered.  I know it took a lot for him to trust me with that, so I feel really honored. 

Thank you so much for your prayers.  There's no way I would be able to do this without them! 

different but the same

There has been so much about this experience that has been so hard because everything is so drastically different from what I'm used to.  But one thing that I notice as I listen to people's stories and build relationships is that people are the same wherever you go.  They struggle with self esteem, loneliness, getting along with others, depression, anxiety, alcoholism, relationship issues, etc.  I've really been enjoying connecting with the teenagers in the community, and last Friday I had the privilege of connecting with one teen who was having a particularly hard day.  As we cried and prayed together it struck me how much we have in common, and as he spoke beautiful words about how grateful he is that I am here for him, the feeling is definitely mutual and it was a very affirming moment.  I feel like even though my Spanish isn't great yet, God is using me.  And He's showing me that I want to work with teens in the future! They're fantastic. 
Please pray for my teen friend, and for the other teens of the church and community. 

Pictures of El Salvador!

 This is the traffic jam at the border!

 Vicky at her baby shower

The Pacific Ocean

Boys will be boys

The current was strong!

First taste of coconut water

The whole group!

Fixing the brakes

Reparando movie premier

Reparando is a documentary about Guatemala's struggle to repair itself and its people following a 36 year civil year.  It follows two extraordinary Guatemalans, Shorty, an ex-gang member, and Tita, who started a school in Guatemala City's most notorious slum.  Reparando premiered at the Grand Rapids Film Festival at the end of August, and I had the privilege of seeing it at that time.  It was so good and I loved how it was so positive and hopeful, despite also depicting the poverty and effects of the civil war.  I also had the privilege of meeting Tita the first weekend I was here, and she is truly amazing and inspiring.  She's doing great work.  The organization I'm here with, Estrategía de Transformación, was very involved in helping create this documentary and it's definitely worth checking out! 
SO....all that to say, Reparando is premiering again in Grand Rapids on Wednesday and Thursday this week, October 13 and 14, in Grandville at Rivertown on Wednesday and at Celebration on East Beltline on Thursday.  For details and to buy tickets (can only be bought online) check out the website, http://www.reparandomovie.com/.  Please consider checking this out this week!

It's been a busy week!  Sunday was national children's day here in Guatemala, so there was a big festival at church, complete with clowns!  Many many children, combined with a large crowd and scary clowns made for a very anxious Amy, but the kids had a great time and it was really good for engaging the community.  Then I went to play soccer with a bunch of the teenagers from church. It was so much fun to run around and push people (gently and in love).  :) 

I can't remember what I did on Monday!  If I remember I will let you know!  OH------Vicky had her baby!!!  She went in for a checkup and it was discovered that the umbilical cord was wrapped around the baby's neck, so she had an emergency C-section.  She had a beautiful, healthy baby girl, named Holy Elizabeth.  So I went with Shirley, Norma, Pablito and Abuelita to visit her on Monday night.  Vicky and the baby came home from the hospital yesterday and are staying with Junior and Shirley. 

A few weeks ago a huge container of literature--Sunday school materials, Bible studies, books, Bibles, etc., came here, arranged by TJ, an American who works at the Christian school in San Cristobal and is also involved in a children's home near here.  He is storing the books at the Casa de Refugio and is distributing them to various ministries throughout the area.  Because the books are right next door, our community has benefiitted, and on Tuesday, we got to invite pastors from all over Linda Vista and Villa Nueva to come here and receive materials.  There were representatives from 12 different churches, and it was so awesome to see their faces when they saw all of the boxes and bundles of brand new books they got, like Beth Moore studies.  A couple of pastors came to talk to Pastor Jorge afterwards, one who had always had hard feelings toward him, and asked for forgiveness about this because he was humbled by the gift he had been given.  Another said he came reluctantly, not believing that the books would be free, or if they were they would be old and broken and used, and asked for forgiveness for his attitude because he received more than he had ever thought.  It was really awesome. 

On Wednesday I got to ride along as we were the receivers of amazing gifts from a mission group from Alabama.  They gave 3 schools and our church water filters so that the children and those in our community can have clean drinking water.  What a thing we take for granted!

I've had a couple rough days this week, not feeling well, missing home, being a little cranky.  I was reading in the book of Psalms and came to Psalms 13, where it says "How long O Lord....How long O Lord must I wrestle with my thoughts?"  I liked the honesty of this question because it seems like I'm always wrestling with my thoughts, letting them run away from me, getting all anxious and stuff.  But then the Psalm goes on to say "But I trust in your unfailing love, my heart rejoices in your salvation.  I will sing to the Lord for He has been good to me."  And that's what it comes down to.  Trusting in His unfailing love, and singing to Him because He's been good to me, no matter what thoughts I may be wrestling with.

Adventures in El Salvador

Last Monday Pastor Jorge came home from his trip to visit his daughter in San Pedro and said we would be leaving on Tuesday for El Salvador.  He also came home from this trip with his daughter Vicky, the most pregnant woman I have ever seen.  She will be staying with us until she has the baby, which could be anytime now.  I had known the trip to El Salvador was coming in order to renew papers for Junior and Norma because the Cerritos are originally from El Salvador, but thought we were going in about two weeks.  Instead, we left right away because Vicky had to come with us to renew her papers as well and of course, we wanted to try to get her there before the baby.  So we piled 9 of us into a Suburban and were on our way.  Along with us were Jorge Sr and his wife Annie, Junior and Shirley and Pablito, Vicky, Norma, me, and Wan (the Korean American who hangs out with us).

The first obstacle came when we reached the border of Guatemala, when they discovered that Wan's 90 day visa in the country had expired by 2 days. They said the only way to fix this was to go to Guatemala City the next day, get it renewed, and pay a fine. However, they eventually let him out of the country, and we proceeded to El Salvador.  I was sitting in the back of the truck that you can see in the picture here, and it was funny to cross the border like that because the guards come through with their lights and open the door, peer inside and see Junior, Pablito, and then me and Wan and give strange looks, like hmmm...these two don't fit.  It felt like we were being smuggled in or something.  But, it really did turn into a problem because of Wan's visa, and we waited for nearly an hour and a half before he was allowed to pay a fine that allowed him five extra days to get it renewed.  So, we were on our way again, this time to find some dinner!  Finally, after stopping for dinner to eat pupusas, which is apparently an El Salvadoran specialty that is like 2 tortillas stuffed with cheese or meat or beans, we arrived at our destination around midnight! 

Other adventures included going to the mall, playing the most competitive game of monopoly ever, traveling with 2 pregnant women and a 2 year old, a baby shower for Vicky, going to the beach, and drinking out of a coconut.  We had planned to travel back on Thursday, but received word that 2 of the border crossings were closed, leaving just one open, and because of so much rain, the roads would likely be treacherous and full of traffic. So, we decided to wait until Friday, which allowed us to go to the beach!  It was cloudy and windy, but very fun to see the Pacific Ocean, with huge waves and full of debris from the storms they've had. After we got home from the beach, there was an earthquake!  A short one, and no damage, but strong enough that I felt us shaking.  Pretty scary!  And now I know that in an earthquake you are supposed to leave the building, something I did not know, so did not do! Apparently the center of the earthquake and strongest place was right where we had been, at the beach!  

On Friday morning we received word that the border crossing we wanted was open at that time, so we prepared to leave. However, I had to get used to traveling with a different family from my own!  My dad, the organizational person that he is, (Someone, I can't imagine who, may have accidentally called him an organizational freak once) would have had us out the door by 6 am, but it is a bit different here.  We took time eating breakfast, getting ready, fitting everything back in the truck, making 2 different stops, and then we were on our way.  But WAIT!  We're on our way out of town and the brakes on the truck went out!  So we pulled over into a mechanic shop and they said they'd start working on them while we waited.  Of course Vicky, who ate like every 45 minutes because "the baby is hungry" :)  was hungry, so we walked to a restaurant for lunch, took our time, and then sent Vicky, Norma, Annie, and Pablito to Abuelita's house (Senior's mom) in a taxi to rest until the truck was done. And then we waited.  Thankfully, the brakes could be fixed, and we were officially on our way again about 3:30.  HOWEVER, by this time, for some reason, only one border crossing was open again, it was the longest route home, and it would likely be packed.  Naturally.  But we kept going and hit traffic about a mile and a half away from the border, where tons of semi trucks were stopped.  Annie and Junior got out to see what it looked like in front of us and saw that there was a restaurant with pupusas, since surprise! Vicky was hungry :) and it was dinnertime, so Wan, Annie, and Junior went ahead to order pupusas.  In the meantime, we started moving a little and ended up ahead of them!  After we had gone ahead and then stopped for a minute, I asked to get out and take pictures and stretch.  At the same time, Norma asked if she could get out and see if she could find a bathroom. Junior misunderstood and ran me all the way back to the pupusería and said here you go. I said "But it was Norma who had to go! I just wanted to take pictures!" So he ran back to get her.  And we continued to wait for the pupusas! And the car kept moving.  Long story short, Wan, Annie and I ended up walking a mile and half to the border in the dark, surrounded by truckers!  Thanks for your prayers, because it was scary!  And the pupusas were delicious!  :)

After we crossed the border there was a huge back up of semi trucks, a traffic jam that ended up lasting 4 hours.  Waiting in that traffic jam was pure torture.  I felt bad being grumpy about it when everyone else seemed to be taking it in stride, since there was nothing we could do, but it is what it is. I was grumpy. I was uncomfortable, and hot, and even though I love my family, I wanted to be alone!  More thoughts about this in a later post. 

When all was said and done, we made it home at 4:30 am.  Many obstacles, many trials, many laughs, many jokes and stories, made for a great adventure to El Salvador! Biggest blessing, besides making it home safely, was that no babies were born!  :)  I fully expected Vicky to go into labor, which would have been very traumatic for me :) so I'm glad she made it.  Thank you everyone for praying.  Please continue to pray for language acquisition and relief from culture shock, as I struggle with all the differences, missing things from home, getting used to being dependent on other people for so much--rides, communication.  Also pray for Vicky and her health and the health of her baby. 

I'm having trouble uploading photos today.  So I'll try again tomorrow!