Monday, April 28, 2008

A few people to add to your prayer list...

I am down to the last days here. I'm feeling a mix of emotions & will probably be processing it for a long time. For now, I just want to soak up as much as I can while I'm here. 

I have a few people to add to your prayer lists. I want to list the names (and maybe a picture or two) of the kids I've met so that you (assuming someone might read this) can pray for them. The beautiful thing is that God knows these children, He knows their lives, He knows their needs. So, if you pray, He already knows what each of them needs! God is so amazing.

Here you go:
Yulvi, Azucely, Areli, Sergio, Lidia
 Marisol, Milvia, Priscillia, Berbelyn, Maria Jose, Darlin, Fabia,  Lorena,  Manuel, Estrella, Edwin, Victor, Asucena, Byron, Kimberly,
 Carlos, Lupita, Axel, Fredy, Oscar, Claudio, Oscar L., Hector, Oliverio, Daniel, Juan, Zoila, Victoria, Grayzy, Rosa, Rosalinda, Catherin, Oscar, Obed, Hazael, Kimberly, Elida, Evelia, Adan, Erica, Olga, Elena, Claudia, Marelia, Federico, Roberto,  
Lidia, Jackelin, Karlin, Mishell, Enrique, Candy, Vivian, Jonathan, Edwin, Froilan, Aroldo, Melvin, Luis, Franklin, Elvia, Nancy, Sonia, Manuel, Xiomara, 
Mariana, Aldy, Isabel, Nancy, Maribel, Mishell, Keila,
 Paty, Maria, Sara, 
Gricelda, Miriam, Marita, Roxy, Norma, Doris, Betsy, Vicky, Katy, Silvia, Ruby, Lupita, 
Carmelina, Maria, Johana, Darlin, Joselin, Asucena, Astrid, Caty, Sindy, Esther, 
Evelyn, Susi, Nancy, Candy, Carlita, Gaby, Judith, Nidian, and Sharon. 

That looks really sloppy... I still haven't figured this thing out. Anyway, thanks for praying!!!


Well, I'm hungry... it's frijole time! :)

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

And then there were 40

Well, yesterday's post is already inaccurate, we got a new little girl yesterday named Mariana! She's 5 years old, and cute as can be. It was amazing to see her running and laughing and playing today. Please pray that her transition here will be smooth and she will discover security, stability, and love quickly. Pray that she comes to know the Lord (and for the other girls too!). God is good, He is just and kind and merciful. It is so exciting to see Him rescue His children. Thanks for your prayers, God bless! 

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

There's sand in my purse...

Time is slipping away. I'll be on an airplane headed back to Alabama in 9 short days. I've got mixed feelings about leaving. I am so excited about seeing my family and friends, because I miss them so so much! I am not very excited about saying goodbye to these 39 girls. I don't know how to say goodbye. I am already telling them that I'm coming back, because I don't see how in the world I could not come back! These girls are like family. They've been a part of my daily life for 3 months, I get to hug a lot of them everyday, I get to eat with them, they laugh at my spanglish... I am going to miss them so much! 

I need the Lord more than ever now. I am scared that my time here has only reiterated the fear and pain that the girls have already experienced. I am here, I am now involved in their lives, and then I leave. I don't want to be one more person who leaves them. I hope that the Lord is using me, and that the girls will know that I love them. Most of all I hope that God will sink deep into their lives and they will know that He will never leave them. Please pray for them!

It's a lot of fun when teams come down because it gives me the chance to see more of Guatemala when they're here. The group of 6 came from Chicago & they were a fun crowd! Last Saturday we went to Villa Nueva and went to a coffee farm! Those of you who know me probably know that coffee is my middle name :) so it was pretty fun! Yes, I bought more coffee. After that we all went to Antigua and went shopping. Melanie (She's a cool girl from Washington who is going to be here for two years working with the girls in the Independence Program. It's been so much fun hanging out with her for the last 3 weeks!) and I walked around and got coffee and I bought a hammock! This crazy vendor was determined to sell me one... I thought I was just asking his prices... but Melanie went head to head with this guy for me and got me a great deal! I've always wanted a hammock, now I just have to decide where I want to hang it! The next day we went to church and then went to a Mayan cultural presentation. It was a very interesting experience, haha! We made tortillas, most of ours were muy feo, but they tasted great! We ate rice, chicken, and pepian (it's a soup which I am determined to learn how to make) and it was good! After that the ladies taught us about the Mayan people and traditions and then I got married. They showed us what a Mayan wedding is like and I got volunteered to be the bride. So, in a matter of 15 minutes I was engaged, married, and had 6 kids (only one was strapped to my back though). Afterward, we all agreed that it wasn't legally binding, and I didn't say "I do" so I'm pretty sure I'm still single. That lady didn't look legit anyway. It was pretty interesting though! On wednesday we went to Zapote and then we drove to Pacaya (one of the active volcanoes in Guatemala) and I climbed it! It was an amazing hike and I was blown away by the beauty of God displayed in that mountain. There is a huge amount of lava that has covered the cone and we got to walk around on some of it. It was an eery feeling to feel the heat that's coming from the volcano. I didn't feel very safe. I was reminded of the verse in Job that talks about God telling the waves how far they are allowed to go. The Lord designated that mountain to spew lava and He tells it how far it can go. Pacaya obeys the Lord. It was so beautiful and yet scary at the same time. On friday I got to go to Monterrico, which is on the Pacific coast of Guatemala. It's really pretty, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't ready to leave when Sunday rolled around! It was hot, humid, and mosquito-infested like Alabama in August... with no air conditioning or sweet tea. So yeah :) It really was pretty though, and I got to swim... no wait, I got spin-cycled in the ocean & survived! I thought it'd be a good idea to swim out past the spot where the waves were breaking. Needless to say, I lost. That ocean is really powerful! There is sand everywhere, and just like I keep finding reminders that I went to Monterrico, I hope to leave Guatemala and find reminders everywhere that I came here and grew and that I am not the same person as I was 3 months ago.

This is getting really long, but here are a few things that have happened in the past week or two:
  • Yesterday, Doris chased me with a dead bird, she thought it was hilarious
  • I ate beans for all 3 meals yesterday (and liked it, haha)
  • There's a little hole-in-the-wall place in San Lucas where you can get the most amazing pineapple banana smoothies (here they're called liquados) for 5Q! (that's less than $1!!)
  • I'm becoming a podcast junky (Francis Chan, Louie Giglio, Andy Stanley, and Steve Bateman are a few of my favorites!)
  • I'm planning on getting a masters in art therapy in the next few years
  • Here are links to my latest pictures: 
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2049611&l=66e38&id=41804036 
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2046095&l=5aacd&id=41804036 
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2046926&l=c70ac&id=41804036

Thank you for your prayers, I hope to see you when I get back! May God bless you in incredible ways!

Monday, March 31, 2008

It's almost April?!

Hello from Guatemala!


My sweet mom came down two weeks ago and we had a great time. It was great to have her here, and for her to see what I've been talking about. We spent one day in Guatemala City and got to relax and spend time together, it was great! Later, we went to the Oasis and we ate dinner with the girls in the blue house. Mom was a hit! We also went to Antigua (Johnny & Maria Coker were our tour guides, thanks so much!!), and were able to see a procession for Semana Santa (Holy Week). People from the Catholic churches and the community will spend hours making alfombras (carpets made of saw dust, pine straw, flowers, and other stuff) that cover parts of the streets that the parade walk down. Church members are selected to carry huge floats (not balloons, these are big heavy wooden things) down the road. They sway from side to side and carry them down the road, trampling those beautiful carpets that they spent hours on. Other men swing buckets of incense in front of the floats, it was like a big cloud coming down the road. I learned that they make a big deal about Good Friday and the days leading up to Easter Sunday, but after that you hear nothing about Christ's resurrection! It's like they're so close, and yet they miss the point. Jesus is alive!


The girls are doing well, and for the most part they are happy and healthy girls! Please pray for the older ones. Peer pressure can be a problem, and some of them are more interested in impressing each other than doing what it right. I've learned that kids are kids, no matter where in the world they're from! Pray for the younger girls, that they will understand what they're learning, retain it, and excel in school. Pray for the house parents, that they'll have wisdom and patience. Their jobs are not easy but so very important. Pray for the girls to see each other as friends and sisters, and that they'll value each other. Pray for the leadership at Kids Alive, both in Guatemala and around the world. Please pray that I'll have opportunities to love the girls and that the Lord will use me.


My job as of last week has been to enter books into the library cataloging system. It's a slow process but it's coming along! I'm enjoying it. They've also got me working on some photography projects for the girls' sponsors and for the home office. I'm really excited about it! I'm so thankful for this opportunity, and feel so blessed to have this time when I can learn so much and see new things and worship the Lord in a different language! God is good! For those who have supported me and prayed for me, thank you so much! May we all run after the Lord, wherever we are, so we can know, love, and glorify Him!



Thursday, March 13, 2008


I'm not sure where to begin! I'm in the middle of my 6th week here, wow, I am amazed at how fast this is flying by. The newness is wearing off, and I feel a little more comfortable everyday. I guess the point is not to be comfortable though...I guess I should say I'm sort of getting used to being here. I don't get nervous anymore when I'm going to the blue house for breakfast and dinner and it's easier for me to ask questions and relay my thoughts. I'm getting to know the girls better and it gives me so much joy when they're excited to see me everyday. Last night one of the girls told me to call her "sister" instead of "friend." I can't put into words how wonderful this is! All of these things are such blessings, and God has completely provided for my needs in so many ways. I love it, but I've noticed that I've started looking for ways to be lazy... ways to get around doing what I don't want to do. I am embarrassed to admit this. The Lord is challenging me to work hard, and run hard after Him daily. He is teaching me to deny myself and my comfort and my selfish desires, and follow Him into the places I don't feel like going. I have to trust Him, that He will never leave me alone.  Life is not about being comfortable...


"God is most glorified when we are most satisfied in Him." -John Piper (I've been listening to his sermons on his website- http://www.desiringgod.org


Here's another link to my second photo album from my time down here:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2046926&l=c70ac&id=41804036

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Roller Coasters


The last time I posted I thought I'd be writing again later that weekend... my bad. I'm learning that being here is a lot like a roller coaster. One day will be going great and the next will be really tough. That's an obvious statement, yes, but when you're somewhere new & unfamiliar it's amplified. I'm getting used to it though, and I think that's just the way life is when you're not in control. The girls are wonderful, but are human & can be challenging sometimes. I am learning to love when it's hard to love. This is exciting! I think communication is and will be my biggest frustration. Sometimes I just feel like and idiot because all I can get out is, "lo siento, no comprendo" (I'm sorry, I don't understand). It's cool though, I'm being humbled and slowly but surely I'm learning spanish!! Like I said, there are good days and hard days. God is faithful!

I am also learning to like black beans... a lot! I already liked them, I'd say they're my favorite of all the beans, but I didn't know how to like them for dinner and then breakfast the next morning. I'm not complaining though, it really was good!! They eat smaller breakfasts (desayuno) and dinners (cena) and a big lunch (almuerzo). They eat fruit almost everyday, and the pineapple is the best I've ever had! There's also this rice drink called atol (I don't know how to spell it) but I finally tried it the other night & it's good!! Ok, enough about food...

Yesterday was a blast! I went to Antigua with two of the girls on staff and we had lunch & walked around that beautiful city all afternoon. It was so wonderful to be there, and I strongly encourage anyone to visit if you're ever in Guatemala! God is really funny- listen to this: I was sitting in a coffee shop waiting on Julia and in walked my friend Kelly who I went to Samford with!! I'm pretty sure we made a scene because it's just so crazy to run into a friend in a foreign country! I had no idea that she was down here. I just happened to be in Antigua yesterday & was in that coffee shop at the time when she came in... weird weird. The Lord is cool like that! After that, Julia and I went to the artisans' market and looked around. I got to go back in September with Johnny & Maria Coker & had so much fun, so I was really excited about going back! The culture is fascinating and it's such a colorful place. I like Guatemala more everyday! 
Then the real fun began- I had my first experience with Guatemalan mass transportation!! A.K.A. The Chicken Bus!
I like to call them Crazy Buses, because you have to be a little crazy to get on. There is no such thing as a maximum capacity, and there is no speed limit, so you just hang on!!!! It was seriously so much fun! Julia is a pro, and has done some real traveling on these things so I felt good getting on one with her. We got on & found a seat (because it was only full by American standards, pshhh). We stopped a few more times on the way out of Antigua & large crowds of people piled on, squeezing in wherever there was "room." As we turned out of the city the driver floored it and off we went! The other important person on the bus (other than the driver) is the money guy, who takes your money once the bus is flying down the road. There is no time for paying as you get on, you just get on and hang on. So money dude took my 4Q and squeezed by as I gripped the hold-on-tight bar in front of me. I was trying not to laugh (and doing a bad job of it) because I was next to the aisle and a man was on the window side, so if Driver turned right I slid into my window seat buddy & if Driver turned to the left then I was sliding off the seat and into the aisle. Maybe you had to be there, but it was hilarious and fun and a lot like a roller coaster! We made a few other stops where other large crowds of people crammed on. It was sort of fun to see how they'd fit... imagine loading the dishwasher when it's already full, but you have those few cups & you just know you can make it fit. Haha, I'm really hoping to take my Mom on a Crazy Bus ride when she comes in March. Haha, I'll be sure to take pictures if this happens!! Here's one more picture of a Crazy/Chicken Bus from back in September. Here you'll see the bus getting ready to plow over an unsuspecting crowd of people:

Just kidding! It's a torch run, and the Crazy Bus is there for their protection. It's a tradition for Guatemala's Independence Day. 

Well, one more roller coaster-ish thing happened today. School was wrapping up at 1 p.m. and Jenny (the director here at the Oasis) came in to tell us that Sharon (one of our girls, I think she's 11) was leaving today. We knew that it was probably coming because her Mom had been working towards getting her back, but you can't prepare for this. It is probably a good thing, but it was still so hard to see her go. I've only known her and the other girls for 3 weeks but I already love them so much. We all gathered around her and prayed for her, and I just cried like a baby. It's scary when I think what could happen to her now that she's outside of these walls, but the Lord reminded me that none of us are truly safe outside of His hands. The Lord is our true Protector, Provider, and Father. Sharon is safe with God, and He will never abandon her. Please pray for Sharon, and for her family who are not Christians. Please pray for the other girls, too. They are beautiful creations, made in God's image. He has made them for great purposes and knows their lives from beginning to end. He knows what He's doing!

To God be the glory, great things He has done!


Friday, February 15, 2008

More Pictures Para Ti...

It's friday & I've been here two whole weeks! I will be updating about this week soon, but not right now. However, I've been adding pictures to a Facebook photo album & just found out that I can share that album! So, here's the web address if you want to see more pictures from Kids Alive:  http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2046095&l=5aacd&id=41804036
God bless!!

Sunday, February 10, 2008

Week 1

I've been here over a week and am really enjoying it! I'm helping with the 1st/2nd grade class everyday. There are 4 little girls in the class- Isabel, Aldi, Candy, and Carlita....

Here's precious little Carlita!! Hearing her laugh just makes my day!

Isabel is on the left(isquierda :D) and Candy is on the right (derecha :D) 

This is Aldi! She is lots of fun & has such a cute personality!!

Here's Isabel, she was my first friend at the Oasis! She is so loving & likes my camera!


I already love them so much, it's almost like they're my little sisters! It's so much fun being with the little ones, and it's also been good for my spanish to be in the class! It's so nice to be with all the girls (34 in all), because they don't mind how bad my spanish is or how many times I ask them to repeat themselves. I'm learning a lot from them. I've heard some of their stories & it's heartbreaking. It's so hard to believe how people can abandon their children. I am so happy to say that these girls are loved and cared for here, but it's hard to comprehend what they've already gone through. The Lord knows, and He is in control. He is faithful and good, even when we don't understand why things happen. 




It's so beautiful here. I can see 3 volcanoes from the Oasis, and the sunsets are amazing. Here's a picture of Agua. It's hard to describe, I'll have to take more pictures. I've enjoyed the food...except for this tamale thing we had for lunch the other day. It was some part of the chicken, bone still in, inside some dough stuff, wrapped in a corn husk. I got quite a little surprise when I cut into it, haha! The fruit is so good, some of the best pineapple I've ever had! It is sort of cold, which I wasn't expecting. I've been wearing long sleeves everyday! The bugs aren't bad, except for the fleas- yuck! They like me but the feeling isn't mutual. I'm just glad there aren't mosquitos up at the Oasis. I'm not a fan of malaria. 


I'm still just trying to take it all in, sometimes I have to remind myself that I'm actually here!  

Sunday, February 3, 2008

For future reference: The Oasis is the specific Kids Alive site where I'm working. It's located in San Lucas, Guatemala. The website is www.kidsalive.org, check it out!

I've been here two days and I'm loving it so far! Patricia (the principal of the school at the Oasis), Julia (an intern at the Oasis from England, she's lots of fun and her accent is great!), and I went to church this morning and I was happy to find out that the sermon was going to be translated for a group that is here from Ohio. The pastor welcomed the congregation and then asked if there was anyone there for the first time. Most of the Guatemalans had no problem standing up and introducing themselves to the crowd of people, but I wasn't going to if I didn't have to. I asked Patricia if I needed to stand up, but by that time it was too late. The pastor had already spotted this white girl in the crowd and pointed to me and made me stand up, haha! I'm not blending in very well!! 

I am really enjoying being here! The weather is so beautiful and I am surrounded by mountains. Last night I looked up and saw more stars that I've ever seen before! Instead of pigeons or those little black birds that cover the power lines at home, there are bright green parrots. They are really noisy. I am not in the Alabama anymore! 

This week I'll be getting to know the girls, helping out with the Kindergarten/1st grade class in the school, and helping get ready for a donor dinner that Julia has planned. The girls call her Julian, it's pretty funny. I think the girls are going to call my Catty, but some call me Caterin, which is so cute. I am so glad to be here, thanks for praying, encouraging, and supporting me!!

Julia just told me that she made a website for her friends in England to donate money to the Oasis. So, if you're interested, here's the web address: www.justgiving.com/theoasis. If you look at the website, the two little girls in the picture are Aldi and Maria! Like I said before, Julia is British, so it's set up in pounds. When you get to the payment part it asks you what country you're from and you can change it to the US. Just thought I'd let you know about it!

Hopefully I'll be able to put some pictures on here soon! 

Friday, February 1, 2008

I'm finally here!

I made it to Guatemala safe and sound today, praise God! I got very little sleep last night, my flight left at 6:05 AM. Funny thing happened though, two of the cast and the crew from MythBusters (one of my favorite shows!) were on my flight out of Huntsville! I got to sit by Kari (the cool red headed chick), haha it was was a fun way to start my day. Then from Houston I flew to Guatemala City! We went to the Oasis (that's the name of the children's home and school campus) and I got to meet the staff and all the girls. There are I think 34 of them and they are precious! I am so thrilled to be here, I can't wait to get to know them better. I am just blown away by this opportunity that the Lord has given me. Like I said before, I got very little sleep last night, so I'm going to bed! Thanks for praying for me, God is so good!

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

T Minus 2 Days

I leave in 2 days, wow! I'm trying to pack, think of all the little things I'll need, and say goodbye to many dear people. One of my best friends just had a baby, and it's hard to believe that the baby will be almost 5 months old when I see her next. I'm feeling such a mix of emotions! Lord, be the balance.
 
I'm hopping on a plane at 6:05 AM (whhheeeew, that's early) on Friday and should be in Guatemala by 12:30 PM! I'll have to write more later, my mind is a little too jumbled to write coherently right now... Guatemala, here I come! 
 
One more thing: I got an email from Patricia (one of the staff who is running the school at Kids Alive Guatemala) and she asked me to be praying that the school curriculum and materials would be ready soon. School started back up this week and you can imagine how hard it would be to teach without the books and materials you need. Please pray for the teachers, the girls, and Patricia as they go through their first week of school. 

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Yes!

It's official!! (or at least a little more official in my mind) A ticket has been purchased, and it has my name on it! I'm leaving for Guatemala on February 1st! 

Saturday, January 5, 2008

Hopefully the first of many! What a dumb title...

This is my first official post, hooray! I'm doing my best to get ready for Guatemala...writing a support letter, telling people that I'm going, thinking about it, praying about it, filling out paperwork. Will I ever actually get there? Life slows down for nothing and no one. It's definitely exciting though! 
My journey to Guatemala has come from years of thinking, praying, and other trips that I went on through high school and college. I was able to go on mission trips to the Bahamas and Toronto with the youth group at First Bible, the Dominican Republic with my high school senior class, and another trip to Moldova with First Bible in college. I knew I wanted to spend some time serving in a different country after I graduated, and after working at Pine Cove and Gull Lake I knew I wanted to work with kids. I started looking for opportunities sometime around my senior year at Samford. I've emailed and talked with tons of missions organizations over the past couple of years. After I graduated in 2006, I spent a year up at Gull Lake and loved it. It was my first real job and I was so blessed to be able to do it! I moved back to Alabama at the end of August to pursue the missions/children's home thing again. I was able to spend a week in Guatemala with the Cokers in September(what a huge blessing they were!!!), and since then I've been working towards going back. I've finally been accepted as an intern with Kids Alive International in Guatemala!! I'll be at a home for girls that I visited during my trip in September. The Lord's timing is the best, and I guess now is when He wants me to go! I'm leaving sometime in the end of January...no date yet...but I am going! I'll be back in mid-May. I'm nervous and excited and a little antsy and still not fully comprehending that I am really going. I can't wait to get to know the girls. I'm so excited about getting to know the Lord in a different culture. I'm nervous about going to a new place...again. I know the Lord will be faithful and provide people, encouragement, and all the little things I need, but I'm also nervous about leaving relationships behind once again. I've been amazingly blessed with opportunities to work and serve and make wonderful relationships all over the country, but no matter where I am, I am away from someone I love. This can be so draining. I am forced to trust Him and ask for help. I praise God for this!! 

I'm starting this blog in hopes that I'll use it when I'm in Guatemala, and if people want to they can read about what's going on and pray. I will need prayer, this I know for sure! I'm slowly finding out what I'll be doing there, but I think I'm going to be working with the younger girls(preschool age). I also hope to be an extra hand for the staff and house parents to make their lives a little easier. I don't know much, but I know that the Lord is big and He knows what He's doing and He'll give me what I need when I need it. He has always been faithful and always will be! 
I guess I'll wrap this up for today. Happy New Year!

"O LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done marvelous things, things planned long ago." Isaiah 25:1