Catching Up

A quick catch up on the last few days, as we've changed plans and are headed to the coast a day early, where we will have little to no Internet access while there for the next 10+ days. Excited about this place and the volunteer work we will be doing as well as surfing (links in itinerary if interested).

Our sweet host surprised SJ with an early birthday fiesta that included a 3 foot clown piñata (that terrified her as she thought it was real).  Some of our host's friends came over and everyone in the home celebrated with cake, chocolate covered bananas, and pineapple.  We hope that she knows how much we appreciated her thoughtfulness, generosity, and hard work but we are a bit unsure with the language/cultural barrier.  Interesting for us to be on the receiving end of this situation.  Needless to say, the next several days our sweet daughter woke up with one thing on her mind - CANDY!

Thursday concluded our Spanish lessons and to celebrate we hiked up Cerro de la Cruz at sunset for great views of the city below.

We wrapped up serving at God's Child on Friday with handing out vegetables to the moms.  A company had also donated office furniture and the moms were thrilled to receive room dividers and desk tops.

Friday evening we had dinner at the Kid's Restaurant, a place where underprivileged children receive after school help and have the option to learn restaurant skills from cooking and preparing food, to serving, and waiting on guests.  We were served a wonderful three course meal by Diego and left extremely full.

Diego, our waiter

Saturday Dad was thrilled to complete his first chicken bus experience as we ventured out to a local macadamia nut farm.

Bus run "Duenas"

Chicken Bus selfie

Riding a chicken bus is the way the locals travel within Guatemala.  These buses are refurbished school buses from the US and Canada, they are elaborately painted, and squeeze as many living things in them as possible.  We were fortunate to only ride with other humans, but it is not uncommon to be handed a chicken or other livestock to set on your lap for the journey.

The macadamia farm is well known for their amazing pancakes!  They offer free tours which end with a two minute facial (tips appreciated).  We then hung out on the beautiful grounds all day reading.

Pancake breakfast

Facials for all

On Sunday the church had a much larger attendance than the previous week.  Afterwards we invited a college girl traveling solo from the States to join us at a restaurant up the mountain for lunch.  It was quiet and had beautiful views of the city below and volcanoes in the distance.

Monday we took a tour with Ninos de la Guatemala to the old city, which was the second capital city of Guatemala (a mudslide moved the capital to Antigua where an earthquake caused the capital to move again to it's current location of Guatemala City).  We traveled via chicken bus and then toured a barn where they refurbish the chicken buses from old school buses.  We learned that being a chicken bus driver is the most dangerous job in Guatemala (some have said the world) because people will demand money from the drivers (mostly during their off hours) and if they do not pay, they are killed. There is a documentary called La Camioneta (available on Net Flix - trailer here) which covers the colorful process of a retired USA bus being transformed into a Guatemalan bus. We have not seen it but our guide said it is very good. Part of the filming was this very garage which is in the trailer.  Additionally, a NY Times article is here.

Bus chasis

Floors typically completely replaced

Guatemala is still experiencing many post-war situations and the government is not stable.  They have an election coming up early September, but people do not seem to be optimistic about the candidates or the future.  There is a lot of mistrust and corruption here.

After touring the chicken bus barn, we visited a school supported by the NGO Ninos de la Guatemala.  We ended our tour with a visit to a local carpenter's home to see his coffin making business.  He did beautiful work and we learned that coffins sell for roughly $200.  A coffin can be made in roughly one day, but it takes several days for it to be sent off to be painted and lined inside. When someone dies, the family hosts a three day open house for friends and relatives who would like to pay their respects.  A lot of money is spent on feeding these people as well as providing beverages, which is all done and prepared by the immediate family.  Finally, land must be purchased in a cemetery for the coffin to be placed, usually near family.  The coffins are not buried, but are placed above ground in the cemetery.

Finishing area

Assembly portion

We wrapped up Monday with the much anticipated chocolate tour where we learned how the cacao bean goes from bean to the bars and candies we eat.  This was fascinating to learn the history of the Olmecs (who discovered cacao), Mayans (who used it as a beverage in sacrifices to their gods combining it with human blood & believed that drinking it frothy guaranteed one long life), Aztecs (who learned of it as a red beverage from the Mayans used much paprika & chile powder to get the red color), Spanish (who drank it with anise, cinnamon & black pepper and after transporting it to Europe, got the word out so that it has become the chocolate we are familiar with today). We roasted beans and separated the husks from the seed which we crushed into nibs.  We used the nibs to make Mayan and Spanish hot chocolate, and the husks to make a chocolate tea.  We also all made chocolate candies that we were able to bring home.

Customizing our candies

Separating shells from nibs for beverages

Bean Roasting

Creating "froth"

Just Pictures

Babies at Casa Jackson

Banana Tree with the Flower

Beautiful women of Guatemala

Cerro de la Cruz which above Antigua

This is Arsenio who directed our gardening (in Spanish)

Street where we are living

Sitting at the cross

Playing with friends at Nuestros Ahijados

This is the "flower" of the Pacaya tree

Took shuttle up to restaurant on a hill with amazing views

Main street in Antigua

Home under construction

Gardening work

Mama Musings - Week 1

Our first week out of the country has gone really well.  We originally debated having our first stop be a beach as we knew we would be exhausted wrapping up everything in the States trying to leave, and we thought the adjustment of being out of the country (other than Mexico) for many of the kids, might take some time.  Antigua, Guatemala is very touristy and so there is a mix of everything here, yet it is quiet.  Overall it is friendly, we feel safe, and it's been a great first destination.  It has been good to hit the ground running with scheduled days of volunteering and Spanish lessons, but the energy it takes to do these things while still adjusting to so much has left us with little time to establish some basic routines we feel are important.

We are also realizing how each location we visit will be impacted by the details of our accommodations.  This realization will help us with expectations for future stays.  For the most part, we come back to our host location for meals and bedtime.  There is not a common area, which makes it a bit awkward to just be here reading, studying, or hanging out.  As mentioned previously in the blog, meals are prepared for us which is helpful from my perspective as it's been awesome to not have to think about meal preparation this week.  But this also has its pros and cons and we will need to balance food choices with our budget, ability to experience the culture, personal taste, and time.

The kids have done well adjusting.  Only one has had some minor health issues we think might be due to altitude.  Studying Spanish for 4 hours a day is really long, but they've been troopers.  We've walked all over the city every day and they haven't complained once!

Leaving our comfort zone is one of our purposes in this adventure.  Ironically, as we neared leaving the States, all of the time I'd spent in preparing each of us to be comfortable while away from home dawned on me.  I know it is all perspective and living out of a back pack for a year is definitely stretching our comfort zone.  But as a mom, I realized I spend so much time trying to keep my family comfortable, my guests comfortable, and imagining the needs of others so that I'm able to meet them to keep everyone 'comfortable'.  These days we are living abroad cannot be predicted, and really neither can life back home.  It is from being brushed up against, stretched, and challenged that we grow stronger and our only constant comfort is God's many promises in His word.  However, we have:
-had sufficient clothes and medicines when needed.  The temperature here is in the 70's day and night, so we haven't needed cool weather clothes.  I washed everything in the tub the other night, but think it might be a better use of time/drying space to do smaller loads more frequently as it can take days for some things to dry.
- learned the shower is truly cold when you can tell the difference from the shampoo water running down our back verses the spout water (because the shampoo water was heated by our head the few seconds it was in our hair)!
- experienced the importance of having SIM cards as soon as possible when entering a new country, having ID bands on the kids, and having some ability to contact people back home to pray ASAP.
- realized the importance of talking to locals about our in-country travel plans to confirm what we thought would work, actually would.
- been in awe at Dad's Spanish skills and provisions for many details of this first week
- had enough to eat - although it is in much smaller portions, there is less snacking, and includes much less sugar and meat.
- been flexible when our volunteer assignment wasn't something we desired to do that day.
- survived with little personal space and no 'couple time.'
- been humbled when my Spanish teacher was shocked that I didn't have cats on my roof as well as neighbor's animals keeping me up with lots of noise at night when I am trying to sleep at home back in the States.

Highlights from Week 1:
Dad - successful logistics
Mom - good family transition & watching kids serve homeless pizza when they themselves were hungry
Cthe Selfie - serving veggies to the poor, playing with the babies & hiking Picayo
CtheBrave - hiking Picayo volcano
G - climbing Picayo volcano - views & lava rocks
SJ - oranges & snacks on the volcano

What is Missed Most:
Dad - own bed
Mom - our church & prayer community
Cthe Selfie - walking outside to go on the X-star & friends
CtheBrave - bed & friends
G - our church
SJ - bed

With so many tourists in Antigua, it has been difficult to find traditional foods as we walk around and look at restaurants.  However, a highlight snack we had while hiking the Picayo volcano were these oranges with a unique blend of spices.  I've included the recipe below.

Naranjas de Guatemala recipe:
1 Orange
1 Tbsp Pepita (pumpkin seed) powder (grind seeds to a powder but not a paste)
1/2 tsp Sea Salt
1/2 tsp Chile Pepper Powder

(Optional:  If you have a spiral apple corer/peeler, use this to spiral peel an orange.)
Cut an orange in half.
Sprinkle each half with pepita powder, sea salt, and Chile pepper powder to taste.

Use your teeth to scoop the pulp and seasonings out of the orange and enjoy!

YoungLife in Guatemala!!

On Tuesday night we got together with the director of YoungLife from Guatemala City. He and his wife drove to meet us and we were able to have dinner together. It was a real treat for us as we went to a nice restaurant (big change for us- boys psyched!) and being able to chat with another couple felt much like home (despite language barrier). 

Turns out they are in a bit of a cross roads as starting YL in Guatemala has been difficult. Our timing was amazing as I believe we truly blessed each other. Below there is a list of prayer requests and they would appreciate being lifted up around the world as we told them we know our YL crew would be honored to do so. 

Brief background is that they led Nicuraga YL with about 80 staff and 300 volunteers. They were asked to start YL in Guatemala and have now been here 17 months, only to lose three staff members in the last few months due to conflicts with the mission. They have two kids, live in a new country and have no community to speak of. You can imagine the difficulty. Here is a translated version, thanks to a bi-lingual buddy, on their prayer requests... 

Thank you, thank you for (agreeing) to spend a separate and special time to pray for my family.  Oh how we really need prayers.

My wife and I have had difficult conversations and we ask ourselves several things.  Does she feel that God did or did not confirm this calling?  Another question was ‘Do you feel that our leadership has decreased or diminished?    With everything, it feels like we’re starting anew, like we just graduated and now it is time to start a first day (of the next) class.  We have been here 1 year and 5 months already and there are (days) where we cannot see the (light at the end of the tunnel).  Her health has not been very good as it relates to food, she has been robbed twice and the last time the (lady of the house likely means person who takes care of the house) stole her wedding rings, we had to fire her but could not recover the rings.  Sad.

I pray every moment I can and I ask myself what is the next step.  What should I do Jesus?  Sometimes I don’t know, I hope to find an open door, but for now I can’t even see the door (no hope).

We have made the decision (implied by coming here) to leave behind those who we love and who love us, in exchange for (pursuing) those who do not love us.  This is without a doubt, the same decision Jesus made.

Prayers:

1.       For my wife, that she may find peace amid many questions

2.       My children, I have been thinking and praying to find them a place to study English or music twice a week in the afternoons

3.       For me, that Jesus may show me the way and the next steps

4.       Sandra and Aury are the only 2 staff in this country and it is possible that they won’t be here in 2 months

5.       For my back pain, stress, lesion, I don’t know I’ve had 4 years with this pain

6.       I have received an invitation from a neighbor in the community to climb a volcano, I believe (hope) is in August, it is crazy but I have nothing planned for August

7.       To find friends in the community we live in

8.       For the ‘Recuerdo’ (Remember) club, the ‘Vida Jovenes” (Young Life) clube and the ‘Kaminal’ club

9.       For our possible trip to Nicaragua in October to visit family and friends

10.   That Jesus may give me passion for music as I have abandoned the guitar (quit playing)

In an additional email they asked us to pray for the following people:

1- Hector Sandoval

2- Estela Ambrosio 

3- Sandra Ambrosio.

4- Annette Aguilar. 

Have it dear friends! We know you will.

A new week

We begin a new week with a fairly set schedule and one that, frankly, is a little too busy. We start each morning with breakfast at 8am prepared by our host family. It's always good but the portions are small and we get to listen to the boys battle for extra morsels of food. We then scramble out of the house to go help at the school. On Monday, upon arrival, we learned that the kids had exams this whole week and our coordinator was unaware of this detail. This was a real bummer as Friday she had told us that we would be helping in the classrooms all week. So instead mom and our oldest went to the baby center where they care for malnourished infants while I and the other 3 kids helped in the kitchen and dining area. This meant doing dishes, sweeping, preparing food and cleaning after the kids eat. They feed over 200 kids 3 meals a day here with an efficiency that would impress any restaurant. Our work was not what we thought but we try to simply remind the kids that it's about serving others and being available for God to use us where HE wants us. There were moments (that you can imagine if you have kids) but for the most part it went well.

Then we headed home for a quick lunch and off to 4 hours of Spanish lessons. Antigua is known for Spanish lessons and we each have our own teacher. It's a bit long and a little exhausting but being that we have two months in Spanish speaking countries, hopefully it's worth it. 

This schedule books our whole day really as lessons are from 1-5. More busy than we desire but it's how things worked out and we believe it will help the kids appreciate other parts of the trip more.

Our youngest proud of her work

Anna is the main chef and we sifting rice here.

Sunday

Sunday is here and we are excited. We learned of a bilingual church near by and also get to eat out as our host arrangement doesn't cook on Sunday. Don't get us wrong, she is very sweet and the food is good, but we never know what the meal will be and it's just a bit different than our norm.

The worship band played songs singing in both Spanish and English.

The church service was an awesome experience and just brought home what and why we are here with a great message on "renewing our minds" and not getting caught up in the world's norms. 

After church, we went across the street to a crepe restaurant that was fantastic with dozens of options and smoothies - the kids were thrilled. 

We spent the rest of the day touring a museum and then had dinner at a very small taco joint run by a mom and pop. The food was excellent, simple and very cheap, unlike most of the city. 

1Q = 7.65 USD roughly

Our oldest believes selfies are required everywhere!

Kid's Blog

Our kids have taken to blogging and sharing their photos so far on the trip. If you want a different perspective on our adventures, you can check out or sign up for our son's blog here and his instagram account is first and last name as one word.