These past few weeks I have had the chance to go to three beuatiful places in this country. I went to Monterrico and its black sand beaches with my host family. First of all I learned that no one goes swimming there. The riptide is so strong that going in farther than knee deep will drag you out to sea, but admittedly it was pretty funny watching each other fall down in the water. I helped prepare some meals and watched the sun set like a ball of fire on the horizon. I tried a traditional sea food called ceviche before we left and was then in the car for about seven hours with my host sister where we stopped on the side of the road for a dinner of elotes asados (grilled corn with lime and salt). During this trip I deeply felt the blessing of having this family that has always included me and wanted me to experience their country with them.
The following week I traveled to Lake Atitlan with my school and the word beautiful truly falls short. We had a bumpy ride across the lake on a lancha while it rained softly and a thick fog sat on the obscured mountains; returning on that same lancha the next day there was a clear blue sky with flourishing mountains dotted with villages. I couldn't believe how much the scenery had changed and how impactful both views were. Our coordinator Elis said to me that coming there so often she can forget how incredible it is, but seeing the wonder-filled eyes of students always reminds her. I think we can all be guilty at times of forgetting the beauty of something that is so normalized that we don't appreciate it. This place knew how to find every angle of beauty. Where we stayed was full of tropical plants and fruit trees like walking through a secret garden, and at night the twinkling lights of towns dotted the mountainside across the black water stretching from the dock. We had the opportunity to learn about hand weaving and making honey, chocolate, and coffee, and I was shown such beauty in the time and care placed into the creation of things that I take for granted.
The third trip was when we traveled to Alta Verapaz, a very mountainous region with an organization we visited that works with agroecology. They had a hike that took us to huge caverns where Mayan rituals were often held, but little did we know the difference it would make to hike in the rainforest. Sloshing through mud, climbing up slippery rocks, and clinging onto plants while stepping along a precarious mountain path in the pouring rain were just some of the things that made the end goal all the more worth it, (and doing the hike in the first place a little more stupid). Still, everyone made it back in one piece and no one regretted the experience. You might think we'd had enough adventure there, but the following day included another guided hike with swimming in natural ice cold pools, a bamboo forest, and walking down a steep moutain to a huge waterfall with a small cave next to it that we decided to swim to, (with the guide's go ahead). With deep water and the current and waves from the waterfall crashing against you, it was no easy feat to get across and back but once again no one regretted the adventure. Even when we had to climb back up the mountain.
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I went to Antigua again with friends and despite appreciating once again the beautiful heritage of the town, I appreciated even more the chance to sit and talk with Lynette in the town square simply processing what we were experiencing at that moment; I appreciated meeting Cumes, her friend that only spoke spanish but has an incredible life story that I could learn about.
I celebrated the birthday of a friend who is also named Sara. Some of us came over to her apartment and had an Indian dinner, baked some cookies and played games before having cake. I appreciated the time with these people telling stories that made me laugh so hard I cried and reflected their refreshing personalities.
I experienced the celebration of All Saints Day / Day of the Dead and helped make fiambre with my family for three days. Fiambre is what is eaten for the holiday consisting of tons of pickled vegetables and chorizo sausages with different types of cheese mounded on a bed of lettuce. It was a three table project that involved some late nights cutting vegetables but it was worth it for the very delicious meal.
I baked banana walnut bread with some of the other students and Miguel who is an administrator at the school who became a great friend during our time there. It was a request he had that we bake before we left for his birthday. We made the equivalent of four banana breads for everyone in the school and I will say that if there is one thing I can confidently do in Spanish, it is give baking directions.
Weeks of some adventures and some simple moments amounted to now sitting in my room writing this, while preparing to pack all my things and leave this house that became home. It is already shocking to see the way God has moved and what he has taught me before I have even begun my service. Let me tell you what I know about joy. Joy has not left me since I came to this place. There have been times I was exhausted, nervous, or frustrated, but joy was always around the corner; because my joy was not drawn from my current condition but from constant gratitude. As my stories can show, I have recieved more blessing than I could deserve from the people and experiences here and that is reason enough to be praising this good God in every moment. Let me tell you what I know about strength; that sometimes it feels like I am swimming against the current of that waterfall wanting my spanish level to instantly be proficient. It takes peace with the process and swallowing pride to stop fighting that current and find comfort in a level that is steadily increasing.
And love. One thing I love about the spanish language is that amor is love that is profound and unconditional; encantar is love for material things; enamorar is infatuation, or the beginning of what could be profound love; and querer is friendly and simple love. My favorite is cariño, because cariño is what is used as an affectionate name for someone; it is what is used to sign a card. It is a more general love but to me it is a statement to let someone else know that you love them without added words. For this I see it as the love shown to a stranger, to an enemy, as well as to a close friend or family member. For this I see it as my purpose in service (and decidedly the updated name of my blog).
Stepping into this next stage, I ask for prayer for transition into service that will be in the mountains in Alta Verapaz, working with the empowerment of indigenous women as well as agroecology and sustainability in the villages. I ask for prayer for a friend currently serving in Lake Atitlan who has had a stomach sickness for quite some time, that is beginning to get better; and finally I ask for blessings for the family that I am leaving that has unceasingly blessed me, and blessings for the family I will begin living with in the mountains. Thank you to everyone who has been a support during these past couple of months and who read all the way through this long post!
Con Cariño
- Sara
Beautiful Photos. Blessings. Great adventures. Please take good care. Love. Dad
So much has happened! I want to go see all those places now! I am excited for your next leg of the journey. I will continue to pray for you my dear daughter! Te amo!