Well,
I realize it has been a long time since my last blog post. Since the last one we have traveled to infinity and beyond Guatemalan style to a small, rural town called Concepcion. Unfortunately at this place the people mainly spoke the Mayan language of Katchiquel. Therefore, we needed a double the translation and twice the patience.
For those of you who don't know, this is the basic setup of how things go. We traveled on Wednesday to the city of Concepcion to set up the clinic. The drive takes about 3-4 hours total and we (the Guatemalan team) take a group of gringos from the states (in this case an awesome team of church-goers from Wenatchee, Washington). I had worked with this team last year and it was really great to see so many of them again. Dr. Dave and Dr. Susan Weber are the leaders of this group (Dave is a retired radiologist and Susan is a retired family practitioner). They and their church have done SO much to help support Tito and his ministry over the years. This time, their son Dave Jr. came who also a radiologist. (Quite the family huh?)
Anyways on the trip over through the grassy hills and knolls of Guatemala we stop at a restaurant which is completely un-Guatemalan called El Rincon Suizo which means the Swiss Corner. It has great food and I always get bloated on meat and tortillas when we go there. This time was not any different.
Concepcion is a small village which has a lot of people who work very hard and who cook a lot with wood in their homes....thus leading to respiratory problems, musculoskeletal injuries, and overall poor nutrition. The government doesn't really do jack here for the people's health care which is why we go around offering these free clinics to the indigenous people of Guatemala.
The clinics consist of several different facets and jobs to be performed: primarily there are doctors such as the Guatemalan doctors who see patients and prescribe medication that we bring with us. Some doctors are Guatemalan and speak Spanish and others are American (such as the Webers) and use translators. There is also a dental team that perform cavities, extractions, and other things. Also, there is a vision station where patients can hopefully be fitted with glasses. At some sites, there is construction such as at a school where we are building more classrooms for the kids. In addition, there is a group that works with the children to play, make crafts, teach them songs, and generally show the love of Christ to these little ones. hopefully leading to them sharing this with their families. Finally and most importantly, all these services as great as they are, are merely a vehicle for spreading the Gospel to people who otherwise may never have heard of Jesus or the immense love of God. Therefore, we have wonderful bilingual counselors who talk and pray with these people, sharing the love of Christ, and helping to carry the burdens that plague so many of these people.
We worked at Concepcion Thursday and Friday and left on Saturday. Everyday we drove a half hour through the beautiful hill scenery of Lake Atitlan. Lake Atitlan is a large lake with 5 volcanoes surrounding it, some of which are active (though not spewing forth toxic pyroclastic clouds of doom....yet). Actually, despite the ominous foreboding of a natural disaster, this lake is gorgeous when it is not foggy and (I have been told) is competing for one of the 7 Wonders of the World in the "Lake with Volcanoes Surrounding It" category. It is currently in 13th place but you can go online and cast your vote NOW. Get Guatemala on the map and give it some lovin'!
When we were not doing clinics, we stayed in a hotel in Panajachel, a very touristy city on the edge of Lake Atitlan. The last day we were there, we went shopping in the street markets. The Wenatchee team often buys souvenirs in Guatemala and sells them when the return to make money for the school they support in Palencia. Therefore, they wanted to put my translating and bartering skills to the test in this crazy Guatemalan, tourist paradise. Lucky for me, since a tender young age, my father taught me the ways of the bargain with our annual trips to the Indian reservation to buy "legal" fireworks. We would always worked the system and my dad made sure to teach me tricks of the trade such as mentally establishing a price before going into the lions' den, acting like you have met the vendor before and have requested them to your friends so they should give you a good price, and (this is my favorite) the omnipotent walk-away technique. If they are desperate and you start to walk away saying others will probably meet your price...boy does their price drop. Anyways, my skills were taxed to the limit, but I'm pretty sure we got some good deals.
As for the clinics, it was so rewarding because we saw so many patients (though it took awhile since the language barrier was two-fold). Dr. Susan describes this process as asking the Spanish translator a simple question like have you had a fever, who in turn talks for awhile to the Katchiquel translator, who in turn asks the patient (which sounds like a bunch of clicking and choking fits), who in turn, clicks back a long-winded story about completely extraneous information about their family and what they had for breakfast last Tuesday. Now the Katchiquel translator relays this information to the Spanish translator, who eventually filters the information to the American doctor down to a single, "No." Obviously, the process can take a very long time, but at least the job gets done and the people feel like they have been helped. We saw over 400 patients in two days at this clinic and many prayed with our counselors and knew more about the Gospel when we left.
The children had made little popsicle sticks into crosses and decorate them, which was a very interesting and poignant sight to see. I have pictures of this which I will post tomorrow. It is such an interesting juxtaposition to have a cross in the hands of a child who speaks a completely different language, leads a completely different life, but has the same basic human needs and wants as I would ever have. And Jesus loves that child just as much as any of his other children. I asked one of the girls holding a cross if she knew who it was about. And she whispered in this cute little voice in Spanish, "Jesus." I just hope that the Holy Spirit spoke to her heart in only the way that it can and that she truly will come to understand what that means for her and for her whole city.
As for my personal jobs in these clinics, I have been translating for Dr. Dave Jr. seeing a lot of patients. Dr. Dave Sr. is doing ultrasounds which is very helpful and encouraging for the people to see and learn more about medicine in that way. Translating for Dave has definitely been a challenge and understanding the people is sometimes very difficult, but it has been an invaluable experience for me. Over the course of the past week, I have learned how to collect a patients medical history, discover symptoms, diagnose, and explain to the patient the subsequent treatment. More importantly, I have learned how to say several useful words in phrases in Spanish including "constipation," "warts," "Do you have burning while urinating?", and "When was your last menstrual period?" Also, I have learned to delicately ask if there is any possibility they could be pregnant (even if they insist that they are single) and to somehow politely tell them that they need to lose weight to help their problems. (Hey I just translate what I'm told to say, okay?)
Anyways, it has been a great experience, which has really helped not only my Spanish, but my understanding of the workings of medicine actually in the field.
Well this should whet the appetite of you starving readers out there (mainly my parents...who have written more words in this blog in their comments than I have written posts). :) Anyways, please continue to pray for the people down here and the ministry of the Gospel to them. As much as I would love to become a doctor, the only true Physician is the one who can save their souls. A little bit of anti-parasites may stop an infection, but it won't give them eternal life.
Brian arrived yesterday, and it has been good to spend time with an old friend. Though we are definitely going to have to work on his Spanish. :) He is waiting to use the computer so I must sign off but I will post pics tomorrow. Sorry if there are any grammatical errors above, I didn't have time to proofread. Blame Brian.
Dios te bendiga (God bless you)
Justin
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Family Time and some Organization
I have been here for 5 days now and it already feels like I have been here for longer than that. I'm not exactly sure why. It was such an odd feeling settling back in because it didn't really feel like I had left. Since they just finished a pretty intense clinic by the time I got there, we have been spending a lot of time relaxing with the family.
Also, the kids have been home from school on a vacation so we have been spending some quality time playing and stuff. I definitely have missed the tasty little corn tortillas they have here or "manna from the sky" as Derek referred to them before. My dad would be proud because we watched one of his favorite movies "Journey to the Center of the Earth" in Spanish which was fun. It actually was pretty good, especially as far as Brendan Fraser movies go.
Sunday we went to church and then afterwards Tito took us out to TGI Friday's. Then later we celebrated another doctor's birthday at his new house. It was absolutely insanely huge and had a view of the entire city of Guatemala. I have never been here for a birthday and it was a lot of fun because relationships are so important here and it was cool to see how many people from different places came. It seems like everyone in Guatemala knows each other or something.
I have missed Tito and the rest of the Guatemalan crew and the way we joke around. It has been kind of different without a male Gringo partner in crime like I had last time, but Brian will be coming in less than a week and I am excited.
While it's been fun to spend time with the family, I admit I've been getting a little bored because I'm ready to be put to work and do something. Luckily, I was able to help reorganize the pharmacy system again, but I have a feeling that it's not really going to last long. The Guatemalans have a certain way that they like to do things and this poor little Gringo can't stand in the way of their progress.
However, we start a clinic tomorrow and after that I'm probably going to be begging for a break, though I don't think it's going to be as physically intensive as others in the past. I will be translating for the doctors coming down from Wenatchee. I am really excited to see this team again because they were so nice and helpful.
Well Tito's yelling at me to do something so i'm gonna sign off. I'll have a verse for later. Thanks for commenting and keeping track of what's going on!
Also, the kids have been home from school on a vacation so we have been spending some quality time playing and stuff. I definitely have missed the tasty little corn tortillas they have here or "manna from the sky" as Derek referred to them before. My dad would be proud because we watched one of his favorite movies "Journey to the Center of the Earth" in Spanish which was fun. It actually was pretty good, especially as far as Brendan Fraser movies go.
Sunday we went to church and then afterwards Tito took us out to TGI Friday's. Then later we celebrated another doctor's birthday at his new house. It was absolutely insanely huge and had a view of the entire city of Guatemala. I have never been here for a birthday and it was a lot of fun because relationships are so important here and it was cool to see how many people from different places came. It seems like everyone in Guatemala knows each other or something.
I have missed Tito and the rest of the Guatemalan crew and the way we joke around. It has been kind of different without a male Gringo partner in crime like I had last time, but Brian will be coming in less than a week and I am excited.
While it's been fun to spend time with the family, I admit I've been getting a little bored because I'm ready to be put to work and do something. Luckily, I was able to help reorganize the pharmacy system again, but I have a feeling that it's not really going to last long. The Guatemalans have a certain way that they like to do things and this poor little Gringo can't stand in the way of their progress.
However, we start a clinic tomorrow and after that I'm probably going to be begging for a break, though I don't think it's going to be as physically intensive as others in the past. I will be translating for the doctors coming down from Wenatchee. I am really excited to see this team again because they were so nice and helpful.
Well Tito's yelling at me to do something so i'm gonna sign off. I'll have a verse for later. Thanks for commenting and keeping track of what's going on!
Friday, June 12, 2009
Bienvenidos a Guatemala!
Well even through all the trail of tears that was the route provided for me by American Airlines, I arrived safely in Guatemala. I also made a few friends along the way who I commiserated with about the terrible service of American Airlines and how we would never fly it again. Our flight was delayed an hour though because somebody somehow brought on a carry on and then didn't end up being with it so the flight crew was frantically looking for this thing. Meanwhile, I only found out about this because the kid next to me spoke Spanish and translated the confusing message which was never said in English, leaving many people on the plane completely in the dark as to what the heck was going on. In American Airlines Customer Service World, this is entirely acceptable. And then they have the audacity to charge for peanuts. (Okay I'm done ranting about American Airlines).
It was so wonderful to be greeted by Tito's smiling face as he and Rolando picked me up. We went to the new office for La Mision, had some lunch, restocked some meds, and went back to Tito's house. It has been remodeled and looks awesome. Anyways I need to get to bed. Sorry this post is so short, but know that I am finally where I need to be and absolutely loving it already. PS I thought that I was going to have to sacrifice seeing Transformers 2 in English while I was down here, but luckily Rolando invited me to sneak out of some work and see it in English opening day. I screamed with delight when he told me that.
Verse of the day:
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me." ---John 14:1
It was so wonderful to be greeted by Tito's smiling face as he and Rolando picked me up. We went to the new office for La Mision, had some lunch, restocked some meds, and went back to Tito's house. It has been remodeled and looks awesome. Anyways I need to get to bed. Sorry this post is so short, but know that I am finally where I need to be and absolutely loving it already. PS I thought that I was going to have to sacrifice seeing Transformers 2 in English while I was down here, but luckily Rolando invited me to sneak out of some work and see it in English opening day. I screamed with delight when he told me that.
Verse of the day:
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me." ---John 14:1
Welcome to Miami...Bienvenidos a Miami (Will Smith)
If I didn't know any better, I would think I was on a Brandler family vacation with all the travel mishaps that have already gone down. I'm wondering if my next stop is Wally World.
We arrived at SeaTac in reasonable time, a remarkable feat for the Brandlers, especially when we had to get up at 4:30 am. I think Mom just didn't go to sleep and did a few more loads of laundry for kicks. Anyways, we arrived to the American Airlines ticket counter and my confirmation code wasn't accepted. "No biggie," I thought. One of the pleasant attendants will take care of this. Oh, little naive one. I handed the rejection slip that the self-service think spat at me to the attendant and asked if she could check out what was going on. She looks up my flight status and says curtly without a beat, "Your connecting flight to Dallas has been canceled" as if I should come to the airport fully assuming that such an event is normal, especially when traveling internationally. Maybe she knew the Brandlers' travel track record and decided to start the painful process early. I was a little peeved since I checked last night and requested a long time ago to get text notifications if my flight status changed, but American didn't send those to me until like half an hour before my flight would have left, which obviously would have been the ideal time to receive such a notice. Also, I had checked several times online about their baggage policy and was looking forward to it being free. You could imagine my dismay at the deceptively friendly-looking sign indicating a $15 charge for the first bag and a $25 charge for the second.
Then I made the mistake of asking why my flight got canceled. I think those airline ticket people assume normal human beings keep track of the weather throughout the country because she scowls at me and snaps, "There have been 80,000 thunderstorms within the past 12 hours in Dallas! Nobody is going in or out of there. Go to the full service line to reschedule your flight." I look to my right to see the venomous serpent that was the full service line and quickly realized I probably would not be getting to Guatemala anytime soon. After waiting through the line, a slightly less abrasive attendant told me the situation and starting trying to figure out ways of getting me to Guatemala. She was mainl telling me options for leaving the next day, which I really wanted to avoid. She releases an annoyed sigh and begins to figure out was of getting me there today. After a few false hopes, she finds one from Seattle to Washington DC to Miami to Guatemala City, which would probably get me to my final destination circa the year 2012. Finally, she got a flight to Miami which would arrive 10 pm Miami time but would not leave until 11:50 am the next day. Not seeing any other options, I took her offer and began to say goodbe to my parents. (I say began becasue the Brandler regime of saying goodbye involves a strict procedure consisting of at least three hugs and a minimum of five look backs to wave, a dance or two for show, and throwing the okay sign).
Because my flight to Miami didn't leave for at least 5 hours, I couldn't check my bags yet and since my dad had to get to a meeting with the pastor, I sat there alone with only my 100 pound collective pile of crap to keep me company. My parents looked back several times (I told you), and my dad took pity on me and my lowly estate and canceled the appointment to take me out to breakfast.
During breakfast, I was mentally preparing for a 13 hour adventure with all my gear in Miami airport and was wondering what I would be doing with all that time. I definitely penciled in at least an hour block in my busy schedule to call American Airlines and complain about their abysmal customer service. Luckily for them, we thought of having me stay at a hotel and got booked at Days Inn.
The flight was fine and I was in the exit row with more leg room, but the man next to me for some reason incessantly needed to get up, even when I was dozing off thanks to my four hours of sleep I had acquired the night before. Maybe he was trying to avoid deep vein thrombosis, I don't know.
I arrived in Miami that night and quickly figure out that Spanish was the primary language of Miamians. I got a shuttle and arrived at my flea bag hotel accompanied by a haggard 50 year old bartender woman who was kind of a Debbie Downer about everything. (Writing this post I'm wondering if I should become a sociologist instead of a doctor).
After checking in to my hotel and peering around at my seedy surroundings, I asked the clerk where I could go to eat. He told me there was a Subway, McDonald's, and IHOP up ahead the road, but that the breakfast at the hotel was terrible and I should go somewhere else. If an employee tells you it's bad, you KNOW those will be some of the sketchiest scrambled eggs ever.
I dropped my stuff at the room and made the foolish decision of going down the block to get some food. Obviously, walking alone along the non-lit street at 11 at night in a seedy area in Miami was probably one of the poorer safety decisions I've made in my life. Neither of the places were open and so I ran back to the hotel in fear that I was going to get shanked in the lower back at any moment. A few stray cats were back at the hotel to greet me with their soulless beady eyes and I quickly went to my room and locked the doors in every manner possible.
After ordering pizza and swatting at the legion of flies that were swarming around me (probably putting my anti-malaria medication to the test), I checked out the four channels that came in, updating myself on the latest tirade about Letterman's comments about Sarah Palin. I finally fell asleep and awoke the next morning to rejoin my haggard bartender friend on the shuttle. Now I am waiting for my flight.
This whole time I have been trying to get a hold of Tito or someone down in Guatemala through email etc. and have heard no response. I'm assuming that he knows something is up since I didn't arrive when I was supposed to, but then again, you never know with the typical Guatemalan casual approach to everything. I'm just praying that I don't show up in the Guatemalan airport with only the emaciated stray dogs to greet me. But you all know my impeccable street smarts and travel savvy... :/ Let's just hope this isn't my last post if you know what I mean.
Verse of the Day:
"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of [Miami],
I will fear no evil, for you are with me." ---Psalms 23:4
We arrived at SeaTac in reasonable time, a remarkable feat for the Brandlers, especially when we had to get up at 4:30 am. I think Mom just didn't go to sleep and did a few more loads of laundry for kicks. Anyways, we arrived to the American Airlines ticket counter and my confirmation code wasn't accepted. "No biggie," I thought. One of the pleasant attendants will take care of this. Oh, little naive one. I handed the rejection slip that the self-service think spat at me to the attendant and asked if she could check out what was going on. She looks up my flight status and says curtly without a beat, "Your connecting flight to Dallas has been canceled" as if I should come to the airport fully assuming that such an event is normal, especially when traveling internationally. Maybe she knew the Brandlers' travel track record and decided to start the painful process early. I was a little peeved since I checked last night and requested a long time ago to get text notifications if my flight status changed, but American didn't send those to me until like half an hour before my flight would have left, which obviously would have been the ideal time to receive such a notice. Also, I had checked several times online about their baggage policy and was looking forward to it being free. You could imagine my dismay at the deceptively friendly-looking sign indicating a $15 charge for the first bag and a $25 charge for the second.
Then I made the mistake of asking why my flight got canceled. I think those airline ticket people assume normal human beings keep track of the weather throughout the country because she scowls at me and snaps, "There have been 80,000 thunderstorms within the past 12 hours in Dallas! Nobody is going in or out of there. Go to the full service line to reschedule your flight." I look to my right to see the venomous serpent that was the full service line and quickly realized I probably would not be getting to Guatemala anytime soon. After waiting through the line, a slightly less abrasive attendant told me the situation and starting trying to figure out ways of getting me to Guatemala. She was mainl telling me options for leaving the next day, which I really wanted to avoid. She releases an annoyed sigh and begins to figure out was of getting me there today. After a few false hopes, she finds one from Seattle to Washington DC to Miami to Guatemala City, which would probably get me to my final destination circa the year 2012. Finally, she got a flight to Miami which would arrive 10 pm Miami time but would not leave until 11:50 am the next day. Not seeing any other options, I took her offer and began to say goodbe to my parents. (I say began becasue the Brandler regime of saying goodbye involves a strict procedure consisting of at least three hugs and a minimum of five look backs to wave, a dance or two for show, and throwing the okay sign).
Because my flight to Miami didn't leave for at least 5 hours, I couldn't check my bags yet and since my dad had to get to a meeting with the pastor, I sat there alone with only my 100 pound collective pile of crap to keep me company. My parents looked back several times (I told you), and my dad took pity on me and my lowly estate and canceled the appointment to take me out to breakfast.
During breakfast, I was mentally preparing for a 13 hour adventure with all my gear in Miami airport and was wondering what I would be doing with all that time. I definitely penciled in at least an hour block in my busy schedule to call American Airlines and complain about their abysmal customer service. Luckily for them, we thought of having me stay at a hotel and got booked at Days Inn.
The flight was fine and I was in the exit row with more leg room, but the man next to me for some reason incessantly needed to get up, even when I was dozing off thanks to my four hours of sleep I had acquired the night before. Maybe he was trying to avoid deep vein thrombosis, I don't know.
I arrived in Miami that night and quickly figure out that Spanish was the primary language of Miamians. I got a shuttle and arrived at my flea bag hotel accompanied by a haggard 50 year old bartender woman who was kind of a Debbie Downer about everything. (Writing this post I'm wondering if I should become a sociologist instead of a doctor).
After checking in to my hotel and peering around at my seedy surroundings, I asked the clerk where I could go to eat. He told me there was a Subway, McDonald's, and IHOP up ahead the road, but that the breakfast at the hotel was terrible and I should go somewhere else. If an employee tells you it's bad, you KNOW those will be some of the sketchiest scrambled eggs ever.
I dropped my stuff at the room and made the foolish decision of going down the block to get some food. Obviously, walking alone along the non-lit street at 11 at night in a seedy area in Miami was probably one of the poorer safety decisions I've made in my life. Neither of the places were open and so I ran back to the hotel in fear that I was going to get shanked in the lower back at any moment. A few stray cats were back at the hotel to greet me with their soulless beady eyes and I quickly went to my room and locked the doors in every manner possible.
After ordering pizza and swatting at the legion of flies that were swarming around me (probably putting my anti-malaria medication to the test), I checked out the four channels that came in, updating myself on the latest tirade about Letterman's comments about Sarah Palin. I finally fell asleep and awoke the next morning to rejoin my haggard bartender friend on the shuttle. Now I am waiting for my flight.
This whole time I have been trying to get a hold of Tito or someone down in Guatemala through email etc. and have heard no response. I'm assuming that he knows something is up since I didn't arrive when I was supposed to, but then again, you never know with the typical Guatemalan casual approach to everything. I'm just praying that I don't show up in the Guatemalan airport with only the emaciated stray dogs to greet me. But you all know my impeccable street smarts and travel savvy... :/ Let's just hope this isn't my last post if you know what I mean.
Verse of the Day:
"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of [Miami],
I will fear no evil, for you are with me." ---Psalms 23:4
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Provision
Well,
I told you all that I've already started to get addicted to this thing. I haven't even left yet and I have another post for you. This is actually because something really exciting happened today, less than 13 hours from when I will depart on my trip.
I had been receiving generous donations from people after I sent out my invitations with the newsletter, but I still was quite a bit short of what I needed to pay Tito for my stay down there. Once the benevolent cash flow had started to slow to a trickle I resigned myself to the fact that my parents were going to have to compensate the rest of the fund so I could go and that I would pay them back when I got a job when I returned.
Despite my lack of faith, my mom kept on telling me that God would provide for me somehow. Today was an answer to that. I got three cards in the mail, one of which was overnighted just so it would reach me before I left. Those three donations covered the last entire THIRD of my trip cost and then some. It was truly amazing. I was blown away, and I knew that as soon as I bounded up the stairs my mom was going to be grinning ear to ear with an "I told you God would provide" type of smile. Of course, my cute mom never failed to deliver and that's exactly what happened.
I can't thank you all enough for donating to this cause. I wasn't sure how this was going to turn out. I thought I should get the missionary experience of having to rely on God to meet financial needs. Even though my parents assured me that regardless of the funds I would still go, it really caught me off guard as to how at the very LAST minute, God pulls a fast one on my doubts and took care of business. I know that doesn't mean that I will always get what I think I need or want, but today was truly a testament to the mysterious, yet unfailing faithfulness of God. Props to you full-time missionaries out there who fully put your faith in God to take care of your monetary funds.
The verse for today would have to be:
"My God will use His wonderful riches in Christ Jesus
to give you everything you need."
--Philippians 4:19
There is also a quote from a book by Max Lucado (whom I'm sure I'll quote again in the future). It says that "God's faithfulness has never depended on the faithfulness of His children. He is faithful even when we aren't." That was definitely true today and I have a feeling that it will happen numerous times over the course of this trip and in your lives as well. Trusting in God is definitely an easier-said-than-done type of thing, but that never should discourage us from doing it.
Thanks again for listening and I hope you enjoy these posts.
In Christ,
Justin
PS If you still haven't donated and were planning on it DON'T WORRY! I still can use money for the airfare which was covered a few months ago by my dad. I just didn't want anyone to be upset if they were planning on giving me money and thought that the option was now gone. That option will most likely always be open. :)
I told you all that I've already started to get addicted to this thing. I haven't even left yet and I have another post for you. This is actually because something really exciting happened today, less than 13 hours from when I will depart on my trip.
I had been receiving generous donations from people after I sent out my invitations with the newsletter, but I still was quite a bit short of what I needed to pay Tito for my stay down there. Once the benevolent cash flow had started to slow to a trickle I resigned myself to the fact that my parents were going to have to compensate the rest of the fund so I could go and that I would pay them back when I got a job when I returned.
Despite my lack of faith, my mom kept on telling me that God would provide for me somehow. Today was an answer to that. I got three cards in the mail, one of which was overnighted just so it would reach me before I left. Those three donations covered the last entire THIRD of my trip cost and then some. It was truly amazing. I was blown away, and I knew that as soon as I bounded up the stairs my mom was going to be grinning ear to ear with an "I told you God would provide" type of smile. Of course, my cute mom never failed to deliver and that's exactly what happened.
I can't thank you all enough for donating to this cause. I wasn't sure how this was going to turn out. I thought I should get the missionary experience of having to rely on God to meet financial needs. Even though my parents assured me that regardless of the funds I would still go, it really caught me off guard as to how at the very LAST minute, God pulls a fast one on my doubts and took care of business. I know that doesn't mean that I will always get what I think I need or want, but today was truly a testament to the mysterious, yet unfailing faithfulness of God. Props to you full-time missionaries out there who fully put your faith in God to take care of your monetary funds.
The verse for today would have to be:
"My God will use His wonderful riches in Christ Jesus
to give you everything you need."
--Philippians 4:19
There is also a quote from a book by Max Lucado (whom I'm sure I'll quote again in the future). It says that "God's faithfulness has never depended on the faithfulness of His children. He is faithful even when we aren't." That was definitely true today and I have a feeling that it will happen numerous times over the course of this trip and in your lives as well. Trusting in God is definitely an easier-said-than-done type of thing, but that never should discourage us from doing it.
Thanks again for listening and I hope you enjoy these posts.
In Christ,
Justin
PS If you still haven't donated and were planning on it DON'T WORRY! I still can use money for the airfare which was covered a few months ago by my dad. I just didn't want anyone to be upset if they were planning on giving me money and thought that the option was now gone. That option will most likely always be open. :)
Monday, June 8, 2009
11 Years in the Making
Hello everyone,
After three weeks of procrastination and watching mindless sensationalized TV shows, I have finally forced myself to write my first blog post. As you can see from the picture to the right, I made it through graduation weekend in one piece and lived to tell the tale. It was definitely surreal being down on the floor of the Spokane Arena instead of the stands, since this was the fourth Whitworth commencement I've attended. I kind of felt like it was someone else's graduation... but no, it was definitely me down there staring up at B-Rob, sweltering in that gown, proudly adorning goggles and a stuffed plush sperm on my head.
Emily, John, and Bauer threw a great grad party for me afterwards, and it was wonderful to see so many friends stop by. And while I was half-expecting the whole backyard to go up in flames, Dr. Mike's pyrotechnic display with rubbing alcohol was a sight to behold.
I have been exposed to Whitworth for so long that it was very hard to say goodbye. This year marked the Brandler family's eleventh year at Whitworth and so much has happened over those past eleven years. And while I think Whitworth should at least name a wing in the new science building after us for the trillions of dollars my parents have pumped into that school, the education and friendships I have gained while at Whitworth were more than worth it. I could not have imagined going to a school that I loved more. Every year was a new adventure and I cherish every day spent there. Even though academics were strenuous and getting punched in the gut with -10 degree weather before 5:30 morning practice was at times horrifying, it made such wonderful memories of college that I wouldn't trade for the world. Even my freshman year, when the swim team was a mushroom cloud of drama like the Real World: Spokane, it was so great to see God's faithfulness over these past four years and how He brought me and my friends through it.
It was definitely odd saying goodbye to friends, because it seemed like the end to any other school year. But it wasn't. It was really difficult to cope with the reality that I may never see some of these smiling faces again, or at least for a long time. Nevertheless, various events of my senior year showed me that it was indeed time for me to move on from Whitworth. But thankfully, I can move forward with a heart full of wonderful memories of crazy bus trips, slip n' slides, and the sighting of the Oscar Meyer Weinermobile (that's right it was in Spokane...and I saw it...and chased it).
Well that's enough sentimentality for a few dozen Hallmark cards. Now I am on to a new excursion. Thank you so much to all who donated to my mission trip this summer. It was greatly, GREATLY, appreciated. I am leaving this Thursday, June 11 at 7:10 am....yikes that's early. Because I have fallen prey to the greasy, mind-atrophying grasp of Post-College Vegetative TV Watching, even getting up and going to the bathroom has felt like a victory of productivity for the day. But for someone as continually busy as me, this time of relaxation has gotten me pretty antzy and ready to start doing something productive again.
I am excited to return to Guatemala and serve these amazing people, this time hopefully with a little more Spanish proficiency. I don't really know what determines if you're fluent in a language, but I hope to be as close to it as I can by the time I return August 3rd. I will not have internet access when I am on the jornadas (clinics) but we will when we are back in Guatemala City.
I thought it would be hard to keep this thing updated, but now that I am finally writing, it's actually pretty fun blabbing on about whatever comes to mind, hoping (though not expecting) anybody to listen to my incessant drivel. (I can see my sisters' journalistic editorial brows furrowing right now at the excessive length of this post...I've always been the longwinded one of the family :).
Well I hope you all keep track as often as you can, and I promise that future posts will be more spiritually and intellectually stimulating. I will try to think of a Scripture verse which pertains to each post. The verse for today's post would have to be:
"The sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth." --Proverbs 26:15
I think you know what that has to do with... :/ But I guess I better shove my hand in that dish while I still can because our eating schedule in Guatemala (in the words of the venerable Derek Weyhrauch) is more like "interrupted fasting."
But last summer, even when I was knee-deep in mud, trying to push a wheelbarrow of concrete, almost too exhausted to stand, I couldn't stop smiling. For me, these trips capture the essence of our purpose here on earth: to worship God through serving humanity. And I have a feeling that this time around the smile will only get bigger.
Thanks again for listening,
En Cristo,
Justin
After three weeks of procrastination and watching mindless sensationalized TV shows, I have finally forced myself to write my first blog post. As you can see from the picture to the right, I made it through graduation weekend in one piece and lived to tell the tale. It was definitely surreal being down on the floor of the Spokane Arena instead of the stands, since this was the fourth Whitworth commencement I've attended. I kind of felt like it was someone else's graduation... but no, it was definitely me down there staring up at B-Rob, sweltering in that gown, proudly adorning goggles and a stuffed plush sperm on my head.
Emily, John, and Bauer threw a great grad party for me afterwards, and it was wonderful to see so many friends stop by. And while I was half-expecting the whole backyard to go up in flames, Dr. Mike's pyrotechnic display with rubbing alcohol was a sight to behold.
I have been exposed to Whitworth for so long that it was very hard to say goodbye. This year marked the Brandler family's eleventh year at Whitworth and so much has happened over those past eleven years. And while I think Whitworth should at least name a wing in the new science building after us for the trillions of dollars my parents have pumped into that school, the education and friendships I have gained while at Whitworth were more than worth it. I could not have imagined going to a school that I loved more. Every year was a new adventure and I cherish every day spent there. Even though academics were strenuous and getting punched in the gut with -10 degree weather before 5:30 morning practice was at times horrifying, it made such wonderful memories of college that I wouldn't trade for the world. Even my freshman year, when the swim team was a mushroom cloud of drama like the Real World: Spokane, it was so great to see God's faithfulness over these past four years and how He brought me and my friends through it.
It was definitely odd saying goodbye to friends, because it seemed like the end to any other school year. But it wasn't. It was really difficult to cope with the reality that I may never see some of these smiling faces again, or at least for a long time. Nevertheless, various events of my senior year showed me that it was indeed time for me to move on from Whitworth. But thankfully, I can move forward with a heart full of wonderful memories of crazy bus trips, slip n' slides, and the sighting of the Oscar Meyer Weinermobile (that's right it was in Spokane...and I saw it...and chased it).
Well that's enough sentimentality for a few dozen Hallmark cards. Now I am on to a new excursion. Thank you so much to all who donated to my mission trip this summer. It was greatly, GREATLY, appreciated. I am leaving this Thursday, June 11 at 7:10 am....yikes that's early. Because I have fallen prey to the greasy, mind-atrophying grasp of Post-College Vegetative TV Watching, even getting up and going to the bathroom has felt like a victory of productivity for the day. But for someone as continually busy as me, this time of relaxation has gotten me pretty antzy and ready to start doing something productive again.
I am excited to return to Guatemala and serve these amazing people, this time hopefully with a little more Spanish proficiency. I don't really know what determines if you're fluent in a language, but I hope to be as close to it as I can by the time I return August 3rd. I will not have internet access when I am on the jornadas (clinics) but we will when we are back in Guatemala City.
I thought it would be hard to keep this thing updated, but now that I am finally writing, it's actually pretty fun blabbing on about whatever comes to mind, hoping (though not expecting) anybody to listen to my incessant drivel. (I can see my sisters' journalistic editorial brows furrowing right now at the excessive length of this post...I've always been the longwinded one of the family :).
Well I hope you all keep track as often as you can, and I promise that future posts will be more spiritually and intellectually stimulating. I will try to think of a Scripture verse which pertains to each post. The verse for today's post would have to be:
"The sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth." --Proverbs 26:15
I think you know what that has to do with... :/ But I guess I better shove my hand in that dish while I still can because our eating schedule in Guatemala (in the words of the venerable Derek Weyhrauch) is more like "interrupted fasting."
But last summer, even when I was knee-deep in mud, trying to push a wheelbarrow of concrete, almost too exhausted to stand, I couldn't stop smiling. For me, these trips capture the essence of our purpose here on earth: to worship God through serving humanity. And I have a feeling that this time around the smile will only get bigger.
Thanks again for listening,
En Cristo,
Justin
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