Adios!

Well,
Today is my last day in Guatemala. It has been a very interesting 53 days here with its ups and downs. This past week we worked entirely in the school at Palencia with a team from Houston. It was actually a pretty small team of 9 people who were older than our previous groups but boy could they work hard. New toilets were put in the school which was great, and they were able to paint a beautiful new mural on the basketball court and in the playroom as well as paint inside the bathrooms. On top of that, we did clinics for the first 4 days as well.

On Friday, we were supposed to go to a beach with black sand, but because we still had some work to do, the team leader decided we should stay. I actually was really happy we stayed an extra day, since it was only a beach. But since we stayed, I was able to work with the kids in the computer class. It is amazing how much they are learning. These kids are working on Powerpoint presentations at age 8! I definitely remember not even doing Mario Teaches Typing at that age. God has really blessed a school which wasn't even open only a few years ago. Now there are 85 children attending there as well.

Also, last year I really wanted to sponsor a child at Palencia, but since I couldn't work during the school year, it wouldn't be possible. But since this year I will be working, I really wanted to finally sponsor one. The kid I decided to sponsor actually was the last kid at the school who was not sponsored and I was able to meet him on our last day at Palencia. It was so awesome to actually meet the kid I would be supporting; I realize that is such a unique experience that most sponsors do not get to have. We worked on his Powerpoint presentation together, and he even was rewarded a little prize for having such good conduct. I was so proud of him. It is such a small sacrifice to help change the life of a child...I just wish I was more wealthy so that I could help sponsor a whole classroom of kids and help give them so many more opportunities in their lives. But being able to be used by God to change the life of only one precious child is good enough for me.

The Palacios family that I am staying with (Tito, Brenda, Alejandro, and Pablo), have a nanny named Amelia. She used to live in a very poor part of Guatemala, but was able to get out of it and ended up working for the Palacios to afford an education. She has been so fun and today we had the special treat of being able to go to her younger sister's Quincenera. It was such a special treat because we Gringos were invited as special guests. I was actually happy that we were able to go to the Quincenera of a poorer family than some wealthy one because we got to see how much work they put into such an event for a girl they love even though they have so little. It was a nice event and they gave us food and everything. Actually, Amelia's mother even gave us special gifts for coming. It was amazing that she would give us presents when she didn't even know us and she had so little already. It was so special and meaningful.

The last night that we were here, Tito took us out to this amazing steak place where we stuffed ourselves with awesome food. We gave a few little tokens of our appreciation and then headed back to the house where I now sit finishing up my blog.

This trip has been a very interesting experience overall. I can't say that it met my expectations, because they were very difficult aspects about it that I did not expect to have to deal with. But I believe that God will use and is already using these situations to force me to rely on Him more and realize that when His people pray, He really can move mountains.

The faith that these people have for God's providence is truly awe-inspiring. Considering their humble budget, they accomplish so much in helping the people while still providing a comfortable experience for the Gringos that come down here. It is honestly hard for me to wrap my mind around the trust they just thrust into the lap of God, believing that He will take care of it in the way the He chooses to. For someone who plans and analyzes things as much as I do, this is quite the radical concept. But I think it's about time that I grow up a little and take the plunge into the hands of God.

I'm reading a book called, "In the Grip of Grace," by Max Lucado. On the title of the book it says, "Your Father always caught you...He still does." There are a lot of unknowns coming up in this next year for me. Unknowns about my job, future relationships, med school, living arrangements, and life in general. If I tried to plan it all out like I would like to, it would overwhelm me and all come crumbling down anyway. But Tito reminded me today that I am always in the hand of God and He will never let me go.

Thank you all so much for keeping track of my adventures while down here in Guatemala. I have learned a great deal, met literally hundreds if not thousands of people, and experienced so many rich things that I can cherish and store up in my heart forever. Thank you all so much for your prayers and thoughts and comments. I pray that in some way, this blog blessed you or at least made you think.

Right now my family is currently dealing with a death in the family of my Uncle Walter. It was not a sudden thing because he had been sick for awhile, but it has been hard on my family especially my dad. He was very close with this brother and I know that this has affected him differently than any other loss. I will be flying to California to be with him and the rest of my family on Tuesday (the day after I get back to the States). Please pray for strength for us and the right words and actions to best help the situation. Please pray for healing and time for my father to actually grieve for his loss. Thank God that Uncle Wally was a Christian, and when he passed away, he was looking towards Jesus, his Maker and Savior.

Well, this has been a long post and I still am going to write a letter to Tito and Brenda (in Spanish), so I better get to it since we leave at 5am. I am going to post pictures soon when I get back to the States for you to enjoy and see my little sponsor child, Angel. Once again, thanks for everything, and it has been an amazing journey which I have been privileged to share with you all.

Verses of the blog:
"Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
If I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
If I settle on the far side of the sea,
Even there your hand will guide me,
Your right hand will hold me fast.
-Psalm 139:7-10

God is at work! In Guatemala and around the world! Thanks again and God bless!