Hi all!
Thanks for sticking with me to hear of my adventures from Guatemala! This is part 3 from last September.
On September 21 (Wednesday), the women’s retreat had finally arrived! The 11 of us teammates got to lead the retreat for the Guatemalan women. The Guatemalan women came from hours away to participate.
We did a small skit. I got the opportunity to play Virgin Mary and share a bit of my story. I loved how I felt I could be myself with the ladies on the trip as well as with the Guatemalans. It was amazing to look around and see all the healing that was happening. I loved hearing a bit of the women’s stories.
For weeks, God had placed a Lupe on my heart that I was praying for and was to talk to in Guatemala. As the other women celebrated forgiveness during the retreat, I found Lupe in the back of the room. I grabbed a interpreter and told her what God had placed on my heart for her.
September 22 was beautification day. All 11 teammates got to give the Guatemalan women facial masks and massages. We divided into different booths and the locals got to get their nails, their hair, and their makeup done. Their faces were brimming with joy and love. Some of the women had even arrived in their special occasion outfits. It was such a blessing and joy to be able to help these women smile and relax.
September 23 (Friday) was our long awaited, and now well-deserved, adventure day. We rode to town and each got assigned an ATV to begin our tour. We got to see them roast coffee beans and make chocolate. We saw the beautiful countryside. Well, some of the countryside. It was cloudy and rainy and the volcanoes were hiding and difficult to see. We toured this cute little place called “Hobitenango.” Literally translated “place of the hobbit.” Small houses and round doors to resemble “The Hobbit.” Or was beautiful and so cute. We were all freezing from the rain, but did the whole tour with a good attitude.
We prepared to finish adventure day. We went back down the mountain.
We got changed out of our wet clothes and went to dinner. This was my last connection. A couple that works on the Guatemalan base seemed very familiar to me. It “so happened“ that this couple had been coaches to someone I had met in Illinois who went on the World Race. This same couple had also gone to the same church I attended in Illinois. Their son had even served on the same volunteer team that my dad had served with. I was pretty sure I had met them before.
Our adventure day was coming to a close, and so was our Guatemalan adventure. The next morning, it was time to head back home.
Saturday, September 24, it was time for the 11 of us to head back to America. After eating breakfast, we got on the bus to the airport. We each checked into our own airlines and flights. Then we gathered at a central terminal to chat, gather, laugh and cry until each of our flights was leaving.
I’m usually so sad when I head back home. There was something different about this set of women. I just knew that I would see them again. You see, they weren’t strangers anymore. They weren’t even just friends. All walks of life, all different states, ages 18-65. The 11 of us, we had become sisters.
Preparing for retreat
Worship. Lots and lots
Beautification Day
