Trip to Tikal

You Better Belize It?!

So to maintain legal status in Guatemala, some Hearts in Action team members and I needed to cross the border into Belize, and then come right back because there were a lot of errands to run that day. (Crossing the border and re-entering will award a person 3 more months of stay.) The trip was meant to be quick but there were some hang-ups that led to an interesting experience.

Xaume went first and passed easily through the passport checkpoint. He has a Mexican passport, and the rumor is that Mexico has a better relationship with Belize than Guatemala due to a land dispute. I went next, and when I was asked why I was entering Belize, I gave them the line we had rehearsed during the 2.5 hour truck ride, "para conocer Benque," or "to get to know the town." I stepped aside, and Annie was asked to step up because we were traveling together and because it's often assumed that we're sisters. She gave the same line, and the official frowned and stated that he wasn't convinced that we were regular tourists and that we needed to talk to his supervisor. Eeek?!

Sooo we waited in line for an hour and made a quick phone call to Fredy, our administrator, who coached us about the next steps. He reminded us that Belize is pretty unfriendly about letting people cross their border just to renew their passports, and he warned us that the officials may try to charge us 70 quetzalas, about $10, each. If this happened, we were to refuse and keep explaining the situation, and he gave us some ideas to elaborate. Behind closed doors, we had to answer more questions and provide identification to prove that we worked in Guatemala, which we didn't have. I remained in the room of questioning while Annie left to quickly grab business cards from Fredy, who was waiting for us outside. Finally after explaining that we had just one day off and really, really, really wanted to be able to visit Belize and also that we may need to pick up a group there for a training event that Hearts in Action is hosting in November and for this reason, we needed to scope out the area for a good meeting place... we were able to walk across the border to Belize. Yep, walk! I've crossed international borders in a car, in a plane, in a train... and now by foot.

It was a rainy day, so once we were on the other side, we jumped into a taxi and headed toward Benny's Kitchen, a restaurant a police officer suggested to Xaume while he was waiting for us and wondering what in the heck happened to us. The car turned right at a handwritten sign that said "This Way to Benny's Kitchen" with an arrow pointing up a hill. The restaurant offered an interesting selection of foods, with many options that were "weekends only." It was only Friday, so we opted for eggs and bacon, chocolate milkshakes, and doughy tortillas the size of your head. Restaurant decor included a prominent painting of John the Baptist beheaded, crates of empty glass Coca Cola bottles, and a giant trampoline?!

I particularly enjoyed this sticker that I found in the gift shop.

The border town in Belize looks pretty much just like Guatemala except the people are taller, signs are in English, and Queen Elizabeth's face is on the dollar bills, which are worth half an American dollar bill.

Crossing back in Guatemala was much less eventful, and then we began a day of running errands with Fredy. Annie and I paid the phone bill in the mall and looked in shops.

We took these pictures to amuse ourselves while waiting for Fredy and Xaume to run other errands and pick us up.

And then we had fun grocery shopping for the team at MaxiBodega?!

The end.

Banana Cake

Welp, I've made 10 more banana cakes... so I thought I'd share the recipe:

In Bowl 1, combine:

4 cups of flour

2 tablespoons of baking powder

In Bowl 2, combine:

2 eggs

1 cup of oil

3 tablespoons of vanilla

2 cups of mashed bananas

1 cup of milk (we add a little vinegar to curdle the milk in the place of whole milk)

1 and 1/4 cups of sugar

Blend the ingredients from Bowl 2, and slowly add and blend in all of the ingredients in Bowl 1 into Bowl 2.

Prepare the pan by spreading butter evenly across the bottom and sides, and coat it with a very thin layer of flour.

Pour contents of Bowl 2 in the pan, and place in gas oven for about forty-five minutes at 225 degrees Celsius. The amount of time in the oven would probably be much shorter in the USA... and I'm not exactly sure what 225 degress Celsius works out to be in Fahrenheit. Alas, I hope you enjoy this recipe. ;)

Tada!

Work, work, work...

Hmmm... it's been a little while since I've written. So much has happened that I don't really know where to begin. Each day still seems to feel like a week, and each week, a month. I'm working harder probably than I ever have in my life. Sometimes it feels completely satisfying to be pushed so hard spiritually, emotionally, physically, and intellectually every day because I know that I am growing and getting stronger... but at other times it feels overwhelming and exhausting. I'm still learning to find the balance.

I've been working primarily as the coordinator for P.I.E.S, A Charity and Sponsorship Program for Children in the Peten Jungle. In this position, I've taken on a lot of responsibility very quickly and am learning all the time. I assign children to new sponsors, translate many letters, maintain lists of current children and follow up with sponsors if their child is no longer attending the school, work to maintain a database, take lots of pictures, do fun art and letter writing projects with the kids, write e-newsletter articles, communicate and collaborate with the P.I.E.S. team which is spread across 3 countries, correspond with over 200 sponsors via email... and more.

I also just started teaching 3rd, 4th, 5th, and sometimes 6th grade English classes each day to cover a maternity leave. My first day, I stuck to the lesson plan left for me, one simple worksheet, and the kids finished in 5 minutes or less. I tried to fill the rest of the hour reviewing colors and parts of the body because I know they learned these things recently. We sang "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes" and played "Simon Says"... and I failed miserably to remain in control of 3rd and 4th grade. So the next day, I scrapped the worksheets, started preparing my own lesson plans, and prayed very hard before and after each class... and had dramatically different results. I enjoyed my time with the kids. They were attentive, creative and cute with the art I had worked into the lesson, and I think they just might have learned something! Amen!

The topic for the lesson was "Things in my classroom," so the kids learned words such as: paper, markers, crayons, scissors, etc. After taking notes, and a round of "What is this?" as I held up or pointed to each item, I let the kids play with the items and be creative. I purposefully didn't bring enough of each item just so the kids could practice their new vocabulary, saying things like "Can I borrow your scissors?" Some kids wrote letters for their moms, or for me, or drew pretty pictures.

But one kid decided to make a cow mask, mooed, and pressed it against his face, which was pretty amusing. He got embarrassed at some point and threw it away but I fished it out as a souvenir of a day of teaching gone well!

I'm also learning how to be a missionary. We take turns leading early morning Bible devotions and worship and presenting outreaches to children at surrounding schools, churches, and orphanages. We also prepare for group retreats and school or other ministry related activities, and we take turns cooking meals for each other. Last week, I was part of a 2 person team to lead an outreach to 200 children at a school and at an orphanage… I helped make 80 beds and baked 10 banana cakes, chased an iguana out of the guest dorm, and spent multiple hours in dance practice with the team to prepare for a large training event we are hosting at the ranch in November.

Nineth & I setting up for the school outreach.

One of the silly games we make the kids do! :)

Outreach under a tin roof and on a dirt floor at Remar orphanage.

Thank you for every prayer! The tabano (praise Jesus!) has left me alone, and my Spanish is improving little by little. Love to you all!

Dia de Independencia

After months of practice, the big day was finally here! Children from The Jungle School traveled by bus to nearby town San Andres on September 15, 2011, in order to participate in the Independence Day parade. Together with other schools, the children marched down the streets debuting their new school and band uniforms and performing for the crowds of onlookers and supporters. Leading The Jungle School’s portion of the parade were three high school boys carrying the school’s banner, followed by six young girls wearing pageant dresses and sashes they had received throughout the week of activities at the school. Next came the display of flags of the nations carried by many students, the baton girls, and three girls dressed in traditional Mayan clothing. The band was close behind, stopping to give the crowd several performances, and children from the school organized by class and grade marched behind the band with pride. At the end of the parade, all of the schools gathered together in honor of their civic duties, and then came the highlight of the event as each school gave one grand performance. All of the hard work paid off, as the children from The Jungle School looked and sounded great!

The girls from the band spent the night at the school the night before the parade, and I was one of the lucky missionaries selected to chaperone them...haha! Teenage girls in Guatemala are like teenage girls anywhere... they talked and laughed and giggled well after we turned the lights out. We got up at 3 a.m., yes, 3 a.m., to make sure all of the girls were showered and to give time to complete make-up and this beautiful hairstyle on each girl. My crafty roommate Nineth made matching earrings for them as well!

Beautiful Albertina and her new band costume that her sponsor helped her to afford.

Marching in the streets...

& the big performance!

Culturally, it was exciting to watch the kids perform their civic duties. There was a flag processional, and I heard Guatemala's Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem for the first time. But the best part was really just getting to spend a day of fun with the kids. This is the first year The Jungle School has had a band and they were so proud of what they'd been able to accomplish!

Shoes, shoes, shoes!

Thanks to a donation from friends in Guatemala City and a generous gift from HIA, The Jungle School was able to purchase and distribute 271 pairs of shoes for each actively enrolled child. The shoes were purchased locally and are appropriate for the children to wear with their school uniforms, with slightly different styles provided for the various age groups. It was a heart-warming event for missionaries and staff to witness some children immediately trading the worn-out, ill-fitting, or broken shoes they had been wearing for a brand new pair, purchased just for them, and in their size.

Lesser trading his broken shoes for a new pair.

A closer look...

Yes, it was kind of amusing that the brand name for the shoes was Angela. I had to smile watching all of the kids carry around boxes with my name on them.

Kids in The Word

During the last week of July, children from The Jungle School, our after school Bible Club (Club Victoriosos), and from local churches endeavored to memorize 20 Bible verses, or 5 verses each week, to be ready for an evaluation at the end of August. If they could do this, a group called SuperAventuras would reward each child with their very own Bible or a book of Biblical stories for the younger children.

152 children from The Jungle School, 20 children from Club Victoriosos, and 145 participants from the churches of San Andres and Santa Elena completed the challenge. I was so impressed with their dedication and with the speed they could rattle off the verses. It was so beautiful to witness the kids opening their Bibles, pointing at the pictures, and reading to each other.

A Beauty Pageant of Sorts...

With home-made signs held high, the cheers and shouts rang out, “We support you!” and “You are the best!”

Two girls from The Jungle School competed with girls from other local schools in the Senorita Independencia pageant on September 1, in Sacpuy, a town not far away from the school. Evelin, age 10, was selected from the primary school and Maribi, age 15, was selected from the high school. Both were very excited to represent their school and for the opportunity to get dressed up. The pageant consisted of three wardrobe changes, and the girls modeled school wear, traditional wear, and formal wear before delivering a speech.

Maribi in traditional wear.

Evelin in traditional wear.

In formal wear, posing with the school director, Thania.

At the crowing event, Maribi received recognition as second runner up by just three points. However, Maribi and Evelin are both “campeonas” (champions) as far as Hearts in Action is concerned! Later, both girls were awarded sashes and crowns, and they were given the titles Senorita The Jungle School and Nina The Jungle School.

"Como Asi"

Creature update: There was a dead gecko next to my bed last night, and today during a craft project with the third graders, I had to reprimand a kid for throwing a scorpion skeleton on another kid's back... using limited Spanish skills. I think I basically said, "Out! Please!" in my best stern voice (which probably isn't very stern at all) but I gave him "the look" and pointed to the classroom door.

I'm feeling pretty thankful that "the look" translates pretty well in all languages. Annnd I'm also thankful for other nonverbal cues and words like "Como asi," which means "like this."

Yep, words like "como asi" and hand motions helped me to be able to explain and orchestrate today's craft project, a parrot shaped card to be mailed to sponsors in the children's charity program. While the language barrier is sometimes difficult, I love art and it was really fun to share this time with the kids. :)

Smiling for the camera- this little girl is also named Angela.

But this kid was obviously my favorite... I mean, he has a mohawk, annnd he drew a cat.

The tabano fly is small but mean!

Ahhh yes, the tabano fly. I despise him though he seems to love me.

Friends, I've been bitten twice already by this thing about a week apart... on the same foot. Since I'm allergic to it, my entire foot swells up for several days, sometimes oozes fluid, and itches terribly. It affects my mobility, ability to participate in team events such as choreography, and in this way, it attacks my spirit. :(

Please pray with me or send positive thoughts that the tabano would stay away!

* You can find a picture of the evil fly and more information about it on this website: http://www.flickr.com/photos/shuttersparks/3599277576/

Sometimes Spelling and Vocab Errors are Funny

Hmmm it's been just over 2 weeks that I've been living and working in Guatemala, and I have of course made some language blunders. Please enjoy the highlights.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Example 1)

I needed to stop at an ATM on the way home from church, and here is the conversation that followed:

Fredy: Necesitas comprar algo? Translation: Do you need to buy anything?
Me: No. Solomente necesito pegar Adrea para mi telefono. Translation: No. I only need to hit Adrea for my phone.

* Laughter followed, and I learned that PEGAR (pronounced "peh-gar," meaning to hit), though it sounds closely to PAGAR (pronounced "pah-gar," meaning to pay), has a slightly different meaning.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Example 2)

Me (to Nineth): Te gustas?

I meant to ask her if she liked the pancakes that Anna and Xaume made with M&Ms in them... but I actually asked her very sweetly, "Do you like yourself?" or something like "Do you please yourself?" instead. Annnd... everyone at the table laughed.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Woops?!

"Cooking with Ang!"

Some things are best said with pictures...

I hope you enjoy this little story called, "Cooking with Ang!"

Hmmm... I need to feed 14 people. What should I make for lunch today?

I really didn't know...

Someone had set out a few of these weird looking things... Since I didn't know what they were... I decided they made good mustaches.

Mustaches are funny!

Apparently these are called yucca roots... Annnnd I guess the ones set out were bad on the inside, so I still have no idea how one should use these in cooking?! Maybe next time.

Annnd thanks to God (and possibly my obvious need), I received some help in the kitchen, and 3 hours later we served some sort of beef stew, rice, corn on the cob, hot chili, and handmade tortillas with freshly squeezed orange juice. It must have tasted ok because after the meal, one teammate told me I could get married now?! Haha!

The end.

Tonito vs. Juanita the Iguana

So I'm encountering all kinds of creatures here in Guatemala that you probably won't find walking around in Ohio. Iguanas are just one of them. I used pretty poor, broken Spanish... but please enjoy this video of Tonito removing an iguana from the towel closet in the women's mission house. Annnd please ignore the fact that I spoke Antonio's name kind of strangely ( Whoops?! I couldn't remember if I should call him Antonio or Tonito and I think I sort of combined the two names here. Awesome.)

Rain on the front porch

It's the rainy season in the jungle...

Mi casa on a sunny day:

Welcome to Guatemala!

With my hiking backpack and school-sized backpack packed up tight with my own things and a large suitcase and duffle bag full of donations for the kids and gifts for the missionaries at the Hearts in Action mission ranch, I waved goodbye to my amazing family at the Columbus Airport and got on a plane!

Arriving at the Guatemala City Airport with Continental Airlines was less eventful than leaving with TACA Airlines.

My flight with TACA Airlines from Guatemala City to Flores (in the jungle) was 4 hours delayed so instead of arriving at the ranch at 8pm (10pm EST), I got there around midnight (2am EST). Flying with TACA was an interesting experience, and I now understand why others in the airport were joking around and referring to it as “Take A Chance Airlines.” When I walked to the gate, there were no signs or labels to be seen, actually, it looked a little bit like a construction zone. There were no lights, and no attendants.

A group of Americans going on a mission trip confirmed that this was the right gate for anyone heading to Flores. Attendants appeared off and on and finally informed us the flight would be delayed. 5 mins. 15 mins. Then we followed them down some stairs to board but they changed their minds again. 1 hour. Then 1 hour more. Indefinitely… and then came the rumors that possibly we would be staying the night in Guatemala City… *sigh.

Just hours ago I had been so content, enjoying the newly renovated Guatemala City Airport and being pleased that things were as I remembered them. I had been resting my feet on a coffee table at Carlos y Carlos café and eating a somewhat expensive spinach and cheese ravioli and sipping coffee while enjoying free internet access. Had I known the internet would soon be turned off… I would have searched for the email from my soon-to-be boss and written down the phone numbers I needed to reach her, the ranch, or the administrator. I regretted not having been better prepared.

With the uncertainty of the delay, I began to feel a little nervous about my inability to communicate with the Hearts in Action team who would be waiting for me at the airport. As I was starting to feel kind of desperate to be able to communicate with the team, I started praying and trying to trust that God would take care of me in this situation… and then all of the sudden, missionaries from Calvary came up to me and began asking me questions. Did I get the help I needed? (They had heard me asking questions.) Where was I going? What would I be doing there? And at this point, I was tired and unsure of things and didn't want to talk to anyone anymore...but I answered their questions. All of the sudden, their eyes sort of lit up and they asked me, “Are you going to Hearts In Action?” Yes!

I nodded, and they said something like, “Well, why didn’t you say so?!" They work about an hour away from the Hearts in Action ranch and had the numbers I needed right there in their phones. They called the administrator for me and informed him in Spanish of the delay, and then they stayed with me until we walked out of the airport and I was greeted by Nineth and Hector from the Hearts in Action Team!

Coincidence? You decide.

♥ Querida familia y amigos!

Dear family and friends,

I feel like I've heard the Lord say, "Yes," "Go," "You are mine," and "Meet me here." There's also been a stream of "coincidences" that point me in the same direction, so I will choose to listen.

I hope to use this blog to keep in touch with all of you and share some of my experiences while I'm serving at The Hearts in Action Intl mission ranch in northern, rural Guatemala. I hope you enjoy reading it and please feel free to post comments or send me an email at angelarahe@gmail.com. I'd love to hear from you!

Love,

Ang