The Night Before Departure

Guatemala Journal Entry
3/06/09 12:09AM
The Night before departure
It’s the night before we leave to Orlando. It’s really starting to hit me that in 15 hours we will be heading to Orlando. Dad’s going to meet me there to pick up my laptop. I can’t wait to see him!!! Titi is going to come also =D. I don’t know if I can see Kevin before I leave because he has MPA(band competition). What scared me the most is that I won’t be able to talk to my family at all while I’m out here. I mean, I’ve done it before, but because we were required to on a retreat, not because there was little communication with the outside world. So, this is going to be my form of communication with the world. All my prayers, thoughts, feelings and experiences will be written down in here. So, for those that have a heart for missions, I bid you to live vicariously through me. Laugh with me, cry with me and watch first hand as God moves mountains.
I have high hopes for this trip. Not that I’m expecting to see the lame walk and the deaf hear. But I know I will come out of this entire experience changed. I, as an American, have been blinded by the greed of western culture and my God will give me His eyes to see. I will be forced to turn my eyes from the latest fashion and see a culture of vibrant color. I will be ripped from the grasp of Ronald McDonald and invited in for a home cooked, heartfelt meal. The music of the people will resonate God’s love song for me. You see, I’m not going there and expecting a huge change, I simply take joy in the fact that I can see what is. I want to see an oppressed people lift their hands in worship. Real worship. The kind you would die for. I long to hear the name of Yahweh spoken in a new tongue but felt in the hearts of us all. I want to be a light in a world of darkness and further illuminate the work of His mighty hands that we so often fail to see. I’m ready to look past poverty guidelines and experience the spiritual riches waiting for us all. So God, take me. Mold me. Use me. Make me your hands and feet as we walk together into this wonderfully fearful land. I’m ready. We’re ready. Master, your people are waiting.
<3 Sabie Q.
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
Matthew 28:19-20

Travel Day And the Wonders of His Majesty

Day One: Travel 3/7/09
3 hours of sleep, 8:35am flight to Miami, 3 hour layover and boarding a plane in Miami later… we’re flying to Guatemala! Dad, Titi, Chrystal and Kevin all got to see me last night. The car ride to Orlando took three extra hours due to traffic back up on the lovely I-10 and the fact that we got lost 3 times in ORLANDO! But so far, this experience has been absolutely amazing! I’m in seat 23E right next to Vance and Mike =D. Since I’m the only ethnic one in my whole group, they all think it’s cool to ask me how to say different things in Spanish. I sure hope I’m right, and if not, then we’re ALL going to make fools of ourselves! I can hear them now, “Those crazy Americans!” Flying over the ocean is a beautiful thing I wish everyone could experience. I’m already beginning to see God’s awesome creation right before my eyes! The water is crystal clear with lush little green islands dotting the ocean. The clouds are like a protective barrier between us and a watery world. I’m exhausted but I don’t want to miss one second! Overseas! Can you imagine?! I hope to enclose a picture of a “bird’s eye view” of Orlando and Miami in comparison to Guatemala City. I can’t wait to see the difference. Once we land, we will be taking a bus to ChiChi (Atítlan). This is no greyhound, though, this is a Chicken bus! Yes, on this wagon they sell chickens who will be my co-passengers for nearly 4-hours! I’m so ready! Sorry about that side note. Back to God’s mystery. The picture I just took is absolutely mesmerizing. You can’t tell where the ocean ends and the sky begins. You know, I think that’s how our Creator wanted it to be. Yes He made distinctions between earth and sky, but the ultimate goal was for it all to work together. Jesus, the Lion and the Lamb were meant to live in harmony. The Word and Flesh were meant to be together, that’s why we have Jesus. He was the only human to show us what it’s like to live fully in a relationship with God. Yes he was fully both, but when he performed miracles, he wasn’t tapping into His Holy power. He was tapping into God’s. He was FULLY HUMAN when he made the blind see and the lame walk, therefore we can do it too!! Be unified with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit just as the sea and sky are one. Together they are endlessly majestic and awe-inspiring. They, we, are one.
<3 Sabie Q.

Day 1 WE ARE HERE

Day 1: We’re here!
When the plane stopped we waited patiently to get off. It turned out, the door was broken to get out the front, so we exited President/private jet style! We walk toward the back of the plane, the door opens and the beautiful Guatemalan breeze consumes me. We walked down the stairs (as you will see in the picture) and into a gorgeous airport! That put O.I.A. to shame! It was of a modern architectural design worth billions… but with no air conditioning! You see, as I quickly found out, there is little to no need for air conditioning. It’s only sort of hot a few hours in the afternoon but after that…paradise. So, we meet our translator, Mario, and his chicken bus driver, Giovanni. It was a school bus from Virginia, U.S. tricked out Hippie style! She was named, ¡Super Niña!
The bus ride took 5 hours up and through the never ending mountains. It was bumpy. It was windy. It was… beautiful! Lush green mountain sides all around us (I quickly came to realize there are three things Guatemala doesn’t have: snow, ducks, and Chik-fil-a. SAD DAY! But they sure do love Burger King and Chuckie Cheese’s!). As we got higher up, the roads sort of died out. Eventually we were riding down a dirt road and could see nothing but dust in front of us. There were no rules of the road and I’m surprised we stayed on the right side of the road… most of the time. The chicken buses had a cute way of communicating on the road; however. As they passed us (fast and the furious Guatemala Drift) one honk meant “Hey!” And two meant “See ya later.” So that was cool, seeing multicolored tricked out buses zooming by. During my journey up and down the mountains, I quickly realized the depth of this poverty level. We passed by shacks with no roofs, run down, and looking completely abandoned in the middle of nowhere and I see a woman and her child peek out from behind the monstrosity. Men were standing in the middle of dust storms trying to get a ride to civilization an hour away. Children were digging in dried out sewers to find food. And no one stopped to help. This is their way of living. There is no one telling them it’s wrong. The government is so corrupt it wants to push the oppressed even lower so they can make a profit.
The further we drove, we saw spurts of civilization or families migrating to places where the soil is less steep and fertile. The physical features of the natives changed with location. Then, out of nowhere, a beautiful city emerges in the valley between mountains. Street and house lights are on and fireworks went off over the beautiful lake Atítlan. That is where we are staying for tonight. The streets are so narrow here and people walk, ride their cars, bikes, mopeds as they please. The hotel we are staying in is gorgeous! It is way more than I expected. Pool, hot tub, limited internet access at given times, spacious rooms (we each get a full size bed to ourselves) with a kitchenette and a little living area. Me, Leah and Amy are in one room. We love it! Vance (Pastor) says this is the nicest place we see all week…oh boy!
We went to dinner after we arrived where they served us vegetable soup, rice, beans, scrambled eggs, fried plantains, mild cheese, grilled chicken, bread, pudding and a very interesting rice-milk concoction. We got to walk around the city and get haggled by 4 year olds named John that will do anything to get you to buy his hair barrettes. Oh man haha! Later on we gathered on the roof to spend some alone time with our Creator and worship Him. Man, I wish I could BEGIN to describe the stars out here. It makes me cry merely thinking about it. God breathed something so enormously unique and yet he cares for us more. It blows my mind.
Well, we have a long day of rest tomorrow and I’m really excited! We’re headed to Chichicastenango to shop and worship with the natives!! It’s kind of hard to fall asleep, though, because there are more stray dogs than rats here howling and barking at all hours. That’s the second disheartening thing about this place. Owners can’t feed or neuter their dogs so they turn them loose and the next thing you know, we have an epidemic. It’s sad. But, I see how our Savior protects each and every one of his people. He loves them so dearly, and it’s time we do the same. I can’t wait for tomorrow!
Dear Lord,
Thank you for your dedication to those people. We know your hands are at work in every single life out there. Please bring us and your natives together tomorrow safely to worship our magnificent king. Your wonders are endless. Let us all learn from each other and help us grow in our faith. I love you. In Jesus’ name: Amen.
<3 Sabie Q.
¡Hasta Mañana!

Day 2 Getting Used to Guatemala

Day 2: Getting used to Guatemala 3/8/09
So…haha, I made a booboo today!! I forgot to set my alarm to Guatemala time and not U.S. time, so my room woke up 30-45 min earlier than we were supposed to! But, oh man am I glad we did. I went to the roof to have my early morning quiet time and I got to see the last of the sunrise over the mountains!! I have never seen creation like this. Pictures, words, even IMAGINATION doesn’t do it justice. God’s creativity is beyond amazing, and He gave it to us so we all (including Him) can delight in it. Man was it cool.
We had an amazing breakfast with the best coffee in the world (I drank it nearly black) and the workers were so nice. After breakfast, we headed down to El Lago de Atítlan. Just when I thought Christ couldn’t be more beautiful, he brought us to the biggest lake in Guatemala. It takes 45 minutes to cross by boat at max speed! And yes, I’m sure it was a lake because the nearest beach is 6 hours away! Enjoy the pictures!
Then, we loaded the chicken bus and headed for Chichicastenango where we are staying for the rest of the week. We had our first market experience!! It was INSANE! The natives were 3 foot nothing and made me look like a giant! 6 year olds tried to sell my life away and offer me everything in the world so I would buy their handmade dolls for one Quetzala(~70¢). It was fun bargaining and I bought awesome headbands for me and my sisters. There was this boy, John that followed us all the way from Pana Jachel, 2hrs 30min away and remembered my name because he wanted me to buy something from him. I felt horrible when I didn’t and he nearly cried. This was hours of stalking my team and I and I was praying that I didn’t see him in church later on because I would feel like a hypocrite. I raised that boys hopes and then shot him down. NOT Christ like at all. All I can do is ask God for forgiveness and pray for him and his family.
We went to church after lunch in the market. This place was on the side of a mountain in the middle of nowhere in a village called Chontalá. We heard singing as we walked through the open doors, they all cheered for us! Down the middle isle all the way up and through the altar were green pine needles. Trevor explains that’s how Jesus was welcomed by his people to Jerusalem.
“8A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,
"Hosanna[b] to the Son of David!"
"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"[c]
"Hosanna[d] in the highest!"” Matthew 21:8-9
The people of Guatemala did this for us! This is an ancient Mayan tradition that is meant for the highest of honors and we got it. They all welcomed us with open arms and lots of celebration and prayer. They asked us to sing some of our worship songs for them and it was incredible! We sang them in both English and Spanish. They were so grateful Wesley returned. Many missions teams focus is to go into as many places as possible to plant the seed. But what they often fail to realize is that they need to water and harvest the soil and nurture the plant while it grows. That’s when you can reap a harvest for God’s Kingdom. And that’s what we’re doing!
After church we went to a Guatemalan grocery store to buy water and PB+J for the rest of the week for lunch. It looked really similar to ours. Then we had dinner and went to see old Mayan churches that have mixed with Catholicism. We, as Christians, know it’s wrong to mix a monotheistic faith with on that worships idols. Well, tonight in circle time, Vance brought up an amazing point that I will pray about and address later on in the trip: at least, in their religion, all their idols(statues) bow down before God. But what about our idols? What have we mixed with our faith? Patriotism? Love of money? Our significant other? Think about it.
<3 Sabie Q.

Day 3 Work Day Number One

Day 3: Work Day 1! Monday 3/9/09
All of God’s people are beautiful! Today we went to the work site in Chontalá which was right next to the church we visited yesterday. We had to park the chicken bus and walk for 20-30 min down the side of a mountain to the site because the bus was too big (imagine the walk back uphill!)
On the way I met the pastor and we got to talk A LOT. He only speaks Spanish or Quiché (their native Mayan Indian language). I have never spoken so much Spanish in my life! I taught him English and he taught me Quiché (which is sooo hard but so cool!).
We got to the site and it was nothing but dirt and clay. We made cement from grinding up rock! I just find it so amazing that we can build a house with these people even though there’s a language barrier. You see, God’s love and the laughter of his people know no languages. We are all one, doing his work, and because of that, things are running so smoothly! I bent rebar with Emily and Leah, hammered poles and held foundation steady. It was hot. It was dirty. It was awesome! We ate PB+J for lunch and then the Vacation Bible School (VBS) team left the site to go to the school (20-30min uphill walk!). Mario, our translator, had to stay at the work site so Amanda and I had to go with VBS to be the translators! It was hard, and tiresome but so worth it. We did the story of creation for them, sang “Jesus Loves Me” and a cool active fun song called “Christ is Alive” ALL IN SPANISH!! I’m just sad that when I go back to Tally I will lose it again. It is so true that you learn best when you’re thrown in.
We started out with 20 kids and by the time we finished we had over 50! We played “pato pato gonzo” (duck duck goose) jump rope, play-doh, sidewalk chalk, coloring and soccer! These kids are a literal joy to be around. They have “nothing” and all they want to do is love on us and provide for us. It is so encouraging. I will never forget the sound of their laughter when we played with them or looked like silly “Canadians” (because that’s what they thought we were). Each child had a distinct personality, Ana Banana had such a free spirit and did as she pleased but in a way that made everyone happy. Big Ana was very reserved but beautiful. Maria, the oldest, wore her best earrings to VBS today (they waited all year for it) and loved to sing and draw. Wilmur Miguel was my tail and was released from his infatuation when Mike asked him if he wanted to try Mike’s guitar! Ophelia was adorable. Carlos was filled with energy that eventually went into bullying that was stopped. Irma liked to draw in chalk anything I did. Claudia was shy and barely spoke but was Leah’s best friend. And, last but not least, Tomasa. My heart aches for her. She is beautiful, smart, and so so so loving. I taught her something in English and 10 min later I saw her write the word “Flawer” on the ground and tell everyone it was “Flor” in English. I can’t wait to see her tomorrow! I’m narrating Noah’s ark and it’s gonna be so good!
I had Guatemalan ice cream! In circle time tonight, we worshiped and spoke about spiritual Gifts God has given us and how He wants us to use them on this trip. It turned into a long encouragement session, testimonies were told, prayers were prayed and our team is getting so fueled with God’s love which is the only thing that will fuel us for our work. Well, I can’t wait, but I need some rest. ¡Hasta Mañana!
<3 Sabie Q.

Day 4 Getting Used to Guatemalan Work

Day 4: Getting used to Guatemalan Work Tuesday 3/10/09
Woke up even earlier today to meet for breakfast at 7:30am G-time. This was the second night in a row I couldn’t sleep because my bed was so uncomfortable. Because of that, I was sick all day today. The weather here is pretty predictable but it was definitely the hottest day so far. No breeze. Dust everywhere (there’s no such thing as mud in the dry season here). I had a headache, was nauseous and totally dizzy from the heat. But I did the best I could at the construction site. I shoveled dirt and rock to make cement, I rolled the infamous wheelbarrow full of rocks uphill through the cornfield to the site. When I say middle of nowhere, I mean it! I mixed home-made cement, and measured, cut and bent rebar. I know it sounds like a lot but I really just kept rotating and taking frequent breaks. We ate lunch and then it was time for VBS. The 30 min walk uphill was brutal!! It got to the point where Geronimo (the pastor of Chontalá) drove by and gave me a ride to the church. My team took so much care of me. They were such a blessing! I wound up sleeping ½ way through VBS even though I was supposed to narrate Noah’s ark. But when I did wake up, there were MANY more children than yesterday. They got used to us giving them things, so they began to bombard us and steal stickers, chalk, play-doh, jump ropes, Frisbees and crayons. We are going to give it to them when we leave, but it needs to be received through an act of humility and kindness, not greed. I understand they are so excited and Wesley has given them these things in the past, but, I don’t want to feel used.
On another note, Tomasa (my favorite little girl wasn’t there today!). So, I had to keep myself entertained (not that it was hard with 60 kids running around). I looked over and I saw that teenagers came today and were bored! So I called them all over and we started talking. There was this one girl that stole my heart completely. She is an older girl, possibly and older woman, it’s hard to tell because they are so small. Her name was Maria, she had a lazy/blind eye and people were afraid to come up to her, but she got the courage to come to me. We spoke for a while and she told me that her dream was to learn English. So… I began to teach her! All the women laughed at how funny English sounded and how hard it was to say the words. But they caught on quick! It really touched me because only 24 hours before that, I was asking Geronimo how to say words in Quiché because I genuinely long to learn their language. And suddenly the student becomes the teacher. It is so amazing how God grants us these gifts so we can bless others with them. I know it sounds cheesy, but I wrote Maria a note telling her how much I loved it here and how I want to return again to visit her. On one side, it was in Spanish, and the other… in English. She was so moved by it, she wrote me one back. All we had we crayons to write with and it is something that I will treasure forever.
Bethany and I decided that on our way out we would give her a Spanish-English dictionary. It nearly brought her to tears! I think that’s one of my favorite memories so far… hands down.
The construction team got a chance to see the kids at work before we left and they loved it!! We then got on the bus to head to another city to find water. We drove 30 min to Santa Cruz Del Quinche. It was totally different from Chichi! They were much more westernized! In Santa Cruz women wore jeans, listened to mp3 players, they were more light skinned and much more urbanized. I loved it there. It wasn’t overwhelming but it still had the main characteristics of Guatemala. I just find it so fascinating that in every place you go, you hear Spanish and then their own dialect. So far I’ve heard Quiché, Kakchiquel and Spanish. The first two remind me of African tribes with their clicking of the tongues and now I know some! I mean, I guess it’s like that in the U.S. we all speak the same language but the south has a very different dialect from the north as the east from the west. This whole trip, God has been showing me a central theme. Every time I see the natives, I feel God’s warmth and hear Him say, “My people.” As I gaze at the mountains as we drive by after a hard day’s work, I feel God’s majesty and hear Him say, “My people.” It’s so amazing how our God is SO BIG! And He cares for each and every one of us the same. Tonight, I gave my testimony and we all talked about spiritual Gifts. I have never felt so welcomed and comforted with my story. God is using each and every one of us in a very special way to fulfill his mission. I can’t wait to see what comes out of this!
<3 Sabie Q.

Day 5 SICK

Day 5: Wednesday 3/11/09 SICK =(
So… I was sick today. I slept better but was throwing up for most of the day. But, no worries! I took Phenergan and some more Ciprofloxacin with dinner to make sure I don’t get the full out intestinal infection. I didn’t get to go to the work site, or VBS which kind of makes me sad but I know I will be charged for tomorrow. So, I just stayed at the hotel and the girls would come back to check up on me and give me some Jesus Loving! I was able to hold down dinner and the ice cream treat afterward! We were able to open up to each other so much and reveal to the boys that girls actually have bowel movements and the boys showed us that they can show genuine love of God, what here at Wesley we like to call it BROmance. Haha. But it’s just so encouraging. Well, I’m off to bed MARKET DAY TOMORROW!!
<3 Sabie Q

Day 6 Market Day in ChiChi

Day 6: Thursday 3/12/09 MARKET DAY IN CHI-CHI!!
Oh my goodness! I found out that my friends Maria and Tomasa asked for me when I was sick. She remembered me! I feel so loved!
Well, it’s breakfast today and off to the market. Man was it stressful! Women 3ft tall in heels are so persistent with their blankets, table cloths and jade necklaces! The hustle and bustle was overwhelming, the haggling was nerve-racking and tiresome… yet… it was one of the greatest experiences of my entire life!!! Forget Manhattan! Chichicastenango here I come! I got nearly everyone something. I brought back a little taste of Guatemala for everyone… including my brother. Although I can’t see him for a while, he’s going to have an awesome present to come home to. It’s a handmade black, white and grey Guatemalan hoodie made by one of the cutest old men alive who helped me pick it out just for him. I hope it fits (XL!) Man, when I get so tired during our daily hike, shoveling huge piles of rocks at the worksite or playing tug of war with the children, not only do I pray but I think about my big brother and how proud he is of me. I think about him watching me and experiencing all of these amazing things with me… and it keeps me going. Oh how I wish my whole family can experience God’s majesty like I have. They would never be the same. But I have total faith that God will reveal Himself in a way they’ve never experienced before. And Oh what a glorious day that will be =D.
We didn’t have work today. We went to the cemetery and then VBS. I know you be thinking, what’s so good about going to a cemetery? But this was like no other. The Mayans celebrate their dead. They believe that when the dead pass, their after life is with them on earth and they are able to be used in ways like never before. Because of this, the tombs are like houses. Colorful ones! It looks like a vibrant city with lots of scripture and crosses and a sense of happiness. There were people there having picnics by graves and others burning incense and praying to their loved ones. It really got me thinking. If we are Christian and when we die, we get to be with our Father, our Creator, our Counselor, our Joy, our Life, WHY DO WE MAKE IT SO MORBID? Yes, we will miss our loved ones and mourn them and we WILL see them again, so WHY is it the end of the world? Let’s celebrate their life and their new birth in eternity! It is our ultimate life goal and our loved ones have worked at maintaining a relationship with Jesus and not conforming to the world… they DESERVE IT! Why is it always about “Woe is me?” let’s congratulate them, yes grief is a process, mourning is normal, but why make it a lifestyle? We’re just doing damage to ourselves and everything around us.
*Key question Vance brought up.*
“How do we explain to people that their deceased relatives (that they worship) may be in Hell because they didn’t know Jesus while we are trying to get them to know Him?”
Fast forward to VBS…
Maria made me a present!! She was so thankful for the Bible and just fellowship and she made me a gift with a note on the back telling me how much she cares about me and how she can’t wait until I return. I had to hold back tears when I saw that she left me her phone #. These people are just so welcoming and I see Jesus in every move they make.
It really jerked my heart when these women asked to see pictures of the U.S. When they saw pics of my school in comparison to theirs, I’m pretty sure they were amazed. One of the girls (17 years old), Miguelina wants to marry my big brother!! Haha. These girls crack me up. There is one older woman though whose childlike personality and faith moved me. Her name is Michaela (Me – Kah –el –la) which is so weird because I want to name my daughter Mckayla! How cool would it be to tell my daughter that she was named after a very special woman I met in Guatemala?! I think I will tell her tomorrow. It’s our last day in Chichi tomorrow and Chontalá and we’re going to have a fiesta! It will be so hard to leave this place and I hope I won’t cry too much. Well… big day, so good night!
<3 Sabie Q.

Day 7 Farewell Chontala

Day 7: Friday 3/13/09 Farewell Chontalá (gathering place)
Today was our last day of work. It was definitely the most physically challenging day (besides my sick days). On our way to the site we stopped by the school to give out candy to all the kids. I got to see their classrooms and the way they learn. It is one tiny school for all ages but separated into different grades. Some children were in outhouses for classrooms and just really bad conditions. I found out that not all people can go to school. It’s really expensive and most people can’t afford it. So, we adopted/sponsored an 11 year old girl named Estéfana. Wesley pays $300/year for her schooling. Vance bought her a really nice backpack, notebooks and supplies. So, we went to work today and laid concrete bricks to build walls for the new house and broke the most compact soil and clay imaginable. The woman and her sisters that we’re building the house for killed their fastest chickens to feed us lunch! There were at least 30 of us to feed and she used on whole week’s worth of food to do it, and it was her pleasure! I’m not going to lie, though. I have a phobia of eating chicken with some feathers still on it and more body parts than necessary… and this meal was just that. So, I just ate the potatoes and the soup. But I felt really bad. They weren’t offended though. Thank goodness. All of the natives have been so patient with us! We mess up at the worksite and they just laugh and simply show us how to correct it. It’s not like in America when money is on the line and one mistake promotes a heart attack. They cure so patient with our broken Spanish and pathetic Quiché. They are so laid back, they have something called Guatemalan time. It’s worse than any Hispanic late time I know, and it’s wonderful! We had no watches or cell phones to constrict us. We were on God’s time and it was perfect! They taught us that the simple life is a blessing and worthy of praise. It’s okay to get dirty. It’s okay to give of yourself. It’s okay to love and be loved. That’s the way it’s supposed to be.
So after lunch today it was time to go to VBS. Before we left, we gave the workers our gloves and tools. We also filled our water bottles and happily gave it all to them as a gift. You should’ve seen their faces!!! They were so overwhelmed with joy and so grateful for our hand-me-downs. We left our work clothes and shoes to the church too. God has blessed us abundantly so we can bless others. And when we bless others, we completely change for the best.
So, we arrived at the church and the whole village was there! They came to celebrate our arrival and bless our departure. They made us their ceremonial meal! TOMALES!! It was steamed and mashed corn wrapped in Banana leaves. MAN were those things delicious?! It was hard for them to see us go, and it was equally hard to watch them out the window as we left. Carlos ran along-side the bus until he could run no more, tears streaming down all of our faces…we said, “Hasta Luego.” That means “See You Later” in Spanish, in case any readers didn’t know. I want to return. A piece of my heart will always remain here. I have truly been changed by these beautiful people, and I can only hope they have been influenced by us…even if it’s only a little bit. Until Next time.
Sincerely,
Sabie Q.

Day 8 Peacing Out

Day 8: Saturday 3/14/09 Mayan Ruins and Antigua
We left the rural areas and now we are now headed to the more industrialized part of the country. But before we get to Antigua, we stopped to see the ancient Mayan Ruins. They are sooo cool!!! Vance showed us an actual worship ceremony going on by the Mayans that still exist in Guatemala. It was so weird to see red headdresses (which signified a higher priest-like status), fire burning, sacrifices being thrown into the fire, alcohol being poured onto the fire to make it larger, and chanting softly. There were offerings of flowers of all different colors on the stone altar. We thought it was just the ritual of the Mayans to do that, but Vance showed us Scripture that described Old Testament worship EXACTLY HOW WE WERE SEEING IT! It was so weird to see worship like this, and know that this is the way the Lord’s people worshipped Him for hundreds of years. It felt like we took a trip back in time. All around us were altars that seemed as big as mountains. Apparently, kings used to see how high they could make their stone steps go. The higher they were, the closer they were to God, and the closer they were to God, the more they were favored and their country would be blessed. WHEW that’s A LOT of work in order to be close to God. It makes me so much more appreciative that my Lord sent His son to be with me, so that I don’t have to build that huge alter to get to Him. He is always one breath away. Mmm. I love it.
We are in Antigua now. It is a city that was inhabited by the Spanish for a while, so it had a lot of European influence when it was built. Just like most cities, we were right next to a volcano. The cathedrals were magnificent and the architecture absolutely ravishing. As you walk down the streets, you see people selling their hand made things, just like in ChiChi. But not ten feet away, there is a Mercedez Benz parked in the street. It is so confusing, and it shows how commercialized certain parts of the country is getting. It sort of hurts me, because I don’t want Guatemala to lose its culture. I am not saying the people have to remain in poverty, but I am saying that there is a richness of this country that cannot be replaced. You cannot sit down I this busy city and have an intimate conversation with anyone…at least as far as I can see. They are all on the go. It sort of loses its genuineness. I hate to see it be “Americanized.” So, needless to say, aside from its monumental beauty, I don’t care for Antigua very much. Soon we leave. Soon it’s back to the grind of school work and career-oriented goals. I will miss quality time with God’s people, but I know they are always one prayer away. I will miss “pato-pato-gonzo” and silly little kid’s songs. I will miss working my tail off and appreciating every sip of clean water I take. I will miss their beautiful smiles. Gorgeous mountaintops. People pulling on your nice clothes to sell something to you…just so they can afford to make their clothes. I will miss eating grass soup and having beans with everything. Guatemalan Coffee. Family. Kindness. I know I have most of this at home in the U.S. but you don’t get it like you do here. People say the Lord has forsaken this place, but I see Him moving in every single life I have come in contact with. Every single one. The Lord is our Father, and these people are our family. “Ohana” means Family in Hawaiian (for those of you who saw Lilo and Stitch), and Family means nobody gets left behind. We cannot forget about these people. Not just in Guatemala, but people in poverty everywhere! Poverty in the sense of…no food, clean water, shelter, family, friends, happiness, security, safety, spiritual soundness, faith. People have been robbed of this. And the ONLY way they will see God at work, is if we SHOW HIM TO THEM. That’s right. We need to be the hands and feet of Jesus and bring Jesus to them. Because when they pray, God isn’t going to pop out of Heaven and say “you called?” Nope! He is going to send US to answer those prayers for them. Disagree if you want. But how else will people get cured? How else will people receive a smile, or a hug, or a blanket? Will it fall out of Heaven? The Lord will give YOU the resources in order to give to OTHERS. Pay it forward. They deserve it, and we deserve to feel that gratification. Yeah….that’s what everything taught me. Until next time. I love you.
Sincerely,
Sabie Q.

A Lifelong Dream

Everyone has calling, whether they know it or not. Big or small, short or tall, the smartest in class, or the dumbest on the streets, we are are made for a higher purpose. You see, we have these passions that are implanted in us since before we were born, from the beginning of time. He thought of us. He gave us hopes, dreams, and passions that burn inside us, anxiously waiting to be released in order to change the world in our own little way. (Or drastic. You see, one small thing can mean the world to someone else. A smile you may give to someone may just be a reflex for you, but a life-saver for another). Yes, our hobbies and interests are influenced by the media and our social environment, but this passion that I am talking about, it's something like no other. When your body, your work, and your plans meet your passion, nothing remains the same. You feel a sense of wholeness. A sense of completion. And suddenly most things in this crazy world finally make sense.

I am in love with international families. I love international children and how they interact with this new and exciting world. I love watching them in action, observing how they perceive different circumstances, but mostly...I love how they turn my world upside down. I have learned so much from people of different cultures and they change a little part of me every time I am with them. My passion began when I went on a mission trip to Guatemala in 2009, now I am working with International children from all cultures at First Baptist Church of Tallahassee teaching them English and the love of Jesus at the same time, and I will be going to Nicaragua in December of 2010!

This blog is about the journey in which my Lord is leading me and how I come to find who I truly am through Him. The process isn't complete, and I am not perfect by any means, but it is so refreshing to know that even if I make mistakes, I know I am still on the right track. Each day I wake, my Savior says "Get ready for this!" and I brace myself for the wonders He is about to reveal to me.

In these next posts, you will experience Guatemala with me, as it really happened each day and see pictures I took on the trip. You will hear about my new life in Tallahasse with my international babies and how they bring immense amounts of joy to my life. I will bring you with me as I prepare for my trip to Nicaragua and share with you everything my Lord shares with me. So look out world and "Get ready for this!"

Love always,
Sabrina Q.

Intro to Guatemala Trip

Within the last year, I have grown tremendously in maturity, in my school work, in my relationships with loved ones, and most importantly in my faith which connects all of those things together. The Lord told me, through lots of fasting and prayer, that I was meant for something that extends beyond the boundaries of the United States. I was to go where no one in my family had gone before. I was to participate in missions overseas. Now, at first, I thought this was crazy. I have barely been outside the state of Florida, and I don't have the finances to travel overseas. But that didn't concern Jesus. I discovered a deep-seated interest in medicine, so I changed my major to nursing, so I could do medical mission work in third world countries. It was a lot easier to tell my dad that I had a secure job to fall back on (although he loves the idea of nursing, he can't stand the idea of me leaving the country so often...but who can blame him? It's a scary thing, especially in the world we live in. Always). Anyway, so I change my major and I join the Wesley Foundation (a campus ministry) which changed my life like no other. I learned something new every single day and this ministry provided me with knowledge, comfort, and a family away from home that I could call my own.

So, I got involved, and What was the first thing I do to get involved? GO ON A MISSION TRIP OVERSEAS WITH A GROUP OF PEOPLE I BARELY KNEW!! I'm telling you, faith takes you to some scary places! The Lord never promised His journey was going to be safe, but oh man, He promised it was going to be good!! So, we left to Guatemala in March (Spring Break) 2009 to build a home for a widow who lost her husband in the 30 year civil war. My heart remains there, needless to say. One day I will go back. I won't have closure until I do. But until then, all I can do is cherish the lessons I learned, the relationships I've made and maintain a joyous hope for this world.

Here is some info about the 3o year civil war/genocide that went on in Guatemala until the mid 1990's. The country is under a corrupt government, and the poverty level is astounding. We were called to spread love in a fearful land, and that love trickled back into our land when we were not looking ;-).

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/guatemala.htm


The following posts are journal entries I wrote each day I was in Guatemala. They are the experiences I encountered, feelings I felt, foods I tasted, smells I smelt, and the lives that were changed simultaneously. Join me. You will be really glad you did!

Love always,
Sabrina Q.