back home

So, I'm back home in the States as of last Saturday. (Sorry for the lack of update, I was adjusting to my life here again!) When people ask me about how Guatemala was, I don't know where to start. Incredible. Life changing. Heartbreaking. Fulfilling. So much. Not enough. Mostly I just start crying, which is a pretty accurate description. I'm sure my next few entries will be stories from Panimaquin, but for now I'll just leave you with some pictures. And the fact that God is so good, so faithful, and absolutely wonderful. I want Him to have my ENTIRE heart, and not just the crap I've been giving to Him for the past few months. He is holy, and deserves my all.

Camilla and Alicia doing some good ol' farming. The entire patch of land was green (like its surroundings) and we tore it all up with hoes so that we could plant things.

Me with a machete :D We uprooted these giant plants, separated them with a machete, wheelbarrowed them up the mountain and replanted over 100 of them on the newly tilled hillside.

I love these girls!!! (All of them, really.)

Camilla and a little girl named Beyonce.

Hilda and I. It was so so so good to see her again, she's like my Guatemalan sister.

All of our pictures were on disposable cameras, and not many turned out well. Most of the time we forgot our cameras while we were with people because we forgot about them. But it's okay, they're in my heart :)

byeee!

Very early in the morning I will embark on my trip to Panimaquin!!!!

I will return after 13 days, on the 21st.

Please keep Camilla, Alicia and I in your prayers as we go to serve, love, and learn from the beautiful people there.

I think I may have internet access while there, but I'm not sure if I'll use it because a break from technology would be embraced, and is one of the great things about being on top of a mountain in Guatemala.

Thank you to all for your continuous support, prayers, and love. It makes all the difference in my life, and allows me to do things like this.

May love fill and overflow you always always always.

glendy

This is Glendy. She is six years old. [This is a crazy thought for me because I met her when she was 4, and she is growing like a weed.] She lives in Panimaquin, Guatemala, next door to the project. She is the daughter of Pablo and Chus, who started the church in the village. She is the youngest of five children, all of who share the same smile their father has. Glendy is bright, incredibly sweet, and just an absolute joy. She is one of my favorite parts of Guatemala. She actually asked my friend John [currently living there] in April if he would take this picture of herself for me. Then she gave him flowers to send to me also [not available via internet, sadly]. Glendy is absolutely beautiful, and I cannot wait to see her on Sunday.

It's the people of Panimaquin that make it such a magical place.

It's the beauty of God that shines through them.

six days

Six days.

There are no words for the excitement I am currently experiencing.

thankful

At the house, one of my favorite things that we do is the Thankful Box. It's a shoebox, decorated by house members, but it's not the box that's important, it's what's inside. During the week, the Thankful Box sits in the kitchen with a stack of paper squares and a pen next to it. As we go through our days, we write down things that we are thankful for and put them in the box. It's incredible to watch it fill up with brightly colored pieces of paper! It's not only everyone living in the community, but anyone who comes through the house during the week is encouraged to be thankful with us.

On Sunday nights, we have a Bible study/worship session/celebration time. Afterwards, when the house has mostly emptied out, whoever is still there (and the house members) all gather in a circle in the den and pass the Thankful Box around. Depending on how many people are there and how thankful we've been all week, we each pick out a certain number of papers. Then we take turns, going around the circle and reading out the anonymous slips. Some are funny, others are deep and touching, and a handful are difficult to read. We laugh, say "aw", and "amen" a lot. It's amazing to see how much we truly have to be thankful for. Honestly, it's one of (if not my absolute) favorite times of the week.

One of the things I'm really thankful for is Panimaquin. I am thankful that I can once again be the girl in this picture. That I have another chance at getting things right, pouring my life out for others in love and beauty. I am thankful for freedom I shouldn't know and love I don't deserve. I am thankful that I don't have to be afraid, or alone anymore. I am thankful that things are turning green again, and that I can know everything is going to be okay. I am thankful I don't have to be who I was, only who I am. I'm thankful for sunshine, and silliness, and jumping in huge mud puddles. For coyotes in the back yard, staying up late, quiet mornings, grace, and salads from our garden.

God is good. And it feels good to say that.

sarah∞mae