It's the Altitude.

During this trip, I've found that basically everything can be explained using the following words: it's the altitude. For instance, we were hiking on Monday and found ourselves surprisingly winded after only a few steps. "How could we possibly be this out of shape?" we thought aloud. It's the altitude.

On the van ride from Guatemala City to Panajachel, the breeze coming through the window grew increasingly colder. ¿Porque? It's the altitude.

True as the previous may be, other situations weren't quite as logical. In example, Hillary's guitar seemed to never be tuned. Why, might you ask? It's the altitude. True or not, that's the explanation we gave.

Every mañana for breakfast and every tarde with lunch, we had fresh fruit. Everything from mangos to bananas to coconut tastes better here. Why? It's the altitude.

Our room at the compound was a mysterious place. Often my phone would be unplugged from the wall unbeknownst to Alix or me. The temperature of the water in the shower refused to cooperate. A strange smell began to appear. And how did we explain all of this? It's the altitude.

The people are beautiful here. The scenery is gorgeous here. The weather is excellent here. Why? It's the altitude.

We are all sunburnt. It's not because of a lack of sunscreen however. It's the altitude.

I feel extremely close to God here. I've gotten to make new friends, reconnect with old friends, try new things, and even step out of my comfort zone. Why has this week been so awesome?

It's the altitude.

Cosas de Anoche

Here are some things that were said tonight during devotions: Even after making so much progress, sometimes we have to work backwards and take down what we've built before we can really accomplish what we're working towards. Just as we have been sanding bookcases and rounding corners, God sands us and rounds our corners so that we can better love others and serve him. What we're doing this week may not have immediate results. The seeds of hope that we are planting are going to take time to grow. A pair of $5 sunglasses that means nothing to us can mean the world to a little kid on a soccer field. God puts the perfect opportunities to serve into our lives, even when we're afraid we won't be able to make a difference.

I see God in...

I had this whole blog post planned out, but realized that that's notat all what I need to share tonight. At devotions tonight, Ben asked us where we saw God today. And that is what I need to share. I see God in the beautiful scenery that we get to see all the time. I see God in Hillary every time she picks up her guitar. I see God in Alix when she does cartwheels through the grass. I see God in the women who cook dinner for us here at the compound. I see God in the faces of all the little kids we see in the streets. I see God in the two little girls I met today who helped me figure out how to make a broken kazoo sound good. I see God in the group of people who played soccer today. I see God in Ben when he prays with us or preaches to us or shares a part of his day with us. That's all for tonight. Tomorrow I get to see God in all new ways.

Technology is Great...

Except when it isn't.For instance, a computer for check in for Continental is great. You can swipe your passport, confirm your identity, and check in for a flight very early in the morning, all without having to talk to any grumpy airport people.

However, when the name on your passport doesn't quite match the name on your boarding pass, technology is not so great. After completing (so we thought) the check in process once, Alix and I discovered that we had actually not checked in, and had to try again. Our second attempt involved one of those grumpy airport people I mentioned earlier. She had to swipe her badge and then confirm that "ALIXANDRAJ" is the same person as "ALIXANDRAJEAN."

Really?

So the grumpy airport person went on her way and we checked our bags and proceeded to join the rest of the team on the way to security... last. Again.

Anyone else seeing a trend here?

Everything is a Journey...

And this is how ours begins...At the last mission trip meeting, my mom had the suggestion of arriving at the church at 2:30 in the morning to handle packing and paperwork needs before heading on the road. Great idea, right? That way we would have plenty of time to get everything done before leaving the church parking lot. Excellent.

Alix spends the night, and we set alarms for 2:00 A.M. so that we can throw on some clothes and run out the door, bags already packed and in the Prius. 2:20, we should be out of the house and headed to the church. Everything's planned out. Right?

Wrong.

You see, there's a tired Brazilian currently living in my room who is rumored to have shut off the alarm when it was beeping at 2 in the morning. Which is fine, other than the fact that it didn't wake Alix or me. About an hour later - that's 3 o'clock, by the way - is when we were awakened by the landline ringing. "Who the heck would be calling at this time in the morning..." I thought as I walked to get the phone.

Caller ID? Benjamin Lovell. Our youth group leader. No doubt calling to say, "It's 3 A.M. Where are you?" Alix and I scrambled to get dressed, luckily with all garments facing forward and right side out. Alix called Ben or Ben called Alix or something... And I heard Alix saying something along the lines of, "I don't know when we can leave. We'll be there as soon as we can. I don't know."

On my way to my mom's room, I somehow acquired Alix's phone and was talking to Ben, and he said something about a gas station and a bus, to which I replied. I have no idea what I agreed to in my response, but I know I did reply.

My mom heard me at the door, welcomed me into her room (as welcoming as anyone can be at 3 in the morning), looked at the clock to find a time much later than 2:00, and then jumped out of bed and got ready to go.

Hearing something about gas station, we went to the gas station around the corner. We stood outside the car, bags sitting in the parking lot. We waited in the cold(ish). We began to say our goodbyes...

And then we drove back to the house?

Alix got another call saying that someone was at our house to pick us up and take us to the church.

Okay...

We went back to our house to find Ben knocking on the door and Jody (the pastor's wife) standing by her car in our driveway. At this point, it's about 3:20. Embarrassed greetings were exchanged from all parties, and luggage was transferred from one vehicle to another.

Another hug for my mom, and we were on the road. (I can't decide if I should include that Ben drove much faster than legal...) We arrived at the church at 3:30, and the rest (so far) is really very insignificant. We walked on the bus, took our seats, prayed, and headed on the road. Alix and I are about to burst from the anxiety of it all, but really, everything is a journey, and what's a journey without a little chaos?

As the Father has sent me, so I send you.

For those of you who are interested in reading about our upcoming trip to Guatemala, you can go to the Blue Grass Student Ministries web page and read the updates that our youth group leader, Ben, sends out. He just posts study materials and reminders right now, but eventually the site will have updates on how our mission is going. All of the study materials referenced in this post can be found on the January 25th post on the Blue Grass Student Ministries web page.

We had our first study tonight, and it really got me thinking about the trip. Why am I going? Is it because I want to be witness to Christ in my life? Or because I want to serve others? Or because I just really enjoy manual labor? 

In Mark 5, a woman comes to Jesus looking to be healed. She only wants to touch Jesus, because she knows that is all it will take for him to heal her. When she does this, Jesus turns in the crowd and asks who touched him. He connects with the woman and forms a relationship with her. Jesus shows this woman love. Not only does he heal her physically, he heals her emotionally. He takes a broken woman who has been an outcast for years due to her sickness and heals her. He loves her.

Why am I going on this trip?

I am participating in this mission because God has given me the opportunity to learn to love the way Jesus loved. And wouldn't I be a fool to pass up such an opportunity?

"As the Father has sent me, so I send you." John 20:21