Mountain School Madness

The madness has begun!  Mountain School Madness.

For years we have had in our hearts to be able to travel to the mountain área of San José Pinula with more frequency.  God, who gives us the desires of our heart, has made this posible. 

Today was the first of various trips we have planned to take the góspel into this área which has so few opportunities to benefit from programs such as ours.

The day dawned bright and sunny, but the farthur up the mountain we travelled the more the clouds came down to cover us.  By 9am when we reached Cruz Alta, the host school, we were zipping up our sweatshirts. 

The ABA Impact Team prepared a class on the Value of Respect.  Through Biblical example, humorous drama, and lots of activity we taught the meaning of respecting others, why we do it, and how to do it.

Sarah introducing the topic

This part of San José Pinula is very catholic and closed to the góspel, however through relationship building we feel confident that shortly we will be preaching the góspel openly to families who are desperate for God's truth and love. 

David teaching the Power Capsule (memory verse)

a funny drama in which Anita portrayed a misunderstood and unrespected "new girl"

Previously, the Impact Team had challenged the 2 schools that we visit on a weekly basis to gather used clothing in good condition to give out at the mountain school.  Because of their generosity we were able to give a large bag of clothing to each child present. 

The children were so happy to recieve such a gift.  We know that for these struggling families the clothes will make a huge difference.

The children and teachers alike thoroughly enjoyed the class.  We were invited to return within a month to share again- this time they plan to invite many other surrounding área schools! 

These families have so Little Access to outside programs such as sports, computer, etc that they are extremely grateful for the programs we bring.  In appreciation they prepared a beautiful snack for us to enjoy.  Their generosity always excedes anything I could imagine.

 

As you can see, this is truly a rural área!  Many of these families use horses as their means of transportation

 

A nearby school was invited to join us today.  There are no schoolbuses to transport the children, rather a willing parent with a pick-up truck.  Here are the children loaded with their bags of clothes and ready to head home.


 

A succesful day!!!  We look forward to next month......

 

On the way back, just before arriving to the town, we had to stop for oncoming "traffic".....

 

Supermarket Struggles....

Grocery Shopping in this country is a contradictory mixture of extreme frustration and abounding thankfulness.

For all its moderness, Guatemala City is still smack in the middle of a third world country- and that fact is ever so obvious upon visiting the local Wal-mart.

It never ceases to amaze me how in America the fingernail polish aisle (or aísles) looks like a rainbow reproduced- MANY TIMES- and gave its children up for adoption.  While in this country the nail polish section (notice, it is a topic that doesn't even warrant an entire aisle) consists of about 10 colors total.  I am not much of a nail painter anyway, and after today's disappointing attempt to jazz up my appearance a bit I probably never will be!

Not too terribly long ago I went to the store to buy some sliced cheese for lunches and a block of cheddar.  Much to my dismay there was no cheese at the store.  I repeat... no. cheese. in. the. entire. store.  So much for that idea!  And there wasn't any cheese for several weeks. 

Then, several years ago there was a poblem with the Similac Formula shipment and the ENTIRE NATION went without formula for 6 weeks.  Yes, folks- I got very creative with my recently weaned 9-month-old's bottle!

This frustration was repeated today when several of the ítems on my monthly list were simply missing from the shelves.  Dijon mustard for a récipe I had planned for this week- all gone.  It is only offered in 2 brands anyway, but both of them were totally void of the Dijon versión.  Scrap that récipe for another time!

So this is the frustration side of things.  I never know if I will find what I need at the store.  When I do find it you can see me tossing 10 of the same ítem into my cart in a mad attempt to NEVER BE OUT AGAIN!

The thankfulness portion comes when I do actually find what I need.  I am ever so grateful to return home with a full-cart and stock my cupboards.  I find myself singing praises in the cereal aisle when I find our favorite brands.  Cheese sticks can cause me to dance around my cart.  It's the simple things in life!

I find myself pushing my cart down the aisle grumbling about this crazy country one minute and shouting Hallelujah the next.  Shopping is always an adventure.