A Hospitable Angel

It was a very last night in Guatemala, and we had Q3 left and were determined to use up the last of it. So we headed out for an evening walk and headed toward the Tienda for a little snack. As we looked around at the shelves in the store, we realized that we would only be able to get one tiny snickers bar, and were perfectly fine with this. Then this elderly women, a Grandma, took interest in us. She began talking to us, in very fast, rapid Spanish. The conversation sort of went like this [my translation] -

Grandma: Hi Americans, do you speak any Spanish?
Us: No, just a little.
Grandma: Well, all Americans I meet never can speak any Spanish.

She found out that we only owned Q3 to our names, and insisted upon buying us both donuts. Yes! And then after talking with us about how we were headed up to Alaska, she was so intrigued by "penguins" and kept asking us if we had ever eaten "penguin" before. She wanted to know how much they were sold for. All these things, both Brady and I were at a loss for, because we don't know how much penguins cost :) Does anyone? Then, the Grandma, told us to follow her. So with donuts in hand, we headed out the store door, close behind her. She was taking us to her home, and we felt so honored, as she ushered us into her living room. As we drank juice and ate our delicious donuts, Brady and I were butchering the language, but having a blast talking about politics and exchange rates. We talked about her late husband, and she told us about all her other family members.
It was a perfectly wonderful way to enjoy our last evening in Guatemala, receiving the beautiful hospitality from this lady, we had never met before. She simply didn't care about the language barrier and opened up her home to us. What an angel.

The last week in Huehue had gone by very fast. I taught a lesson at school, on Wednesday, about "Jesus Calming the Storm". It was such a fun teaching experience, because I had all the children act out the story. They were sitting in the boat (a rug on the floor), shaking homemade rain-makers (rice in plastic plates, duck taped together), making thunder (beating drums), and creating lightening (a kid was flicking the light switch off and on). Then Jesus (one of the kids) stood up and said "Quiet" and everything was SO calm. The kids had so much fun but it's safe to say I enjoyed it the most.


My last day in the classroom, all the kids were being very secretive and signing a card for me, behind my back. They were all being so sneaky, asking me if they could go inside to "go to the bathroom", during recess. Haha, the adorable little kids presented me with their beautiful hand-made card at the end of the class, and all doggie-piled on top of me. I may have gone home and shed a few tears after that. I just don't know how I will be able to get used to not seeing those little faces every morning, and hearing their cute little giggles, and receiving their little, wonderful hugs. My time spent at the "School of Hope" is irreplaceable and I am definitely saddened to think that my time with these precious children has now come to an end.


We overnighted at a Euro Hostel, in Guatemala City, and almost missed are flight out of the country. We slept past our alarm clock, due to the loud obnoxious fan (used to keep the mosquito from landing on us, while we slept). At 4:25 AM, our shuttle driver came knocking on our door and we rushed to grab our luggage and hurry out the door. Soon we were boarding our plane, and leaving behind beautiful Guatemala. As the volcanos faded from our view, and we climbed higher than the clouds, I found myself in my usual reflective flying mood...I don't know what it is about flying, but I always get so amazed when I'm in the air. Everything comes in to perspective, as we float above the clouds. How small we are. How big our Creator is.

I realize that I've learned so much in the last three months. So much about God, and about how He is our sole Provider. So much about the people of Guatemala, the beautiful children, whom we served in Huehue. I leave Guatemala with a full heart.

Ready to start a next adventure....Alaska here we come.