Jessie and I took a spur of the moment trip to the Dominican
Republic last week just to relax and get away from Guatemala. I almost
didn’t say anything publicly because I felt a little guilty. Missionaries aren’t supposed to take
vacations, right? But then I decided
that was nonsense. I am a mother first, then a missionary, and who knows how many more opportunities I’ll have to get
away with my girl? She’s already 19, after
all. So we went away just to two of us,
and although we had some challenges and the DR is not a place I’d choose to go
again, we did make some memories. And I learned some things.
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| The aqua blue hole is in a cave, and we swam in it! Cool! Literally and figuratively. |
*I am spoiled. While
walking around the resort last week, I kept noticing the same people everywhere
I turned. It seemed like the same workers
showed up all over the grounds doing different jobs at all hours of the day for
days on end. The same guy that was there
fixing coffee in the morning would be managing clean towel exchanges in the
afternoon and then cleaning up after dinner at night. So I took some time to chat with him and
with the man who was making music with his machete while taking a break from
cutting the yard, and I discovered that they work 12 hour days for 12 days
straight and then have 3 days off to go see their families. I’d be willing to bet they don’t get paid for
all that overtime. I’m grateful they
have jobs, as are they, but it pains me to know that I was there having a good
time while they were there on the same beach working 12 hour days. Missionaries
aren’t rich by any wild stretch of the imagination, but neither are we impoverished
compared to the vast majority of the world’s population. I have been places and done things that most people will never get to experience. It's humbling.
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| Macao Beach is beautiful--part aqua blue, part emerald green. |
*Jesus loves us. I
mean, He REALLY loves us! When was the
last time you looked around at this incredible earth we live on and gave praise
to the One who put it all together for us?
The birds, the flowers, the sunsets, the beaches, the mountains, the
caves…our planet is amazing! You might
think I’m silly, but there is something very spiritual to me about snorkeling. With my head in the water I can’t hear much
of anything, and because of the mask my vision is focused straight ahead on the corals and the hundreds of tiny,
brilliantly colored fishes that live there. How can you do anything but be in awe of Him
in a moment like that? I rode on a dolphin’s belly, you guys! And I hugged him, and kissed him, and rubbed
his back...a beautiful, playful creature
that God made, knowing that one day I would get to enjoy him even if for only a little while. Jessie got to hold some
giant, nasty snake—anaconda? Python? All I know for sure was that it was enormous,
and I wouldn’t have touched it with a ten-foot pole, let alone let it be draped
over my shoulders. But Jessie loved
it. And we swam with sharks! Granted, they were nurse sharks, but still…a
shark is a shark, and it gave us both a little jolt of adrenaline. And we pet a giant sting ray. I was
reminded again and again and again with every unique orchid, every gorgeous sunset, and
every little creature how much God loves us.
*I love Guatemala. Disclaimer:
I’m not really sure how to put into words exactly what I want to say here. If it comes across as discriminatory,
please know that is certainly not my intent. On June 28, while in the Dominican, we celebrated 8 years of living and
serving in Guatemala. I thought I was
going on vacation to escape Guatemala for a little while, but it was on vacation that I realized how much I truly do love
it. I love the people, I love the
culture of extreme friendliness, I love what I do…I have even gotten pretty
attached to the food, a fact I realized when I went 7 whole days without
consuming anything made of corn or beans AND MISSED IT! Because airline routes make no sense at all,
we flew down to Costa Rica, then to Panama, then back up to the Dominican. I distinctly remember landing in Panama on
the way home, getting off the plane, sighing with happiness and thinking to
myself, “Man, it feels good to be back with my own people.” It was the same feeling I get when I land in America,
and it wasn’t until a couple minutes later that it even occurred to me that technically
Hispanics aren’t “my own people.” I’ve never even been to Panama before. Having
that at-home-breathe-a-sigh-of-relief feeling just landing in a Hispanic country
made me realize how much I truly do love my life. Apparently I have assimilated more than I
thought I had, and that made me feel really good.
I would say that I'm ready to tackle another 8 years here in Guatemala, but it would be more accurate to say I feel ready to tackle this afternoon. Once we get over the double ear infection, strep throat (Jessie) and the pneumonia (me) that we brought back with us, we'll worry about the next 8 years. I hope they are as wonderful as the first 8 have been. I don't think I'll ever get over the joy and amazement that God lets me do this!
I would say that I'm ready to tackle another 8 years here in Guatemala, but it would be more accurate to say I feel ready to tackle this afternoon. Once we get over the double ear infection, strep throat (Jessie) and the pneumonia (me) that we brought back with us, we'll worry about the next 8 years. I hope they are as wonderful as the first 8 have been. I don't think I'll ever get over the joy and amazement that God lets me do this!
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| Those are my daughter's legs dangling over Jaws. EEK! |
