Eight Years in Guatemala and a Dominican Vacation

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.

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.

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!

Those are my daughter's legs dangling over Jaws.  EEK!