Adventures!

My backyard and where the clothes dry
The sink where my host mom washes the dishes
One of the cathedrals in Antigua at night

View of Volcan de Aguas from Antigua
Marco Alejandro and me
Marco Alejandro!
Jackeline and Marco Alejandro Me in front of Antigua and Volcan de Aguas
This is Antigua
This is called Cerro de la Cruz up on a hill overlooking Antigua
The kitchen in my house where we eat all of our meals
The living room
This is the view of the volcano and the beginning of my street
This is one of the beautiful streets in San Juan...There are flowers everywhere

This is my street! The pink house on the left is mine :)

Hola Amigos!

I have just completed my second full week in Guatemala and I am excited to say that I am starting to feel at home. When I walk out of my house in the morning I always glance upwards toward Volcan de Agua to see if the volcano is clear or covered in clouds. When it is clear I marvel at how huge it is and as I walk toward my school I look out over Antigua in disbelief - none of it looks real to me. The cobblestone streets are always a challenge to maneuver as I need to watch where I am stepping while I want to look up at the mountains. I have nearly twisted my ankle several times.

I have been on several excursions already into different areas of the country - Guatemala City and to Volcan Pacaya. I can’t believe how much there is to do everyday - I am rarely bored here. As a group, we went to Volcan Pacaya yesterday which was my second trip to this volcano. When I came to Guatemala in March we hiked to the crater of the volcano (not the safest thing I have ever done). This time though we went to the lava flow. It was very red and very HOT. We were able to roast marshmallows on sticks and after a few minutes our chocolate bars were transformed into chocolate sauce. It was delicious. I didn’t take any pictures while there because I am starting to get lazy but many of my friends took pictures so hopefully I can get some pictures on here from them. This weekend we are headed to the beach :) Doesn’t this sound like an extended vacation? :) I am very excited.

This past wednesday we had our first Bible study. We met in the Plaza near the middle of the town and my friend Corey played my guitar while I sang in Spanish. My friend, Parker, the only one of us here that can actually speak Spanish, read from the Bible and he asked for prayer requests. We hope that this can be the beginnings of a house church in this pueblo (village). Some of our host families showed up and we also met some people while sitting in the plaza who I hope will keep returning.

I have been praying about my witness to this family that God has placed me with. I want to show them the love of Christ but it is difficult because I can’t share in their language. I have been able to play my guitar for them though and sing the three songs that I know in Spanish. Marco Alejandro (the 5 year old little boy) loves the song Alabare and he asks me to play it almost everyday. In the last few days I have learned to play the song Abre Mis Ojos Senor which in Ingles is Open the Eyes of My Heart Lord. As I played, the family slowly gathered and when I finished they were all standing around listening and they asked me to play it again. This is their favorite song right now and I pray that God will use these songs to speak to them in the inner most places of their hearts. I hope that even when I am finished singing that these songs will remain in their minds and keep playing over and over again and that God will use them to speak lovingly to them. Romeo (the dad) especially likes Abre Mis Ojos Senor. He is slightly difficult to talk to because he doesn’t slow down his pace for me at all but I hope as time goes on that I will get to know him better.

Please pray for:

• This family, (Romeo, Damaris, Jackeline, and Marco Alejandro) that their hearts would be opened to the truth and that God would shine through me. I want them to see that I am different from the other tourists that come through here. I hope that they will want the joy that God has stored up in me.
• The Bible studies - we will have one each week on Wednesdays at 5 p.m. Please pray that we would be lead by the Spirit to the passages that He would have us share. Please pray that hearts would be opened and that we would become friends with these people that come. Also, 5 p.m. here is 7 p.m. in Georgia - If you could find time during the study to pray that would be amazing!
• My Spanish learning - earlier this week I hit a wall. I wanted to speak so badly but I lost a lot of confidence. God has been faithful though and the past few days have been better. Please pray I would learn quickly and that I wouldn’t get discouraged.
• Please pray that we would not forget why we are here. We have a message to share. Please pray that we would be bold in sharing (even in broken Spanish). This verse encourages me often in this area: “But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things - and the things that are not - to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.” 1 Corinthians 1: 27-29 It is not my awesome language skills that will be used to share Christ - but the weaknesses in me and the lowly things, so that I can not boast before him.
• Please pray for a man we met in Antigua whose name is Juan. Parker was able to share with him that his life can be different with Christ. Please pray that Juan would be open and that God will place people in his path to share the truth with him. Juan invited Parker to come to his house to continue their conversation - pray that they can find the house (it is in a different village) and that this man's heart would be prepared.

Thank you so much for your prayers! Please let me know how I can pray for you as well! I love your encouragement and I would love to be able to encourage you as well!

Raquel

This is a video of my friend corey playing with some chicos in the plaza before Bible study on Wednesday.