Algunas Repuestas*

I really want to answer all the questions from my previous post, and I will eventually, but I'm still chewing on several of them. So, here are the answers that I don't think will change in the next 24 hours.

1. Widow-maker: Since my first two showers in Guatemala were icy cold because this shower contraption didn't work, the desire for warm-enough-to-get-my-whole-body-wet water outweighed the risk of electrocution. I think. One way or another, I'm clean and safe.

2. Good morning songs: I'm questioning my teammates' response to this question because although they gave me heck about being jolly en la mañana they kept asking me for a song. I like the ones with verses.

3. Gigante: No more spottings of our gecko friend. Or any other critter to make my roomies squirm. I think I miss the shriek I heard at that first sighting. But not my daughter's anxiety at falling asleep without knowing for sure Gigante had returned to his outdoor world.

4. Drunk guys with machetes: Just one. Thank goodness for Daniel, a missionary from Alabama who works at Sarita's feeding center. I think he could have picked the guy up with two fingers. He did confiscate the machete. The man was not escorted off the school grounds. Nope. Sarita brought him a bowl of black bean soup and tortillas. I'm still praying for him.

5. Sleep-talking: Um, apparently.

6. Simple ingredients: We had three meals at two different feeding centers. Two at Sarita's (a beautiful woman who has also started a school at the feeding center) and one at La Democracia. Seems to me they all had about the same ingredients. But the taste was incredible. The beans were sorted by hand (enough for 150 servings) and the vegetables diced with precision. Tortillas made fresh every day. Chicken butchered on the grounds and cooked within hours. Freshness certainly plays a role. No short cuts (i.e. microwaves) either. But here's why I think the meals served to the children and us are so delicious: these women prepare this food as if they are serving Christ Himself. And Sarita believes that if you can fill the stomach you can fill the mind, and if you can fill the mind then you can fill the soul.

7. Pickups: Always one more. I really tried to get a picture, but the pickups with at least 20 people ranging in age from infant to 70 with a few animals thrown in for good measure were always going too fast for me to snap a pic.

8. Prayer for me: Think I need to preface this one a little. On our first day we attended a worship service that reminded me so much of Morning Star it wasn't even funny: set up and tear down, parking attendants, drums, guitars and singers, even recognized a couple of the songs in Spanish, and a seriously challenging message (at least what I could understand of the translator, anyway). Worship in foreign cultures is always intriguing to me. Pastor Keith was asked to preach, and can I just say that I'm so glad he's my pastor? He doesn't shy away or back down, and when the pastor of this open-air church (who believes they will reach 12,000 people for Christ in the next four years. Yes, twelve thousand!) asked us to come forward so we could pray together, Keith was in his element. As we stood together with these 50 or so people, the pastor asked for prayers that his people would learn English easily as it opens up doors of opportunity that his people need. As we stood praying together - the United Statesians in silent prayer and the Guatemalans in passionate audible prayer - I was convicted by the fact that I was standing in their country, surrounded by their people, immersed in their culture, and I was praying for them to learn my language??? Even though it's what they want, it felt so arrogant to me. I have been so disappointed in myself for not having put forth more effort to communicate effectively in Spanish. Every year I say I'm going to be fluent before I go back again. And every year I feel ashamed that I have not succeeded. So as I began to pray for forgiveness and ask God to help me be disciplined enough (and humble enough) to learn the language of those I love, I felt a hand on my forehead. As I opened my eyes Pastor Keith looked me straight in the eyes and said, "And help us to learn this language easily - you know I'm praying for YOU, sister." Okay, in all honesty, that was really weird. But the moment of discomfort was replaced with anticipation as I considered that God would actually answer that prayer. So, while I don't think He will give me some miraculous fluency (although I would gladly accept it), I can say that I was definitely more comfortable this week as I tried to communicate in my broken Spanish - not necessarily better, but certainly not as scared. Can't wait to see how this prayer unfolds.

I feel a bit like I'm just relaying details and not getting my heart out here yet. Bear with me. It's bubbling up from deep within, and I know God has been challenging me to analyze a lot of my deep set and longstanding opinions. It'll take me a while to unpack those. Pictures will be coming soon, too.

*Some answers