Finding the Beauty in the Brokeness

I have come to love the quaint pueblo of El Tizate. A village that masks its poverty and dark side. There is so much beauty in the people, while there are struggles in their lives as well - as some struggle against poverty. I am learning that for me to be well rounded, I need to see both beauty and brokenness in myself and others to see a more holistic perspective of myself and others. Jesus always saw the beauty in broken lives and embraced them by healing them with his unlimited, lavish love.

Now, I must tell you about the family we are providing housing for. One house for the grandparents and two for the children and their families. Here is a picture of some of the family - when I went to play with the children. I try to make it there as often as I can to play. It's sweet - one gringo and a bunch of Guatemalan children! While working on the construction site, I have come to know the children (who sometimes also try to help in the building process). For a family who has very little, they have great gratitude for this gift. They treat us to coke, cookies, pineapple and other undeserved tokens of thanks. They are gratuitous with what they are receiving and being generous with the little they have. This challenges me to us what I have been given to generously and lavishly love others. Every drop of sweat in the hot Guatemalan sun is worth it, when I know that this family will have a sweet home in a month or so. By the way, our favourite games are "Andrew push me in the wheelbarrow" and Hide and Go Seek in the Construction Site (probably not the safest - but they love it!)

It has left me with this challenge - The cookies and the coca-cola I'm given when I'm there feels unneeded but obliged to accept. Accepting a cookie is appreciating their thankfulness, and truly sharing this mutual friendship. (It feels less and less like a 'give, give, give' relationship and more like friendship and love). I've seen beyond their poverty to find beauty in our friendship. This is what we need more of in this world - giving and receiving - and for the world to rip the 'scorecard' to shreds, so that there is no tally of favours, but only mutual friendships. A mentality that is not a 'us-them' helping but rather 'helping each other' to understand the world.

After the first three weeks here in Tizate, I had the opportunity to visit Monterrico with Dale and Cam. Monterrico is a black-sand paradise situated on the Pacific Ocean. It was a relaxing weekend, where I was able to do much journalling over bottomless coffee at the sweet retaurant, Johnny's. By the way, I no longer need my daily cup of coffee. Our hotel was also on the beach! I feel like we did not do much - as we wanted to refresh ourselves for when we returned to Tizate. The first picture is on the boat tour I did at 5 a.m. over a sweet sunrise. The other two are Dale, Cam and I on the beach, and a beautiful sunset we sat and watched on the beach. Monterrico is a little paradise on this planet - maybe you will discover it someday too.

Beautiful and Broken,

Andres

Laundry, Belts and Living my North American Guatemalan Paradigm

One way I've been challenged recently is in how I spend my money. Even if it's for things I need - that money can make an impact and bless others.

In El Tizate, laundry takes forever in a pela (a 3 sink cement contraption). I have come to enjoy the process of handwashing but with my busy schedule, I have little time to wash my clothes. I found Olga - a lady in the village willing to clean my clothes. This means I can provide temporary employment to this lady while washing my clothes. Purposeful consumerism. This money can now help her support her family. Knowing your power as a consumer even in small ways is important.

This brings me to Marciel - the local boot maker in the town. Thank God for a man such as Marciel. Very talkative and such a persuasive talker (almost my Spanish twin). I recently purchased a belt from him. After showing me many pictures of "cowboy" boots, I told him I wanted to buy a belt. This lead into a conversation about alligator skin, and before you know it, I ordered a genuine leather belt with alligator and snake skins incorporated into it. The best part is the buckle - a genuine carousel horse. After a "quick" 40 minute conversation (see how we are similar), my belt was in the process of being made. The next day, I received a knock on my door. I thought it was a team member, but rather, it was Marciel on his bike. (My thought: Why Marciel?! How do you know where I live?) When I picked up the belt, Marciel was sure to remind me that I need a pair of boots to go along with the belt - so that I can pick up a Canadian chica on my return to Canada. Quite a hilarious salesman. I just might buy boots. Again: purposeful consumerism.

Finally, I have learned that time is quite different here in Guatemala. Punctual and on-time just don't seem to be in the vocabulary. One day with the Spanish teachers we went to study the Ruins in Antigua. The chicken bus took quite some time on the way home. We arrived in El Tizate at 6:50 p.m. Nick and I were already late for supper and still needed to eat AND we needed to be at music school and ESL class respectively at 7 p.m. SHARP to teach. So here we are running through the town, feeling incredibly challenged to be punctual in a laid back culture. How ironic! No time for tardiness in my North American Guatemalan Paradigm.

Relaxed and 5 minutes late, always and forever.

Andres

Stay Tuned: My recent weekend off to Monterrico, the construction project (This Monday)

Arrived and Pollo Conejo Arroz!

I have arrived safely in Guatemala and my home, El Tizate 9 days ago. It seems like I have already been here for a few months and this unfamiliar place feels like home.

I'm learning very quickly that the village of El Tizate is very relational. Not in the North American sense, but in the sense of relationships before careers and self driven ambitions. The days are very busy here but through serving this community from usually 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., I'm gaining the experience through the service.

First, the guys on the team are involved in building 3 houses for 3 families (all related). This means manual labour (that probably could be done in 5 minutes with a proper machine) in the mornings (using shovels and wheelbarrows). We are working alongside a Guatemalan construction team that Global Shore has hired to continue building houses whether or not the summer student team is here. This is where I am starting to get to know some Guatemalan men, and talk about what construction workers talk about - we'll leave that unsaid! (work of course *wink*). Not only is this a time to build relationships with the workers, but also when we have seen the family - who's life is in a state of transition and transitioning into a state of hope. Every drop of sweat is worth that!

Three evenings of the week - Monday, Thursday and Friday - I teach the advanced ESL class in Tizate with Kat (the caffeine-addict, by the way - I don't drink coffee everyday anymore). This is a place where we are not only teaching English, but building relationships with the local villagers. I love it!

Finally - my host family. Marianna and Factor are wonderful. They live with their daughter and son-in-law, and their adorable grandchildren - Jocelyn and Jose. They are quite comforting and treat me as their own. Although sometimes I am not exactly sure what they are telling me. By the way, my Spanish is improving rapidly and I'd like to say I could make my way around by myself. I still need to work on fluency and telling stories. Hence, there have been funny stories. I will leave you with this one.

One day, Marianna gave me a delicious meal, "Pollo Conejo Arroz" (Poyo Cone-eh-ho A-roze). After eating it, and looking up Conejo in my Spanish dictionary, I realized I ate rabbit. Which I promptly ran to the animal cage in our home to still find the two rabbits alive and jumping. This prompted me to ask, and I had misheard. Indeed, I had not ate the rabbit, and instead, I had just at chicken (pollo) and it was actually "Pollo Consido Arroz" (for those who were wondering...I know you were). We laughed and laughed. So the joke each night is, "is this rabbit?"

Well, I must be off. Stay tuned! In a few days, I will be sharing with you my exciting new purchase!

Hasta Luego, from your fully-immersed Spanish friend.
Andreas

36 Hours!

Well my friends, 36 hours... is all that is left to be ready to leave little quaint Houghton Centre at 3:30 a.m. on Tuesday. A few more trips to the beach and a few more sunsets. That last few days have been filled with last minute errands in Tillsonburg, figuring out Brock's course registration and a few more goodbyes. There is a busy buzz around here, but soon we will be settling into our new homes - down South - in Guatemala. I will miss it here. But the anticipation for what God is waiting to teach me is also killing me.

On Thursday, the team went on a group trip to the St. Jacob's Farmer's Market. What an experience! I felt back in my neck of the woods and the only thing on my mind was how I could plot to pick up a cup of William's Coffee today? It was a success - and I got "my fix" and also introduced my friends to a part of the world they have missed out on their whole life! (Here is Steph, Kat and Ashley). I also enjoyed some apple fritters, cheese curds and fresh strawberries.

In the afternoon, we drove to Elora Gorge and then proceeded to Jenna's place for a barbeque. On our trek back home, we hit quite the traffic jam - and to kill time we proceed to ask cars beside us, "Hey, do you have any toast for this traffic jam?" We proceeded to get many smiles, but the best response was "What the $%ck are you talking about?!" Quite a lively time on Highway 6.

I will close this blog with three things I will miss when I'm in Guatemala:

1. The beach. I'm not sure if I've told anyone this yet, but the best parts of the beach are the sinking mud pits! Cam, Dale and myself have enjoyed many times playing in these mud pits - some days I really think pigs have the life! (This is quite a clean picture actually...)

2. Asparagus. Gosh. I never thought I'd say that. But I really enjoyed my job and getting back into shape. Also, I will miss the Mexican Mennonites I worked with and the time in the barn.

3. My family. Two weekends ago we said our good-byes, and it was really special to show them asparagus land - the land I have grown in love with.

4. Coffee. I will now have to cut coffee out of my diet for the next two months. WAIT WAIT WAIT!! Andrew is giving up coffee?!?!?! That was until I met someone as much in love with coffee as myself. Let me introduce you to my caffeine-addict friend, Kat (potentially her alias). She has a solo French-Press travel mug coffee-maker from a trendy coffee shop (insert Starbucks). She conformed me to her religion, and now too, I am a proud owner of a solo French-Press and have been brewing Cafe Estima coffee for the past two days - delicious! It also means I only need to ask for hot water in the morning for my coffee in Tizate. Kat is pretty much my coffee saviour.

Stay tuned - for the stories and adventures from Guatemala.

Andrew

P.S. I will try to post the first Sunday that I am in Antigua!