Filled with Double Meanings

This blog is inspired by the fact that one words in the English language may have multiple meanings. Also, some English words have two Spanish equivalents and vice versa.

Sick - My second week here in Tizate and Guatemala can be summarized by this word. As in, the scenery in Guatemala is ¨sick¨(aka beautiful, gorgeous). It has also made me ¨sick¨(as in, intense stomach pains). Here, you see the enticing pineapple and mango sold on the streets in Antigua. I bought a mango, which is apparently a ¨no no¨in rainy season, as they collect extra water and bacteria. I was sick for a whole day! After my trip to Panajachel and Lake Atitlan, I also laid on my bed with intense stomach pain. Pray that I feel better. (This also explains my late post). Or perhaps Guatemalan timelines are influencing my lifestyle.

This past weekend, I was able to visit Panajachel and Lake Atitlan with some of the group. Is that view not ¨sick¨? It is three volcanoes surrounding a lake that developed within the craters of the volcanoes. It is by far, one of the most beautiful places I have seen in this world. I was able to explore the lake by public and private boat rides. This allowed me to really see how I was in a lake surrounded by three volcanoes. The theme of the weekend was going on boat rides that never made it to the destination we were initially told.

Time - I am reminded of the movie ¨Rent¨. How do you measure a year in the life? I am sure that in some sense, sometimes we measure life by money. In the past week, I have been affirmed twice, that life should be measured in time and relationships. At the start of last week, the group went up to Tactic. There, Impact Ministries has established 4-5 schools. They follow similar visions for Tizate´s school, although they are a few years ahead in the process. It was neat to see the future of Global Shore Opportunities´school vision for Tizate. Children, if brought up through the school in Godly and responsible ways, can become the system of hope for the future of El Tizate. Rita and Les Peters (Founders of Impact Ministries) emphasized that it is not the projects that are of utmost importance, it is the relationships and the time invested in people that matter in life. They measure their success through their relationships and their ability to disciple children and teachers to live in Godly and responsible ways.

In Panajachel, here we are at Crossroads Cafe. We talked for an hour to the caffeinated owners (an American-South African couple). They discussed how they ended up in Guatemala and how they now would rather measure life in time as opposed to money. The man realized during one of his two-hour commutes in California that he spent 1000 hours on the road every year. He decided he would change careers so that he could reclaim those 1000 hours with his family as opposed to pursuing a money-savvy career. Was the extra money worth the time he was unable to spend with his family and build relationships? He now works with his family and children and they live above the coffee shop they own. Sweet eh?

Lesson learned: Measure life in time and not money. In trying to define life by time and relationships, living simply allows us to starve money of its ability to define us. It shifts us from consumerism to a relational priority. (Oh by the way - are you interested in joining me in a Buy Nothing Year?) More on that later.

It also frees up our money (which is ultimately not our own) to help others simply live.

Aside from that - Tizate is doing well. ESL classes are running smoothly. The first construction project is almost completed and we have begun digging the trenches for the second house. I will report on life on Tizate soon (My goal: Thursday).

Love you all lots!

Andrew