This was January, days were ticking by and by March we discovered we were chosen to go to Guatemala where 2yr. children were allowed to go with their parents. Our Jessica would just be two after our boot camp. I was a little leary about taking a two year old, but they said leaders take their children all the time....Little did I realize the pressure cooker we would go thru just getting there but no time like the present. We had to raise money for our 2 weeks of bootcamp in Florida, leader training, 6 weeks in San Andres Guatemala, fly in to our mission site and bus to the orphanage where we would be helping construct a 2 room school house from the ground!
We made new friends from our bible school in Hamilton and soon found out who the true prayer warriors were. My family thought it was too dangerous and tried many schemes to stop me right up until boot camp graduation. Then they schemed my brother. a police officer, to visit our boot camp. He decided he could find me in the jungles of Merritt Island and rescue me if I needed it. Funny, I thought I heard my name over the loud speaker but who listens to loud speakers in a jungle boot camp with about 900 people graduating from their bootcamp and getting ready for the candle lighting ceremony. I was hurrying thru the trees to get to the big top tent where everyone was seating in groups when I ran into this police officer, albeit my brother!! Jody said " I was sent here to see how you are doing! Do you mind if I watch the ceremony?" I said to please join us. I was amazed that Jody found me at all! He said they really didn't want to let him in but didn't argue with a 6' strapping police officer with a badge, dressed in plain clothes. They tried to page me on the loud speaker....
After watching 10 teams do their skits, lighting their candles, graduating and getting teary eyed... Jody decided to contribute to our needs and wished us well!! I laughed until I cried as he was a welcome sight and encouragement after 2 weeks of boot camp with 22 teens and not all of them were delighted . I almost backed out because my daughter was a little firecracker and was wearing me out. I found out my mom and Aunt were praying that I would quit and go home. I decided then and there I was not a quitor!!
There is nothing like a little outside pressure to see what you are really made of. We had to send one team member home because she was suffereing from anorexia and our assistant leaders warned she was already relapsing during bootcamp. We would be miles from a decent hospital so let her go home . She was complaining rather loudly about the food already and not eating much. I walked her to the office where a family member would pick her up. She would miss an adventure of her lifetime but her desire to quit already was wearing on the rest of us. We were still in Florida, day 5 of bootcamp! This lesson made me realize that you can quit anytime
but what will you have to show for it when already you have paid a high price just to be there, why not ask God for strength and see what He has in store! I felt relief when I knew that I had more in me and I would press on for this incredible journey that surely God was in the midst of...
Well the last day of bootcamp brought a giant wedding ceremony where 2 former team members fell in love and were getting married right there! The cake was a giant boot baked by incredible bakers, assembled and enough for all 900 of us!! That really impressed me and of course after living on bootcamp food for 2 weeks....
Well, we were finally loading our bus with all the luggage, food, puppet ministry material, duffles and bodies of excited teens and adults! We flew out of Miami straight through to Guatemala City.....
We landed, got most of our luggage (all the puppet materials were missing) met our missionary and bus (sort of a rough bus made for a baja trip). We left Guatemala city and headed to the orphangage 12 hours away. It was named after some orphans that died in a fire that took out an entire building. The children had a oil lamp that caught some cutains on fire and the low ceilings escalted the action of the fire, several children were unable to escape. They named the property El Rancho Los De-Ninos. It was rebuilt with higher ceilings and smoke alarms were installed.
Our bus trip was a long one stopping for refreshments, meaning Fanta sodas, which we were glad to have in the middle of nowhere. Our bus would not start after one stop and we found the driver was using a semi dead battery! They were paid some in advance and should have gotten a new one! Ever see 22 teens push start a bus with one semi crazy Guatemalan bus driver? We learned that prayer was a much needed time out to keep on this journey! Later we met a large truck that had gone off a cliff about 50 feet. Our bus came to a stop and then the driver told us to hurry and get off! He was rolling backwards towards the same place the truck had gone off due to slippery traction... We wasted no time with the help of out interpretor evacuating the bus. The driver was able to stop but now what? Our team prayed for a brainstorm...Soon we decided to hook a cable to the front of the bus and pull the bus up the hill! We had only a few adults pushing behind the bus as we did not want any accidents if the bus rolled backwards. We made it up the hill with the numerous Guatemalan bystanders excited about our Jesus who answered our prayer! Back in the bus and we were off again. We had 3 extra children on board who were going to the orphanage. They were very curious at all the goings on and attention from the team they received. Some had parents but they were to poor to take care of them so they were going to the ranch.
We finally arrived at the ranch, unloaded the bus and were resting. we had to set up our tents in a circle and make them waterproof for the daily rain showers we would be having. The children were happy to see us and welcomed us warmly. The orphanage was beautiful with about 20 acres. They used machetes to cut down rapid growing foilage and used the cattle to graze it down occasionally. Day 2, I was sitting on the porch of the cafeteria when suddenly I was overwhelmed with heat, humidity, fear of the unknown and hopelessness. What am I doing out in the middle of nowhere with my 2 yr. daughter and a husband I really wasn't sure he could handle his part? I almost couldn't stop the tears when I noticed a handsome Guatemalan man walk right by me! I recognized him as Carlos, a man who cooked at a restarant I worked at during my college days. We were good friends and laughed about alot of things. He said "Jennifer, what are you doing here?" I said the same only" Carlos!" we laughed and talked excitedly about what we had been doing since I left the restarant. carlos was married and living in San Andres nearby. He and Bo, the missionary, worked together to provide food for the many people living at the ranch, including chickens and cows. Soon we found Bo and he said take the jeep and go to San Andres and have a moment! God has a wonderful sense of humor! I laughed more than I cried on this trip and learned life is not an accident nor the precious people we meet! If we wait on the Lord He does take care of us and even more! His love is an all providing means to meet our needs and even more! I truly liked Carlos and he used to tease me at work because I had a highschool boyfriend and a college boyfriend at the same time... He wanted to help me choose, instead he only made me laugh....Laughter is the best medicine. When life gives you lemons, just make some lemonade and have a party! To be continued......
Jenn
1 comment:
I really enjoyed reading your words. You ever think of writing a book of your experiences and travels. Looking forward to your next segment...keep blogging.
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