Chrissy
In every difficult situation is potential value. Believe this, then begin looking for it.
Norman Vincent Peale
I’m a glass-half-full kind of person. Really. I am. 😊But, as I sit here trying to separate my recent experience from Guatemala itself, I’m struggling. I know I’ll need to go back for another visit. Or, perhaps, when I finish this article, things will seem better… who knows?
Let’s begin at the beginning…
We’re missionaries here in the state of Kentucky. Super great. One of the churches we’re supported by is a super great church, Brooks Baptist Church. They’ve begun the effort of supporting all of their missionaries by visiting them on the field, seeing the work firsthand, which allows them to help and pray more knowledgeably. I LOVE this!!!
With all of that being said, that’s how I ended up on this mission trip/adventure. I’m always up for both… what could go wrong!? 😶
Well, the drive in from Belize was BEAUTIFUL!! Sunny. Lovely. All the things.
Belize through the dirty windows of a hired van. lol
The roads, though… LOL! Our second driver, whom we had to switch at the border (which was a pretty painless process, in case you’re considering driving), said he called the roads he drove every day “egg cartons.” I will just let your mind think about that and perhaps you will go out and thank your street repairmen the next time you hit a “pothole”.. which I now consider divots. 😂
The thing is… this is what makes traveling so fun. Getting knocked about, wondering if they’ll let you through customs, etc. Personal travel tip… make small talk (especially if it’s not crazy busy.) People are fascinating!!!! AND, they love to talk about themselves. You never know what you’ll learn or what will spark an idea.
At the Belize/Guatemala border, I complimented the lady on her dress. FIFTEEN minutes later 😅, she had finished (conspiratorially) telling me all about it. How the birds had destroyed the lace sleeves while it was drying on the line, she had cut them off, added buttons here and there, and VOILA! She really had done a terrific job and was so pleased someone appreciated her handiwork. New friend made at the border. ✔️ (The biggest mistake was not getting a picture of the two of us.). Trying to do better with that.
Lee, my hubby, says I like to gather people, not souvenirs. #truth! They can be so interesting, AND… they don’t need dusting!! Not for a while, anyway. 😄
Well, it all started off great and then QUICKLY went downhill. I have labored for weeks on how to spin this trip in a happy light… sometimes things just go sideways. That’s all there is to it.
I’m going to end this post here. I have labored (and not posted) and feel like distance might help.
Biggest lesson… sometimes things just don’t go as planned. In fact, they often don’t. It’s part of the thrill of travel… finding those unexpected sights and people.
So, Guatemala will be written about. But, right now, I’m going to hop to another trip I’m more excited to write about and feels less “traumatic”… even though it put me in the hospital 3 times. 😅
~ Catch you here or there, Chrissy
