Crazy

The past few weeks have been crazy and the next two are going to be even crazier.

Today is Brandon’s birthday and he’s in mexico and I’m stuck here and it sucks. To all the people who think I’m being mushy shove it, I am. I have a very nice very awesome boyfriend and I love and miss him and I am dissapointed not to spend his birthday in the same country.

I have today and tomorrow off from work so I am trying to complete everything I’ve been needing to do in the past few months and everything I need to get done in the next week done all today. HAH.

The parents pups are coming over on friday night to stay for the week and I’m a little overwhelmed because it’s going to be a zoo in my house. Not to mention I’m leaving for Guatemala on the 12th and my only day off is wednesday next week so I have to get everything done while working full time and trying to take care of the dogs and make sure they don’t chew through the whole house.

Brandon get’s back the 5th, but we work totally opposite until i leave on the 12th and then I will be out of country for my birthday too. It’s very frustrating!!

But I am very excited about my upcoming trip to Guatemala. The money is still stressing me out major, and the thought of packing for it is daunting, but I know that once I get there it will be all worth it.

As much as it sucks to spend my birthday away from Brandon with not even a way to text or call him I am VERY excited to spend my birthday in Guatemala for the third year with Mike, Sandi and the rest of the crew. Having a birthday in Guatemala is a very big deal and usually comes with flowers, presents, hugs, more hugs, cake, and firecrackers! Also you will be called out in church and they will sing you a birthday song in front of EVERYONE. :)

We’re also getting to go to the coast for three days to work in a school there. I am very excited about getting out of Guatemala city and seeing more of the country. Especially since it means swimming, beaches, and coast! But I am getting nervous about the fact that there will be many many mosquitos at the coast and the possible risk of malaria infection. Also, I HATE mosquitos (but who doesn’t)

We are going to be doing very backbreaking concrete work there and I am actually very excited about that. I love working hard and physical all day and feeling the ache at the end of the day knowing you actually acheived something. Plus having children’s activities every evening.

We are also going to spend one day in Antigua as usual which is another highlight of every trip as the shopping and cultural sights there are amazig. I am hoping for little fog so I can FINALLY get a good picture of the volcano agua that is very visible from the city.

Then we will be of course touring the dump, the city square, and the cemetary as well probably as well as doing a program at Casita Benjamin (my fav!!!) and Visiting Las Aldeas. They went to las aldeas last year (which is a childrens home) and I missed out so I am SO excited we are getting to go back this year because it looked like an awesome experience.

PLEASE pray for health on this trip. With mosquitos, hot weather, and the chance of getting montezumas revenge we really need it.

The reason I think I love going on mission trips with presbyterian churches so much is there is usually a lot of actual physical work done, a lot of laughing, a lot of friendships, and a lot of spiritual and moving moments… Without having to evangelize every single person we meet. We are just trying to give back some of what God has given us, understand another culture, and open our hearts. NOT try and convert 30 people to christ and then leave them back where they started and no support to help their faith grow.

And constantly I am AMAZED at the faith of the guatemalans and learn SO much from them myself.

well this has gotten long and rambly. I will be journaling the whole trip and might post excerpts here after the trip!!