Guatemala Blog 1

August 8, 2009

Currently, I'm sitting on a plane to Guatemala with Beth, Val, Erin, David, Misty, Sherma, Marie, Andres, Aaron, Alex, Rachel, Evan, Emily Murphy, and Emily Reed. We are headed to Antigua, and our plan for the next week is to go to a malnutrition center and finish up some light construction and work with the kids.

This morning everyone met at the church around 8:30 am and Tom the Bus Driver brought us to Miami. We stopped and had lunch at the Florida Baptist Children's Home, and then they transported us to the airport. After much confusion and chaos, we were finally able to board the plane. While most of the group is together, some of us are separated. I WAS sitting in an aisle seat across from Erin and in front of Aaron and Val, but then I was asked to move so that a mother was able to sit with her kids. Of course, I didn't mind much at all...I can handle myself. :] I'm not sitting ten rows up from everyone else, next to the window seat. I can't tell you at all how long we've been flying, but so far I've been able to sleep a bit, and being along has given me a chance to pray and regain focus...I needed it, because after the heat today, the confusion, and other people's complaints, I've already lost sight of why I was going to Guatemala in the first place. Honestly, I'm not sure if I was spiritually ready for this trip. I've been praying about it a lot, but I feel weird. In one of my quiet times lately I felt like God was reminding me that on this trip I need to be selfless, and of course the only way I can do that is by putting myself aside completely. I took that to include whatever issues are going on between me and other people, as well as whatever worries and concerns are plaguing me from back in Florida. I guess maybe I just need to work on that a bit more.

Lately I've been so easily bothered by certain things, and even though I ought to trust people more, I can't help it. I see things going on, but whether it's my own insecure self twisting them or I'm seeing things as they are, I'm not sure. It just occured to me, though, that I haven't prayed about it...

Well, for now I'm out. I'm going to read my bible for a bit, then try to sleep a little more. As boring as it may seem, I've been enjoying my time apart from the group.

-Courtney