sun.burn.

let me tell you about my day today.

it started with, waking up at the oasis. 12 flea bites in one nights sleep. i'd say that's pretty acceptable considering how many i had this summer. i ate a little banana for breakfast (first thing i'd eaten in almost 2 days. i think i drank the water or something. bad.stomach.news.) after the banana, i finished up the translating work from monday, video chatted with Rolando (who, now, ALL of the girls think is soooooo guapo.)
after those things, i got assigned to painting rocks. how do you feel about that, huh? well, there were 50 little miniature sized bricks all lined up for me to paint. i first began with the primer coat. that completely covered the bricks and 83% of my hands as well. after painting all 6 sides of the brick with the primer, i had to sit there and let them dry. i made myself comfortable in the grass for about 10 minutes. next, i got my white paint all stirred up, and began carefully painting each side of the brick. between each side, i allowed about 4 minutes of drying time. if they we're tacky, woe is them, i was NOT being slow at this job. so, as each side was painted, and all lumps were evened out, those were just about the prettiest bricks i'd ever seen! (if i do say so myself)

so i go inside to take a little break from the outdoors, and Corbey hands me a piece of paper with 3 words written on it, and 3 little baby paintbrushes. my follow-up job? painting those three words on each brick to be used for the devotion tonight. not using a handy-dandy paint pen, OHHH NOOOO, curses to the paint-pen, but using a little-itty-bitty-i can barely see the tip of this thing-newborntoddler-brush. so, i went on my "merry" little way, and started to paint. paintpaintpaintpaint. all a f t e r n o o n. (notbitter)
by about 4:30 though i was starting to sting a little around my neck, and my whole body was stiff. good thing i only had 14 more to do. aaaaand DONE. i finished, had Rodriguez help me carry the little joy-bricks into the Bodega, and i rinsed out my paintbrush.
so, back to the stinging neck. i had one of the chicas check it out. I'M SORRY. My neck could cook eggs on it it's radiating that much heat from sunburn. HEYYY close to the equator, WHAT'S UP! They rest of my body is plesantly pink and toasty, yet the neck. ohhhh the neck. let's just say, i took a shower, am wearing a baby tank top so that it's not touching it, my hair is in a high bun, and i've put about 6 rounds of lotion on it. we'll see how it goes tomorrow with a REAL shirt.

as i was painting brick after brick today, i began substituing some words in my favorite songs:

"And Brick by Brick you'll lead me, and I will follow you all of my days."

i'm so grateful for the Lord's guidance in my life. wow. like, imagine what a complete wreck i'd be if HIS hands weren't painting bricks or braiding chica's hair, if HIS words weren't speaking the spanish language day-by-day, if HIS feet weren't walking along the streets.

brush-less

let me just shoot ya a little note each day while i'm down here!

this morning, i got up and showered, ready to hit the oasis for the day! guess who discovered they forgot their hairbrush. THIS GIRL. guess who's hair doesn't do well without a hairbrush? THIS GIRL AGAIN. i haven't exactly figured out the solution to this problem, but i assume there will be one by the time i wake up and get a shower tomorrow.

today at the oasis felt just like my summer days! i translated, helped out with a little afterschool tutoring, and played outside. i've learned a new trampoline game. WATCH OUT AMERICA-I'm bringin it back! "Los Muertos" is the name- Here's the jingle: "Los Muertos, Los Muertos, Levantante! Levantante!" (Dead, Dead, Wake up! Wake up!--There's your translation Mrs Pam!) This game is simple. One person lays in the middle of the tramp while the others are jumping and singing the song. When we get to the last "wake up" the person gets up, eyes closed, and tries to tag someone. The first person tagged is now the "dead". Kind of morbid, but at least it's fun!

I know you're expecting a food update-Lunch today: chicken & vegetable soup, tortillas, a mango, and some kinda sweet juice. WOW. sooo good to be back! Loved it!

We got home around 7:30 from the Oasis, and everyone is exhausted, and full from supper. Janie cooked steak, tortillas, homemade guacamole, sour cream, bean dips, and salsa, and after ravaging through the supper buffet line, our plates were clean and we were stuffed. Dee-lish-us.

After supper, I got the opportunity to talk with Janie about my most recent job venture. I'm on day two in this country, I love it. I love it more than most things that I've ever loved before. The people, the language, the culture. Todos me encantan. However, God has given me great peace. I have experienced nothing but joy being here, but I know, that the timing isn't perfect, it's not HIS. My heart has finally found contentedness with my head, and what the Lord has told me. I know, as I am obedient, he will fulfill all of my desires, and tenfold. As I watch, and grow, as the Lord has waiting for me, I will be blessed beyond my wildest imagination.
Continually, pray for me. Pray that my heart stays content, that the Lord blesses the people of this place, and in turn blesses my heart to have a burning passion for this place, so that I can one day give so much love to each and every one of the people I come in contact with.

day 3 tomorrow! i'm having a sleepover at the oasis, so, we'll see if i get internet enough to post anything!

I'mmmm BACK!

Blog Friends!
I'm back! It seems that I don't find myself happy and excited to blog from anywhere but Guatemala! I'm telling you, I LOVE this place. With every single bone in my body. WOW.
Today, I found myself on the plane at 9am, after NOT enough sleep last night. Carlie and Corbey picked me up from the airport around 11:30am (1:30pm East Coasters, 7:30pm Europeans, and 1:30am Aussies)-we came back to their place, and then Carlie and I went into Antigua. What a rush! I felt so complete just driving around on the little cobblestone streets with everything in my midst being written or spoken in Spanish. We went to lunch at Sky Cafe-the view is breathtaking! I'll post pictures when i get back to the States (forgot that cord.whoops). We ordered the Grande Nachos. When they say grande, they mean it. It was ENORMOUS. Wowzah! However, the two of us just gulped it down and enjoyed each and every second! Then, we waltzed our way over to the market where I picked up some bracelets and bartered with two different, equally desperately charming men for a hammock. Ended up getting one for Q240. Meaning... $30. Handmade, beeeautiful colors. I'm bringin it home. First one to gimme the money gets it.

Then, OASIS TIME! It was so so much fun to see those chicas again! I just LOVE them! They all remembered me, and then there were the token few that are new and hadn't met me yet, so that was fun! Of course we jumped on the trampoline, and then took homemade sleds from cardboard boxes down the hills by the soccer fields, just chatted, and caught up. Oh, how I've missed them so! My spanish, not quite failing me, but not really saving my life yet either. I think I'm still timid. it's okay-it'll get better SOON!

As many of you know, I've been offered a job at home (MB) for the 2011-2012 school year. This job acceptance is a challenge of my trust and obedience to the Lord in a MAJOR way. Selfishly, I would come straight back down here in a milli-second and stay forever, however, the Lord is soverign and HE will have His timing and way with my life. The Lord has provided this job as a means of a lot of provisions and ways to equip me before He sends me off!
I would appreciate each and every one of your prayers while I'm down here, as I know that this is going to be the largest testing of my strength and obedience and faith.

Por ahora, adios!