I went to visit an orphanage called The Oasis. It is a not a usual orphanage because the children are not orphans, so perhaps I should call it a care center. It is a home for abused girls from about ages 6-18. I went to check it out because moving there is one of my top options for my future. Tickets to Guatemala are not normally cheap, but I started to look at prices to see if it would be practical to go over Christmas or Spring break. Those were pretty expensive. Fall break however was doable. So I just decided to go for it. Sometimes I just need to feel things out to know whether they are right for me or not. Yes, I know missionaries used to have to go places they had never been and just have faith. But now we live in an age where I have the option to go check it out and see if I could fit there. So I did. I left on Friday morning. Friday night our family friends picked me up at the airport and took me to their house for the night. Saturday afternoon they took me to meet up with the director of The Oasis. I thought he and the other missionaries lived at The Oasis. I was a bit off. He took me there, gave me a tour, and said, "Well, see you Monday!" So I spent Saturday afternoon and all day Sunday hanging out with the girls and their house moms, none of whom spoke any English. At first I was struggling a little bit, especially because it had been awhile since I had spoken Spanish. But by Sunday we were having a blast playing pato pato ganzo, having dance parties, cooking, eating, and just running around like crazy people. Because I had no choice to speak English, my Spanish came back quickly and I was able to have great conversations and even translate a Rob Bell video for them that they owned but had never understood. It was amazing. On Monday morning all the missionaries came in to work in the office and I got to have some good conversations with some of the young girls that work there. They told me how it really was- pros and cons and just the reality of daily life. This was super helpful for me. They were also able to answer some of my questions that had come up over the weekend. Then I went out to a ministry site that was about an hour and a half away and got to see a school and church and clinic that the ministry had set up. The roads were quite the adventure- see Facebook for some good shots of rocks and rivers that we drove through. Then I said goodbye to everyone and the director's wife drove me back to meet up with our family friends who then drove me to the airport at 4:45 am on Tuesday. :)
This was pretty minimal information, I know and I apologize. For now, here's what you all need to know. I love Guatemala. I love the ministry that The Oasis has. I would fit in very well and I would be able to bring some strengths and skills that they need. I'm still praying and I am not committed, but it is a very real possibility. I don't know if I would leave summer 2013 or 2014. I really don't know any details at all. Pretty much, your prayers are very appreciated and I will keep you updated so that you can journey alongside of me as I seek to follow God's will and calling in my life. God is good and all I want to do is live for Him in my giftings and strengths that He has blessed me with, so please pray that He reveals how I can best do so. Thank you!
