Cobblestones and me. -Pablo

These cobblestone streets are a work of art.   Hundreds of thousands of unique yet similarly sized rocks, all with flat surfaces create these streets.  This "art" is utilized every day by thousands of people in cars, on motorcycles, and by foot.   In the seven weeks we have been here, and considering the miles we must have walked so far, I have often thought about the intentionality of these charming roadways.

One must concentrate when walking on these roads.   Although it's a flat road (sort of) you have to watch every step.   There are places where it has settled unevenly, or there is a rock turned sideways, or even a stone that is completely gone.  Some parts I have walked over have all the stones there, but it's missing all the filler in between, the grout is all washed out.  Its careful walking for everyone and then you see some lady in really high heels and you think that is just crazy.

As you walk around the town you come across areas where they are repairing these rough spots of the road.  It's here you can see the intentionality in what they are maintaining. First the men chip and chisel out a 1 x 1 square yard, remove the rocks, dig out the sand and rubble, down to the base layer.   Then they recreate what they just dug up by placing the stones meticulously into a pattern that matches the surrounding cobblestone.  Next they use a sand mixture to fill in the spaces and make the road flat.  And finally they use a wood ramming tool to pound and settle the cobblestones in place.   This laborious process is evidence of the deliberate choice to choose "character and charm" over the convenience of the quicker process of paving.

The craft of these cobblestone roads, which were designed as an improvement over dirt roads (and the muddy ones during the rainy season) also brought a distinct charm to this colonial town.   Kudos to Antigua for intentionally keeping these streets as they were, keeping the beauty as well as the function.

Independence Day Parade on Sept. 15

In a way we are not so different than these stones.   We are individuals, yet we are part of a larger mosaic.  "In the beginning was the Word." "And the Word became flesh" and all things are created for his glory.  Jesus has a plan for each of us; a place in his mosaic.

Many times I am like the rock who is trying to do it by myself,  alone on the side of the road.  This creates a hole in the road, a gap in the pattern of what is good and God's design.   I'll find myself  trying to do something out on the edge and as it turns out, it's  just a rock on the sidewalk; something not very useful and maybe endangering others.

Sometimes God uses situations (good or bad) to rearrange a section of the mosaic, like the repair men who take it apart to make it better.  It can be a painful process but it's a good one.  I trust that God is good and all things are created for his glory.  The reworking of the cobblestone and the reworking of my heart are therefore good and pleasing to him.  The process is life long, like the repairs of cobblestones roads, and sometimes  stones have to be rearranged to follow God's design. But hang on the knowledge that it is for the greater good, the big picture, for God's cobblestone mosaic.              

So when I let go of me, and see more of him, I am able to see a big, big mosaic.   There is a perfect place in the mosaic for each of us.  We are created for it.

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared       beforehand, that we should walk in them.     Ephesians 2:10

So let us trust in God completely, walk with him daily, and intentionally be a part of the cobblestone street Jesus created.  A beautiful, dynamic, functioning mosaic.

Un otra and other bad habits

So I just spend the last hour and a half pouring through my recipe book looking for things to cook.  I would find something, get really excited and then realize no, cant get that ingredient…oh, nope cant get that either. It is funny in the States if I couldn’t find something I would be furious.  I would feel put out that Kroger didn’t have it and I might have to try Food city; talk about wasting time.  I had way too much to do to go to a different grocery store.  Here, I find myself rejoicing when I can find anything I am looking for.  One day there is Raisin Bran and then the next week there is no Raisin bran to be found.  My expectations are changing.  My sense of entitlement is changing.  Not because I am such a good little girl that I recognize my own selfishness, but by force of habit I am acclimating to a life where very little happens as I expect it to. I wonder if maybe we all live in a way we have learned by default. We have acclimated to a system not because we have chosen it but because that is how things are.  I am grateful for this time to live with different expectations because maybe when we return I will choose how I live in Tennessee.

 Un otra and other bad habits

So 20 years ago, Pablo and I came to Guatemala to learn Spanish. Somehow I learned to say “Un otra”  when no “un” is needed.  So now for the last 6 weeks my teacher has been correcting me.  I still say it . Not because I don't know it is incorrect but by force of habit.  I am trying to unlearn it.  I catch myself but it is almost always after verbalizing it.  UGH!  It drives me crazy.  So on our recent drive to the beach it made me think about other bad habits I have picked up over the years.  Things I know are not right but still seem to do or say.  As I started a running list in my head I was horrified.  Do I really have to have a cup of coffee before I can speak to my family in the morning?  Do I seriously have to weigh myself everyday?  How much of my life is just one big bad habit.  This living intentionally may be the end of me

I saw lava tonight-- Pablo

Lava, we saw lava tonight.  It was 8 miles away but there it was in the dark night sky where the volcano’s peak would normally be seen in daylight.   This morning we took some pictures of the plume of smoke billowing into the blue sky and went on to attend 4 hours of Spanish classes.  It wasn’t until later that we learned of the evacuations and that this had made news in the USA.  We even had an email warning from the US embassy about the area.  Lucky for us ( and bad for others) the wind is blowing it away from us and giving us the view we had today.

on our way to school

Life in Antigua went on as usual... Saturday the 15^th is Independence day for Guatemala and the people are getting ready for the festivities.  Today many of the young school kids were in parades this morning in celebration of their country.   So many smiling faces and many were dressed in blue and white, the national colors, while others were in fancy outfits and costumes.  The parades will continue tomorrow and end on Saturday with marching bands from the surrounding areas coming through Antigua.   I also expect to hear lots of firecrackers this weekend.

As for us, we are adjusting to the pace here in Antigua.  We are learning Spanish and I am excited to see the progress of everyone in our family.  We are continuing to meet people and investigate opportunities to serve. I have learning there are all kinds of things to do.  We are praying for God’s guidance and direction here and as we know he has prepared for us good works in which to follow him.   (Ephesians 2:10)

Fuego, the usually simmering volcano who erupted today, reminds us that we cannot control everything.  That we are small, the volcanos are bigger, and God is even bigger.   I am thankful for the reminder of this truth.  

Not much to share, but to ask for prayer

There are lots of wonderful things happening here in Guatemala about which I will post soon. Today though, I ask you to pray for health for our family.  Janie has been sick for 9 days with fever and a stomach ache.  Jacob started feeling sick on Tuesday...  It is hard to be sick in a different country.  There is no minute clinic, no pediatrician a phone call away that has known your child for years, and many more questions about what could be wrong. Would you pray with us for health and peace?  Thank you friends!

On our way home from church

Janie on her first day of language school

Pablo with his teacher Juanita

Antigua, Guatemala

Out of the rat race

Julie's musings on time

And so it begins.  The first week in Guatemala I realized just how much I liked being busy.  I mean what mom doesn't complain about not having time to rest or read or do just about anything by choice?  So originally the idea of having untethered time seemed incredible.  "Oh, the year off"," I told everyone,  "We will have so much time to just be!"  Well, the first day, I sat on the patio, then I sat on the terrace, then I made coffee and returned to those places....  I read books, I read my Bible, I talked to my kids, we played games (every game we brought), I thought deep thoughts and then it was lunchtime. "Lord have mercy what am I going to do?" I thought to myself.  How many time have I quoted "Be still and know that I am God" to myself.  For me that seemed to say, "When you are in the carpool line and have fifteen minutes don't waste the time -spend it in my presence."  So now that I have more time than I know what to do with, I find myself hesitating to be still.  Once I am still I have to wrestle with who I am, what I know to be true and how that matters.  If I stay busy, if I let the tyranny of urgency be my guide I can feel good about myself and my desire to "be still".  So after a week of absolutely nothing to accomplish, no lists to check off, I realized I have a lot to learn this year. I am humbled by the fact that I have desired something I don't even understand how to appreciate yet.   I have a lot to understand about the idea of living intentionally.