Update #4 from Princeton: "I Left My Heart in Guatemala"

...and now I'm heading back to get it. I am heading down to Guatemala for the weekend...yes, I know it's a short trip, but it's going to be so worth it. I probably won't want to come back, and if I'm honest with myself, I know I will probably end up leaving more of my heart there than bringing it back.

So, the reason for the trip: I went to Guatemala in 2004 with a team sponsored by an organization at my college. I fell in love with the country. We spent the majority of our trip in Uspantan, a small village in the highlands of Guatemala...absolutely the most breathtaking scenery...and people. We did demolition, construction, and learned how to enjoy the ministry of presence. It was fabulous. We climbed down waterfalls, hiked to swimming pools fed by cold water springs, drank from leaves, swung from vines in a large river, and sat together around the table fellowshipping. We lived and worked alongside two pillars of the community, now both in their 80's, Don Salomon and Dona Mery Hernandez (Don and Dona are titles of recognition and honor). Then we spent a month in Guatemala City helping work on a hospital, the Westmont-Bethel Hospital, run by the son and daughter-in-law of Don Salomon and Dona Mery. When we were there it only had a basement and two operational floors but the hospital operated anyway because health care is such a pervasive problem in the country. The action of this hospital, a ministry of the kingdom of God is that they provide health care to anyone who needs it, regardless of their race, gender, ability to pay or any other factor. Less than 1% of the GDP of Guatemala is spent on health care and over 20% of the population does not have any access to health care. The situation is grim, but it's looking up a bit thanks to the following wonderful news: Construction on the hospital has recently been completed, now with several (approx. 6) floors and a basement!

Because so much of the $150,000 needed to build and equip each floor, and so much of the construction itself has been made possible through donations of time, money, and love, the Hernandez have invited everyone who has been involved over the years back to Guatemala to celebrate! Since I've been itching to go back for a long time now...basically since I left...I am so thrilled about this opportunity. It, of course, would not have been possible without the support of my mom, both her love and finances, and a prayer that was a long time in the making being answered by God. The chance to go back really is an answer to prayer, although I'm sure I'll be praying even more fervently for another chance to go back when this one is over.

In the meantime, I'm going to really enjoy this chance. I'll keep you all posted when I get back (I have a lot to update you all on) and bring back some hopefully beautifully vibrant (in color and life) pictures to post. I'm off to sleep briefly before heading out early in the morning!

Vaya con Dios!

P.S. Don't worry...I know I'm still in grad school...that's what the plane rides and hours sitting in the airport are for...getting all that reading done!