Our last days and final post....until next year!

Teresa:

 

Our last day in Guatemala started much the same as others - some team time together.  I always appreciate these morning meets that we spend reminding each other of why we are here.

We had a breakfast of cereal and fresh fruits.  I am going to miss the fresh papaya!  Some Guatemalan coffee also got us all off to a good start.  We headed to Antigua for a day of tourist activities, namely shopping.  The veterans of the mission trips gave us amateurs some tips on bartering in the markets, which proved to be very useful the moment we entered the markets.  Each vendor had the “best price for you” and “many colors to choose from.”  Later, we would encounter several street vendors, selling either necklaces, scarves, or musical instruments, who not only let us know they had “many colors to choose from,” but also that we needed these gifts for our mothers, friends, mother-in-laws, etc.  We walked around the Central Park and had a delicious lunch at one of the restaurants near the famous Arch of Antigua. Otter actually tried some calamari in its own ink.  He gets the award for brave and adventurous food explorations!   We went walking all over town and found the ruins.  I also had a great time watching Kristy get attacked by street vendors because she bought one scarf.  It was quite funny.  They are very persistent despite our constant "no garcia" "no gracia."  Otter even composed a little song full of very gracious, sweet sounding "no gracias."

 

We headed back to Oscar’s for dinner with the elders of Los Olivos.  The meal was a collection of Guatemalan dishes; fried tacos, fried stuffed red peppers in tortillas, and chicken wrapped in some type of corn.  Like usual, everything was delicious.  Dessert was plantain tortillas with cocoa beans in the middle.  Even with all of the incredible food we had, the best part was not the meal we shared, but the gifts and gratitude after the meal.  It began with the elders of Los Olivos thanking the team for coming and doing the work that was done during the week.  It then went through our team members, thanking Karla for the cooking and hospitality, the elders and Los Olivos for being so warm and inviting our entire time here, and Oscar, for his hard work behind the scenes, hospitality, and vision that allows so many people to come together and work.  Oscar and Karla gave us beautiful Guatemalan tablecloths as tokens of their appreciation.  Our tables are all going to be dressed beautifully with the gifts we have received the past two nights!  The elders and Oscar were presented with gifts we had brought from Wisconsin, cow pie candy.  We had given Karla her gift earlier in the week.  She was given a chance to enjoy a nice day at a spa where she could put her feet up, get pampered, and relax after the hard days she has put in cooking 3 meals a day for us. It made me very happy to watch Otter as he walked around the table and served hot chocolate to everyone, all on his own!  No one asked him to and it certainly was not done before.  I followed suit and served everyone dessert.  It was great to be inspired by him.

I learned one of the most important lessons ever Saturday night as well, do not make your bus driver upset!  It was the first time during the trip I was scared!  That man was booking up and down the roads at at least 5000 miles/hour (ok, maybe not that fast).  I learned later that he was upset because we moved our Sunday trip back an hour.  Note to self, tell the bus driver these kind of things AFTER you get home safely!

Sunday we headed over to Oscar's again.  This time we went to Sumpango for their market.  It was great walking around the city market (which was NOT a tourist site, just the community getting together) and actually knowing a few friendly faces.  We met at the church for one last good bye. 

The time we have spent in Guatemala has been the greatest gift of all, for both the mission team and for Los Olivos.  The friendships forged through language sharing will continue to be a part of many of our lives when we come back home.  The inspiration and hard work that Oscar has demonstrated to meet the basic needs of those around him will be a motivation for many of us to continue to reach out and serve those around us, locally and globally.   The memories of the children in the village laughing and playing, waiting on the big stone each day for us to come by, will change how I interact with kiddos as I head back to our own families and neighborhoods.  While I came not knowing what to expect or in what way I was going to be able to serve, I definitely learned so much about people, relationships, and little things making a big difference. I am definitely going to go back home with a much bigger heart and a few new friends :)

Otter:

During my stay in Guatemala, I learned so much. I saw many kids that didn't have nearly as much as we do in the united states, but they seemed more happy with what they have and much more thankful. Instead of looking at the bad things, such as "Oh, to bad I don't have the new iPod touch," they think "Well, I may not have a iPod touch, but fortunately, I have this blanket to keep me warm."  This attitude towards life was greatly admired by me. I wish to have this attitude. Once we got off the plane, we hopped on the bus the plane. The bus seemed like a luxury one compared to the one that we traveled around through Guatemala. I was very thankful. After I got back to my house, I went straight to bed. I was too tired to think at all.

When I woke up, I walked into my parents room and saw my family happily laughing and watching my bros' favorite show. Super why. I sat down to watch with them, but I looked around the room. The TV would've been a sign of royalty in Guatemala. The room itself, so well made. A bed to sleep on. A bathroom. A closet. Multiple sets of clothes. Everything we have, we take it all for granted.

Look around you