well.... spending the 4th of july outside of the states was a little dissapointing, because I actually forgot what day it was. But anyway on monday we went to lake atalan, which was super super fun! We got off the bus and I bought a ton of stuff because I felt bad saying no. So anyway then we took a ferry boat across this gorgeous lake in the middle of the mountains to the village. We performed the drama and talked with some people, it was successful.
so...then yesterday we went to the poorest place I think I've ever set foot in. It literally smelled like raw sewage, and the people lived in little huts of sheet metal, the roofs held down with rocks. So...some of my team members bagged rice sugar and beans to hand out. while the rest of us played with the kids. they were sooo cute, and it made me wish that a simple bottle of bubbles could make my whole day like it made theres. So then we did the drama, which I had a hard time with because we had to lay on the dirty ground. But looking back on my attitude I feel really embarassed, I was so upset that I had to get dirty and possibly come in contact with some foreign diseases. But there are people who wouldn't be in heaven if we hadn't have done it.
after the drama we prayed with some people, and got to play with the kids.
it absolutely BROKE MY HEART. I was kicking around a deflated volleyball with some kids. and they were wearing sandals that were falling off there feet, and crocs that had holes in the front so there toes were sticking out. some of the kids didn't even have shoes, and I remember that this one girl only had on one flip flop. I was amazed. And another thing that made me cry was this one little girl. She had on a shirt that said 'daddy's expensive princess' and the thing is, I'm almost positive that she dosen't have an earthly father. because she had blue eyes. You have to understand that there are NO blue eyed people in this community. And I'm almost positive that some of the women that were there were prostitutes. I'm almost positive that sex tourism is part of this community.
so anyway, then we went to a high school and performed the drama in front of about 700 students. This was super awesome, and some of them did accept the Lord!
but...it was a little awkward because all the guys were hitting on us. I mean, it's not a free meat market.
so then we got on the bus... and that's when I got stuck in the bathroom, which was super embarassing. really funny, and a little scary. robert and levi were trying to rescue me...but it was really just my extra strong thumbs that saved the day. :p
Then today we went to an orphanage. The kids seemed to be clean and well taken care of. And I couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to live there. I think it would feel like you are at school all the time. Someone to help you but they will never be your parents. But I was wondering...are the kids better off in an enviornment where they are clean and well taken care of, but they have no parents and will always have to deal with that that pain. or if the kids in the slum that we went to yesterday are better off without good physical conditions, but they know that they have a mother. It broke my heart, and I don't know the answer.
then last night me and carlee ended up putting face paint ALL OVER our bodies. and we wern't planning to go to dinner like that but we ran out of time, so we ended up going to dinner and the service after covered in paint. it was embarassing after a while. And we met the coolest girl ever, her name is Joy and she's so crazy! she's staying at a hostel in guatemala city and she was helping at one of the orphanages that we were at so she decided to come to service :) she was telling us all about her life story and how she went to school in lithuania, helped abandoned babies in romania, stayed in a hostel above a bar in england, hitch hiked in ireland, and did all this other crazy stuff
so... in conclusion... I know that it's hard for you to understand but these people here NEED your help.
I love you all.
-ashley
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