Back at school... but not (quite) doing school

Well, I'm in Canada yet again, preparing for the next batch of Discover students to arrive. I arrived in Calgary the 25th of July, then left on a canoeing trip the next day. We, the intern team plus our directors, went to Lakeland Provincial Park, up near Lac Le Biche, Alberta. I thought, instead of just telling you about it, I'd put up some pictures, and add words to tell you about the trip. So, let's start.

We began by driving north to Edmonton, where we shopped for food and picked up the canoes. After getting the canoes, we did a semi-traditional picture-next-to-the-vehicle.


Then, we continued on into the sunset, David driving...


While Krysti consulted the map.


We arrived at a campground on Touchwood Lake, where we laid out a tarp and went to sleep. The next morning, we packed up our gear, drove to the staging area, and got ready to begin our first portage.

Portaging was definitely the most physically straining part of the trip. Some of us carried gear...


while others carried canoes.


I soon found that I preferred the latter.

During the trip we paddled the canoes,


We portaged many kilometres (This was the shortest portage. The longest was 3K)


We built shelters


We rested after portages


We whittled spoons for eating


We watched pretty sunsets


We got sore feet


We built a teepee


We got wounds


We consulted many maps


And we took pictures of our paddles.


At the end, we were very happy.


Then we cleaned up.


You might be wondering to yourself, "Why is a week-long canoeing trip part of school?" Well, in short, it wasn't about school. It was about building our group of friends into a strong team, focusing ourselves on God, and having an opportunity to process what God was teaching us. While intense, it served its purpose.

So, what's next? The new students arrive on Saturday, at which point they will have orientation (which we will lead) over the weekend, then start a two-week version of the one-week class I did last year-- The Way. I will be working on getting ready for the students, getting details in place for our time in Montana, as well as travel to there, and finishing up the distance ed course I was working on over the summer.

Over and out,
~A~

Well then.

So, obviously it's been awhile since I did anything with this blog. My apologies. I did make it back from Guatemala, and I did go to El Salvador too... and now I'm home on summer break! Here's a brief sketch of what's happened since then:

- We spent 5 weeks at GBS, doing Cultural Anthropology and Preparation for Intercultural Ministry classes during the week and helping with a church on the weekend. My team went to that church that I showed you pictures of, starting up a Sunday School program with the kids there.

- At the end of our time at GBS, we went to Panajachel, on the shores of Lake Atitlan. There, we had one day off, a weekend of Spiritual Retreat, which included different sessions given by our directors, worship, solo time, and silent evenings. At the end we had another day off, during which we went to a pool at the hotel next door and swam, then spent time preparing for practicum which started the next day.

- For Practicum, we went to El Salvador. My team went to the community Loma De la Cruz, just outside of the town of Jucuapa. During our time there, we built a wall out of rock, taught ESL, played soccer with the kids, had a kids' club, taught crafts to the older girls, and showed an evangelistic movie. It was a great time with the team, building relationships with the people in the community and learning a new type of Spanish accent. El Salvadorans are hard to understand! (Think of a non-native English speaker talking to someone from Arkansas)

- After practicum, which lasted for 10 days, with one day on each end for prep and debrief, we returned to GBS for the rest of the week to debrief our entire time in Central America. The seminary students threw us a goodbye party, and many tears were shed. I also worked on getting the last details in place for our travel back to Canada (as one of the two travel apprentices, I was responsible for the group's travel from Guatemala to El Salvador and back to Guatemala, then to Canada... quite the adventure!).

Then, Sunday, the 5th of April, we flew back to Canada. Everything went smoothly, except for the intern who didn't make it through customs quickly enough to make the connection in Houston. The poor girl had to stay at a 5-Star hotel overnight and fly to Calgary the next day.

We had one day off, then class started up. This was Theology class, and I loved it! We learned the history of theology, and the progression of the church's theology, as well as different theologians in history and went through the basic beliefs of the church. We had a little over 2 weeks of Theology, then it was graduation time.

My family came for graduation, surprising me by bringing one of my cousins and one of my aunts! It was a great time together, even though some of my time was taken up with Discover closing activities and graduation rehearsal. We had Thursday evening, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday morning together before they started the drive home.

Now, I'm sure you're thinking, "why didn't you go home with them?" Well, because I had to stay! Yeah, yeah... that explains a lot. =) Remember when I told you that I got an internship with Discover? Well, part of the internship was staying 2 weeks after graduation for a class.

The class was part training and part class-oriented. We learned about how to build a team, develop a team culture, work better cross-culturally, and be a servant leader. Towards the middle of the class, we went on an overnight orienteering trip, spending all day with a topographical map and compass, looking for different caches of food/supplies for the night. After it was all done, we made dinner and relaxed together, singing with Kyle's guitar, before turning in to bed. Next morning we had breakfast, then left for solo time, then returned to debrief with our director, David.

After 2 weeks on a VERY quiet campus, we departed for home. And that's where I am now! I've been working on a distance ed course (also part of the internship), painting a house, and taking short trips. Last weekend my older brother and I went backpacking with a couple of our cousins.

What's next? Well, I return to Prairie the 25th of July to go on a canoe trip with the other interns, then we have 2 weeks on campus to prepare for the new students coming in. Then it's off to do a repeat of last year's activities, but as a leader... or rather, a servant-leader.

I may put up some pictures sometime of the last part of Guatemala/El Salvador... but no promises. On the other hand, I may post some random theological wanderings here, because that's what I am-- a purposeful wanderer. I know what I'm doing, I know where I'm going eventually, but until then, I'm wandering this earth, and enjoying it fully. =)

Yours,
Abby/Abner/Abigail/Abby Sue

Culture Day

Us, waiting for our ride. (I labeled in the previous post)


After returning to GBS, we had two culture days with our field coordinator, Mauricio, and his wife Myrna and daughter Andrea. Here is our friend Mauricio:

We went to a breakfast all-you-can-eat buffet that serves authentic Guatemalan food. This included: black bean paste, tortillas, plantain, cantalope, watermelon, papaya, pineapple, fried potatoes, salsa, rice, eggs, and coffee and juice. And it was only 20Q per person! (about $2.50)

Here is the place that they cook the tortillas. There is a fire underneath and a flat surface on top where the tortillas are fried.

Decor: an old pot.



Outside, three sheep were grazing. Jake still owes me 20 Q... he promised it to whoever could pick up the lamb. No one else could, but I did! (It wasn't really fair, I've had experience catching such things without causing trauma to the mother) [I don't think he'll ever pay me =)]

A couple flowers that I found to be really pretty:


A little place that sells "queso crema," or cream cheese.

Another little building on the property.

After breakfast, we drove to a Mayan ruin. It was pretty neat. There was a little museum with diagrams of what the ruin was thought to have looked like, artifacts from it, and descriptions of different people and events.

Wouldn't you like to have your head bashed in like this guy?

A model of the ruins, then a diagram.


The ruins!




Mayan people still perform sacrifices at the ruins, and there was one happening while we were there, so we observed for awhile. It wasn't an animal sacrifice, it was mostly flowers, alchohol, and some groceries.


This is the end, where the people doing the sacrifice are kneeling while a firework goes off. It was a loud firework.

After watching the sacrifice, we had our cultural anthropology class. It was quite fitting that that was the day Vanessa, Brit, and Sarah did their presentation on Guatemala's magic, religion, and worldview. After their presentation, we helped Myrna prepare a Guatemalan meal: refried black beans, meat cooked over a fire, salsa, guacamole, onions, tortillas, and I don't remember what all else. It was good!

Learning the culture of Guatemala with Mauricio was a lot of fun. =)

Here is a final picture, one of Mauricio, Myrna, and their daughter Andrea:

A Series of Random Events

Well, obviously I haven't updated in awhile. Since the last post, we moved to Guatemala Bible Seminary (GBS) in Chimaltenango, spent the weekend with different missionaries, started a more normal class schedule, visited a Mayan ruin, and got things set up with our Chimaltenango ministry church. So, first things first:

Our Ministry Site
Team Omega Force Nine, my team, is working with the iglesia (church), Su Presencia (Your Presence). From Saturday morning to Monday morning we live with different church members and help with the church's ministries. Due to frequent vandalism, the church moved from their previous building, and currently meets in a part of a school. Here is the school at which the church meets.

This is the main school building.

And here is the "church building."


Inside the church:

Our team in front of the church, with the pastor, Daniel. (I'm taking the picture)


Missionary Weekend
Most of the students were paired up together to spend the weekend with a missionary in either Guatemala City, Patsun, or Antigua. I was the only one who did not have a partner, and I stayed with Chris Pater, a music teacher at Seteca (a Bible seminary) in Guatemala City.

Since Chris teaches music, I got to shadow her while she taught a theory class, and a couple of private lessons. Here is one music studio where she teaches:

Over the weekend, we went to the mall, visited some other missionaries, went to Spanish church in the morning and English church in the evening, taught music, and ate at some really nice restaurants. It was a great weekend!


Chris has a little room/apartment in Guatemala City, and an apartment in Chimaltenango, where she also teaches. Here is a brief look at her place in Guatemala City, where I stayed:

At one point, I spent a couple hours on the roof, taking pictures and journaling. Here's the view off the roof into town. Notice the McDonalds sign.


I also picturized myself:

And my feet:

And my purse

And my camera case

And that is the list of my souvenirs, up to this point.

After taking pictures of my stuff, I decided to peek in on a pinata party next door. They had already destroyed the pinata, but I picturized the leftovers of the pinata.



Each of the communities in Guatemala City have gates across the road. A guard mans the gate and allows recognized vehicles in and out. In this picture, you can see the yellow gate:


At the end of the weekend, some of the girls were dropped off at Seteca to be picked up and taken back to GBS. While we were waiting, Savana and I walked around and spied the lovely tree:

We also climbed onto the play set and got our picture taken together. The back row is Kendall on the left and Kaitlyn on the right. I'm in the middle, then on the bottom are Savana on the left and Sarah on the right.

[more in the next post]

Field Trip

Today we went on a field trip to a school in Antigua. The school is run privately by a group of teachers who wanted to provide a good education for indigenous kids. They have 3 1/2 hours of school every afternoon. The school has grades 1-6, and allows kids age 7-18 to attend.

For our field trip, we first met together and learned about the school, then we visited shortly before opening time and watched their opening.

This is the pole building where they have assemblies.



A few boys on the stage



This is our tour guide, with the director of the school. The picture doesn't do justice to her short spiked hair, multi-colored sparkly jeans, and vibrant personality.



A couple of girls from the school, they came and listened while we visited and saw the school.



A couple more girls, they were so sweet.



Looking across a courtyard.



Another courtyard, with Discoverites walking across it.



The school kids started arriving through the gates.



The school assembly. At the beginning of each day, they gather the students together and give them a bit of a pep talk, about how fortunate they are to have the school, cleanliness, and behaving well. Throughout the speech, the students stand in rows and listen in absolute silence. This is the main group of kids:



To the right was another line of kids.



And the same to the left.



It was a really neat trip. We got to see one of the best ways to get indigenous kids out of their poverty and into good jobs. By completing 6th grade, students have a much higher chance of getting a good job than they would have otherwise. Many of the kids walk miles each day to get to school and back, but you wouldn't know it by looking at them.

It was definitely a good field trip.