Comfortable:
Well, the last two days of our time at the orphanage have proved to be some of the most enjoyable and hardest ever!
Yesterday, after bible school, we were needed in the babies room due to a shortage of staff. We fed, bathed, changed and played with the 6 babies. This was very comfortable for us since we are very used to that.
However, today after bible school it was time for us to do what the older kids wanted. Here is where things got tough! The orphanage is located a short way up a mountain but the kids wanted to go on a hike to the top of the mountain. They have done this before and assured us it was so beautiful at the top, it would be worth it. Our climb began through beautiful fruit vineyards, under beautiful foliage but got steep very quickly. The orphans ran ahead and literally could run to the top.
While I struggled for my life since the most I have walked in the past years is once around the mall. My heart beat out of my chest, I rested at times and kept on going. Some of the orphans who had made it to the top already, ran down to see if I was ok. One of the kids at the top said "Michelle se murio" and "Michelle esta perdir" which means "Michelle died" and "Michelle is lost" in Spanish, and several came to help. Needless to say, I pressed on with help from Jackie and Rebekah and about 2 minutes from the top.......
Immediately, we were filled with fear as the clouds rolled in and thunder began to boom. In Guatemala, it is the rainy season and when it rains they could get about 12 inches in 1/2 hour. Being at the top of a mountain means that the water would cause a mudslide. We had to call the kids and Alisha from the top, and head down, "quickly". I realized as we were coming down that God (with his sense of humor) allowed this so I had a way to reinforce our bible lesson from today which was "Dios es fuerte" God is strong. I had the opportunity to tell the kids (mostly myself) that God was stronger than the thunder storm and we would make it back before the rain.
Make it we did, and although it was very uncomfortable for me, the little kids cheered when I got down and said you are a "super madre" (super mom) bshoom.
Seing that the mountain was about 2 miles tall it took about 2 hours going up hill and about 30 min back down. (We slid down the mountain, the kids on purpose, me not so willingly)
It was a great experience but it is true that you must be flexible and be out of your comfort zone while away on a mission trip. Our kids found this out too, when they had to wash our clothes and hang them on the line to dry. I doubt they will forget that when they use the dryer at home!! We were even more humbled when after dark we walked by the laundry room and there were two 8 year-olds washing all of the kids socks who went to the mountain with us. The girls spent hours washing them on a washboard and hanging them up, all with a smile.
Rebekah decided to try cleaning our socks and found it to be alot of fun. We'll see when we get back!
We miss you all,
The Ziners
