Juan Sissay is a non-profit collective that does much for the community. This is one of the leading characteristics that intrigued me into approaching it as my first Escuela. Today’s weekly venture? Teaching English at a local school 10 minutes from the city centre. Nine of us from the school piled into the back of…
I awoke to the ‘snap, crackle pop’ of firecrackers exploding in the streets … I was somewhat disoriented, not knowing what was going on, and curious as to whether this was to be a typical awakening to my life in Guatemala? At first it sounded like brief but sporadic splashes of lightening, and then with…
How interesting to come to a country not knowing the language … Now I know truly understand and empathize with what it feels to be a minority!! The ability to really speak with anyone on an intellectual basis is impossible at this point and my attempts at forming an intelligible, unambiguous sentence is like pulling…
Herein began the day of the ultimate adventure …traversing the mountains in a Guatemalan bus. I left the orphanage with a multitude of heartfelt ‘Adios’es, making my way to an unknown bus heading to Quetzaltenango (commonly and fondly referred to as Xela — pronounced Shela) at an unknown time and departure point. I was ferried…
Oh how difficult it is to say goodbye to the love of ones life. I’ve had to do that twice in my lifetime … farewell is so much less permanent, yet still heartbreaking in the moments of uncertainty. The debate of a time being a drop in the bucket versus a lifetime of moments will…
be open to possibility know that it’s hard work and worth the effort involved focus (use a keyword – breath) it’s not the winning, but rather the process, the fight to get there be on the edge of doing your best don’t be defensive; admit to and think about both the positive and negative have…
NPH ( “Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos“; translates as: Our Little Brothers and Sisters) has 19 orphanages in 9 countries, located in both Latin and South America. The NPH orphanage in Guatemala was founded in 1996 and houses 345+ children ranging in age from 0 – 21 years of age. Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos was founded by Father…
I was so pleased to be able to transfer all my winter belongings from Ed’s place to the cubby hole at my Fathers where I store my entire life (that’s worth an entire entry unto itself!). Not only does it feel good to compartmentalize my existence into tidy square bins (out-of-sight is most definitely out-of-mind…
My heart is so filled with gratitude for Frank Hoffele and his wife Barb …. he is a remarkable man who owns a pre-loved thrift store in Harriston called ‘Friends Caring and Sharing’. The principle and mantra that they live and work by in life is caring for others in God’s name. In reality, this…
Today I bit the bullet … commitment in the name of a plane ticket, booked through cheapfares.com (gREAT prices … discovered through lowfares.com, another great flight search engine .. wicked!). But with change and commitment comes at times, turmoil and sadness. This day lacked not the opportune moments for deep growth and metamorphosis. Growing pains,…