celebrating freedom...of all sorts

monday marked guatemala’s 187th anniversary of independence from spain.  we had a three-day weekend from school accompanied by more parades than i’ve ever seen in my life, live music, fireworks (of course...they shoot off fireworks for anything at any time of day here!) bands from every school in town, the running of the torch by anyone who has a tin can and some fire, a party at our school with typical guatemalan dishes that our teachers made for us, and many other festivities.  it was such a great cultural experience, and i’m so thankful i was able to participate in it.

random guatemalans running with the flag and a torch [note the whistles in the mouths].

this was one group of hundreds.  seriously.

my friend kathryn and me in front of the municipal hall.  you can sort of make out the

1821 sign in the background...signifying their year of independence.  this was just before the fireworks show.

one of the many bands in the parades.  this was taken right outside my house at about 8:30.  

they like to get an early start.  they're all very good and take a lot of pride in being in the parades.

it’s hard to believe the halfway point has come and gone and i’m on the downhill slope of my time in antigua.  last week i was thinking back over my month here in guatemala.  it’s been an up and down journey, filled with bouts of homesickness for my family and friends as well as rewarding times with the language and plenty of memorable cultural experiences.  but through the good times and the difficult times, i can tell that so much growth and preparation has taken place in my heart to prepare me for boystown.

whenever i think about the fact that i am going to be moving to reynosa in just a couple of months, tears come to my eyes.  this long journey of two and a half years is almost coming to completion.  and really it’s just beginning.  realizing this just reminds me of the Lord’s faithfulness.  only he could continue to fuel a fire in my heart for his people in boystown.  so knowing that, i know he is with me in every step of this journey, even the difficult times.  and i know he will use it all for his purposes.  and there is freedom in knowing that he has a grand, beautiful plan...that i only see a sliver of.  there is freedom in trusting him.

so this week, i’m celebrating freedom of all sorts.