UPDATE #2

Sorry it's taken all week for me to get this update - I'm going to try to do one every couple of days after this so I don't have to write as much at one time and you don't have to read as much... should be MUCH better that way!! Here we go. Week 2. Enjoy. 

EXTRAORDINARY

 The mujeres (women) de Casa Angelina all read a book together. Every other week they get together to discuss the book and such. After they finish the book, everyone goes out for a celebration in the city. This time I'm reading the book with everyone. It's called Extraordinary, by John Bevere, which is fun for me since his son Alec is one of my good friends from high school. It's a really great book, too, about living extraordinarily as Christians. I would recommend it to anyone because it really is a testament to God's extraordinary love and the incredible opportunities and rewards we will have from living through Him, pleasing Him, loving Him, striving for Him. It really is funny that I'm in Guatemala. It's funny because in July I listened to God when He said not to go to CU Boulder, and then I had the worst semester of my life in Colorado Springs. I was just angry, depressed, felt alone... I had moments of regretting my decision not to go, and moments where I just wanted to lay in bed all day and watch my favorite TV show. I was disappointed by God, or so I thought at that time. In this book it talks about the reward that you receive when you listen to God, a lesson that is also all over the Bible. And now, in March, after a really hard 6 months of learning and growing painfully, I am seeing the fruit of listening to God and living to please Him. I AM IN GUATEMALA, living at an orphanage and already being hugely blessed and learning more than I expected to learn on this entire trip. It's ironic however, that for two whole days I laid of a comfy leather couch under a blanket in Guatemala, reading a book about living extraordinarily, in between taking care of Señorita Monica. Just makes me laugh a little bit. No complaints, though. It's been great.

AL DOCTOR

 Today, Monica, Nidia, Jacki, Fabiano and I went to a doctor's office in Chimaltenango. We left the compound around 8:30 and drove into the city. It is hard for Monica to maneuver her way into the bathroom or into bed, much less down the steep stairs and into a big red van. So that was really a fun way to start the day for everyone. Still, once we were settled and on our way it was a nice, scenic drive into the city. It was quickly less pleasant once we stopped in front of the doctor's and Monica had to get out of the van and walk 40 feet down the sidewalk to get inside. In fact, it was such a production that someone finally broke down and brought her a wheelchair from inside. We finally got inside and waited for about an hour for Monica to get an X-Ray. I waited with Jacki, one of the orphans who also had a check-up that day. While we were all waiting, Fabiano and I walked across the street to a little tiny store. It was probably the size of my walk-in closet in Colorado and it was full of candy and chips and drinks. Fabiano bought me some cookies, since I haven't converted much money into quetzales (the currency here). They cookies were called Chokis and they were delicious - pretty much just triple chocolate Chips Ahoy, but whatever. We finally got home around 12:30, so for the rest of the day I ate good food and took a nap. Somehow I am exhausted.

A DAY OFF!

 I left the compound at 8:00 for a field trip. A well-deserved day off, if I do say so myself. A reward for making it through the longest week of my life without pulling out all of my hair. I would like to begin the story of my outing by saying that I LOVE the Hunger Game series. I mean, I was into the Hunger Games before they became a big deal. So you can imagine my disappointment when I found out that I would be out of the country when the movie was released. Thank the Lord God in all of His love and mercy, I found out that I could go to the movies in Guatemala and even though movies come out usually a month or two later here, the Hunger Games was right on schedule. I was reasonably excited. Bethany, and American Jennifer, and a Canadian Kari who all live here, go out and have Ladies' Day every once in a while. Jen is a doctor and runs the clinic that's at the orphanage. Kari is the wife of Yuri, and they are the directors of the orphanage. Obviously, Bethany is the pastor. They all work so hard and have families on top of everything - needless to say, they don't get out much. Luckily for me, I was joining them this time, to go enjoy the movies and a few other rare luxuries. A girl named Lucia tagged along too, because last time everyone went out Lucia and I stayed here to take care of Monica. So this was a very exciting day for everyone. We drove to the first mall, all smiles, and Bethany said that she had a HUGE surprise at the movies. We went to a theatre called The V.I.P. to see the movie that I was already so excited about, and I didn't even know the half of it until we were inside. I turned the corner and saw that each movie chair was a big fat recliner chair with a side table next to it. Righteous. Once I was seated and completely comfortable I picked up the menu from my table and looked at my options. Once I had decided against crepes, and against steak and sandwiches and candy and anything else in the world, I pressed a button to call over a waiter, and ordered some popcorn - half light and half caramel. It was the best decision I'd ever made - delicious. You probably didn't know that popcorn tastes better when it's delivered to you in your recliner chair by a man in a tuxedo while you're watching the Hunger Games. So let me just tell you from experience - it is. So after the most incredible and exciting Hunger Games movies, we drove to a DIFFERENT mall to grab lunch. I didn't eat much though because we were about to get my second favorite thing in the universe - FROZEN. YOGURT. It really was the best, and it was an incredible day. We got back at 5:30, and since it was Saturday it was Youth Group night. They all came over to Hospitality after their bible study time and watched TV. Someone discovered my tattoo... and after that I ended up drawing lots of pictures and things on lots of different kids. Sweet. All in all, it was a fantastic day and so very nice to have a break.

20 MINUTES

That's how long I was outside. It's Sunday and today Monica's doctor/surgeon came to visit her and see how everything was. AFter a great 40 minute visit, he left and we knew what the next steps were for Monica (literally). No more rolling, adjustable hospital bed. No more bed pan - time to walk to the bathroom. No more nightgowns - real clothes only. No more sponge baths - shower as usual. She can either lay down or sit up. Back to normal life now, Monica. So of course, everyone was excited and relieved about these changes, as the past week had been physically and mentally exhausting for all of us. At least, everyone was excited except Monica. TOUGH LOVE was coming hard and fast. Pretty sure that after about 4 hours of tough love, that Monica started to really hate me. She won't talk to me, look at me, won't let me help her. It's hard, definitely. My patience is really being stretched, which is probably really good. But I don't know what to do. I want to help her but now she won't let me. It's probably better that way anyway - now she's definitely being independent, since she wasn't getting much help from me, and now she's not getting any. The hard part of tough love is the first part - the tough part. But if I want her to get better quickly and well, then I'm going to be tough. I'm going to make her do it herself. So. For twenty minutes I left her in the care of Julia and Gabby and went running, running, running around the compound, blowing off steam and enjoying the sunlight. The other 14 hours and 40 minutes of my day? On the computer, reading books, sleeping, working out, eating, eating more, and living inside a 120 sq. ft. apartment with a girl who thinks I'm the worst. Cool. Today has also been a week, officially, since I lost my Bible, which feels terrible. It's a bit lonely up here in this apartment some days but I know that this is all really, really, REALLY good for me. Learning lots.

KINDRA'S CLOSET

Kindra's Closet was thought up by none other than the beautiful Kindra Rains, the younger daughter of Ivan and Kim Tait, who started the orphanage. It's a shop where the older kids can but things with their own allowance. Nice clothes, shoes, and other things. So this week a team of 8 people is here from Colorado Springs and one of my jobs as the intern here is to help guide them and assist them in their projects. Their first project is to paint Kindra's Closet a delicious lemon-custard-yellow. I've had to be out of the house pretty frequently. Although Monica is wonderful, it will be really nice to have some time away from each other after 100% contact all week. It's a bit rainy today and I continue running through the storms between my house and the Frazers and Kindra's Closet. At the Frazer's house, Bethany and I are watching my favorite TV show called Once Upon a Time, which I started watching with my mommy but have to finish here. It's fun, but different without momma. (I miss you, Mommy. and Daddy too. and not Corie... just kidding. I miss Corie too. XOXO) The Frazers have also taught me this AMAZING board game called Settlers of Catan. I'm buying one when I get back. It's so much fun. It's been a busy day finally, and I'm really thankful to finally be running around and doing things. I love it.

STAIRS

The team was here today at 8:45. In the mornings I've been starting them out with worship, with the help of Andrew on the guitar. It's really been fun. Today they're going to finish painting and move onto some other projects like putting in clothes lines behind the Leyes House and moving some beds. I went back and forth again today between my place and the Frazers and el equipo (the team) and around 12:30 we met downstairs for lunch. I went downstairs to eat with the team and about 15 minutes later, Bethany walked in. "Kellie, look at the stairs." What? She walked out and looked at the stairs to the apartment. It's either something bad, good, or just strange happening over there. I look. Monica is galway down the stairs with her crutches, surrounded by 5 people, none of whom are helping her very much at all. Wait... Monica. Is walking... down the stairs. ***PROCESSING, PROCESSING, PROCESSING*** WHAT!?!?!? I was so excited as we clapped for her and cheered her on and I winked at her and I was so proud. I know she could do it, she just had to know it for herself. I guess her attitude finally caught up with her body. So Monica walked outside downstairs up a hill past 3 houses and into the Genesis House to visit her sisters all day, and then she came back past the houses down the hill up the stairs inside and stayed here. This is the girl that cried every time she had to walk to the bathroom to use the toilet or shower. Now, she was all over the place. Finally, I see her smile. It's all been worth that moment.

Love,
Kellie

UPDATE #1

Guatemala, in 3... 2... 1... 

FLIGHTS 

As we're taxiing on the tarmac at the Colorado Springs Airport, the kid behind me asks his brother how high we are. Brother responds, "We're still on the ground, Jeremy." Once the plane finally begins a noisy, shaky takeoff toward Houston, Jeremy asks his brother if we're there yet. No. This might be a long flight for both of us - his because he's anxious and excited to go to Houston and do whatever he's going to do there. I, on the other hand, might have a long flight because I didn't sleep, I'm all alone, and I feel like throwing up from emotion and nerves. Vomitando. Thankfully though, I fell asleep quickly, as did the 250 pound, 65-year-old man sitting next to me in the tiny plane. There was about a half hour left on the flight when we both woke up. I found out that his name was John, he has four grandchildren, and travels very frequently because he trains people on how to install air conditioning appliances. He travels so much, in fact, that he is a member of the President's Club, where he ended up taking me once we reached Houston. The President's Club was very spacious, quiet, and cushiony. It also provided free food and drinks, free WiFi, and very comfortable lighting. Thank you, John, for the sweet hookups. I high-fived myself once he left. From Houston, the flight left at 11:30 and I think there were about four missions teams there. I decided that I'd talk to a few of them, see if they were going to be anywhere close. On the plane a woman from one of the missions teams sat next to me. She is 28 and her name is Diana - not Debbie. She is really a great person - we talked for the entire 2.5 hour plane ride. They're all from Tennessee… once I'm there I will be two hours away. And In January we're going to go to the Passion Conference in Atlanta. Before I left, everyone had me very worried about the airport in Guatemala. They said that people would try to take my luggage, that people would try to abduct me… it was the most simple airport I've ever been to in my life and everyone was really nice. It was so easy that I thought I was doing something wrong. People are so scared of the world - even airports - and I understand that it's dangerous. But if you have your wits about you, constantly stay aware, and understand where to go and what to do, then it's nothing to worry about. Not a thing!

MONICA 

At first I thought I would be just teaching music at Casa Angelina. I guess that God wasn't thinking the same thing (which isn't unusual for Him and me)… under His provision for myself, the orphanage, and a girl named Monica, I was coming at just the right time to do something else. Monica is a 17-year-old who grew up with an undeveloped hip. It was going okay for her until she continued to grow taller and as the rest of her body grew it became almost impossible to walk because of the difference in her legs. Last week she had a hip replacement to fix this problem but when they went in during the operation to screw the hip into her leg they didn't realize how weak her femur had become; the bone cracked vertically. The next day they but a metal casing around her femur and attached the hip. Her recovery jumped from three weeks to three months, which so happens to be how long I'm in Guatemala. While I was on the way to the orphanage from the airport they were on the way from the hospital. And they were 20 minutes behind us. We arrived and as I stepped out of the van I was flooded with memories brought on by the familiar smell of wood and rain. But I had no time to reminisce now - I grabbed my suitcases and carried them upstairs. Unpack, change from boots into cooler shoes, no time to go to the bathroom, move the furniture, clean clean, and there she was. I was becoming a full-time nurse for a complete stranger and there she was in the back of the van screaming in pain. She screamed when they took her out, she screamed while they moved her into a chair to carry her up the steep stairs. She screamed the whole way and while we were getting her into bed, while we were helping her change into different clothes, while we bathed her with washcloths on her bed, while she went to the bathroom in a bedpan, while we changed her again because she didn't make it in the pan… I prayed the whole time. "God, please, PLEASE, give me strength and give her peace. Ease her pain, Father." After a while it got better. We couldn't get her to eat but without food her medicine would make her sick. So we made her eat a Nutrigrain Bar. Then we were able to give her some medicine but it didn't work right away. Her pain must have been incredible because the tears never stopped that night. A woman named Magda stayed with me because it would have been impossible to do alone. We were up five times that night, helping her move to her side, helping her sit, helping her go to the bathroom. I was awake as much as I was asleep that night. The next day I was exhausted. People came in and out pretty frequently to see her and at one point we had so many people around that I was able to sneak away to shower and sleep after that, for about 20 minutes. Monica is really sweet. But everyone's sour side comes out when they're in pain like that. Monica and I can do this. I know it. She will get better - pronto.

SERVICIO UNO: MARIA & ESPERANZA

 At 10:00 I left the Hospitality House (the apartment where Monica and I are living now) and I went downstairs to church. It was then that I realized that since my arrival, this was my first time outside. It was warm and I was grateful to move away from the place. Right underneath the Hospitality House is the Dining Hall. That's where they have church, too. So I went into the Dining Hall and came in contact with the rest of the kids for the first time. They aren't shy; immediately two or three little girls ran up to me and attached themselves to my body. I recognized other immediately. There was Asustena, Byron, Lester, Tito, Abi, Kimberly, Marisa, Abi. But I was looking for one little girl in particular. Maria was two years old when I came in 2010 and I fell in love with her then. She was precious that I wanted to adopt her. I would say "Maria, besame!" and she would kiss my cheek so softly that it made me want to cry. She was older now though - how old? I didn't know. I was looking for her face. It's not like I wouldn't remember it. I went to sit down next to some of the 3, 4, & 5 year olds who were clinging to me. Abi and Blondi both crawled on my lap. Then a little girl with long black hair skipped across my line of vision into the row in front of me and turned around to smile at me. I started crying. Maria. She asked my name and I told her "Me llama, Kellie, Maria!" and she smiled just like she did always. I knew that she wouldn't remember me, but she would always have the most special place in my heart. Bethany Frazer, the pastor at the orphanage, preached about the hope that we have in the cross. "La esperanza de la cruz." She said that even when the storm is raging on the sea and tormenting your mind and your soul and your heart, that if Christ is your anchor nothing can make your boat sink. The waves can be all around and the rain can come pouring down and the wind can be tearing at your clothes and at your boat and everywhere around but with Christ, we have the hope of the cross to keep us afloat. Nothing can make us sink.

THE FRAZERS 

So I take care of Monica from the time when I wake up until lunch is over in the afternoon around 2:30 or 3:00, and I go back to Hospitality House around 6:30 or 7. During this free time for the past two days I have been visiting the Frazers. They're the American family who are the pastors at Casa Angelina. They have three kids named Ethan, India, and Ariana. Their names are Bethany and Andrew. I really like Bethany and I think we'll get along really well. So Sunday and Monday I was there, hanging out with them, drinking tea, making muffins, playing games and just talking. I know that we're going to have a really good time. It's hard, though, too, because I don't want to go there every day - they need family time and I need to branch out as well. It's nice that we all have phones, that way I can just call if I need help or have a question. 

OATMEAL 

I had some strange nightmarish dreams last night. I think just being in a new place and all takes some time to adjust even while I'm asleep. I keep waking up, at 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 AM (only once on account of Monica). The birds here are incessant. They sound like birds but also like squirrels and crickets and car alarms and whistles and some sing melodies like church bells. And it's constant. There' s one that taps on my window. It's not so bad once you get used to it but it can get annoying after not sleeping much. I finally got out of bed at 7:30 and went to help with Monica. For the first time the weather was rather chilly. It was rainy and foggy and I couldn't see past our porch, but every other day it's been 70 degrees and sunny. For breakfast they served eggs and oatmeal with banana slices. It was so delicious, especially because I love oatmeal so much. I felt pretty sick earlier today, but feel a lot better now though after taking a nap this afternoon and relaxing all day. Monica was good today and only had one major breakdown which is a huge improvement. We've been watching movies and now we're watching my favorite - Pride and Prejudice. Or in Spanish: Orgullo y Prejudicio. I still love it and it's good that I've watched it so many times because I can still understand what's going on even though it's in a different language. Besides, it's a good way to learn. 

 So that's all I have as of right now… but expect updates at least once a week. I have so much more to tell you all and once I have the chance to actually take pictures, I'll upload some! I miss you all very much and I really appreciate your prayers and support. I really miss you all and hope to hear from you soon via email, Facebook, Skype, etc. SOY EN GUATEMALA!! Ayayayayyaaay!! :) 

 Love, Kellie