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