Coming Home
Trip Start
May 23, 2007
1
21
22
Trip End
Oct 03, 2007
Quetzaltenango,
Guatemala
Monday, September 3, 2007
I am coming home a little sooner than originally planned. My final day for volunteering was going to be Sept. 20 with my flight leaving Oct. 3. I thought I would need the extra time to pack up, wrap up things and travel before finally coming home. But I have done all the traveling I want to do and I do not need a lot of extra time. Plus I have been very worried about my Grandma. Her heart is failing and it is only a matter of time. I am anxious to get home and see her again. I changed my plane ticket and I now arrive back home Sept. 18 in about 2 weeks. My last week of volunteering is next week. After almost 4 months of English classes my students have dropped like flies. The small groups remaining will not be sorry to have all of their afternoons free again when I leave.
It is amazing that I made it all the way from Jefferson, Iowa to Xela, Guatemala in one day when I came down here. I left home around 3am in the morning to get to the DSM airport. Then I flew to Atlanta and then from there I flew to Guatemala City. Then I drove 4 hours to arrive in Xela aroudn 6pm that same day. Coming home is going to take a lot longer. I depart Xela by bus on Sunday, Sept. 16 for Guatemala City where I have to overnight. Then I fly to Atlanta on Sept. 17, but I get in too late to catch a flight to DSM so I have to overnight in Atlanta. Than on Sept. 18 I fly from Atlanta to DSM. It will be a long 3 days.
Sometimes you just know something and I know it is time for me to go home. I was so scared before coming down here and wanted to back out 3 times leading up to my departure, but once I got here I could not believe how amazing this experience has been. It was hard adjusting in the beginning, but I never thought about returning home. Then I got into a very busy routine and I have not looked back. During my many hours in vans and buses traveling on the weekends or just to teach and back home during the week I have reflected on what led me to the point of getting here and how I want this experience to change my life for when I return. My blogs may not show or talk about God or my faith a lot, but believe me I have felt God with me every step of the way. I have had praise on my lips more times in one week here than I ever did in a month back home. I have felt protected, comforted, guided, given strength, patience and love when I needed it.
I have a friend down here who does not believe in God. I met her by living in the same apartment and when religion was brought up you could hear in her comments that by me getting defensive or starting a lecture was not going to change her mind. I decided to live my beliefs and by my actions show people that I really believe in the cross hanging around my neck. And slowly we have come to talk about my faith. She started asking me questions one night and now we have had several conversations about it. I do not know that I am changing her mind a lot, but by not being pushy she respects my faith. She knew a lot of hardships growing up and only knew of the faith where you can not question anything and where you are told you will go to hell for this, this and this. I think it amazes her when I talk about my church back home and how we are all regular people just trying to do our best and love others around us. I have never been shy about the fact that I am a Christian and I have grown in my confidence when I say this. Others have asked me about my beliefs and it has been wonderful to share my faith. I promised myself that I would be that confidant and open when I get back home.
Well I am anxiously anticipating my return and seeing all of you again. I think my body is ready to be home too. My toe is infected and has been for about a week and a half. It isnt black or green yet so I am not worried, but I want to get home and let it rest and heal before it has to be cut off. Also I can only partway hear in my right ear. I think it is from wearing ear plugs every night and the wax has built up. As many times as I have cut myself or pinched myself in the last couple days it is probably safer for me to be home. Although these things tend to happen at home too as many of you who know me well can remember. Nurse Mom better be ready for me!
Things I will miss are the fresh tomatoes and other produce here. But by far the tomatoes are almost as good as my moms home grown tomatoes. I will miss the Latin music and the friends I have made. I will definately miss some of my students and all the kids at the daycare center. There will be lots of tears in those final days. I will not miss the pollution, the bus, the cold, carrying cash around everywhere, sharing a small kitchen with 9 other people who all want to cook at the same time. When I get home I will savor having heat inside my home and in buildings, brushing my teeth using water from the faucet, not having to lug gallons of bottled water home to use for everything, and my family and friends.
I cant wait to see everyone when I get back and show you all my pictures and share the stories I forgot in my blogs.
Love and blessings,
dianaj25
