Ahhhh Guate....

I know that I want to have an adventure, yet it seems each day, I need to take a minute to remember what an adventure I am living here in Xela...I live in a house that is over 100 years old, and my room used to be a hallway connecting whatever parts of the house existed. I am living somewhere people lived 100 years ago. Thinking about Xela in year 1909 makes me happy. What an honor. To be so taken care of and welcomed home. I love it.
The other day, I went to one of my favorite places in Xela (Perhaps was lead is a better way to describe it...) Doña Poncha Chocolateria!!!! HA. QUE PERFECTO. Primero, the Doña named her buisness after her abuelita (grandmother) which I think will lead to good luck all of her life because Grandmas and Grandpas are the best in the world...(I am pretty sure Grandpas are good, but I dont quite know first hand). Anyway, she demonstrated all of the wonderful things the Mayan culture (los mayas) used to make chocolate generations ago. Today, her house is more modernly equipped, but what a treasure to discover. Once again, warm chocolate puro has made life bearable...if only we had such a treat in the states. I supposed I can bring some home no? Perhaps...
Last week was also a week of me to learn more about the war here in Guatemala. Particularly entre Los Altos...the mountains where the campesinos live. Anyway, we had a session about the causes of the civil war here that lasted 36 years. 36 years of living in fear, your own government sponsoring the disapperance and death of family and friends, as well as ordering the holocaust of many Mayan pueblos. Destroying the Mayan Puelos was a way of cutting of the guerrillos during the war because they were a refuge for them. Killing innocent people, makes sense to me.
We watched a movie about Oscar Romero (I think he is my priest crush...). It was incredably powerful and moving. It focused on his transformation from avoiding the problems to when he began working first hand for peace in El Salvador. Although we are not living in El Salvador, the stories are very similar amoung most Latin American countries. It is pretty overwhelming. It reminds me that despite all my problems with our government, we are allowed to lead our own lives, to disagree or not, and hopefully not be discriminated against in our culture...(we may still have a ways to go with this issue, but its much better in the states than it is elsewhere).
Anyway, off my crazy soap box, but this past week was pretty incredable for me and really reinforced my lessons from Nica in 2005 and Mexico in 2006. It reminded me of my call. I know that is still a work in progress, but I am learning each day about living in compassion among people, not for them.
The lessons started here in Guate will be most powerful to remember while I work the next many months among those who have not been given the opportunities I have accessed. Thank you Guate...Thank you for being at the start of my journey.