Light Through the Fuego

A few of you may know that nearly a year ago, June 2018, Volcan de Fuego in Guatemala erupted, wiping out entire towns within a matter of minutes with its deadly polycratic flow of rock and gas. At that time I was in the US, in my comfortable house, surrounded by everything I've ever needed or wanted, looking at pictures and videos of the aftermath.

 

 

 I felt my heart go out to the people, but like most natural disasters in the world, figured there's not much I can do, there's plenty of people already helping, I would just get in the way…and I went on with my life.

 Now, I no longer want to go on with my life without doing something. A few days ago, I personally met two victims who lost everything to the volcano, as well as a few of the firemen who were there to help. Erica, Rudy,  Edwin, and several others gathered around a table with us, and for an hour and a half, they shared chilling stories.

Erica, a young mother of six, was born and raised in Los Lotes, a small town at the base of Volcan de Fuego. The morning of the eruption, Erica noticed that the volcano was acting strange, and things just seemed...different. Erica suggested that they should leave, but her friends and neighbors replied with, "we have lived here forever, we will be fine." A few hours later, Erica heard the explosion and left her house to see, her kids trailing behind, all barefoot. That’s when they saw the lava and huge plumes barreling towards them.

The kids started screaming, Erica desperately trying to console them, even though she was paralyzed with fear. In the next few minutes, Erica´s family of 38, mothers, fathers, cousins, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and children, witnessed a scene that would change the rest of their lives. They felt the heat; they saw it all. They saw the wrath of the volcano consume their neighbors, just ten meters from where they were standing. If they had lived ten meters closer to their neighbors, they too would have died.
 

They jumped in their cars and sped away, "We didn’t close our doors, we didn’t grab anything, we didn’t put on shoes, we just left." 

 

 

Erica and her family were lucky. Tears filled her eyes as she told me, "It is so hard to remember…all of my neighbors died." 

I asked Erica how many people lost their lives that day. The government says the death toll is 165, but she told me, "At least 500 people. Almost our whole town died."

 

 

Rudy, a father of three, said that the hardest part after the eruption, was dealing with the nightmares. "Now it has calmed down, but in the months after, the kids would wake up at 1 am screaming and crying saying, 'the lava is coming'."

 

The bomberos shared stories as well, about how they were there for nearly six months, searching for people, cleaning up, taking food to the people. The chief of the Antigua Bomberos told me that there were so many donations, but he saw the money so misused. He encouraged me, "[If you want to help] Go do it yourself. Buy the things and deliver them, because if you give money, it will not get to the people."

 Thanks to the kindness of others, people affected by the volcan were welcomed into homes and given food and shelter as they tried to recover from the devastation.

But people lost everything. Everyone knows people who have died. Everyone lost their homes, their cars, their pets.
 

It feels like such a daunting project, everyone is in shock in the days and weeks after, and then everyone's lives go back to normal...Except those affected. So, I asked the one biggest need, If there was one thing, how I could help. The answer? Tin for siding the kitchens. They have no kitchens, they are cooking food outside in makeshift tents.

And that leads me to where I am at today.

The price for one sheet of tin is just under $10. For the one community where Rudy and Erica live, they need 215 sheets of tin to complete all of the kitchens - A total of $2,150.

My goal is to raise enough money for 225 sheets of tin, and I will personally go buy the sheets, deliver them to the community, and help to build their kitchens.

But I am asking for your help. Just one sheet will make such a difference. For the price of one night out, you could provide tin for a kitchen for one whole family to eat for years.

 

 

The crazy thing through it all, was they were so thankful just that we were there listening. They were not asking for anything. They have nothing, I have everything, yet they asked for nothing. They simply responded to my question on how I could help: they need tin to finish the kitchens, to have a safe place to cook.

 

 

With this project, 225 sheets of tin, will help complete building kitchens for an entire community of nearly 500 people. 

I am so grateful, and Erica, Rudy, and the Bomberos of Antigua, Guatemala, send their sincere thanks and deepest appreciation.

Alone we can do so little. Together we can do so much.

If you would like to donate, please visit my GoFundMe at Light Through The Fire

 

The joy in my soul is a steady reminder that I am, without a doubt, living my best life.

 

I keep waiting for it to go away, but it just doesn't.  I wake up every morning, not believing that this is my life. Not believing that every goal I made five years ago, every dream I dreamed, is now reality. That all my hard work, determination, perseverance paid off.

 

But here I am. On a rickety chicken bus smushed against the window with five people and seven kids to my right. (Maybe not, but it feels like it.) Definitely what I signed up for.

 

This weekend I took advantage of the money I had saved up for travel and headed to Panajachel, a beautiful town on the edge of Lake Atitlan under two lovely volcanos. I was tired of the hustle and bustle of Antigua and needed to escape to some solitude, and it was perfect.

 

I went alone but headed across the lake to San Pedro where I ran into a good friend I had met in Antigua and another new friend, and we spent the day laughing and talking and exploring. But, in the evening I headed back to my solitude, and in that aloness, was a mess of thoughts around one topic specifically.

 

On December 28th, someone very close to me sent me a message that has not left my mind since. They said,  "You're everything everyone has always wished they could make themselves do. You're the courage everyone envies. You're the freedom and wisdom lacking in all of us."

  
While the comment was probably the biggest compliment I could have received, it also broke my heart a million times, and its not an isolated comment. I don't go a few days before receiving others...

"You're so lucky."

"I can't believe you up and left."

"You're crazy."

"When are you coming home?"

"When are you going to stop living a fantasy and return to real life."

"You're amazing, I could never do that."

"I can't even come visit, I have adult bills…"

 

Hold up, stop the music!! Let me grab the mic, and for the next few minutes I want to encourage you all, while at the same time clearing up a few things that seem to have gotten cloudy and grey in all this volcano ash.

 

"When passion meets determination, you become unstoppable."

A few years ago, I got this crazy idea in my head that I wanted to travel to 25 countries by the time I turned 25. I planned out which countries, I made a budget, I figured out how many hours I had to work to achieve it...and I did it. Thirty-two countries before my 25th birthday.

  
Somewhere in those travels, I decided that the US was not where I wanted to be at this point in life, yet I was tired of the constant moving, meeting people and falling in love, just to say goodbye. So I decided that I was going to live in another country.

 
And I made absolutely no plan, I just booked a ticket on my credit card and figured I would figure it out when I arrived because I KNEW that’s what I wanted.

 

And I did. And I figured it out. And I'm okay. I am working, playing, and paying off my debt despite a million people telling me I wouldn't be able to while living in a third world country. I figured I could work and be happy here, or work there and always wonder...So I just did it.

 (All these guys are from Wisconsin too!)

But guys, I am no one special. I'm a painfully average girl from the Midwest that loves Jesus, people, and cows. (And horses!)

The only difference?

I decided that nothing was going to stop me from getting where I wanted to go. Nothing. Not criticism, not doubters,  not my insecurities, not lack of money, NOTHING.

We as humans do not realize the amount of power we hold in our minds. I remember the day my life changed. It was the day I decided to change my mindset. If you knew 16 year old me, you know, I was insecure, unconfident, I hated myself, my body, life. I spent years wanting to die...but knowing, “I don't want to die, I just know there is more to life."

 
So I changed my mindset. Only positive thoughts. Only I love life. I am happy. Only I am rich. I am successful. I am living my best life. I am beautiful. I am powerful. I believe that God can and will do abundantly more in me and through me than I could ever hope and imagine.

 

You have this power, too. Maybe you aren't going to travel the world and live in another country at a base of an active volcano; maybe you have a family and little babies that need you, but what do you want?? What do you really want in this life? You know. You know what makes your heart come alive. But maybe you have been beaten down by the lies of the status quo. The lies of you need to do this or live this way or save money like this. But you can do it. Make a dream. Make a goal. Make some steps. And make up your mind.

  
Yesterday, I headed for my second vacation in a weekend. I worked last night, but thanks to Dave Ramsey’s budgeting ideas, I had enough Qs to head to the beach, too. I just woke up like, I really don't want to stay in the city today.


 
So I packed my bags, hopped on a bus, met an incredible lady that I talked to for hours, rode three more busses, and arrived at the beach. A futbol game, some beers, more friends, pool, sunset, and a bonfire on the beach, and my soul is content and (almost) ready to head back to work.

 

It’s needed sometimes. Self-care. Alone time. Old friends and familiar places. And my two jobs and constant human interaction wears me out sometimes.

 

And all this magic is within a couple hours of my house.

  
And I don't plan to change a thing, for now. In the next five years, I have some pretty big goals, but for now I am content.

  
And I really, truly want you to be as well. Life is too short to not love what you do every single day. And if I can help you in any way, I'm all ears and practical advice.
So much love sent from me to you. Thank you for your love and unending support. You are powerful.

 Xoxo

Merry Christmas from Guatemala!!

Two months and three days ago I arrived in the land of spitting volcanos and endless adventures.

I have been meaning to update for weeks...But somehow I have gotten sucked into this crazy thing called the work life and time has slipped by. Although I´m not sure I can call the work life work.

Its more like, talking to people, answering questions, entertaining, serving...fun. And getting paid for it.

I have settled into a routine, splitting my time between the hostel, the restaurant, and friends, and practicing my salsa dancing on my days off. But here come the holidays and the free days fill up and I can´t remember the last time I had free time and I absolutely love it.

The hostel is a little haven of Ozzies and a little kitty named Koalita.

(And Beth. Beths the coolest!)

Doozy Koala is open and sunny and people spend the days drinking a cerveza from the bar, eating the to-die-for food made right here, or chilling in the hammocks.

At night the calm transforms to a party with loud music and dancing travelers. My days are spent checking in and out guests, answering questions, giving directions, booking shuttles, and selling tours.

The people are the greatest. The hostel is a family and we have family dinners and events and games and its just the right amount of chill and crazy and just enough people stay around long enough to become friends as the rest come and go, traveling and returning and traveling again.

After a 7-3 shift at Doozy I walk home, past the volcanos, the arch, tripping on the cobble stone streets, and turning down the endless lines of vendors to grab a quick nap before heading to my second job, hanging out with the coolest in Reillys from 6-2.

I have never worked at such a fun, high energy place. My coworkers are the best and a perfect mix of class and sass.

Christmas in Guatemala is the most festivities I have ever experienced in my life. I swear that the whole month of December has been a mix of fireworks and music and vendors in the park and lights and parades and floats and decorations and pine needles...and I can only catch little glimpses here and there as I walk to and from my house and work.

Here, the culture is a bit different than at home. Christmas eve is for party. At midnight, everyone sets off fireworks, says Feliz Navidad, and clinks their glasses of beer. It is kind of a precursor to the fiestas of New Years, and part of me is thankful I am scheduled to work so  I don't have to deal with the masses of people. Even so, what joy. The vibe on Christmas is so happy, joyous...Why cant it feel that beautiful every day?

I´ve gotten this great taste of real life in Guatemala though, and its not all sunshine and roses. (Really, it rained one day!)

I used to walk home at night from work, either at 11 pm or 2 am, depending on my shifts. But little by little I´ve been learning how dangerous this town actually is in the dark hours of the morning. Even though it has become normal for all the locals, I witnessed a couple guys absolutely pummeling another a few weeks ago.  Even though its normal here, its normal in movies, its...normal...A small town girl from Wisconsin where everyone is love and everyone helps everyone can´t quite wrap her mind around the fact that here, you mind your own business. If you see someone getting beat up, you walk away, or become a target as well. It changed something in me and...ubers are my new best friend. Although tourists are rarely targeted for violent crimes, muggings are common, and I guess my life and phone are worth the $2 uber ride.

After my last weekend at the beach (The one with the turtles...and this time a cow!!)

I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Scorpion. He had decided to travel home in my backpack, and didn´t like it when I reached in to grab something. After the initial shock of what I thought was a shard of glass being shoved up the side of my hand, he crawled out and tried to give me a heart attack.

No joke. Worst. Pain. Ever. The pain radiated up my arm, through my shoulder and arm pit. My roomie contacted his doctor friend who said I needed a few injections, so he took me on his motorcycle to a nearby clinic where the heartless nurses stabbed me and injected who knows what, the injections hurting nearly as bad as the sting. I spent a good three days pay, and went to work with a numb hand....then later everyone told me that the "alacran" is actually harmless, though painful, but more like a bee sting than a poisonous snake bite. No injections required. I guess I'll remember that for next time!!

And, thanks to street fruit that I was told not to eat (I´ve never followed the rules...) I got the pleasure of finding out what it is like to have parasites. I will spare you the gory details, but, easy fix. While in the states it would require an appointment, doctor visit, prescription, and lotsandlots of money (Once I looked into it and it would cost $2000 for one pill) Here, no problem...I walked to the pharmacy, told them my issue, they gave me the meds, I paid $4 (Yes. FOUR.) And wah-lah. No more street fruit for me....

But, speaking of cheap prices, no need for street fruit in bags, because I can stock up on a weeks worth of food for about $20.

I went to the local market (All fresh food!!) and bought a bunch of veggies for a total of $5...I was running through in my mind how much this would cost me in the US, and I could get Spinach and tomatoes for $5.

Here, I got spinach, lettuce, cilantro, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, five avocados (Five for the price of one in the US, and 100X better ;)...all for $5.  I´m loving this place more every day.

Feliz Navidad and Happy New Year lovilies. xoxo