Show notes
Tune in this week as Jesse and I talk all about my recent trip to Guatemala! I have alluded to this trip to Guatemala in a few earlier episodes, but I am so excited to finally sit down with Jesse and share more of the story. This was truly a bucket list trip for me. Ever since we adopted David, I have wanted to visit Guatemala to learn more about his culture and history and to better understand what his mom experienced growing up there. I never imagined the opportunity would just fall into my lap the way that it did.In this episode, I am sharing some of the things that I learned on my trip, the people I met, and the moments that really stayed with me. I had the privilege of spending time with women from a remote village, many of whom work incredibly hard just to provide for their families. We came with some ideas of what we would do together, but we quickly learned that we needed to be flexible and willing to listen. That sometimes meant playing games, coloring, making tamalitos, or simply sitting down and asking a woman about her day.One of the most meaningful parts of the trip for me, though, was seeing how much these women had to share once they felt comfortable. We didn’t speak the same language, but we found that there were so many things we could communicate without words. We laughed together, prayed together, and heard stories of hardship, perseverance, and faith.I am also talking about the differences between the communities we visited, the challenges facing local schools, and some of the things that surprised me about Guatemala, including how beautiful and peaceful it was, and, of course, I have to tell you about the food! This trip really gave me a much deeper appreciation for David’s birth mother and all that she has been through. I hope that you enjoy hearing about it as much as I enjoyed getting to experience it! As always, please feel free to reach out with your questions and/or thoughts!In This Episode[0:36] - Jesse and I are having a conversation about my recent trip to Guatemala![1:14] - I share an email that I got recently from a listener named Rhonda who discusses how much my 10K run and Jesse’s CrossFit competition inspired her.[3:59] - Hear how a church invitation unexpectedly gave me the opportunity to visit Guatemala and explore David’s heritage![6:52] - I explain how church leaders invited me to minister to Guatemalan mothers despite my limited involvement with the trip.[9:14] - I reflect on how it didn’t seem like David being from Guatemala was why I was chosen for this trip.[11:29] - I talk about Orphan Outreach which changes children’s futures via sponsorship, therapy, education, and family support.[13:08] - The children are taught Spanish in addition to English.[16:21] - Hear about how the group adapted plans to meet the women’s greatest needs: encouragement, fun, and rest.[19:29] - I describe how the women opened up through laughter, heartfelt sharing, and a beautiful experience of collective prayer![22:18] - I reflect on the women’s universal struggles and the devastating poverty they faced, including food insecurity and unaffordable medical bills.[23:16] - I add how the women deeply depend on God because of their severe financial struggles.[25:26] - The women and I exchanged some traditional cooking lessons, making tamalitos and tortillas together.[27:05] - Hear how the women enjoyed relaxing activities, prayer, encouragement, and fellowship despite language barriers and difficult circumstances.[29:36] - I adapted our plans, using coloring activities to connect personally with the guarded women.[31:59] - I add how I encouraged women via personal conversations before unexpectedly spending time ministering to the school’s teachers.[34:54] - I struggled to identify resources for teachers required to teach English without knowing English themselves.[37:06] - I discuss how villagers rely on walking, informal transportation, and home-based work rather than phones and conventional jobs.[39:58] - While I didn’t see any coffee plantations, I saw unexpected beauty, cleanliness, tranquility, lush vegetation, and abundant tropical fruit![42:32] - Dragonfruit was in season, and I recall enjoying Guatemala’s food while relying on faith to endure being sick throughout the trip.[44:25] - My trip to Guatemala really deepened my gratitude for David’s mother and makes me want to go back.Links & ResourcesCrystal PaineOrphan OutreachSocial MediaCrystal Paine on Instagram (@moneysavingmom)Crystal Paine on Instagram (@crystaliscleaning)Crystal Paine on LinkedInCrystal Paine on TwitterCrystal Paine on GoodreadsMoney Saving MomMoney Saving Mom on FacebookMoney Saving Mom Deal Seekers Facebook [email protected] Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands