Day 41: R.I.P. to My Chumpa

Saturday was a really long day! I was awake for about 20 hours! We woke up around 5:30 to get ready to go to a pool that is in a few towns over called Chocovix. The water wasn't very hot, but it was nice! Antulio, Cyndita, Andreita, and I went. Andrea learned how to swim above water while we were there so that was really exciting! When we got there about 7:00, there was a fair amount of people there- some kids, some teenagers, some women. Then arrived a group of six or seven business men who walked into the pool area and proceeded to strip down to their underwear- their WHITEY-TIGHTEY or skin-colored or grey COTTON underwear- to SWIM. I tried to be cool but I couldn't help but give Cyndi my "what-is-happening-right-now" eyes. After they swam a bit, they proceeded to climb a little building beside the pool and jump off into the water. It was quite an sight and I just kept thinking about how appalled my mother would have been if she were there! ;) Tuli and I decided to have a race to see who was a faster swimmer and before I had time to protest, Cyndita was yelling, "Please clear the middle of the pool, we're going to have a race!" So then EVERYONE was watching. And everyone watched Antulio beat me. Such shame.

After swimming, we climbed rocks in the river that is right next to the pool.

Tuli y yo, the conquerors.

Then we stopped at a little store outside the pool and I bought the most delicious little marshmallow-covered cookies that came with a strawberry jelly to spread on top. 

Ridiciously yummy cookie things.

On the way home, we stopped at the market to get ingredients for pizza, celebrating Andreita learning to swim! I helped Cyndita and Mama Chaito make the pizza. It was so delicious.

 ¡Seis pizzas!

It looks like a lot of pizza, but it was gone by the end of the night!

I had a somewhat chill afternoon, watching movies, napping, whatever. The majority of the Guatemalan students have a big test week this week because their mid-year vacations start after this week, so they were all studying- then we went out dancing later that night.

Ángelito.

R.I.P. to my beautiful green chumpa because some jerk stole it at la discoteca on Saturday. I know some of you might have been wondering if I ever wore anything besides my chumpa, but that's because I loved it. Broke my heart a little bit. I am hoping to encounter the thief in the streets before I leave to recover my precious raincoat.

Sunday, the Lastrapes went to take bread to the shelter instead of church so I went with them. We brought UNO, Twister, and a beach ball. I ended up holding a precious little girl while her mom played UNO. It was fun watching them all play and laugh together. The rules for UNO are wrong- I mean, different- here. For a rule-follower, it was a bit of a hair-pulling experience at first. I had to learn to roll with it, but when you're a competitive person and you end up having to "Draw 18," it's a little hard to roll with that.

They dropped me off at home afterwards and we had a pretty chill afternoon. I Facetimed with mom and then Brittany Anne, which made me a happy girl! 

Sunday night I went with Onelia, Antulio, and Ángel to the misa. After the service, Tuli and Onelia INSISTED that we wait to talk to the Padre. I was super nervous for some reason. We sat and waited for about fifteen minutes while he was talking to other people, then he approached us and greeted us. We ended up staying for about thirty minutes, talking with him. He was one of the coolest people, so nice and down-to-earth. He was willing to talk about whatever with us and laugh with us. He kept laughing at the faces I made, probably because I was so enthralled by what he was saying; he was also especially curious about the Mennonite communities in the U.S. By the time we finished, the church was closed with all the pews upright. We exited out the back with him and said goodbye. It was a super amazing experience. 

When we got back to the house, a new student had arrived! She is a sweet, energetic lady from California and I'm excited to have her here! 

Classes went well this morning with Edna. Still feeling a little wounded about the loss of my jacket, but we have dance class this afternoon and it is also Antonio's birthday, so we are going to be celebrating and eating cake, which is cheery! I hope you all have a great start to your week and thanks for reading!