Spring break in Guatemala was... AMAZING!

5:00 AM we woke up in Gainesville, FL, packed Seth’s car and drove to pick up Nathan at the airport and Noah from his house.  After a 5 hour drive down to Miami we were joined by our friend Czar and driven to the airport by his girlfriend Cindy.  Just after 2:00 PM we were on the plane on the way to Guatemala.

On the plane Noah made friends with an Israeli girl named Tsiel who was traveling to Gmala to meet up with her friends who had been traveling up through South America for over 6 months.  When we landed I met a girl named Andrea who was from Orlando, FL but was visiting her family in gmala.  Both of them ended up being great great connections and friends to have as Andrea helped us bargain for a shuttle to Antigua and Tsiel introduced us to her friends who hooked us up with a hostel in Antigua.

To make a long story short, because I just realized how long I could really talk about this trip, I will summarize and just give highlights from here.

Day 1

-Land and drive to antigua

Day 2

-Wake up and explore antigua

-Hike up to a cross on a cliffside for a great view of the city

-Hike a volcano Pacaya (one of the most active volcanos in central america) where we roasted marsh mellows over lava and ate them while watching a beautiful sunset.

-Bus back to Antigua where we cleaned up and went out to eat at the Crazy Monkey bar and grill.

Day 3

-7:00AM shuttle to Panajachel

-Explore the town, find a hostel, connect with local missionary Loyd

-Eat lunch at Sandra’s (incredible meal!)

-Lead worship at coffee shop church

-Run to the lake to catch the sunset

-Dinner on the town

-Rooftop chilling and star gazing to end an incredible day

Day 4

-Morning private boat ride around the lake Atitlan

-Swim in hotsprings

-Jump off boat in the middle of the lake

-Explore local village and play basketball with some school kids

-Shop at the local markets in Pana, lunch with Loyd, and then take shuttle to El Paredon

Day 5

Surf at sunrise

relax all day in hammocks on the pacific coast

Surf

Eat

Surf

Play cards with fellow bungalowers, eat, chill on the beach and sleep

Day 6

Enjoy last morning on the beach

Boat and truck to Sipicate

Chicken bus to Gmala City

Get in crazy taxi for 2 hour scavenger hunt for a hostel

Meet some more awesome Israeli people and just chill at the hostel for the night

Day 7

-Fly home

How can you deny the power that has been placed in music.  “Secular” or not it moves us... drives us to feel something... evokes emotion.  No matter the tempo, rhythm, key, tone there is always a reaction.  God himself finds it so important, so paramount that he surrounds himself with creatures that do nothing but SING praises to him.  The most powerful being he created, the one who turned against him, was in charge of the songs of heaven.  When I think about this power, this gift he has in-trusted us with, I can’t help but be humbled.  His word calls us to make a distinction with our words... with our sounds.  I want to make a distinct sound with my life... with the music of my life.  One that evokes emotion, one that inspires, one that brings joy, and ultimately glory... but not to me.  To Him.

“Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the flute or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes?  Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?  So it is with you...”

                                                     I Corinthians 14: 7-9

/KC