Let’s talk about transportation.If we had wanted to, we could have volunteered to be motion sick for 8 hours straight in a chicken bus that was driving up the curvy roads to Nebaj.

 

Or we could have flown.

 

Guess what? We flew.All I can say is that the half hour flight was waaaay better than that drive could have ever been.Especially since the pilot let Nate fly.

 

Another great thing about the Nebaj trip was that this was when we really got to know the people we were traveling with.Long hours of playing True Colors (aka “The game you play when you want to lose your friends”), laughing together in restaurants over three hour meals, and walking down dirt streets, in the rain, under an orange poncho can bring you together like nothing else.

 

All I know is that, after this trip, I would go anywhere with these people.It was that good.

 

Back in Guatemala City, we met up with John and Emily Wiggins.John and Emily deserve a lot of credit for eXchange being in Guatemala.They were the first ones to take a trip, and their experiences motivated the rest of us to get involved.

Not only are they committed to visiting Guatemala and helping out all the children there, but they have also decided to adopt a sweet little Guatemalan boy named Juan Pablo.

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Along with hanging out with John and Emily and the babies, Scot, Steph, Mariah, Jody, Nate, and I visited several orphanages and transitional homes.

At this point, I think I should tell you that while we were on this trip, we discovered that the absolutely best thing for us to do would be to pack up, move south, and live and work in Guatemala.Yeah. Right. I wish.A lot of good things did come out of the trip though, including dreams and ideas that we are already putting into action. Doesn’t it kill you that I say that, but I won’t tell you exactly what we have planned? I hate it when people tease me with vague statements! Nate did the same thing to you in his last post! But, the thing is, we’re just getting started on these projects and everything could change.One thing I hate even more than vague teasers is telling you we’re going to do something and then not doing it.So, I will tell you this: what we think these kids need most is to feel loved.They need to be recognized as individuals, not just faces in an orphanage. They need to feel special and important.And we think eXchange is ready to help do just that.

Rest assured, when we know more, you’ll know more.We won’t keep you in the dark for long.

Until then, keep praying. There are lots of details and obstacles that need to be worked through!

Rachael