Con mi tio y tia

With my uncle Fito and aunt Ines.

Some of the normal city life.

I am leaving for the coast tomorrow to see my grandparents, uncle and cousins until Saturday.

On Sunday we leave for El Salvador for the..... beach :)

A volcano outside my window...

Tonight I realized that this is outside my bedroom window...

My family didn't even know it!!  It was funny that I introduced it to them at their own home. My cousin said this volcano is in Antigua, old Guatemala.  

I'm adjusting well.

This past weekend I got to spend some time with my younger cousin Ines and her friends at the beach Montericco.  They were all very nice and funny people.  We celebrated 2 sisters that shared the exact same birthday...so cool for them!  One of them has actually been to California 4 times!  I had a relaxing time, but I also felt like I made myself very distant from the "party".  A bit of homesickness set in.  I tried to be myself and be open but the language barrier got to me.  I was nervous and didn't even want to try... But I really tried to make the best of it.  I always appreciate alone time when I have it. 

 I spent my first Sunday away looking at this at 8 in the morning.

Everyone was still sleeping as I took my ipod, book and journal out to the lounge chair.  I felt as if my worship and the music in my ears was filling the entire seaside and beyond.  

Emmaus was with me.  

He is with me everywhere. 

I really feel that being away is revealing so much more to me about my relationship with God.  Distractions are gone (at least at that exact moment they were).  I had some great time of reflection and was overwhelmed with the thankfulness of my family and community in Lincoln, CA.  I love you all more than I will ever be able to express.  My heart burns for your relationships all the way out here in Guatemala.  Love you :)

More pics of the weekend:

for my fellow volleyball players 

I would wear this dress all the time if I could....

 apparently I can :o)

my beautiful cousin Ines

I think I am really a fish.

First stop: Washington D.C.

I'm here!! It's my 3rd day in D.C. and I just now have time to start my blog!! Every picture and thought have been waiting to be published.

So it begins...

Great flights. 2 window seats! Score! Much rest was needed due to only having 3 hours of sleep my last night at home, so it wasn't anything that music to my soul and a front row view of heaven on earth couldn't fix.

Catching a taxi was a lot easier than I thought with an 80lb suitcase, guitar and backpack. The taxi driver was my personal tour guide through the city lights. The Capitol, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln Monuments all greeted me in the distance as I headed to my dear friend Tasha's apartment.

*Of course* D.C.'s best night for salsa dancing is the night I arrive! Tasha and her sweet cousin Emily didn't have to ask me twice if I felt up to going ;-) I think this was the best night of salsa dancing ever! (and probably the best workout as well) Everyone we met and danced with were not from the same place. People from Spain, Dominican Republic, Cuba, El Salvador, Mexico, Maryland....just to name a few. You would have thought I was already in Guatemala.

My first full day was filled with the D.C. lifestyle. I am overwhelmed by the beauty and culture of this place. We took a stroll through the neighborhoods to have lunch and pastries at some of Tasha's favorite spots, El Salvadorian Food and Eastern Market.

The tall gentleman walking my way joined Tasha and I at the dessert counter.

All 3 of us drooling over the delicacies we wanted led him to purchase them for us! What a nice guy.

Lots of walking, metro, taxi, and bus rides took us to the touristic areas of the city.

I was really looking forward to seeing the Washington National Cathedral. My mind always wonders about these extremely beautiful yet extravagant holy places. I like to think that I see my God as breathtaking and moving as a building like this. There is a purpose for every piece sculpted, every color in the stained glass, each step leading to the open door. Maybe even so much that we get distracted.... This was something that I was just thinking about. Incomplete thoughts. I wonder if this is how God would really want to be represented...? So many unanswered questions.

I pray that this glorifies You.

I pray that I meet You everywhere.

My day ended with 2 wonderful ladies, Ethiopian food, quite the experience (I'm glad I'm not a picky eater and enjoy new foods) and some white wine and live jazz. Definitely a blog worhty day :)