Category: Learning

Well…it’s been almost one month since I’ve been back in the U.S. after living in Guatemala for almost two years… and I have to say…re-entry has been enlightening.

With Guatemala, its customs, its conditions and its people still fresh on my mind, jumping back into the U.S. way of being has allowed me to see and appreciate both countries with a new perspective.

Let me share and compare some of those perspectives.

Driving. (Winner – U.S.) Driving in Guatemala is organized chaos. The lanes are very narrow and mean nothing. If a car, truck or bus can fit on it…you drive on it. Chicken buses rule the road and are very aggressive…if they want your lane…they are going to take it. I remember praying each time I got behind the wheel in Guatemala, and luckily I did ok.

Driving in the U.S. is wonderful. Most everyone follows the rules, drives in their amply wide lanes, obeys traffic signals and so on. Roads are well marked, and streets have signs and numbers. Wonderful!

Food. (Winner – Guatemala) The food in Guatemala is wonderful! The markets are everywhere, and there is nothing “marked as organic”…because it’s ALL organic! Carrots are as big as the end of a baseball bat, and fresh fruits of all kinds are for sale on every street corner. The meats are all grain and grass fed, and although they are not a huge part of the daily diet, they are great quality. The best part is the price! Cheap, cheap, cheap!

I’ve been in “food sticker shock” ever since I got back! The average cost of breakfast with two eggs, hashed browns, bacon, toast, coffee and orange juice is roughly $10.00, and in Guatemala, I would spend about $5.00 for the same thing. Also, while the number of restaurants and choices in the U.S. far outnumber Guatemala…I have to say…I still dream about some of my meals in Guatemala.

People. (Winner – Guatemala) The people in Guatemala are wonderful. They are courteous, helpful and happy. They may not engage you first, but once you muster the guts to engage them…you’ve got an instant friend. They look you in the eye as you pass on the street and always return the smile you give them. The family is huge to Guatemalans, and they spend lots of time together…just being together…and they love it.

In the U.S., people seem busy, preoccupied and anxious about something or other. Most conversations I hear, (yes, I’m eavesdropping on the conversations of others…), are people complaining about politics, family, their job or something. It’s rarely good conversation…always problems. Most people are doing something on their phones rather than looking around and engaging in the world around them. That’s unfortunate and more than anything; I wish that change.

Creature Comforts. (Winner – U.S.) I have to say…I don’t miss wondering if I am going to have water from one day to the next! Many times in Guatemala, I would turn on my faucet and hear that dreaded gurgling sound. I also don’t miss the noise. The sounds of Chicken buses, the loudspeakers on the Zeta Gas trucks blaring their sales jingle, the constant explosions of firecrackers at daybreak for signifying someone’s birthday and roosters that crow at all hours of the night. Nope…I don’t miss those things.

Being home in the U.S., it’s funny how quickly I take these things for granted. Of course, I’ll have water…and I can even drink it if I want! Although there is noise, it seems to be a constant hum of traffic that is almost relaxing. I can turn on TV and get all sorts of channels…and I can understand everything they are saying! Also, if I need something, there is always a store that has it, or I can order it online and have it delivered in days! Something that was never an option in Guatemala.

Yep, I have to say that being back in the U.S. is nice in many respects. I’ve been able to see my family and friends and I don’t worry about my safety and day to day life is just…easier. However, I most certainly miss many aspects of my Guatemalan home. I miss my friends; I miss feeling that “connection” with people, I miss the smiles and laughter, I miss the beautiful children and hardworking work ethic of their parents. I especially miss seeing how far $10 will last me!

Re-entry has been enlightening…and I hope I can carry the best of what I experienced in Guatemala with me and share it here in the U.S., but I also realize the unrest that will always live inside me…as expressed best in this quote:

“You will never be completely at home again because part of your heart always will be elsewhere. That is the price you pay for the richness of loving and knowing people in more than one place.”

― Miriam Adeney

I recently was going through some old notes I have taken along the way and found this little nugget. Many people have laid claim to its wisdom, from the Dalai Lama to George Carlin and others. Regardless…I believe wisdom is wisdom…and whoever created it is irrelevant…

Our responsibility is simply to share it…so here ya go…

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints.

We spend more,but have less; we buy more, but enjoy less.

We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time.

We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little,drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We’ve learned how to make a living, but not a life. We’ve added years to life, not life to years.

We’ve been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space, but not inner space.

We’ve done larger things, but not better things. We’ve cleaned up the air,but polluted the soul. We’ve conquered the atom, but not our prejudice.

We write more but learn less. We plan more but accomplish less.

We’ve learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes.

These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one-night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill.

It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom.

A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight …or to just hit delete.

Remember, spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember to give a warm hug to the one next to you because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn’t cost a cent.

Remember to say, “I love you” to your partner as well as your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment, for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak, and give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

…and another thing… why not try to smile more while you’re at it! 🙂

-blessings,

Bob

I call this my “Grandfather Exercise.” By that, I mean, picture yourself as a 90-year-old grandfather (or grandmother) sitting in a rocking chair. Think about the “life wisdom” that your Grandfather-self would share with your current self if asked about those life lessons that should be known and incorporated into your life. Think about the value of that wisdom…

This is what “my Grandfather self” would say…

1. Do what you say.

to others

to yourself

2. Surround yourself with the right people.

people that are doing stuff

people that have good values

3. Relationships rule.

all opportunities come from people

be the friend you would like to have

4. Be effective not necessarily efficient.

be more concerned with results

5. Be intentional.

have a target

know why you’re doing everything you do

6. Grow.

read, travel, turn off the TV

be better tomorrow than you were today

7. Be grateful.

open your eyes, your mind and your heart…in that order

spend time outside in nature

8. Eliminate “good enough.”

it usually isn’t

9. Write it down.

thoughts, to do’s, goals, dreams, things you’re grateful for, people to pray for, memories of your youth

your mind is not meant to be a file cabinet

10. Think like a Sushi chef.

finish what you start

clean up as you go

11. Look people in the eye.

that’s where connection begins

and trust resides

12. Listen more than you speak.

your words will be more valuable

13. If it’s not nice, don’t say it.

our words are meant to lift others up

not tear them down

14. Everyone is important.

that includes you

15. Guard what you see and listen to.

you are responsible for you

16. Use the computer as a tool, not as a place to “surf.”

your time is valuable

and limited

17. Smile more!

we all need it

18. Watch your pennies.

like the saying goes, “if you watch your pennies, the dollars will take care of themselves”

19. Give.

we were not put on this earth to be only consumers

20. Think long-term.

that which is best is rarely that which is easy

I know many people that may read this post have children. I also know that you will have limited opportunities to shape the future of your children by what you choose to talk about in the car, over the dinner table, or just hanging out together. My hope is that you might use this time to begin a dialogue about “how to live.” It may seem silly…but think about it…where else are they going to learn?

Ask them what their 90-year old grandfather or grandmother might share with them. Heck…you might learn something!

Feel free to drop a comment to add to the list! Heck…I might learn something!

I can’t believe I’ve been living in Guatemala for exactly one year already!

My initial plan (ha, ha, ha) was to come down for 6 months, learn the language and then go back. Well…sometimes plans change…and I’m still learning the language. But I’m also learning some things that I never anticipated…and that is what I would like to share in this post.

We are all familiar with this children’s song, but I also believe it is a way the Guatemalans live their life…

1. Row, row, row. Guatemalans are extremely hard workers. Like a woman I met at the Guatemala City dump said, “if I don’t work, I don’t eat.”
2. They row “their” boat. They are not worried about what other people are doing.
3. They row it “gently.” Guatemalans don’t make a big fuss about much.
4. They row it “down the stream.” They pretty much go with the flow…literally.
5. Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily. Guatemalans love their friends, they love their family and make it a priority over just about anything else.
6. Life is but a dream. They pretty much appreciate life for what it is…a one time shot..and they make the most out of each day…usually smiling.

Not a bad philosophy…don’t you think?

I think in many interactions, there is a split second of tension when we see a new person. Our brains begin making assessments and judgments about them like, “Do I like this person? Do I trust this person? Am I safe? What do they think of me?”

All these questions race through my mind as I meet or pass a new person each day. However, what I have found is if I am the first one to engage them…and I do it in a nice and friendly way…I get a nice and friendly response in every case.

It’s like they are catching the ball that I pitch.

I may not be able to control every interaction, but by being the first to throw out the pitch that I want…it certainly increases the chances that I’ll get a favorable response in return.

Here in Antigua, each day there is a sunny side of the street and a shady side of the street. Also each day, I see many Americans walking on the sunny side of the street, shielding their faces from the intense sun and complaining how hot it is. While at the exact same time, all the Guatemalans are contently walking in the cool of the shade.

We all get up each morning and we have a choice. Are we going to make it a good day, or not. That is our first decision and that simple decision then becomes the filter that we experience that day through.

Regardless of what is going on in our lives, we all have a choice in how we are going to view it… Choose the shade!

Sometimes I come home after a workout or a hard day and I’m all hot and sweaty. I am anxiously looking forward to that refreshing shower and clean clothes. Then, when I turn on the water…I get that horrible gurgling sound…and no water.

It’s in these moments I have a choice…get all upset over something I can’t control…or live with what is. I have learned to live in what is and in those times, these Huggies wipes are the best solution to my immediate problem.

Such is life. We can choose to get upset when things don’t work out…or we can accept what is and move on…

I pass many Americans on the streets here every day. I have to say, most of them seem to be miserable and disconnected from the rest of the world. Whether they are looking at their phones or not making any eye contact as they pass…the vibe is always the same…I am invisible and not important.

While Guatemalans may be reserved, a brief “Bueno Dias” will always produce a smile and a “Bueno Dias” in return. Even when I pass a group that is talking among themselves, they always return my greeting and smile.

I have realized that I love exchanging eye contact and greetings so much that I rarely wear sunglasses! I want them to see me “connect” with them…unlike many Americans, they may have passed that day.

The end result is, I am energized by them and although I may not know them personally…I feel connected to them.

I learned this phrase from Oscar. Many times I would wait to start something until I had all the information or answers. Oscar would always remind me to just get going and then when new information became available, all I would need to do is adjust.

Brilliant advice and advice that works. Many of us never start down the road of our dreams and desires, waiting for conditions to be different or perfect. That rarely happens and by not starting…we may never arrive.

Adjust the load on the road…get going and figure the rest out as it comes!

We bring many teams of volunteers down to Guatemala and the question that I hear the most is, “So, what are we going to do next?”

The reason this question drives me crazy is that they are missing the value of the present moment. They are always wondering what’s next and ignoring the lessons and the experiences of the things they are currently doing or the people they are with. It’s always…next.

Even after I tell them what we are doing next…it just opens the door to more questions.

Guatemalans don’t do that. They just live in the moment they are in…relaxed, happy and content.

This goes back to choices. Do you intentionally control what you allow your mind to think about or focus on? Have you ever had the experience of searching for something you really wanted and after finding it…you see it everywhere?

We only have so many waking hours in the day and in those hours, we can focus on things that bring us life and energy…or rob us of life and energy. It’s our choice. We choose what goes in our mind.

I like to look for things in my day to day life that look like a cross. I have compiled a folder of crosses that I have seen over time and the mere fact that I’m looking for them in my world…makes me happy.

The Bible reminds us, “seek and you shall find.” Whatever I’m consciously (or subconsciously) looking for in life…I’ll find it. I have learned to look for the good…and I have learned to look for God…everywhere and in everyone.

One day while Don Juan and I were building a stove, I looked up at this clothesline. There were no clothespins holding up the clothes! Just two cords wrapped around each other and the clothing pulled in between the two. How cool!

Then, I started thinking about how in life, the same is also true. Two people working together can do more than each can do individually. I started thinking about how the Guatemalans value each other and they spend time with each other.

Family and friendships, relationships of all types are valued above just about everything else here. Being independent or “on your own” is not something they celebrate…because life is better with others…it just is.

I don’t think I could have learned much of what I learned about myself without traveling. Placing myself in a new country and in new environments allows me to look back on my thoughts and beliefs and see them differently…with more clarity.

Basically, I never questioned why I believed what I believed or did what I did…until I couldn’t do it anymore. I had to get away from it…to see it.

I think this is a valuable lesson. Sometimes we all need a little space and time to see our situation with more clarity and honesty. I can’t think of too much in my life that demands an immediate response from me and by creating some space for me to look at the situation from afar…I tend to see more…

I think that regardless of what we all do…one thing is certain…we are all in the “people business.” And there is one thing about being in the “people business”…it’s usually messy!

Most times, people have conflicting wants, needs, viewpoints and past experiences that make them do what they do. But we also have an opportunity to make our own impression on them.

A lasting impression…and that is our opportunity…and our choice.

I think the toughest question I’ve ever asked myself is, “Am I living the life God created me to live?” I asked this question of myself several years ago. At that time, I believe I was a different person. I was pretty much unhappy with my career, I was running from a life that I felt God was calling me into, I was pretty much self-centered and I didn’t like kids…I thought they were “little germ carriers.” Yep, I was a “great guy.”

However, I finally quit running. I finally turned my life over to God and got in the game. Pastor Andy Stanley says, “When you give your life over to Christ…your future is now His problem.” I could not agree more…

What I didn’t expect was what my future would look like and where it would take me. What I also didn’t expect were the changes that He would make in my heart and in the way I live.

Living in Guatemala was something I would have never guessed would happen in my life. But over the past year, I think I’ve laughed and smiled more than I had done for my entire life beforehand. I’ve been changed from the inside and I know it. I think God has made a better me than the one I spent my life trying to make…and all I did was to “get in the game.”

So as I look back on the past year…I think this final photo pretty much sums it up. This little girl lives in Guatemala City dump…and I love her…

So much for being a “little germ carrier.”

Well…I’ve been in Antigua now for one month living “on my own.” I’ve got to say that the month has been “different”…not bad…not great…but just different. So for this months blog…I’m just going to highlight some of the things that I’ve noticed in the month I’ve been here.

My Apartment. I love my apartment…let me just get that out of the way. However…there are some nuances that make it different.

1. The downstairs bathroom requires me to walk down under a staircase. The ceiling height is only about 5’5″…so I have to crouch a lot.
2. The kitchen has only 2 burners on the stove, so I have to really think through what I’m going to cook. One pot meals rock!
3. Mirrors. All the mirrors in the house are set at about 5’0″… hence, more crouching.
4. Spare bedroom. The windows are sliding windows. Nothing is square, so there are gaps through the windows I can stick my fingers through to the outside.
5. Bathroom. The shower is awesome, but water runs all around the tub and leaks on to the floor. The maintenance man tried to fix that by putting a lump of silicone caulk at one end…needless to say…it’s something that needs some attention.
6. Laundry. There is no washer or dryer, so I run my clothes down to a hostel down the road. They do a great job and it costs about $0.65 per pound.
7. Noise. OMG! It’s noisy here! I’m on a road that leads into Antigua from the south. The weekends are non-stop traffic and with my window situation…I sleep with earplugs. There is also a B & B next door to my place. Every morning at 6:30am a van pulls up and honks the horn to pick up people to take to the airport or wherever. He doesn’t just honk once or twice either! Finally, my place seems like a meeting place for the locals. They love to congregate and talk at all hours of the day and especially night.
8. Access. The good thing is, my place is secure with cameras and a locked fence that I must enter to park my car. The bad part is, I have to get out and unlock the gate, get back in my car, pull in, get out of my car, lock the gate, get in my car and park and then get out of my car and go into my apartment. I look at it as my cardio workout for the day!

Antigua.

1. Beautiful. Antigua is a beautiful colonial city. It is absolutely beautiful and a must-see destination for anyone coming to Guatemala. There is a downside to that statement as well…they do. The city is filled with tourists from all over the world and during the weekends, the city comes alive with people coming from Guatemala City as well. So for the past month, I’ve chosen to stay close to home on the weekends and leave the city to the tourists.
2. Cool Shopping. One of the great things about being here is the throwback to days gone by in terms of shopping. For instance, there is a guy that stops his truck in front of my house every single night and screams. I never knew what he was screaming until I finally went out to investigate. He is selling fresh baked bread…every night! Every morning there is another guy that comes around with raw milk…straight from the cow! There is another guy that comes around in a pickup truck that is loaded with vegetables. Then down the street, there is a place that places a red flag outside of their store. That red flag indicates that fresh meat is for sale. It’s wild! It takes a lot of planning and forethought…but what is available here is amazing! Carrots are as big around as the end of a baseball bat. Freaky!
3. People. I love the people here. I’ve said that before, but they are the most wonderful people ever. They look at you in the eye when you pass them on the street and are quick to respond with a greeting if you extend one first. Here in Antigua, many people ignore the locals and I find that horrible, so when I engage them…they light up and I’ve gained an instant friend!
4. Surrounding villages. I’ve ventured outside of Antigua and am amazed at the need so close to this international city. My favorite village so far is called Santa Maria de Jesus. It’s located just south of Antigua and sits way above Antigua and at the base of the volcano Agua. The streets are narrow and cars in the village are few. The streets are filled with people, horses and donkeys carrying everything from sugar cane to firewood. It’s amazing and it reminds me of what the area must have looked like 100 years ago. I’ll be spending some time here!
5. Social. I’ve met some great people over the past month. Some are retired expats that have come to Guatemala to spend their retirement. Some of the people I’ve met are international 20 or 30 somethings that are traveling the world without a plan or a care in the world. I’ve also met some people that are doing great things in and around Antigua. We share our love for people and our desire to help where needed. I’m hopeful that these are the seeds that will take root. Believe me…this is fertile ground!
6. Day to Day. I rarely drive here unless I’m going out into other cities or villages. So if I’m going to stay in Antigua, I walk. That has been a great form of exercise. Cobblestone streets and sidewalks that are anything but ADA compliant abound! I usually walk about 3 to 5 miles each day. I plan my day of meetings and to-do lists and load up my backpack with everything I might need for the day…then head out. I return home around dusk with a backpack full of either groceries or supplies or a computer full of notes, contacts, and follow-ups.

All in all…I have to say that I love it here. I’ve changed…and I know it. I’m much more tolerant and much more patient than I ever have been. Guatemala has been good for me.

The first month of being on my own has been a wonderful time for me to settle and to listen to what God might have in store for me. It’s not totally clear…and I don’t expect it to be…I just know that I’m where I’m supposed to be…doing what I’m supposed to be doing…and that is good enough for me.

The other day as we were building a stove for Doña Teresa, the tortilla lady, I happened to notice her clothesline. Like many, the line was full of freshly washed clothing, but what I noticed was there were no clothespins like what I’m used to seeing on a clothesline in the U.S. In this case, the clothesline was simply two cords that were wrapped around each other. The clothing was simply stuck between the two and supported by the tension they exerted to suspend the load…ingenious!

Then I started thinking about other things that work better when two things are working together. Certainly marriage and other relationships work best when the two individuals are working together and sharing the load. Also, companies and employees, parents and children, and all other groups of people work best when they are each pulling their own share of the weight.

As the clothesline demonstrated…there is not much need for anything else…just the two individuals, wrapped tightly in a relationship, each pulling their own share of the weight.

Amazing what I learn from laundry…