nitty gritty

La Limonada is a serious place.  We live in a world (in the USA) that is not very serious. Even when we think things are very serious, they soon pass and we are able to relax. We feel stress at the littlest issues and, if you’re like me, we often don’t take things serious that we ought to.

We live n a great culture and a great country, but we might have life too easy.  I think it makes us a little weak.  12 year old kids in La Limonada are always on their guard.  They don’t walk out of their houses without fear or caution.  They suspect everyone, even best friends, as potential threats.  It’s like they are always at “Threat Level Red!”

Yet today, we played.  We played futbol (soccer); we played with Lion masks the kids made as they heard the story of Daniel in the lion’s den; we played duck-duck goose; we went to the Lord’s Kitchen and smiled with and upon homeless people of Guatemala City. We sat and talked with them and listened (even if we couldn’t understand their Spanish) as they let their guard down and relaxed.  For a homeless woman in GC that is as good as play.

Children and parents laughed and played in the park in La Limonada… the forgotten and overlooked street people laughed and sipped kool-aid.  What a great day of play. I can’t wait to talk with Gang members in La Limonada tomorrow.  I can’t wait to encourage the Teachers and staff of the schools in the ghetto.  I can’t wait to PLAY!