So in the latest news, I am not engaged or getting married or even dating any more. It's a shock for me too, but in an effort to not dwell on what is done, I have found that reading "encouraging quotes of the day" don't work so great, but what has been awesome is the stories of others that make me feel not so bad. The jury is still out on the ethical nature of this kind of self-help therapy, but I assure you that I will look into it. Until then, enjoy this "inspiration true story" that has changed my life today.
"Today, a car was waiting for me to cross the street so I thought it would be funny to slowly limp across the street. When I got to the end, I jumped as high as I could to show I was faking. Turns out I tripped and hit my head hard on the sidewalk. That car took me to the hospital."
Sunday my truck was broken into while I was in church. We were celebrating the baptism of 13 people and I was the photographer. The church met at a new, rented location with a pool for the baptisms. Our church property has a parking area that has a watchman, but this place was un-guarded. 3 cars (that I know of) including mine were broken into. They popped the locks with a screwdriver on the passenger side and in minutes removed my CD player from my dash (though they did a VERY clean job, breaking nothing) and also my iPod from my arm-rest box. Luckily they didn't get the $75 in cash that was in my ash tray nor did they steal the iPod I had just purchased for Jenna to learn Spanish on (they must have missed it!).
I knew something like this was inevitable living here, so I am not too alarmed. I am a little bit miffed though about my ipod because it is my source of English teaching an preaching while here in Guatemala. I hope that whoever gets my CD player enjoys the Alistair Begg sermon CD that was in the player when it was stolen. Who knows, maybe that Scotsman can convert the thieves!
I have been reading a lot of articles like this one over the last few months of living in Guatemala. Here, there are not enough police to control the gangs, who are controlled largely by organized crime. The organized crime groups have newer and better equipment, weapons and communication that the National Civil Police force. Some residents, fed up with the crime in their neighborhoods and towns, started taking justice into their own hands, while the police remain incapable of, unconcerned with the investigation and prosecution of these violent crimes. (or maybe the Police force is just too busy participating in lawlessness to be able to stop it!)
Sadly, when an assailant, kidnapper, or other is caught, usually they are set on fire before being lynched. There were over 100 cases of lynchings last year. Earlier in the new melinium there was a Japanese touris who was lynched here for picking up a crying child in an effort to console him. Locals thought he was trying to kidnap the child, and he was hung. This fluke however is not the norm, and likewise I am sure in a justice system there is just as many cases of injustice. However the question remains...
She never saw it coming. It was November when I started planning how I was going to ask her, shortly after having moved to Guatemala. I found the ring while in Guatemala (with the help of my brother) and began to call friends and family back home to orchestrate the deception… er, the engagement. I had a puzzle created of our favorite photo from Africa with the words “Jenna, will you marry me?” written on it. We both love it and I knew she’d recognize it immediately.
I had the puzzle delivered to my parent’s house, and called Jennifer to coordinate with my mom to pick it up from her. We were making plans on spending New Years Eve with Jennifer and Duane, so I figured they could help me “set her up” well. Since they had just bought a new house, Jennifer decided that after giving us a tour of the house, she’d lead us over to where the puzzle was partially assembled on the fireplace for her to notice. The only thing that was missing in the puzzle were the words, stacked in a pile beside the near-complete puzzle. There’s no way she’d mistake that it was for her.
The month of December was difficult to hide my plans from her. We were talking about engagement, about me asking her dad for his blessing while I was visiting the states over Christmas, and about the future. I kept goading her that since I was just a “poor missionary” I was going to have to propose via “Skype” from Guatemala and tie a string around her finger because missionary budgets can’t afford fancy rings. She had no idea what lay ahead for her during my visit!
Meeting Jen & Duane at their current home on New Years, we hopped in the car for a ride across town to see their new home. The tour began. I had the ring in my pocket and was fumbling it with my fingers. Jen and I laughed behind corners where Jenna couldn’t see. They orchestrated the tour perfectly through the whole house, ending at the fireplace in the living room where the puzzle was laid out. Her reaction was better than I could have expected. She just thought it was a forgotten Christmas present!
Of course she recognized the photo on the puzzle and began piecing it together. “Jenna”. “Will”, “you”… She looks up at me with a silly grin, suspecting, andcontinues smiling bigger and bigger. “marry”, “me?” She looks up again as I get down on one knee, pulling the ring from my pocket. I ask her as I slide the ring on “Jenna, will you be my Bride & Joy?” She said, “Yes!” with the biggest smile I have ever seen on her face, in a gleeful tone that bubbled up from within. Shaking with excitement we kissed, before heading out to New Years Eve dinner with Duane & Jennifer.
Surely this was one of the happiest days of my life!
Ok, so if you know much about me, you know how much I am AGAINST recycling. Yes, that's really true. I hate recycling. I have long since prostelytized people of the evils of recycling, always receiving the same replys "No that can't be..." In case I haven't made it to you yet, here's what I have said:
Recycled products are more expensive (think about it)
Recycled products are often less durable (just like reheated doesn't taste the same)
Recycling does NOT save rain forests (it is illegal to cut down virgin forest for consumables)
Recycling IS a scam (increased taxes / costs for programs producing lesser results)
Yes, these are verifiable facts. Yes, I have done the research. Though, as often is the case when I share things that aren't common knowledge, I don't always do the best job articulating precisely the point I am trying to demonstrate from the facts presented. Well, thank God someone finally did it for me as it relates to recycling. And the irony of it is, it TOTALLY relates to the Thanksgiving & Christmas holidays, which is why I am posting it here (and because I loathe recycling).
This video linked here is the "hook" portion of the 20 minute long video you can get by going to the website Story of Stuff. It's absolutely fascinating to hear what this says, and you won't be sorry for watching it, I promise.
Trash isn't the problem. Lack of natural resources isn't the problem either. Consumerism IS the problem - one that is perpetuated by Americans engorging themselves and their homes on the succulent mammon.offered in the world marketplace. Watch the video and leave me a comment of agreement or disagreement. Enjoy!
She never saw it coming. It was November when I started planning how I was going to ask 
