tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84516715216601127192024-03-14T05:11:38.289-05:00A beautiful adventureAmandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12390993682964680753noreply@blogger.comBlogger125125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451671521660112719.post-11881589312925451782018-11-11T13:46:00.003-06:002018-11-11T13:46:46.928-06:00We're Adopting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "lora" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: dimgrey;">WE'RE ADOPTING!</span></span></h1>
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<span style="color: dimgrey; font-family: "lora" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It
is official! While we have talked about adoption for a long time, it
was always a "one day" kind of thought. Now we can finally say that
things are starting to get real! After years of waiting for
our permanent residency to be approved and seven months of gathering
documents, we have finally turned in all of our paperwork. In
Guatemala, adoption is only done through the government and ultimately a
judge will make the decision on whether or not we are an ideal family
for a child. Our hope is in the Lord and we are trusting Him through
this whole process. Our next step is a home visit from the social
workers which will take place on October 22nd. Please join us in prayer
as we walk through this new chapter in life!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: lora,georgia,times new roman,serif;">Want to help?</span></h4>
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Here's how!</h3>
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1. Financially<br />
As many of you may know, adoption comes at a cost. We spent a lot of
time and resources to obtain all the documents needed and to have them
translated legally. We also know that there will be many unforeseen
costs ahead. If you would like to donate <a href="https://trek-x.com/donate.php" target="_blank">click here</a>, enter our names in the search bar, and give whatever is on your heart.<br />
2. Prayer<br />
This is the most important of all! We are undoubtedly nervous, but we
trust in God! Please pray for a smooth process, quick approval, and for
our future child!<br />
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Love,<br />
Mitch and Amanda Muñoz </div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3fnTM6fNBQA/W-iFZK50ZNI/AAAAAAAAAWE/4GaImMUANlg9uJTkUzcKdh3F6UI2a0I3wCKgBGAs/s1600/IMG_3762.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Mitch & Amanda Muñoz" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3fnTM6fNBQA/W-iFZK50ZNI/AAAAAAAAAWE/4GaImMUANlg9uJTkUzcKdh3F6UI2a0I3wCKgBGAs/s320/IMG_3762.jpg" title="Mitch & Amanda Muñoz" width="213" /> </a></div>
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<span style="font-family: lora,georgia,times new roman,serif;">"Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed."<br />
Psalm 82:3</span></div>
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Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12390993682964680753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451671521660112719.post-41474702635682532982015-08-14T11:44:00.000-05:002018-11-06T10:04:48.158-06:00Italy and Greece Last week we returned from an amazing trip in Italy and Greece! I want to share some photos from our trip and a little bit of the story behind why we were there.<br />
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First stop- <b>Rome, Italy</b><br />
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Rome, as you may know, is a very old city with a lot of history. And while the history of this beautiful town is important, it's not what brought us to see it. Four years ago we joined <a href="https://mobilizingstudents.com/" target="_blank">Mobilizing Students</a> as <a href="https://mobilizingstudents.com/trek-x/" target="_blank">Trek-X</a> missionaries, a 4 year missions journey for young adults. We have officially finished our 4 years and thanks to Mobilizing Students, we celebrated the end of our journey in Rome. We toured The Vatican, The Coliseum, St. Pual's Basilica, ate a lot of gelato, and roamed the cobblestone alleyways. Here are just a few (because I took too many) of our photos.<br />
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Touring the Vatican</div>
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St. Peter's Basilica</div>
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Touring the Coliseum</div>
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"Graduation" Ceremony in the Coliseum- the reason for our trip</div>
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We received medals! Oh, and #selfiestick #photobomb</div>
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Me, Mitch, Chris White and Sean Wilson #MobStu15</div>
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All around Rome are natural springs. The water is completely fresh and cold. It was a perfect spot to fill up our water bottles, or like Mitch is doing, drink it straight from the source. </div>
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Old cobblestone roads </div>
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St. Paul's Basilica- the prettiest one we saw! </div>
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Second stop- The island of <b>Santorini, Greece</b><br />
Because traveling within Europe is so affordable, Mitch and I hopped over to Greece after visiting Rome to celebrate our 4 year anniversary. We had some much needed alone time and it was absolutely perfect. Also, Mitch is currently studying Greek in Seminary, so this was a great opportunity for him to practice the language and be in the culture. Santorini was our favorite place of our whole trip. It was a dream come true! Mitch and I just might retire there one day.<br />
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Greek food was so fresh and delicious!! </div>
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In the town of Oia in Santorini, it's a tradition to watch the sunset. Everyone lines the streets and fills the restaurants to watch the sun go down everyday. Some people even clap when it's done (yay, go God!). I can see why it's such an attraction. It was truly one of the most beautiful sunsets I've ever seen...and the photos don't even do justice!</div>
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The town of Oia at night.</div>
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The best way to see the island- rent a 4 wheeler and just drive! </div>
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Red Beach- quite a trek to get to, but totally worth it.</div>
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Third Stop- <b>Athens, Greece</b></div>
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The Parthenon</div>
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The Parthenon. The one in Nashville is cooler (seriously). </div>
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Leave it up to the Americans to find a Starbucks in Athens.</div>
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Where we ate for our anniversary (and the next night). Authentic Greek food with a cool atmosphere.</div>
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Athens, Greece. We didn't care for Athens that much, but it was cool to see some of the famous sites.</div>
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Fourth Stop-<b>Corinth, Greece</b></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">From Athens we took a day trip to Corinth for a tour of Ancient Corinth where the apostle Paul preached to the Corinthians. </span></div>
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Mitch standing in the exact spot where the apostle Paul preached to the Corinthians.</div>
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Apollo's temple</div>
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Fifth Stop- <b>USA</b></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">We are beyond thankful for our trip to Europe and it wouldn't have been possible without Mobilizing Students. It was absolutely perfect and I'm already missing Greece! However, we're excited to be in the states for several weeks to visit with friends and family. </span><span style="text-align: center;">We hope to see some of you while we're in town! </span></div>
Amanda Muñozhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00017448452195372635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451671521660112719.post-71169409309757516752015-06-09T23:58:00.001-05:002018-11-06T11:00:33.295-06:00Life Lately: April and May <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Who knew that life in a slow-paced culture would be so busy?! It's been so crazy around here that I've had no time to sit down and write a blog...until now! Here's a little bit of our life from the past few months.<br />
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We hosted a group from the <a href="http://www.theworldrace.org/" target="_blank">World Race</a> in the month of April. They traveled 11 countries in 11 months. It's pretty hardcore and so were these girls! We loved hosting them and working alongside them in ministry for a month. </div>
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Meet Esbin. He recently got saved! As I mentioned <a href="http://trekx-munoz.blogspot.com/2015/03/sobremesa.html" target="_blank">here</a>, we have been taking food to families and eating dinner with them. Through this ministry, Esbin gave his life to Christ. His family has been coming to our Bible study on Monday night's and we hope to see the rest of his family come to know Christ! </div>
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Working with these ladies is one of my favorite parts of ministry. We get to make jewelry and talk about Jesus together. :) And now our <a href="http://thethrivecollective.com/" target="_blank">website</a> is up and running! The only thing we lack is getting our online store up. You can still visit the website, learn more about our company and check out the blog.<br />
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In May we finished our 10 week soccer tournament for the villages. The village "Amapa" (in yellow and red) won the tournament! Mitch and Esaú had the opportunity to preach before the game and the local TV station came and videoed all of it. We joke around about being "famous" in Cuilapa because not only are we the only gringos in town, but now we've been on tv...<br />
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It's the Guatemalan rainy season right now(boo!). I'm going to sound life a broken record year after year, but I really hate the rainy season. Mud, fog, mud...it's everywhere! The other day the current of the river we usually cross over was so strong that we couldn't even enter in the village. This whole rain everyday thing is driving me crazy and makes for some crazy weather too. I was wearing jeans, boots and a jacket the other day. Hey weather, it's June! Where' the sunshine? I'll settle for some <i>light</i> rain showers...let's just stop with the daily torrential downpour already.<br />
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We've hosted several teams this summer and we're super thankful for them! It's so much fun to work with teams and it's huge encouragement for our ministry! Thankful for teams from Owasso, Ok, Fayetteville, AR, and West Monroe, LA.<br />
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Right now this is #teamGuatemala! But during the next 2 months, we have a total of 10+ people coming to visit and work alongside us in ministry!! Hooray for visitors who love missions!<br />
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Pray for our ministry, pray for lives to be changed and as always, #prayforGuatemala.<br />
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Amanda Muñozhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00017448452195372635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451671521660112719.post-12094222871101790012015-03-28T14:11:00.000-05:002015-03-28T14:11:17.350-05:00Football...I mean, Futbol. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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"Barca or Real?"<br />
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That was one of the first questions we were asked when we moved to Guatemala. Of course, like many of you, our reaction was "What?"<br />
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Barcelona or Real Madrid...two European soccer teams that the country of Guatemala is obsessed over. You can't live in Guatemala and not have anything to do with soccer, so we picked our side and are now fans of a team we once knew nothing about.<br />
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The point is, Guatemalans love soccer. And I mean LOVE.<br />
Being from the south, specifically the panhandle of Florida, I know what it means to be passionate about football. Growing up, I was a football coach's daughter. My Friday nights were spent in a stadium cheering on my high school football team and my Saturday's were (and still are) spent watching college football.<br />
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While I still very much love American <i>football</i>, now most of my days are spent around the other kind of <i>futbol</i>.<br />
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As Mitch and Esaú were strategizing a way to reach the men in the communities we work in, something dawned on them; Guatemalans love soccer. They love to talk about it and watch it, but mostly they love to play it!<br />
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From that simple, yet obvious conclusion, we decided to start a soccer tournament between the 4 villages we're involved in. After only 2 weeks of planning, our soccer tournament commenced!<br />
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Every Saturday until May 9th we have over <u>90 men</u> showing up to play soccer. Before the games begin, Mitch and/or Esaú have been sharing the Word of God with them.<br />
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This has been one of the coolest things we've done so far. We have been blown away about how excited these communities have been about this tournament. Because of this, we've been able to <a href="http://trekx-munoz.blogspot.com/2015/03/sobremesa.html" target="_blank">eat meals</a> with several men and their families. Many of them are starting to bring up spiritual conversations as well.<br />
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As we continue to play this game that is so loved by the Guatemalans, join us in praying for the rest of our tournament. We hope to see more than just a good game of futbol...we hope to see men and families come to know the Lord.Amanda Muñozhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00017448452195372635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451671521660112719.post-78315591102067388132015-03-06T10:13:00.001-06:002015-03-06T10:13:01.623-06:00Sobremesa<h2 style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; display: inline-block; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.8rem; line-height: 1.8rem; margin: 0px 0.2rem 6px 0px;">
sobremesa</h2>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;"> </span><i style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;"> (n.) The time spent around the table after lunch or dinner, talking to the people you shared the meal with; a time to digest and savor both food and friendship </i><br />
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photo from <a href="http://lindsayletters.com/products/betwen-us-canvas#img" target="_blank">here</a></div>
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Whether we knew the exact term or not, we've all experienced sobremesa. It's that nostalgic feeling of Christmas dinner around the table, hours spent catching up with old friends out to eat or in our case, sharing a meal with new friends.<br />
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The beginning of this year, we began to rethink our ministry strategy. We shifted our focus onto something we're all familiar with-food.<br />
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Every ministry day we bring food to family in the village and we eat with them.<br />
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The idea of doing life together around a table is so attractive. Who doesn't love food and good conversation? While we may not always have a literal table between us when we eat with these families, the practice of bringing in food and eating with one another has deepened our relationships with many of them and has given us a way to share the Gospel to an entire family. For once, ministry seems so simple.<br />
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Sit. Talk. Eat.<br />
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I can imagine Jesus doing the same when He ate with the tax collectors, fed the masses, and broke bread with his disciples.<br />
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Sometimes life and ministry can feel so rushed. But sitting down to eat with one another takes intentionality, from the preparing of the meal to the hospitality given and received.<br />
Even though most of the villagers are receiving us into their homes, we have learned that we too must show them hospitality as we serve them and share the Gospel.<br />
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<i>"Hospitality is rarely convenient. We must be willing to interrupt the lives of others and be interrupted in our own lives to truly experience hospitality as Jesus practiced." (</i>Excerpt from<i> She Reads Truth)</i><br />
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Through this ministry, we have become aware of so many personal needs these people have. And it has given us a way to personally pray over these families and their communities. Jesus was the greatest example of how life can be done with intentionality. I pray that we follow His example and our ministry will show people just how great our God is!<br />
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Perhaps more of life needs to be done around a table. More intentionality, more hospitality and more <i>Sobremesa</i>.<br />
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Buen Provecho!Amanda Muñozhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00017448452195372635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451671521660112719.post-24711894113822359902015-01-07T14:07:00.000-06:002018-11-06T11:01:40.565-06:00The Thrive Collective Happy 2015, everyone! I love the start of the New Year. It's the perfect opportunity to start fresh. With that being said, we have some exciting, <i>new</i> things ahead of us!<br />
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This past summer, Mitch was talking to me about how we could create opportunity for people in the villages. We've always felt a huge burden for the well-being of these villagers. Day in and day out we would teach the Bible and pray with people, but we wanted to be involved in their physical world as well as their spiritual. Kids are often hungry, families are without jobs and most parents can't afford to keep their kids in school. So how were we to hurdle this huge obstacle?<br />
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When we were in the States, we came in contact with some <a href="http://www.amazimastore.org/" target="_blank">paper beads</a> that are made by women in Africa and are sold in the States. I loved this idea. Paper is so simple and resourceful. We began tossing around ideas of what this would look like for the villages we work in. We thought that this could be extremely beneficial for the villagers and create awareness to the American people. We decided to give it a go and see if this could be a successful method of helping villagers rise above poverty.<br />
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From that, The Thrive Collective was born.<br />
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In most of our villages there is no economy, no opportunity for growth, and no hope. We're seeking to change that. Each woman will enter in learning to make beads, being paid for her work, how to manage finances, learn basic healthcare and how to study the Bible and teach it to others. Having learned a new skill set, they will leave within 3-5 years ready to start their own business that will bring economy and employment to their community. Our goal is to see these communities <b>Thrive</b> both spiritually and physically.<br />
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We are also partnering with some local artisans from Antigua who make beautiful bags! They will be for sale and will directly help bring income to the women we work with as well as the local artisans.<br />
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Our official launch is this Spring! We have been working hard to get everything ready by Spring(March!) so our website can go live, you can start shopping and our women can begin receiving an income!<br />
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I hope you'll follow along and be apart of this amazing opportunity to transform lives and villages in Guatemala!<br />
Like us on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Thrive-Collective/1478716229060956?ref=bookmarks" target="_blank">Facebook</a>.<br />
Follow us on <a href="http://instagram.com/_thethrivecollective" target="_blank">Instagram</a>.<br />
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2015, may you be the best year yet.<br />
<br />Amanda Muñozhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00017448452195372635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451671521660112719.post-13191006331503452732014-12-16T16:28:00.000-06:002014-12-16T16:28:12.636-06:00Bread House I've been thinking about bread a lot lately. I know it sounds strange, but stay with me. One of the great things about Guatemala (but not so great for my waistline) is the abundance of bakery's. Just about every other store in our town is a bakery; stocked everyday with fresh, warm bread. Along with their beloved corn tortillas, pan Frances (French bread) is practically a staple in most Guatemalan homes. And while I love this bread, it still leaves me empty and unsatisfied.<br />
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During this season of Advent we are anticipating the birth of The Bread of Life. He is the bread of Heaven that we can feed upon everyday and will satisfy our souls.<br />
Did you know that Bethlehem means "House of Bread"? It makes me smile to see God's goodness in that. The Bread of Life born in the Bread House. God knew our great need and provided His only Son. And 33 years later, he broke bread with His disciples foreshadowing the breaking of His body for us.<br />
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This is the message we want our communities to grasp. As we've held several Christmas parties in the villages, our goal was always Jesus. As fun as presents and cake are, I pray they would recognize the significance of Christ's birth too and that these sweet people will realized just how much God loves them. That The Bread of Life came and can satisfy them.<br />
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Tomorrow Mitch and I will fly to the States. We will go from a culture where the over-materialized aspect of Christmas is a sin, to a culture that celebrates the over-abundance of commercialism. While we are excited to be with family and friends, the simplistic way celebrating this holiday as they do in Guatemala will be missed. No matter where we are for Christmas, seek The Bread of Life. Only He can feed our hungry souls. He is our Enough.<br />
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Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all! </div>
<br />Amanda Muñozhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00017448452195372635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451671521660112719.post-5460786896417377992014-11-26T14:06:00.000-06:002014-11-26T14:06:28.122-06:00thankful hearts, surrendered lives <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="line-height: 1.6em;">J</span><span class="mc-toc-title">ust a week after the murder of a man in Los Chilitos, many of the Catholics gathered around in the village to preform rituals that would supposedly make the evil spirits flee. We drove into the village that day not knowing what was going on. We realized there weren't many people walking around, but we gathered with those that were. Hail and rain began pouring down and all the schools kids waited patiently under the school for the opportune time to make a run for their homes. The little ones waited with Rebecca and I and together we read the story of Abraham. We followed the story with a song that even the village kids knew, "Father Abraham had many sons, many sons had father Abraham." </span><span class="mc-toc-title"> </span><br />
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<span class="mc-toc-title">While we kept occupied, waiting for the rain to slow down, Mitch and Esaú met Gilberto in his home with chicken and tortillas. Even in Guatemala, the best way to win a man is with food. Gilberto is the father of Sindy, the 17 year old who was recently saved and baptized. After talking and eating for a while, Mitch asked him a hard question, "Are you about ready to give your life to Christ? </span><br />
<span class="mc-toc-title">I'm almost ready," Gilberto answered easily. </span><br />
<span class="mc-toc-title">The following Sunday we drove up to their home for bible study liked we had planed with him. We studied John 1 and it was evident that they were soaking up God's word. We wrapped up our study with prayer and said hasta mañana. </span><br />
<span class="mc-toc-title">We rolled in on Monday and followed our normal schedule with the kids. When we were done, we walked to Gilberto's house and sat and listened as the guys' conversation grew into something spiritual. By the end of our time there, Gilberto was on his knees in prayer surrendering his life to Christ. </span><br />
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We are thankful to be a part of this ministry; to witness families give their lives to follow Jesus. As we continue to meet with Gilberto, I pray his home becomes a beacon of light for the gospel in the village of Los Chilitos.<br />
Here are some photos of Gilberto showing us around his village; some of the prettiest views we've ever seen!<br />
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Gilberto, Mitch, Esaú, and Clay</div>
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Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! </div>
Amanda Muñozhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00017448452195372635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451671521660112719.post-30624242184566079032014-10-22T13:04:00.000-05:002014-10-22T15:07:40.080-05:00The gringos are back!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I know I'm three weeks late on this, but we're back in Guatemala!<br />
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Back to living somewhere in-between an over populated city and the middle of nowhere.</div>
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Back to speaking Spanish and playing fútbol.</div>
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Back to a dusty home and a leaky car. </div>
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Back to eating eggs, beans, and pan Frances.</div>
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Back to afternoons spent with giggling little girls and energetic little boys.<br />
Back to the slow-paced, small town lifestyle.<br />
Back to being surrounded by volcanoes and mountains! </div>
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Back to the beautiful people and rich culture that make up the place we call <i>home</i>.<br />
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I can remember exactly when it started to feel like home. It wasn't but a few months after moving here that Mitch and I had this mutual feeling of Guatemala being home.<br />
Even with the long lines at the bank, limited items at the grocery store, <a href="http://trekx-munoz.blogspot.com/2014/06/7-things-about-being-missionary.html" target="_blank">random stops by the police</a>, and the constant rain (October is las ultimas lluvias!), we're still thankful to call Guatemala home.<br />
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Right now we are in the final stages of turning in our paper work to <a href="http://trekx-munoz.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2014-03-06T14:33:00-06:00&max-results=4&start=8&by-date=false" target="_blank">become residents</a>. Once we are accepted, Guatemala will officially (and legally) be home to us!<br />
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Being home also means new things in our ministry. Like having our friend Rebecca live and serve with us for the next 2 years! We've also started something new with some of the women in the villages. Have you seen paper beads? You may of heard of ministries in Africa making jewelry from paper and we're joining in and beginning this here in Guatemala! This is such an amazing opportunity because paper is an affordable and available resource. I have a huge vision and desire in my heart for the women in the villages. I want these women to have <i>dignity </i>and to <i>thrive</i> in their communities and personal lives. For now we are just making beads while talking about life and Jesus with one another, but I can't wait to share more of this as we progress.<br />
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This beautiful adventure of ours has led us to a lot of places, but Guatemala is our <i>home</i>.<br />
And I'm pretty certain that it always will be. </div>
Amanda Muñozhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00017448452195372635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451671521660112719.post-56248518850920687062014-09-11T15:34:00.002-05:002014-09-12T10:51:06.803-05:00Stateside travels We are currently in the last leg of our stateside visit. We spent 2 weeks in Nashville and got to send off 5 of our friends to Uganda, Guatemala, England, and Czech Republic. It was a sweet time of prayer and worship. After Nashville we headed off to Fayetteville, AR; Owasso, OK; Stigler, OK; Austin, TX; and now we are in Houston. Our time has been spent speaking at churches, fundraising and visiting with friends and family.We have 2 more stops to make before we head back to Guatemala- West Monroe, LA and then back to Pensacola, FL. Here are some photos from our travels + a recent photo shoot!<br />
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Nashville:<br />
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Photo Shoot:<br />
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Oklahoma:</div>
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Austin:</div>
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We have some BIG plans in mind for Guatemala! The Lord has really given us a vision for the villages that we are working in. We can't wait to see what that entails and how it unfolds! We are so ready to get back to our home and the sweet people we minister to- just 2 in a half weeks left in the states! </div>
<br />Amanda Muñozhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00017448452195372635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451671521660112719.post-1096766708129972062014-08-13T11:39:00.000-05:002018-11-06T11:03:56.439-06:00Florida <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Senior photos are some of my favorites and who doesn't love beach photos? I'm so thankful I get to spend some time doing photography while I'm in the states. It's something I kind of miss when I'm in Guatemala.<br />
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Mitch and I spent a good bit of time in Pensacola and happened to celebrate our 3rd wedding anniversary while we were there. We're still a little in shock that it's already been 3 years. Time has flown! But it has been a blast and I wouldn't want to do life with anyone else. </div>
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A lot of celebrating took place during our Florida visit. And this was one of the biggest celebrations of all-my best friend of 20 years got married! Isn't she beautiful? I'm so glad I was a part of such a lovely wedding. Congrats again to Hillary and Jon! </div>
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Introducing----> The Big LAUNCH! This is a video from our organization, Mobilizing Students. One of the main reasons Mitch and I came up to Nashville was to be apart of the launch ceremony held for several friends within our organization. They will be spending 2 years in England, Czech Republic, Guatemala, and Uganda doing the same type of thing Mitch and I are doing in Guatemala. </div>
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Watch and see how you can be a part of sending missionaries to the nations. </div>
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If you need us, we'll be enjoying Music City for the next 2 weeks. </div>
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You're next, Fayetteville, Arkansas! </div>
Amanda Muñozhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00017448452195372635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451671521660112719.post-18352603102479999602014-07-21T22:38:00.000-05:002014-07-21T23:17:12.844-05:00Building the Church <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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When Mitch and I moved to Guatemala, we went with specific dreams and goals. We have been there for 9 months now and are starting to see some goals turn into reality. Summers are always the busiest time of the year for our organization and as we headed into summer, we began planning for our 5 summer teams. A BIG thanks to our teams from:</div>
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Stone Mountain, GA</div>
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Asheville, NC</div>
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Stigler, OK</div>
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Oklahoma City, OK and</div>
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Pensacola, FL</div>
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for helping us build our<b> first church </b>in the village Agua Zarca!! We have invested most of our time into this village and have a wonderful relationship with the community. Phase 1 of construction is underway and our dreams are truly becoming reality. We can't wait to see how God transforms this village! </div>
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I love that some of the moms from the village are helping with the construction. They are so excited for the new church! </div>
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The beautiful view from Agua Zarca!</div>
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Our group of 39 from Stigler, OK formed the longest assembly line we've ever seen! Great for fast, efficient work up the hill. </div>
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Cindi, is a 17-year-old single mom who has recently accepted Christ! After hearing the gospel, she approached Mitch one day and asked how to give her life to Christ. A week later, she was baptized in a nearby river (and it was Mitch's first baptism!). We're so excited to see how God uses her in the village Los Chilitos! </div>
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Thankful for these <a href="http://mobilizingstudents.com/trek-x/" target="_blank">Trek-X</a> friends of mine and so glad they could spend the summer in Guatemala! :) </div>
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I am currently in the states and Mitch will join me next week after our last team leaves Guatemala. Please join us in praying for this new building and for the people who will make up the church. We are praying for a local villager to rise up as pastor and we truly believe we will see a transformed village. </div>
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Amanda Muñozhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00017448452195372635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451671521660112719.post-40015492767595199002014-06-20T13:51:00.001-05:002014-07-21T23:17:23.190-05:007 things about being a Missionary I recently saw a blog about the myths of expat living. I found myself agreeing with every bit of the article since Mitch and I are technically expats (someone who lives in another country that is not their homeland). However, I thought it would be fun to create my own list, but about missionary living, since we're also missionaries. I figured that a lot of my readers have probably been on a mission trip before, know people who go on mission trips, or know/support missionaries. While this probably isn't general to all missionaries, it's our life and I hope this will help everyone understand our world a little better (and maybe even give you a good laugh).<br />
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<b>1. We are semi-homeless.</b><br />
I prefer to call myself a nomad rather than semi-homeless, but either way, we never seem to have a permanent place. We lived in Nashville for 2 years and our commitment in Guatemala is for 2 years, but we will most likely stay longer. When we are in the states, you can usually find us hopping from one state to another visiting friends and family. We're pros at living out of a suitcase. The life of a missionary isn't completely nomadic, but we sure do a lot of traveling (just look at the life of Paul!). Who knows where we'll be 5 years from now?!<br />
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<b>2.</b> <b>Our driving skills have drastically improved. </b><br />
Americans think other Americans are bad drivers. But you really haven't experienced bad driving until you have crossed borders. Don't worry if you fail your drivers test in Guatemala. You can always just pay for a license…<br />
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<b>3.</b> <b>Our</b> <b>bargaining skills have improved…with the police.</b><br />
One time Mitch completely got out of getting a parking ticket because he used the whole "I'm not from around here" trick. Except it wasn't a trick and he really didn't know that he wasn't supposed to park in that spot. He also just so happend to "forget Spanish." I don't know if you could really call that bargaining, but it worked. And that one time I got stopped (they do random stops here) and I didn't have my license…I somehow talked my way out of that one!<br />
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<b>4. We are grateful for the little things.</b><br />
Like toilet paper. I totally forgot that flushing toilet paper was a thing. I'm just happy to have some. And I know now to always carry some with me when we're out and about. Good luck finding toilet paper in a village.<br />
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<b>5. Our bug and dirt tolerance is through the roof (literally). </b><br />
Bugs are still not my friends, but they are more tolerated than ever before. Please don't judge me when you come over to my house and see spiders living on the ceiling and in the corners. Is it weird that I'm kind of thankful for them? I mean, they do eat bugs. There may be more dirt than you're used to seeing too, but my house is made of concrete so just go with it.<br />
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<b>6. We speak Spanglish.</b><br />
Spanglish is a real thing you guys. Sometimes our brain has a hard time switching back and forth between Spanish and English so they both come out in the same sentence. Lo siento in advance.<br />
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<b>7. We have the best job.</b><br />
Ministry can be hard; emotionally, spiritually, and physically hard. But on the hard days and especially on the good days, we remember that we are working for the Kingdom. That makes every second worth it and it makes us thankful that God chose us for this job…the best job!<br />
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Amanda Muñozhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00017448452195372635noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451671521660112719.post-49568476571927325902014-06-04T13:55:00.001-05:002014-06-04T13:55:45.591-05:00Beautiful Ministry <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I love this photo. I love the smile on the little girl's face. I love the freshly painted nails with each color representing something different about salvation. And I love the different skin tones coming together as friends. </div>
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This past week was another adventure for Mitch and I as we lead a mission team from West Monroe, LA (no, the Robertson's did not come!). We worked primarily in a new area for us called Las Vegas (Guatemala, of course…although the other Las Vegas that we're all familiar with could use a whole lot of Jesus too). We also ventured into some familiar villages that we work in on a regular basis. It was a wonderful week finishing the construction of a new church building and seeing many come to know the Lord! </div>
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Mitch and I had been working in a village called Amapa since December and had yet to see any adults come to Christ. Ministry takes time, this we know. But some of these villagers had made it pretty clear that they didn't want to change. So we began thinking that this area was nothing but hard soil and that maybe it would be wise to move along to another village. We were discouraged, yet we continued. We took some of the group with us into this village for half a day. After only 2 hours of evangelizing, playing with kids, and giving free eye exams, 9 people were saved! And many of those people had been showing up at our Bible study this whole time. We learned something very important from this: house to house, person to person evangelism was much more effective than large group bible studies. This is true in scripture too. Jesus is seen with individuals and his disciples more often than speaking to the masses. Many more salvations took place this week in other villages, but we are rejoicing over the saved souls in Amapa; a place we have been praying for for so long.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KIZMbH0Lrm4/U46XsS-OtZI/AAAAAAAACII/lv39Y3AShzo/s1600/IMG_9144+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KIZMbH0Lrm4/U46XsS-OtZI/AAAAAAAACII/lv39Y3AShzo/s1600/IMG_9144+copy.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a>When groups come, we like to do projects that helps the local community and builds up the local church. The main project they worked on was finishing the floors and altar of a local church, which only took them 3 days to finish. We also focused a lot on evangelism and saw at least 25 people saved! Usually one week mission trips changes the group more so than the locals. Because let's be honest, 1 week is not going to set the world on fire. But this week was a bit different. I can't say this enough, but I love this job of mine. I love seeing high schoolers wrecked by what God is doing and I love seeing locals come to salvation in Christ. I'm thankful to have been a part of last week's ministry. Here's to 4 more teams this summer! </div>
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<br />Amanda Muñozhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00017448452195372635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451671521660112719.post-2215093615495889382014-05-18T11:03:00.000-05:002014-05-18T11:03:34.853-05:00Lately<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I've realized that having a puppy is good preparation for children. She wakes us up before we want to get up, I find little puppy teeth that have fallen out of her mouth, she requires care and attention that take up time and money. But she has brought so much joy into our home and we lover her. So for now she is the closest thing we have to a child and we're good with that for a while. </div>
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Speaking a language and translating a language are two different things. But when we do translate, it's a lot easier for Mitch and I to translate from Spanish into English. However, Mitch had his first opportunity to translate a sermon from English to Spanish with an American missionary that came to visit us. He did a great job and I'm so proud! He's a natural. </div>
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The 2 older kids pictured, Elmer and Nora, recently accepted Christ! We are praying for the rest of their family, including their widowed mother to come to Christ as well. As my husband put it, we are so thankful for supporters who help us put Bible's in their hands and the Word in their hearts! </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d2DdY5wR64Q/U3TyABTjm2I/AAAAAAAACF0/t7LI_xejCHg/s1600/IMG_2108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d2DdY5wR64Q/U3TyABTjm2I/AAAAAAAACF0/t7LI_xejCHg/s1600/IMG_2108.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a>The other day we visited a church in a village called Las Animas. It was the farthest village from town that we've visited. The ride was long and bumpy, but it was so neat to see the Pastor's love and dedication for these people. </div>
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The Guatemalan rainy season is officially underway. Mitch and I moved here on the tail end of the rainy season in October. We've had non-stop sunshine up until now, which has been awesome for this Florida girl! Now we are trying to adjust to rain almost everyday. But when the sun is out, we take full advantage of it!</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AB12elKOWvY/U3T05jcT_5I/AAAAAAAACGE/9X8jFs3rJig/s1600/IMG_2111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AB12elKOWvY/U3T05jcT_5I/AAAAAAAACGE/9X8jFs3rJig/s1600/IMG_2111.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a>Assuming I was a local, a tourist walked up to me on day in Antigua and asked, "Hablas Ingles?" (Do you speak English). I replied, "Si!" And then he proceeded to ask me to take a photo of him. It made me smile that I was seen as a local. Then I realized, I am a local! I live here! Mitch and I certainly have days where we long for Tex Mex and our family and friends. But we love living in Guatemala and are so glad God brought us here. Now it's only a matter of time before we become Guatemalan residents!</div>
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Recently I was a guest blogger over at <a href="http://www.helloluvvy.com/" target="_blank">Hello Luvvy</a> talking about Guatemala. </div>
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<a href="http://www.helloluvvy.com/2014/05/13/explore-guatemala/" target="_blank">Click here</a> to read my post! </div>
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<br />Amanda Muñozhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00017448452195372635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451671521660112719.post-69214730759819596912014-04-22T13:26:00.000-05:002014-04-23T14:55:49.641-05:00Make Change <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's no surprise that Mitch and I live in a country with great need. A lot of people in the villages here are <i>just trying to survive</i>. Guatemala's child malnutrition rate is the highest in Latin America and 4th highest in the world (<a href="http://infosurhoy.com/en_GB/articles/saii/features/main/2013/09/04/feature-02" target="_blank">source</a>)! The contrast between the wealthy and poor is quite stark. In other words, there's not really a middle class. And if there is one, they are very sparse. Mitch and I want to change that. Not necessarily create a middle class per say, but to help people get out of poverty. Our goal is for Christ to be made known. We have befriended these villagers and are currently studying the Bible with them. We want to focus on both their spritual well being as well as their physical well being.<br />
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It seems like such a daunting task. Completely overwhelming.<br />
Mitch and I are currently working in 3 different villages, the smallest having roughly 50 families. We desire for these villagers to rise above the rest. To see these people no longer be a statistic. To see them succeed, when everything around them is telling them they'll fail. We want to see, or better yet, <b>make change</b>.<br />
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But we can't do this alone. Mitch and I are only two people. We can help feed someone for a day, but not forever. As the saying goes, "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." We're in this to teach people to fish and help them stand on their own two feet.<br />
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But how?<br />
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<u>Here are our ideas</u>:<br />
<b>1</b>. <b>Pigs/chickens</b><br />
If a family owns pigs and/or chickens, not only will they have food to eat, but they now have a recurring income from piglets and eggs.<br />
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<b>2. Sending a child to school </b><br />
The thing is, everyone here goes to school…but only until 6th grade or until they can't afford it anymore. Public high school is just too expensive for a villager to pay for. But, helping a child finish school means endless opportunities. A high school degree will get you way further here than it will in the states.<br />
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<b>3.</b> <b>Greenhouses</b><br />
A greenhouse for a whole community provides not just food, but <i>nourishment</i>.<br />
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<b>4. Financial Investment</b><br />
Some villagers have big dreams, but little resources. A financial investment in their future could help jumpstart that dream of theirs into reality.<br />
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There are a lot more ideas and ways to help, but this is a start.<br />
God loves them and so do we. We want to extend an opportunity to <b>make change</b> in Guatemala. Do any of these needs resonate with you? To give to any one of these projects <a href="http://mobilizingstudents.com/donate.php" target="_blank">click here</a>, type in <u>Guatemala Projects</u> in the search bar, and <i>give</i>. To specify which project you want to help with, leave a comment in the comment box. For more information you can email us at munoz@mobilizingstudents.com<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ppTmCVboKdM/U1H51hheHoI/AAAAAAAAB8g/9aMQJHY3JQw/s1600/IMG_8217+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ppTmCVboKdM/U1H51hheHoI/AAAAAAAAB8g/9aMQJHY3JQw/s1600/IMG_8217+copy.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a>God is at work here in a big way. Will be a part of it too? </div>
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<i>"Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and </i><br />
<i>oppressed. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from </i><br />
<i>the hand of the wicked." Psalm 82:3-4</i></div>
Amanda Muñozhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00017448452195372635noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451671521660112719.post-13137973833940226912014-04-08T12:35:00.000-05:002018-11-06T11:06:03.480-06:00Crossing Borders It was a hot September day, just a few days after my 23rd birthday. Ahead of me I saw dry, barren land. It looked like a desert in the middle of the Caribbean. Behind me the landscape was lush and tropical, like one might expect the Caribbean to be. We were crossing borders from the Dominican Republic to Haiti. As we approached the Haitian border, the chaos grew louder. Since we were the only white people around, we hopped off our bus hoping to hear sounds of English, but were only left with the clashing of Spanish and Creole. Not knowing what to do I followed the rest of our group and stood in line to have my passport stamped. I wish I could say that once our passports were stamped we hopped back on the bus and drove off, but that was not the case. What should have been an easy, organized process turned out to be an unorganized, corruptive mess. Like I said…we were the only white people in a sea of dark skinned Haitians and equally dark Dominicans. Our skin tone gave us away and resulted in us paying 3 times more than what we were supposed to.<br />
Unfortunately, crossing back into the DR from Haiti was not any better. Our heads were spinning, our stomaches were hungry, and I'm sure someone on that bus had to use the bathroom but no one dared get off the bus if they didn't have to. 5 hours of waiting and one passport stamp later and we were in the clear. We drove off in relief, hoping to never again relive such an exhaustive and terrifying process.<br />
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When Mitch and I began preparing for our trip across the border to Mexico to renew our visa's, I was so nervous and had no idea what to expect. I was praying not to relive our Caribbean border experience. I tried talking Mitch into going to Belize instead (it's safer and by a beach ;)). But we had already made arrangements to go with our Mexican friends who needed to renew their visa as well. Fortunately(!), crossing from Guatemala to Mexico was no where near as bad as our first border experience. What I learned was that Mexicans favor Americans. So for us, the process was smooth and easy. Still a little chaos, but easy nonetheless. The important thing is that we accomplished our mission of renewing our visas. We're good for another 90 days in Guatemala (and are hoping to finish our residency paperwork before the 90 days is up)!<br />
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We ended up having a lot of fun in Mexico, but we're so glad to be back in Guatemala! Here are some photos of our trip in Chiapas, Mexico.<br />
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We ate cactus for the first time! Mitch and I both thought it was green beans at first. </div>
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San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas</div>
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Mexican coffee</div>
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I think I ate quesadilla's everyday while I was there! </div>
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Taking the public transportation bus in Chiapas…something that is too dangerous for us to do in Guate</div>
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VW Bugs are <i>everywhere</i> in Chiapas</div>
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Visiting Chiapas de Corzo…the first city in Mexico that was conquered by Spain.</div>
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Isn't it beautiful?! </div>
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We're thankful that our border trip was somewhat uneventful, but next time I vote for Belize!Amanda Muñozhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00017448452195372635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451671521660112719.post-90143142125054585362014-03-28T10:06:00.000-05:002014-03-28T10:06:04.485-05:00Los Chilitos <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A break in routine is a good thing. An open door into a new village is even better.<br />
Last week Mitch and I had our first mission team of the year from Owasso, Oklahoma. We worked in a new village, one Mitch and I had only visited a couple of times called Los Chilitos. After playing with/teaching the kids all week plus working on a new school for them, the people of Los Chilitos were extremely grateful. And the best part is that 3 people got saved! The team has helped open a door for Mitch and I. Now we can enter into Los Chilitos as the the recognizable gringos instead of strangers. Even though Mitch and I both were sick at times, we were refreshed by the company of the group and encouraged by their hard work. I love having teams here...it's fun for Mitch and I, it helps the local people, and it changes lives-both the villagers and the people on the trip! So a big thanks to the students and adults from First Baptist Owasso, Oklahoma for coming and serving. Here are are few photos from the week, but you can view more <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152270440717398.1073741850.57713287397&type=3" target="_blank">here</a>. And be sure to check out the video at the end!<br />
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<a href="http://vimeo.com/90040513">Owasso</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user26263763">Mobilizing Students</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</div>
Amanda Muñozhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00017448452195372635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451671521660112719.post-67702131664058332622014-03-16T16:07:00.000-05:002014-03-20T16:22:51.602-05:00Lent: Journey to the Cross <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today in our culture and world we're taught that everything is about <i>our</i> goals, <i>our</i> success, and <i>our</i> happiness. But lately I've been pondering on the opposite: self-denial.<br />
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The gospel is very clear that life is not about us. We have been crucified with Christ (Galatians 2:20) and we are to take up our cross and follow Jesus (Matthew 10:38). This message teaches about the death of self in exchange for life if Christ. This paints a picture of what this lenten season is all about.</div>
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I used to think Lent wasn't for me, but I'm learning that it is for <i>everyone.</i><br />
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<b>"Lent is a season of preparation and repentance during which we anticipate the death (Good Friday) and resurrection (Easter Sunday) of Jesus. It is this very preparation and repentance - aimed at grasping the intense significance of the crucifixion - that gives us a deep and powerful longing for the resurrection, the joy of Easter."</b><br />
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I stumbled upon <a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/files/2013/02/Journey-to-the-Cross.pdf" target="_blank">this devotional</a> and decided to go through it for lent. It's a 40 day (free) devo that leads us to Easter Sunday. It is causing me to look at lent as something so beautiful. We are encouraged to abstain from something for 40 days, but the true emphasis is adding something. Replacing what we gave up with things of God. All to know Him more. Denying self and leaning on Christ. It's never too late to join in on lent. Take a look at the devotional and pursue Christ this season as we wait eagerly for the joyous resurrection of our Savior. </div>
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Amanda Muñozhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00017448452195372635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451671521660112719.post-15257552258491003902014-03-06T14:33:00.000-06:002014-03-06T14:33:36.824-06:00Real Food <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The other day I had a breakdown. We had plenty of food in the house, but I didn't know what to eat. I was frustrated that everything in kitchen had some sort of added sugar or unnatural ingredient. If you know me well, you know that I've been kind of a health nut for most of my life. It wasn't until recently though that I felt like I learned what it really meant to be healthy. I've been watching too many food documentaries and reading too much info that I've become obsessed with checking labels. I even went and bought a food processor so I could start making my own things from scratch. </div>
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So <i>naturally</i>, the recipes I'm about to share are wholesome. Real food. Nothing fake, nothing weird. Just food. </div>
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Before I share, let's get one thing out of the way…I'm a vegetarian. If that's not really your thing, then you may not want to read any further. Or you could give it a try and it just might become your thing. Trust me. I have a non-vegetarian husband and he approves of all these recipes! </div>
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Honey Lemon Ricotta Toast (with blackberries and slivered almonds)</div>
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Berries, cheese, almonds, the tasty zing of fresh lemon…Yum! This is a delightful, creamy snack that you're sure to love. </div>
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Mix together ricotta, honey and lemon until your liking.</div>
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Toast bread. Spread ricotta and top with almonds and blackberries (or fruit of your choice). </div>
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Enjoy!</div>
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Yes, this is vegan. Don't let it scare you! Vegan is not a bad thing, nor does it mean it tastes bad. Don't knock it till you try it!</div>
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I don't know what to call this dish, but I do know that my husband loved it. Like lick-the-bowl-clean loved it. I found Inca Red Quinoa at Walmart and had to buy it. The Walmart here is so hit or miss on some of their items so I knew the quinoa was probably not going to be there for long. </div>
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Have you ever had quinoa? It's SO good and so good for you! </div>
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Red Inca Quinoa</div>
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BBQ roasted cauliflower</div>
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Red pepper roasted chickpeas</div>
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Avocado </div>
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It's that simple, people. Try it, love it, lick the bowl clean. </div>
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Stuffed Butternut Squash</div>
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I found <a href="http://www.inquiringchef.com/2012/11/18/twice-baked-butternut-squash-with-quinoa-pecans-and-parmesan/" target="_blank">this</a> recipe on Pinterest but decided to give it my own spin. When we first moved to Guatemala it was fall in the United States. Thanksgiving recipes were everywhere, everyone was drinking their pumpkin spice lattes and I was seriously craving butternut squash! I sent Mitch on a mission one day to find them, but he came back empty handed. Then about a month ago, there they sat in Walmart, my yummy butternut squash. Like I mentioned, the Walmart here is so hit or miss so I jumped on the opportunity to buy these.</div>
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I used Red Quinoa again, but cooked it with spinach and white beans. I added a little ricotta just for creamy-ness. I baked the squash on 430 degrees until they were tender, then added my quinoa mixture and popped them back into the oven for 10 min. Topped it with some parmesan cheese and crushed red pepper. This is definitely a meal I'll make again (that is if Walmart still has butternut squash).</div>
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I hope to post more recipes soon as I continue to experiment in the kitchen. What are some of your favorite wholesome meals? </div>
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Hope you enjoy these recipes. Happy (and healthy) cooking!</div>
Amanda Muñozhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00017448452195372635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451671521660112719.post-90525186126080009452014-02-22T10:39:00.000-06:002014-02-22T10:39:53.982-06:00Becoming Residents <br />
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What's weird about applying for residency is that we already feel like we're residents. We live here, know our way to the airport (ha), and do all the things the locals do. Our stomachs can even handle street food now, which is a big deal.<br />
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But, whether we feel like residents or not, we must apply to be one. Mitch and I went back and forth trying to figure out what we should apply for. It came down to a religious visa or permanent residency.</div>
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Our decision for permanent residency is simple: <i><b>adoption</b></i>.</div>
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Because of how difficult it is to adopt from Guatemala as Americans, it seemed like our only option was to become Guatemalan residents. And we're totally okay with that! </div>
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I don't know the origin of this photo, but I saw it on Facebook and it made me cry. This is our hearts desire. We want to be a mommy and daddy to little girl or boy like the one in the photo.<br />
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I know we've only been here about 5 months, but we have already decided to stay longer than our 2 year commitment. We kind of, really love it here and we know this long process will be worth the wait. We're very excited about the future and the opportunity to be residents and Lord willing have a little Guatemalan child.<br />
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Please pray for us during this process of obtaining residency. This is the first step for us in reaching our end goal of adoption. Praise God for giving us this opportunity to make his name known in Guatemala and to hopefully one day bring hope to an orphaned child. </div>
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<i>"I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you." John 14:18 </i></div>
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Amanda Muñozhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00017448452195372635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451671521660112719.post-15807093752252218362014-02-12T13:00:00.001-06:002018-11-06T10:19:16.277-06:00Antigua <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Antigua is one of those cities that you never grow tired of. It's full of culture, charm, and amazing architecture. There's always a new restaurant to try and a new street to see. The old cobble-stone streets and rustic hotels make you feel like you're walking back into time. Antigua is 95% tourism (which explains all the European languages we heard). The short 2 hour drive from our home makes it an easy day trip. Mitch and I have visited Antigua many times, as it is the place we take groups for their excursion day. So when our friend Chase stayed with us for a month, we couldn't let him leave Guatemala without visiting Antigua. We visited many local markets, toured an old Catholic church and its catacombs, and had too much fun trying different food. </div>
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It's truly a beautiful place and a city like none other. </div>
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Have I convinced you to come visit us yet? Antigua is the perfect bribe, right? :) </div>
<br />Amanda Muñozhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00017448452195372635noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451671521660112719.post-20589417745630625882014-02-06T11:05:00.000-06:002014-02-07T12:12:49.792-06:00January photos <br />
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Mitch on his 25th birthday!</div>
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Our little puppy child, Olive.</div>
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<img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5WTCrUxkZFc/UvO5lVPEbkI/AAAAAAAABtQ/okQHlK8qQCw/s1600/Nine_Square_Grid.jpg" height="638" width="640" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;">January was a good month. </span></div>
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From left to right:</div>
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1. A volcano has erupted about an hour's drive from our house! 2. Mitch and I before giving our testimony at a conference of hundreds of people. 3. Birthday kisses for the birthday boy. 4. Our friend Chase spent the month with us. The kids in Agua Zarca are going to miss him! 5. "Sorpresa!" People at the church surprised Mitch with a little birthday party. 6. The boys playing a game of chamusca (informal soccer game). 7. Coffee break at Starbucks in Guatemala City. 8. Our new puppy child taking a nap. 8. Noemí and I. We met in 2008 in Mexico and now we both live in Guatemala! </div>
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This January was a great start to 2014. I can't believe it's already February now! Mitch and I are excited about where our ministry is heading and we're looking forward to the rest of the year. Thanks for coming along this adventure with us by keeping up with us and praying for us. It means a lot! </div>
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Amanda Muñozhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00017448452195372635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451671521660112719.post-22400104759834105772014-01-22T10:59:00.001-06:002014-01-22T11:42:47.730-06:00These kids. Kids…they've never really been "my thing." It takes a lot of extra energy and patience from me to work with them. I feel awkward around them and sometimes I just don't feel like I can relate to a 9 year-old, you know?<br />
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But these kids? These kids make me want children(most days). They make me excited about hanging out with them. They are cute, sweet, and respectful. They have patience with me when I'm stumbling over my Spanish. And even though I am way older than them, they always want me to play with them. And even though I'm still somewhat awkward around them they still call out my name like I'm they're best friend.<br />
So when Mitch and I heard that these kids had no teachers even though school was supposed to have started already and the government didn't care enough to send anyone in, we decided to become their teachers. While I hate math and have trouble getting myself to read, I'm going to do my best to teach these kids the basics of math + reading. And while we already go into their village twice a week to teach Bible stories, we're going to teach them the Bible <i>in the school</i> (take that U.S. government!). Because these kids are worth it. These kids deserve love, attention, and the right to learn. These kids have stolen my heart.<br />
<br />Amanda Muñozhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00017448452195372635noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451671521660112719.post-77258929131004978962014-01-17T10:59:00.000-06:002014-01-17T10:59:31.494-06:00Green juice. I want to start a series on here about food. I think it would be fun to share some of the recipes I've come up with while being somewhat limited in food items. I love searching Pinterest for different recipes, but often times there are certain ingredients I just can't find in Guatemala. So I'll be sharing my creations as well as some typical Guatemalan food!<br />
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Juicing. It's like the thing right now and admittedly I've jumped on the bandwagon. However, I am not replacing the juice for a meal, nor am I trying to lose weight from it. For me, it's just a way of getting in some extra fruits and veggies. When I first bought my juicer I really didn't know what I was doing. But I ended up creating something really yummy.<br />
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I don't know about you, but most store bought green juices are gross to me. They either taste like grass or they taste way too much like a green apple and I do not care for those (red delicious all the way!).<br />
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So here's what I came up with for a green juice that does not taste like grass or a green apple!<br />
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2 Red apples<br />
1 Orange<br />
Celery<br />
Cucumber<br />
Lime<br />
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After juicing the apples and orange I used a handful of celery and cucumber, really just until it helped fill up my cup. And I squeezed in some lime juice for a little extra zing. I really enjoyed this juice and will definitely make it again. I don't like cucumber or celery unless they are covered in dressing or cream cheese so this was a good way to sneak them in.<br />
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*Tip: make sure to drink the juice on an empty stomach or it could cause digestive problems. I had the worst heartburn after drinking it all because I enjoyed it while eating lunch.<br />
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Hope you enjoy and happy juicing!<br />
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<br />Amanda Muñozhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00017448452195372635noreply@blogger.com2