A Song that I Wrote

Hey, guys! So I feel I need to do a little explaining on this one because it is kinda different than my usual songs. I wrote it completely without a story to back it up, but it's about a girl who just broke up with her boyfriend but can't seem to get him quite out of her mind. So please don't think that when I say the term "haunting" that I mean actual ghosts and spirits...more of an image as to how she's feeling.

In this song, I wanted to capture a bit of the feeling of Daughtry's Ghost of Me twisted nicely with the echoing, poppish break-up sounds of Kelly Clarkson's Already Gone. I love both of those songs immensely, so I was a little skeptical in attempting to make my own. By the grace of God, I got through it, however.

Well, here is my latest song, "Haunting Me Tonight". Enjoy!

When we said goodbye,
Didn't think I'd try,
To get you back one last time.

I tried to find,
Some peace of mind,
To spare me from my memories.

Chorus

So why does your stare,
Still haunt me,
With the way you looked in my eyes?

I can feel you there,
Beside me.
Why is thin air your one disguise?

Baby, you're haunting me tonight.

I look around,
And all I see,
Is the shadow of your memory.

You're in my heart,
And in my head,
Like you're just another part of me.

Chorus

I must be insane,
For calling your name,
And tryin' to ressurect the past.

I don't know what to do,
Can't live without you.
I'm trying to let this feeling pass.

Chorus

Giving Thanks to God

We give thanks to You, O God, we give thanks, for Your Name is near; men tell of Your wonderful deeds. Psalm 75:1

Let's not deceive ourselves, we have a lot we can be unthankful for. The market crashed last year, many of us don't have jobs, money is precious, our families and freedoms are threatened by belligerent Islamic radicals who would rather see us dead than the world at peace,friends and loved ones dying, uncertainty as the government tries to "ameliorate" our situation with a much-debated healthcare plan...the list goes on and on. But God never meant for us to fixate ourselves in what we don't have. Rather, we were made to honor and glorify Him with everything we DO have, even if it's very, very little.

Despite the good intentions of our well-meaning citizens, I am certain that God must chuckle at our inconsistency during the holiday of Thanksgiving. To demonstrate what I mean, take the example of the average American family. Bobby and Josephine sit down to enjoy an elaborate dinner with their two children, Billy and Suzie. After a quick prayer that usually mentions the things they forget to be thankful for save for once a year, they proceed to make their way around the table as each individual verbalizes that for which he or she is most thankful. Following these traditional ceremonies, they indulge in the vast feast set before them, filling their already contented stomachs with yet more food, commenting on the dishes, and topping it all off with a generous slice of pie. Oh, and come midnight? Josephine and Suzie will forget that just a few hours before they had all they ever wanted and hit up the mall for some earlybird deals, which, of course, is furnished by the money God has put in their pockets. Thanksgiving has now become Thanksglutton.

Tell yourself no falsehood...we often fall short of the grateful, contented human beings God made us to be. Just as it is our nature to resist God in every aspect, it is our nature to constantly want more. This nature is also boistered by modern American Materialism, which has effected every United States citizen in some way. It is only through Jesus Christ that we can be truly content. We must learn throw our full selves upon the cross, and surrender our lives to Him. Only then will He be enough for us, and the things that He gives will be all we need to do His will.

It's not that I'm determined to forever oppose and antagonize the aforementioned indulgences of Thanksgiving. I realize that most are just trying to have a good time with friends and family. The harmless fun that occurs should not be shunned, and indeed if I were condemning such activities, I should be sorely guilty. But I also believe there is a point to be made here; a very fine but very important line that must be recognized. The joys of any time of year, or even any day, should never overshadow our priority to praise and give thanks to our Creator. Much has changed since the pilgrims bent their knees in thanksgiving, but that doesn't mean that our sentiments have to. The Creator we were born to glorify, and we can do this by reminding ourselves, day-after-day, of everything He's given us.

As a little tributary to God, I would like to include the things I'm thankful for:

1. God's love, mercy and salvation, without which we would have no hope.

2. My loving parents who have cared for me and loved me since my very first breath.

3. My three wonderful siblings for the laughs and good times.

4. My three best friends, Katie, Ellen, and Bekah for accepting me and loving me just the way I am.

5. My new friends at Harvest Fellowship church.

6. The opportunities I have been given.

7. A house, our safety, that I was born in America where I am free to worship God, free to be homeschooled, free to have opinions (and free to have a blog on which to post those opinions!).

8. That English has a Bible printed in its language!

9. My gifts and talents.

10. All of my earthly possessions.


Now, I challenge you to write down today at least ten things that you thank God for, even if it's just little things, and be sure to let Him know how truly privileged you see yourself as for being blessed with these things. Keep it where you know you'll see it, and every time you think of something you wish you had, remember your list and everything God has given you.

May God be with you this holiday season!

Day 18, June 23rd, 2009

*

My alarm went off bright and early this morning (5:30, to be exact) to awaken me from the realms of slumbering night into those of dawning day. It being already in my hand, I pushed its little button and arose. Packing and preparing myself for the day, I managed to get everything ready before seven, when Arvid had demanded we be down at the church for breakfast.

We ate a hasty meal, went into the kitchen to thank our cooks and their helpers, and then went out in front for group photos. This was it. The time was approaching....

I embraced Ester, her arms about me as well. We hugged for a few moments, both very well knowing what this meant. Finally, I let go of her, farewelled a few more people, then took my place with those who had finished their good-byes.

As we were turning to go to the gate, we spotted Ester. Her eyes were red and swollen, and she swiped at them hastily as she hurried to her next task. I felt so incredibly sorry to be leaving her, but did I have a choice?Her place is here, with her people, and mine, for now, is with my people. It saddens me that I shall most likely never see her again on this earth, but we can rest assured that our loving Father is One and the Same, and that He has a perfect plan for our lives. And, in the end, we shall be gathered to Himself, and there see each other.

I would also like to pray a blessing over the children of Guatemala. Such sweet, innocent little things they are. I pray that God would bless them abundantly, put His guardian angels over them, bind the devil, and prosper their lives. I also would lie to bring forth in prayer the falsities of ancestor worship. God, please make these people realize the Truth of Your Word minus the extras they add to it! Oh, and the witch whose house we passed on the road, help her to find you.

That being said, I shall proceed with the events of the day. After breakfast, Hannah and I walked to the tortilla factor, but there was really nothing of interest there, so we went back to the hotel to get a few last minute things ready. The vans were here at 8:05, and got us all safely to Huehuetenango, thanks to God. We checked in the hotel quickly, then made our way to the Zaculeu ruins- which are remnanats of the ancient Maya! Upon rich, green grass rose temples, a ball court, quarters for priests, and the like. We were shown what is thoguth to be the bowl where they placed the hearts of their human victims, walked up the very steps the victims did...and lived to come down. We also saw the museum and did some shopping where I got a notebook for myself and a bookbag for my mom.

At 4:30, we gathered downstairs in the hotel and made our way to the dining room, where we met Jeff and Marille Nelson. They shared a bit about what they do- mostly train people to share the faith with others here in Guatemala. Some are trained as storytellers to go around telling Bible stories and then eliciting from their audience a few questions that probe into the story. Others are trained as pastors, etc.

We ate a long inner with them and then decided to have a pool party. More like a fool party- the water was too cold and everything much too miserable make us want to remain longer than thirty minutes.

Thanks be to God- they have internet here! That meansFacebook! I posted two status updates!

In Christ,

Brittany Goodrich

*I'm having a hard time capturing these, but in case you're wondering, the reason I took a pciture of just the sky was because it was right over where the Mayans were thought to have placed the hearts of their human sacrifices (which is pictured above it). We weren't sure where exactly the sacrifices actually took place, but I wanted a picture of the sky because it is the last thing many of my fellow human beings saw.

You are Great, My God

So, this one I wrote just because...well, why not? Today is just as good as any day
to praise the Lord! And indeed, this all His work. Definitely not mine because, usually, songwriting doesn't come this easy to me. But, in our weaknesses, God is strong, and today He must have wanted me to write Him a song, so He gave me the words. It's as simple as that, guys. If God wants us to do something we know we fall short on, He will guide our words and actions so that He will be glorified and we will succeed.

This number is very slow- almost like a hymn. The ideas presented are simple...and yet I hope they embrace the broadness of our God's glory. I also believe that, as Christians, simple awe as the point at which we should always be, for God requires nothing other of us in worship than to come before Him as we are.

Here is the song:



There’s a calm, sweet surrender,
At the break of day.

Dark skies are torn asunder,
With dawn’s first ray.

And I,
Can only wonder,

Chorus
Why You gave it all,
To me.
Clothed in majesty?

To think Your greatness far succeeds,
Everything the eye can see!

Oh, You are great,
My Lord and God.


There’s a great, brand-new promise,
Upon my every waking hour.

Because Your forgiveness,
Astounds me in its power.

So let me wondering be.

Chorus

And with the twilight of the old day,
Not yet wakened ‘pon the new.

I find another reason,
My wonderings to renew.

Chorus

Oh, You are great,
My God.

Oh, You are great,
My God.

Introspect- My First Nonfiction Work

The public is basically unaware of a potent yet oftentimes missing ingredient in the world of teenage factual literature. This market is strewn with would-be bestsellers written by adults who get what it's like because they've "been there". While doubtlessly any person who has grown and matured past the age twenty can truthfully say they have been through the teenage years, it does not exempt them from the question whether or not they recall it clearly enough to properly present it to the younger generation.

Above, I labeled books by such individuals as would-be bestsellers. Why do I coin this perhaps cliche term in relation to the inadequacy of their comprehension of the true subject matter? The answer is simple. It's that teens will be able to tell whether or notthe author understands what they are writing upon the same level as they do themselves. Frustrated, then, the reader is more apt to discard the book with disgust than apply the virtues to his or her life. After all, teens aren't generally expected to obey adults in the ordinary world, so why should they be expected to do so in respect with their reading?

The need for teenage authors is evident, and upon that basis I begin my first work of nonfiction, Introspect: a Look at the Inner You and Who You Were Made to Be. Introspect will be a Godly, Christian view on the inner qualities of a God-honoring, successful teen. I plan on writing it for a an audience ages 13-19, the majority of which will be Christians, but it will not be exclusive to non-Christians. It will work through issues such as confidence, inner beauty (and, for guys, the superiority of inner beauty over outer beauty), being right with God, purity,what God really says about the teenage years, diligence and hard work, the pursuit of dreams, etc.

I am extremely excited to embark on this newfound adventure God is laying before me. Being a teen myself, I have lots of questions that I often mull over in my room. Through the reading of my Bible, other books, and my own reflections on life, I have developed what I trust are considerably sound answers. With God guiding my hands, I hope to present these questions along with their answers to my peers, who, perhaps for the first time, are experiencing the same things I am.

Star Spangled

Eight years ago today, one of the most barbarous atrocities commited upon American soil shattered our world. It left us grieving, bereft of the citizens we will never regain. Some of us lost loved ones- others showed a universal love by shouldering the weight of each other's sorrow. For the weeks, months, and years to come, we recalled the first blood shed from those front-line soldier- the unmerited warriors of freedom- who were not so by choice, but rather just everyday people who happened to be there. It could've been you, and it could've been me.

But it wasn't. God allows nothing to occur by accident. Even the devil has to ask His permission before setting out on his missions. We might never know why so many had to die that day, but we do know this: that God opted to let us live for a reason. With every passing second we linger upon this earth, we may rest assured that He has laid a path before us; we are not finished here yet, and He won't take us to be with Him until we are. Please, keep that in mind as you pray for the victims of 9/11 today. Pray also for yourself, that God will show you His will in your life, for, just as those innocent people arose that dark morning with no premonition of their fate, so we as well, have no idea whether or not this our last day, hour, or even breath.

The cataclysmic events of 9/11/01 catalyzed a comparatively dark lapse of time as compared to the last few decades. Within a day, President George W. Bush officially declared to the world what had been crying out of our hearts- war. And here we are today, still sitting the ruins of a war that has proved catastrophic indeed.

Since 9/11, many have argued hotly against the battles occuring overseas, saying it was too much of a loss. Others still fervently defend it, because, even though they agree upon its monstrous severity, they deem it necessary that terrorism is confined.

Whichever side you happen to take, however, I think I can rightfully say that we all look upon 9/11 as a day that should've never happened. We all feel various degrees of sadness, pity...and, yes, a tinge of patriotism and perhaps even wounded pride. In commemoration of that bitter day, I made an album that I think sums up ever Christian's view on the past eight years of our history. The song selections begin with a reminiscience upon the above stated events, and move through melodies which dramatize sorrow that has stung so many. And, finally, through it all, we pick our tattered flag, set our eyes to heaven, and, knowing everything's in God's hands, loudly proclaim, "In God We Still Trust."

Where Were You (Alan Jackson)

If You're Reading This (Tim McGraw)

Just a Dream (Carrie Underwood)

In God We Still Trust (Diamond Rio)

I have named the album Star Spangled.

Day 17, June 22nd, 2009

I forgot to tell you about something funny that happened last night. Well, yesterday, we decided we had exhausted our de-chocolatized diet and so boldly set out in search of the creamy, hard delicacy. We were standing outside of a store when a car honked, summoning us to turn our heads. With the window rolled down, a young man held his cell phone up and snapped our photo as he whizzed by!

This morning, we had approximately 2 hours between breakfast and when we loaded up the van to go swimming, during which we perused some stores. I bought Brant a machete, and we visited the Roman Catholic church, where people were burning incense and kneeling in the dark interior, beseeching the spirit of a saint or ancestor. It was a sad sight to behold- people so deceived they thought they had to do this- thoguht they must seek the favor of the deceased souls in order to secure ease in this life or the next. Couldn't they see the statue of the Savior before them? Wasn't the answer in sight?

I stood there, awed by Satan's success in this place. Masquerading as the Lamb, he devours daily those souls as they bend their knees in what they think is Christianity. I had always heard of ancestor worship, but never before had I confronted it firsthand, standing helplessly on the sidelines with a vast language between me and these lost sheep. Suddenly, God opened my eyes to a gaping need- a need to reveal this deception for what it is and the presentation of the Good News.

The van finally picked us up, and we made our way up the mountain to a remotelocation where there was a pool right on the mountainside. A house was right next to it, as was a pavilion with plastic tables, a hammock, and Christmas lights. Laura tried plugging the cord in, but immediately pulled it out when she heard a static sound. However, when she inserted it into another outlset, we found that we heard not static, but a small music player rigged to play Christmas carols when the lights were plugged in!

The water was very frigid, and only a handful of us were brave enough to actually go in. Literally, Kris-Ann could not stop chattering forever and Adriana dove in and was like, "Ohmygosh! Ohmygosh! Ohmygosh!" Eventually, our bodies adjusted to the temperature change and we managed a few games such as Knot and Marco Polo. A couple of us got burned, but it was really fun1

Back at the church in San Miguel, Arvid sat us down at 4:30 and conversed with us about what we'd learned on the trip. Many people brought up great lessons aobut dealing with pride, lesser-possessions, etc. But Rachel really hit the nail on the head for me when she said that depending on God was her biggest lesson. She gave a few examples, like when Abby got dehydrated in Stiquisislaj (sticky-SEE-slah), a village in which some of us stayed.

"I'll admit, I was scared," she says. "I was really scared. I had no idea if she needed serious attention or how we'd get it or anything."

Fortunately, God put it on their hearts to pray and Abby got better soon after that. Also, Rachel related something I totally agree with- trusting God on those twisty, turvy, unpaved roads where there's sometimes not even an inch between you and death.

Also, God has shown me what little others have, and how much I can do without (I went days without a shower because water availability was sporadic). It really shocks me now as I think of our culture- so upscale seems even gas stations and roads and cars. We live in a world where stuff defines success- they live in a world where success defines itself. For many Central American families, this might be as simplistic as putting food on the table. I think plunging from one to the next with only a four hour plane ride in between might be a little difficult. I pray I will soon get over it, but not forget this lesson.

Today, my primary thought is that I would like to be a more faithful Christian. I want God to teach me to depend completely on Him for everything, and to follow His lead for the rest of my life.

In Christ,
Brittany Goodrich

A Song- Not Yet Titled

Today I decided I was in the mood to write a song, but we were about to leave for the hairdresser's, so I grabbed a notebook and pencil and prepared to get my creative juices rushing through my brain and out my arm. For an hour, I sat there....a big zero. Nope. Nothin'. Zilch. Not even love songs- and my late-at-night-in-front-of-the-bathroom-mirror ballads are hits, ya know :).And yet I wanted desperately to write a song.

Well, after a good deal of no productivity and yet not having the attention span to finish my Gulliver's Travels reading, I once again deemed it an honorable hour to take my writing weapon into my hand and wound the purely white page with whatever my imagination happened to barf out of its recesses.

And this time I had a theme (thank God...maybe it wouldn't be so terrible after all). As of late, I've been learning about complacency and the dangers that accompany it. Inspired by both my experience with it (or, rather, my struggle to defeat it), the thought of who God wants me to be, and Britt Nicole's song Walk on the Water, I set my pencil upon the paper...and came up with this. Tell me what you think.


What am I,
Doing here,
Starin' out the window?

Watching life,
Pass on by.
It's just another day.

Never once,
Have I thought,
Or cared about tomorrow.

It'll be gone before you know it anyway.

CHORUS

But how do I,
Even know,
That I'll live to see tomorrow?

How can I,
Be assured,
I'll live throughout the day?

Father God,
Yes, I know,
Your footsteps are hard to follow.

But I'd rather die tryin,
Than live,
This way.

How can I,
Live a lie,
And say this is how You made me?

When I know,
Deep inside,
That I was made for more?

Father God,
On my knees,
I beg You to forgive me.

For choosing to simply waste away.

CHORUS

So I'm left,
Standin' here,
Starin' out the window.

Watching the sun,
Slowly set,
On another wasted day.

And since there's no,
Guarrantee,
That I'll be here this time tomorrow.

It's time to start livin' the right way.

Yeah, livin' the right way.

Ooooooo.....


So there it is! But I also need your help! As you can see, this project as of yet needs a title, so if you could please suggest one by leaving a comment (look at the bottom of this post), that would be great! Thank you, and God bless!

My Two New Albums- Words of Praise and Bubblegum

Hey, ya'll! Well, as I mentioned in the previous post, I have done a bit of fiddling around on iTunes trying to create mix cds from the music arsenal I have stored there. As of late, I have two new creations- Words of Praise and Bubblegum. Here are their synopsises, as well as the playlists:

Words of Praise-

Having grown up in a Christian home with the love of my Savior all around me, I saw it as both an obligation and a pleasureable bit of service to give back to God with music. As a result, I selected a group of songs that are amoung my favorites in the Christian genre- ones that I believe both bring glory to God and challenge us to be all we can for Him. The true Christian is one that serves God in humble reverence, always trusts Him, and never fails to follow His will. I wanted this album to reflect that.

Lifesong (Casting Crowns)

Remembering You (Steven Curtis Chapman)

What If (Nichole Nordeman)

Satellite (Shaun Groves)

Speaking Louder than Before (Jeremy Camp)

Yours (Steven Curtis Chapman)

East to West (Casting Crowns)

Revelation (Third Day)

Should I Tell Them (Shaun Groves)

Why (Nichole Nordeman)



Bubblegum-

Being a huge fan of the pop-culture tunes that blare from the radios, cds, iPods, whatever, I decided one day to create an album of all those songs. Originally, only teen pop was going to be given a home here (hence the name Bubblegum). However, when I realized that my teen pop consisted mainly of Jonas, Demi, Miley, David Archuleta, and a couple Jordin Sparks, I had to rouse my imagination in order to save my listeners from dying of boredom. And so the boundaries expanded to include some Jordin Sparks that borderlined the teen area as well as a Leona Lewis song....aaahhhh, so what? Might as well throw some Taylor Swift in there, too!

By the end, I was defining my creation as songs that had burned their way through the pricky brambles of criticism and made it to the top largely because of teen support. Now for the name...how could I adjust the name? Well, nothing was coming, and since everyone but Taylor is a pop artist, I thought, Hey, so what? Bubblegum it is, and Bubblegum it stays.

Burnin' Up (Jonas Brothers)

A Little Too Not Over You (David Archuleta)

One Step at a Time (Jordin Sparks)

Fly With Me (Jonas Brothers)

Love Story (Taylor Swift)

World of Chances (Demi Lovato)

Battlefield (Jordin Sparks)

You Belong With Me (Taylor Swift)

Lovebug (Jonas Brothers)

Here We Go Again (Demi Lovato)

Bleeding Love (Leona Lewis)

White Horse (Taylor Swift)

Crush (David Archuleta)

Catch Me (Demi Lovato)

No Air (Jordin Sparks)

A Peek Upon the Past- My Latest Hobby!

The other day, my creative streak got the best of me. As some of you already know, I LOVE music of nearly all types and my iPod is literally loaded with songs, videos, and even TV shows released by my favorite artists. I've even written a song or two and would love to get my hands on some music-making computer software.

And then yesterday it hit me- I could start a hobby of burning songs that I select and carefully arrange into albums! Now, of course I won't be selling the albums and all the songs I use will be already paid for, but I thought they would be interesting just to have. Also, if you're intrigued by a particular theme, I plan to post as many of my song arrangements that I can on here so that you may duplicate my work by purchasing the songs for yourself and burning your own CD.

As usual, I already have a thousand ideas running through my head, and I can't wait to share them all with you! But, I have actually begun one of the albums, and have decided to title it A Peek Upon the Past.

A Peek Upon the Past is just that- a backward, reminiscing glance at who we once were. For this selection, I have decided upon four artists whom more or less defined the twenty years that elapsed between 1970-1990; namely, Michael Jackson, Neil Diamond, the Bee Gees, and Chicago. Last night, I went through many CDs and trialed many song combinations until I came up with the following:

Smooth Criminal (Michael Jackson)

Desiree (Neil Diamond)

You're the Inspiration (Chicago)

Stayin' Alive (Bee Gees)

America (Neil Diamond)

Hard to Say I'm Sorry/Get Away (Chicago)

Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' (Michael Jackson)

Tragedy (Bee Gees)

Hard Habit to Break (Chicago)

Thriller (Michael Jackson)

Jive Talkin' (Bee Gees)

Look Away (Chicago)

September Morn (Neil Diamond)

Day 16, June 21st, 2009

Yum, yum- good eatins'! Seriously it was (and, yes, that's a leaf)


Elina (left) and Carey (right)- two girls who hung out in my and Jodi's hotel room for a while



The clothes-washing station at the San Miguel church. They used something similar to this to wash our dishes as well.

Today, we rose bright and early, dressed and had migrated to the church for breakfast by eight. Ester fixed us up some oatmeal (which actually contains little substantial matter and is of a more liquidy constitution), a bit of wakash (or soup), and a handful of eggs as well as pitchers of coffee. Gobbling it down, we found a full hour on our hands before church commenced. although a cold, dreary fog dictated the sky, we made our way over to the market that forms every Sunday in San Migueal. We found nothing of interst, however, and made our way back to the church.

With a stream of people still steadily trickling in, the worship started. a few items of note here. In this service, there was no real "worship time", it was interspersed between prayers, a speech, and the sermon. Another observation is that the people rarely stand to sing, and are even less likely to clap after a song. Arvid later explained that, for some reason I can't remember, it was not considered the best thing to do.

The brothers and sisters in Christ were very welcoming to us here as well, and honored us many times with their thanks to God that we were here (from what few words I extracted from the K'anjob'al monologues).

Another great opportunity we got was to sing for them. We had prepared three songs last night, and performed them, for which they broke their silent tradition and clapped (Arvid guessed they had figured out it was an okay thing to do in our culture). We did the following songs:

1. Kal Watx' K'ane, Alleluya (a K'anjob'al song to the tune of Battle of the Republic, of which we sang the K'anjob'al chorus, the English verse and chorus, and then the K'anjob'al chorus again).

2. Txojxa swatxil kecab yetoj Dios- this was a chorus we did completely in K'anjob'al, butchering it so badly Arvid told us to do it twice because the people didn't recognize it as K'anjob'al.

3. Lord, Prepare Me- last night, we had a singing festival in Kris-Ann's room led mostly by Kris-Ann. When she and Abby did a harmony on this song, we all fell in love with it because the voices complimented each other so well. So, with Kris-Ann and Abby leading, some of us took melody and others harmony and we sang away.

Another neat custom they have is paying money to God for birthdays. Depending on how old you were, you would give a certain amount. Teh idea appealed to me, however, since God has granted us each year of life and it is only appropriate that we return thanks.

It didn't take long for me to get completely lost and bored during the K'anjob'al/Spanish sermon. The reason I say Spanish is because the pastor would switch into it at critical points in the sermon, most likely to ensure that everyone, including us, got as much out of the sermon as possible. But since I didn't speak very much Spanish either, I just ended up reading my Bible and tryng to pick up a few words or phrases out of the speech.

Then it dawned on me. We hadn't been brought to church that morning just to say we had attended- we had been brought to experience the spiritual stagnation of not having God's

Word in your own tongue. If the pastor's sermon had left me bored and uninterested, is this the same reaction we want for the Word of God amongst those who know nothing of Jesus' saving grace? We are left with two choices- translate the Bible or watch the people perish.

After that, we ate and Arvid went over some things for us to think about.

Oh, and we got to see Marie Sabet, Dorcas, and Ana again. God has truly blessed me!

In Christ,

Brittany N. Goodrich

Praise and Prayer

If you had a whole life to live, what would you do with it? That's the question (in so many words) that I have been asking myself lately. After all, I will be turning seventeen in March- I'm not exactly an adult, but I'm not exactly a child either. However, I am also old enough to know that God has put me here for a reason- and that reason should be as carefully and well planned for as possible.

As a result, my parents and I have begun a search for ministry experiences that will both suit my interests and help me in my career later on. After several investigations, we came upon Bread of Life Ministries, an organization stationed out of Dallas that has an orphanage in Romania. I knew they were looking for a grant writer, but when I finally read their missions statement, I was amazed; their mission was nearly identical to my own idea of what I want to do as a missionary! I clicked volunteer and submitted my application.

Many questions flooded my mind. Would they want a sixteen-year-old? Or did they need someone older? Was this even realistic, since I am in high school?

Well, early this morning, I received an e-mail from a man at Bread of Life ministries. He began by saying that his wife was a pioneer home-schooler back in 1982, when home-schooling was something no one did. He sounded thrilled to have found this common ground with me, since I had touched on my education mode in my application. In retrospect, I thank God for giving me the words to say!

In addition, he guessed by our area code that we lived in the San Antonio region, and said that he made it down there once a month whenever he was not in Romania. Since we are 300 miles away from Dallas, he foresaw the distance as a problem for when we must exchange materials. However, since he is in San Antonio once a month and we are in Dallas at least once a month during the hockey season, I pray that all will turn out all right.

Lastly, he told me that all I had to do was send him my address and he'd send me the Grant Writing Request Packet. He asked me to watch the videos and talk to my family about it, since this would be a family endeavour that I would lead. Then, I would respond to him with my decision.

As you might discern, I was super-excited- he was practically offering me the job! God had not chosen to show him the difficulties that would arise from hiring a sixteen-year-old, but instead the benefits had been placed in his head! I am greatly encouraged by seeing God work in this way!

But if you would also pray for me and my family...that we would seek God's will in this and that God will open and close doors as needed. All of us are a little worried about the time and pressure it might involve, so if you could pray about that, too, that would be great!

Thank you and God bless!

Day 15, June 20th, 2009

Woman models Mayan baby carrier



Me holding the baby


Jodi holding the baby

From left- Xamen, Ester, and Xunic

Editing 1 Samuel

Coya (the village we stayed in).

Another image of Coya

The church we stayed at in Coya

Mountain view from the church

The church courtyard where we were lodged (the second room on the far left is the room where Hannah and I stayed. Sam and Raymond were across the courtyard, which is not pictured)

Today, we rose at 6:35 sharp and prepared ourselves for the day. Ester was already in the kitchen, playing a K'anjob'al worship station while she worked to fix us a scrumptious breakfast assortment of eggs, tomatoes, peas, and tortillas. Accompanied by cups of coffee with a healthy dose of sugar mixed in, it was a unique meal to chow on.

During this time, Sam recalled something- we had forgotten to make our village map as the handbooks told us to do. Having eaten all we wanted, then, the four of us set out to trek up the unpaved path for a bit and identify our surroundings.

Before we got far, however, a man hobbled out from the shadows. In slurred English, he stammered out a few sentences, asking Sam where he lived, and then proceeding to tell us everywhere he's been in the States. Then, he shook our hands, and when he got to Hannah, he said, "I love you, Baby."

My companions were already walking, so I darted up to Hannah and asked, "Did he really just say 'I love you, Baby?"

"I think that's what he said," she replied.

By then, you could say I was a little creeped, but, thanks to God, a lingering walk and breathtaking views stole my attention and cleansed me of my fear.

He did spot us again when we were returning to the church. Having been talking to a fellow Guatemalan, recognition lit his as he called out:

"Pray for me because I love you because of this lady."

My first instinct was let's get out of here, but quite a different thought ran through my mind next. We should pray for this man- that God would open his eyes to the truth of His Word. After all, he is a person created in the image of God, drunk as he was or not, and God loves him. Will you join me in praying for this man and others like him?

At long last, the van came to take us back to San Miguel. Having crammed three groups of villages, we cozied up to one another and hung ten for the long haul.

We met Arvid at the same hotel we had left, and removed our belongings from Sam and Raymond's room, where we had moved it to minimalize the cost. Heading over to the church, we sared our stories of village life and then got to see a very neat scene- real Bible translation in live progress! Arvid had brought his correction of 1 Samuel, Chapter 1 with him, and, together with head translator Xunic, went over it with us looking over their shoulders. Explaining to us a bit aobut how this part of the translation was accomplished, Arvid spoke to us in English and answered our questions.

Next, came time for Xunic, Xamen (pastor in Coya), and Ester to share their testimonies and such (the latter two having traveled from Coya after we had left). They kept repeating how happy they were that we came and that we are one big family in Christ. Xunic even made the comment that it is uncommon for believers from so far away to meet each other, and so he was gald to ahve the chance to meet us. By the end of it all, I was nearly tearing up. We couldn't have asked God for more hospitable hosts- and He gave them to us. I stand both weakened and strengthened. Strengthened by the faith of my fellow believers, but weakened beneath the strength of God Almighty, Who brought us here together.

In Christ,

Brittany

Day 14, June 19th, 2009

During our time together, the children discovered my notebook and were quite interested in it. Since I didn't want to lose the memory of this day, and to have something special form each child to look back on, I allowed them to doodle in the back of my journal, and then wrote their names under the picture. I thank God for this idea, since without it, I would probably not have preserved such a fond memory so accurately.

Sam plays ball with the boys

Itercelia, smiling for the camera as she models her barely-visible new bracelet

Mikala poses with her new necklace. This picture has to be one of my all-time favorites that I've taken.

One of my personal faves

You can walk out your door or fly around the world: there's no denying it, boys will be boys.

Hannah with our newfound friends

Mas foto!

Itercelia (left) and Candelaria (right) braid my hair (I hope I got the names right :P!)

Tres ninas y un nino (yes, Itercelia has my Bible on her head)

From left- Candelaria, Anita, and Ana

Me, Ana, Candelaria, Itercelia, Mikala, Anita, and Hannah

The girls at the washing basin

We sit here in silence, save for Raymond's humming, each occupied in our own activities. Two little boysstand outside, playing and chatting occasionally. People are beginning to congregate in adn around the iglesia, awaiting the start of the service. In the kitchen next door, Ester and her friends are busily preparing a meal, talking away in K'anjob'al as a radio sings sweetly of the wonders of our Lord.

I must say the expression of devotion to God is the most beautiful language in the world. It's universal, a joy understood in the hearts of fellow believers. In a way, it comforts me that our hosts know this happiness- it's a grace we all share- a peaceful rejoicing we see in each other.

Church has begun now, and my ears resonate with many Mayan voices singing to God. To think just a few hundred years ago these were daily sacrificing other humans. And yet here are their descendants, praising the one and only God in their own tongue. It is a true miracle for which God is to be thanked and I am privileged enough to witness.

The little girls behind me are now singing in their sweet voices. A marvelous sound. As I listen to this, the verse in Revelation which speaks of all the nations singing to God at the foot of the throne. Oh, imagine, dear reader, how lovely that will sound- sonorous song in speech separated by tongue, but united by the praise of the King!

I am back in my room now, nearly surrounded by the shouts of children at cheerful play. For about three hours now, K'anjob'al kids have been running around the girls' room, giggling and clammering for a photograph. Literally, I probably have more pictures of kids than the landscape. I've never taken so many pictures at one time in my life. If you look in the back, you can see some memoranda of our time together.

It all began with my idea to build a bridge across the language ravine and take Ana, a girl standing at the courtyard gate, to our quarters to construct bracelets. However, as I marched up the steps, I saw that there was more than just Ana at the top of the stairwell. Many pairs of big, brown eyes stared curiously at me. When I showed them the beads, their hands darted from their sides.

"Para su ellas," I said, informing the overwhelming ratio of boys to girls that these were for girls only. Grabbing the hands of two little girls, I started down to our room. The boys followed us.

By the time we reached the room, Hannah and I had four little girls with us. Using the twine packaged in the bead kit, we measured out a bracelet tailored roughly to the size of each girl's wrist. Each created a masterful adornment unique to herself, and we fastened them on. Before we knes it, we had approximately fourteen children playing in and around the quarters, the boys wrestling each other, playing soccer, and constructing odd photo poses after I showed them the playback feature on my camera.

One interesting game they played was like the Limbo except one must jump over the rope instead of going under, and one must bring the stick higher after each round.

After they went home, Hannah, Sam, Raymond, and I talked and then joined Ester and her friends by the fire. Thank God for that stove- otherwise we'd all be here with hypothermia!

Ester and her friend taught us some new wonds and then we ate dinner. We ended the night with her and the pastor, learning a few more words. I am very pleased that God made it work for Ester to come to San Miguel with us tomorrow, for I wish to know more of this language which I have given the opportunity to learn.

Well, shaquila (good-bye!)!

In Christ,

Brittany N. Goodrich

Day 13, June 18th, 2009

Image from Ester's kitchen


A bit blurry, but this is Ester working at her hearth


The fire with the stove above it


A street in Coya


The outskirts in Coya


Above and below- pics of Stiquisislaj (sticky-see-slah), a village we dropped some of our group members off at.

Stuck in the mud!

My picture of Hannah taking a picture :)!

These roads- I survived! Lol, thank God!

This didn't exactly end up being such a steep drop...when we couldn't see the bottom of it, we were like "Uh-oh!" however.

Buenas tardes from Coya, Guatemala! As I speak, Hannah and I are sitting in our beds, talking and writing. We are lodged here in the iglesia, right across the courtyard from Raymond and Sam.

When we left San Miguel at about 8:45, we were told that it would only be an hour and fifteen minute drive in total, so we began to snake our way up into the mountains. Beautiful landscape once more surrounded us, rolling by with breathtaking grace. Windows open and cold air flooding in, we cut and swerved about the corners, perilously approaching the cliff many times. The vehicle rattled its complaint with every jostling bump. And, as we were maneuvering through some mud, we came to a stop.

A little boy hopped out and began to place rocks beneath our tires to induce traction. Miguel, our driver, shoved his foot upon the gas. We lurched, but then reversed into our original position.

After about ten minutes of stationary transportation, Miguel relayed through Arvid to get everyone out save those in the back. Thus, while the boy, Arvid, Xunic, and Miguel tried to sort out our situation, which happened to be that we were stuck in a puddle of mud. Meanwhile, we snapped photos and absorbed the opportunity of experiencing Guatemala firsthand.

Thankfully, the situation didn't last long. Soon enough, we were squished back into a cozy clump and took off at a moderate speed. A couple times we found oursleves having to back towards the cliff, but God delivered us safely to our villages, and we thank Him for it.

As soon as we arrived, we were taken down to the church and met a lady named Ester. She is our cook, and a wonderful one at that. Her kitchen is quite cute- old, white-washed walls with a stove heated by a fire, which resides beneath the stovetop. This fire is one of the only heaters in the place, and Ester was hospitable enough to let us warm oursleves by the newborn flames while she fixed our dinner.

Part of that dinner consisted of tortillas, which she makes by filling a bowl with ground corn, wetting it, and kneading it to form a paste. Then she picks up a clump of it in her hand rolls it into a ball. Turning it between her thumbs, she forms the circular shape before tossing it quickly back and forth betwixt her palms to flatten it. Lastly, she throws it on the stove, rinses her hands in water, and moves on to her next tortilla.

She allowed Hannah and I to help her make them, but we weren't nearly as dexterous at it as she is.

Fortunately for us, God has gifted her with a patient soul, and she sat with us for at least three hours today, teaching us her language and also a few songs to sing in church tomorrow.

Hannah, Sam, Raymond, and I are actually staying on the church grounds. The boys are across the courtyard and near the bathroom (which we are thankful for because it is not an outhouse!), while we are in what seems to be a storage room next to the kitchen. It is bare in here, save for a cluster of things up against the wall, a clothesline with some wash on it, and two beds standing on a concrete floor. Church is at ten tomorrow, and we, Lord willing, will meet up with some of our team for a day at church and the market, which also occurs upon the morrow.

In Christ,

Brittany N. Goodrich

Day 12, June 17th, 2009

There is plenty of agriculture such as this in Guatemala.


And of course it's raining.



Mayan sherpherdess, guiding her flock




Sheep!





Mountains garbed in the snow-white robe of the clouds






Moooo!!!







Another cloudy view.








Guatemala had lots of trees!

I have been graced with an amazing day! As I speak, I sit perched upon a bed in San Miguel Acata'n- K'anjob'al country!

The way here was beautiful, rolling hills smothered in the misty veil of the clouds. Mountains stooped into wild villeys cultivated by agriculture. Ladies in traditional Mayan dress bent their backs against the elements, caring for the family's crops. Some drove sheep along the sides of the narrow roadway, others sat guarding their flock. Even small children seemed to have tasks, their little arms already employed in gardening, water fetching, and the like.

And so we bumped along the rickety road, windows open and chilly, mountain air flowing in. I snuggled into my jacket , my legs nearly freezing. Yet when laura offered to close the window, both Hannah and I proclaimed our verdict. No. The teeth of the atmosphere was part of the Mayan experience, and we weren't about to lose a single second of it.

At long last, San Miguel Acata'n rolled into view. Pulling up in front of a hotel by the name of Estrella de Belen, we entered. A smell immediately flled my nostrils, and, although I couldn't place locate the source, it dind't conjure up pleasing thoughts. God, however, reminded me I was a missionary and therefore helped me to suppress my complaints.

After a lunch of chicken and chips, we gathered laundry and some gifts and headed over to the iglesia, wehre the K'anjob'al OldTestament translator, Xunic, met us. He told us a bit aobut his work by using Arvid as a translator. Then, we got to learn some phrases and worship songs, some of which they expect to hear from us in church on Sunday.

We were assigned villages, and our gifts were divded. I am going to Coya with Hannah, Sam, and Raymond, which also happens to be where Arvid and Nancy lived while translating the New Testament.

At the end of this procedure, we became aware of three tiny presences, two of which stared at us through the doorway. We began to play with these wide-eyed little girls, who spoke only K'anjob'al. Kris-Ann chased them outside, and then all the way to their home, which was a building on the church grouds. We met the family and, before I ever even reached the door, the eldest ran up to me and threw her arms around me.

"Mi amiga," I cooed to her in Spanish . She smiled back at me.

"Tzet ab'i?" I inquired, reverting back to K'anjob'al.

"Maria," she said softly.

Later, having found out the names of the two littler ones, Dorcas and Ana, respectively, we took them back inside the church and introduced them to everyone. It wasn't long, however, until we had to go.

This night, I went to Abby's room wondering if they knew where I could get pure water (drinking from the tap is hazardous to our health). Nobody knew, but they invited me to stay and so I did. Before I knew it, they were teaching me to dance Jamaican and laughing at how I perfomed it! Rachel then came up and told us that we were being too loud.

Well, g2g!

In Christ,

Brittany