New Years in Guatemala

Hi Everyone!

We had a great two nights in Guatemala to see some Mayan ruins at Tikal and spend New Year's eve at a beautiful lake village. That picture of me with the kids is with some of Josh's neighbor's grandchildren - whenever we are camping on Josh's land we usually have dinner with them. I am really enjoying spending time getting to know the people in the community. Last night I learned how to make tortillas! The jungle picture is from when we hiked to the top of the mountain yesterday. It was tough going - 5 hours all together, bushwhacking, but it was worth it for the view. Good thing we had a neighbor with us who knew how to use a machete!

Today Emanual and I are headed out to Tobacco Caye to do some snorkeling while Josh takes care of some business in Belmopan. It is sunny and beautiful!

Much Love,
Melissa

Made it to Belize

We made it to Josh's land yesterday. It was a long trip! But fun. The land is beautiful. Many orange trees, with sweet juice. We've got our tent all set up and are now spending the day in Dangriga, a beach town about 1/2 hour away. We had dinner last night at the Polanco's, some neighbors about a mile down the road. Really nice people. Belize is very laid back, slow. Also, I saw two toucans just perched on a telephone wire today!
Much love,
Melissa

feliz navidad!

Hi everyone! I made it to cancun and then to isla mujeres, although a little late. josh, emanuel, and i had a great time exploring the island today. spent some good time at the beach and also walked a ways through some more local quiet neighborhoods. we will probably head towards belize sometime tomorrow.

lots of love!
melissa

Poems

It's been a while since I've posted on this, but I thought I'd share a few poems that came through me a few days ago:

Walking into God
Everything falls away
My gifts, my faculties, my famous talents.
Even thought gets quieter.
Other ways present themselves--
Other ways of thinking, being, creating
All of a sudden I find the earth in my heart,
A galaxy caught spinning in my throat,
Empty space where my mind used to be.
I feel the Creator in the structure of space itself--
Holding the heavenly bodies just like he/she holds earthly bodies
My heart talks to me.
Whether it is my own voice,
The voice of an angel,
Or God,
I don't know.
But it seems to have a lot more love
And forgiveness
Than I ever thought I could muster.
This morning,
My heart reached up its golden wings to me
Embraced me
And told me all would be well.
She forgave me
For the petty insults, confusions, judgements
That I had placed on her (myself) in the past.
What stunned me was my own heart's ability to forgive myself,
I know not where the words came from
Just that she (my heart) spoke
And I listened
And I cried.

...

Oh thank Heaven!
I can hear my heart again.
I can hear the voice of angels
In my chest
I can feel her (my heart's) glee
I am melting
Deeply melted into a heart that knows how to forgive
It's funny--
It's not my heart that is melting,
But everything else:
mind, breath, brain, throat, body, soul.
My heart is the source of warmth
That is doing the melting.
It says, "Here! Come melt into me! I want to love you!
Come closer so I can transform you into beauty and light."
How strange
To walk about on crutches
For half a life
Then discover that nothing was ever broken.

...

You must receive what is coming to you.
The whole Universe is coming to you.
Nothing less than God.

Put eyes in your heart
Let your heart see for you
Close your eyes
And feel what your heart is.
Trust me,
You will be surprised.

I'm Back in Town

Yep, that's right folks. I'm back in Fairfield, IA. Arrived on Wed. Nov. 28 - my birthday. It's been great to just relax, eat, sleep, and hang out. Anyway, if anyone in Fairfield is reading this, I'm home! (for the time being) Maybe I will see you around!

London

Smooth jazz tunes floating above me, into my ears. Christmas tunes. "Santa Claus is comin' to town." Drizzle outside, penetrating. Red double decker buses stacked up like playing cards along the opposite side of the street. Car headlights slicing through darkness, bouncing off of puddles in the road. Red and green stoplights. Black taxicab. Umbrellas of all different colours. Horn honking, siren swooning. All observed from behind the safety of the coffee shop window. This is Trafalgar Square, London, at 6:47 pm, Monday, November 19, 2007.

My hair is sassy and cute, curly and sweet. Went to Toni & Guy (a school for hair dressers) today to have it cut. My hairdresser was from Greece, but she spoke Spanish. There was a translator. The whole room was full of people like me, having their hair cut by hair dressing students. There was one teacher for about every 5-6 students. It was quite an experience. I felt very Vogue...
They said I'd look good with some color - We'll see. I don't know if I feel that bold.

I gotta go, cause this shop is closing!
Cheers
G'night