Mi Primer Dia!

 I took this picture from my taxi boat. Some of the cities you can visit around the lake are much more accessible by boat.

Hey, guys!

I just got back from a delicious dinner with a staff family from the clinic tonight. They invited me into their home, and it was wonderful. It was much needed. 

Today was my first day at the clinic. Plans have already changed :) What's new?

1) Turns out I am not going to be serving as a nurse my first week. I will be translating for an American team that arrives tomorrow. My official job as translator starts Monday when eye surgeries begin.

Today there was not too, too much for me to do at the clinic since it mostly consisted of a lot of patient triaging and consultation (all done by the visiting medical group.)

So........

1) I talked to a bunch of kids 

2) Played a ton of soccer

3) Loved on some babies

4) Played tether ball (SO MIDDLE SCHOOL!)

5) Engaged in 2 hours of surprisingly intense basketball with people from Argentina, Ghana, Mexico, Guatemala, and more! Some people spoke Spanish only, some English as their first language then some Spanish (to varying degrees), some primarily spoke their own tribal language then Spanish... It was a little confusing. It felt a little Tower of Babelesque.

I met some pretty awesome younger kids today. Hopefully I can get you some pictures and stories within a week or so. This week to come is going to be filled with watching the blind healed. Those who walked around in darkness are going to see light... I'm praying this can happen not only in a physical sense but, more importantly, in a spiritual sense. I cannot wait to see what God does. Physical victory is for naught without a Savior.

Kind of funny story:

Naturally, I learned a lot of basketball terminology today. I had the strong urge to scream "Rebound!!" or "Shoot!!" or use the word "Pack"(when someone from the opposing team blocks and/or steals a pass just as it's leaving the ball handler's hand). I learned that when you "pack" someone, here it's called a "Tapon [tah-pone]." Welllllll... what had happened was... Someone got packed, and I screamed a very similar word...

So basically it went like this.... 

-The player from my team packed someone... 

-I screamed the word "Tampon [tahm-pone]!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Now, If you are an English speaker, this word may look familiar...that's because it's the same in Spanish as it is in English... You know, like Tampax....like the feminine product......

I immeadeatly thought... REAL cool, Cody. Way to be the ONLY American person in sight screaming "TAMPON!!!!!" at the top of your lungs for no apparent cause or reason...

Good times in Guatemala.

Well, I am sore beyond belief from all the sports today. I'm hitting the sack early tonight. Tomorrow I'm heading to the market and a home church here in Pana. I am working full-time, Monday through Friday this week. Going to be an exhausting and wonderful endeavor!

I love you guys,

Codi