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2025 Travels: USA & Guatemala
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  • Rachael Zielske

2025 Travels: USA & Guatemala

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    Rachael Zielske2025 Travels: USA & GuatemalaTraveler

    She’s in love!

    September 13 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 81 °F

    The theme of our last night is red and pink! Basically a she’s in love theme! We get ready again and even just that is a lot of fun. Meekles and Han and I have to share one king bed but then we also get our own bathroom to pregame and get ready in. It’s like being back in college! We go to a fancy restaurant to have dinner, I had a pork chop and it was so good! They actually brought us biscuits to the table for once so I’m loving this place! We take some to go in our purse so we have a late night snack ready for later. We then went bar hopping. First stop had a lot of exotic taxidermy and also the world’s largest gemstones?! So random but very pretty. We then went to a rooftop bar with a slide which was fun but the bar shut down pretty early for some reason. So what choice did we have but to hit up the country bar again! Besides the undersides of my arms being abused by my sequins it was another very fun night with successful drinking all around! Hangover hats were still needed the next day but mostly we just basked in the fun and good vibes for the flight home!Read more

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    A recovery morning

    September 13 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 73 °F

    Luckily everyone was able to get out of bed the next morning. I’m surprised because I have been too hungover to move but today it was just sore feet and tired eyes! I’d say that’s a win! We put on our hangover hat things which cool and squish your head and that helped a lot! We went to the olde pink house which was unbelievably cute inside and had some good classic southern foods. The one thing missing was biscuits though. So after lunch we walked around beautiful Savannah in search of coffee and desserts. We saw some cute shops but mostly just let the sunshine heal us and let the biscuits soak up whatever bad vibes were left in our tummies! As I have said before I love a biscuit!Read more

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    Meet me on the dance floor

    September 12 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 81 °F

    The vibes are so fun and wild on the rest of the boat trip! I am definitely missing a few memories in there but by the time I got ready for the night out I can remember the rest. The boat was such a good experience and I love how close and more open with each other it made us. We all chatted and danced and jumped in the water! It’s nice to have such a good group together and having fun just being a bit wild! The night’s theme was cowboy, of course. I love my outfit for tonight! I feel like Taylor swift and I get to eat some good food and then hit the dance floor. It was a very country themed bar with a lot of line dancing. But the great thing about line dancing is it’s not awkward, everyone does the same dance and as long as you can follow along you’re part of it! I’d say my following along was 50/50 but I had a blast! No one was in a bad mood or feeling too sick which is insane for how much we drank! I think the bachelorette gods were shining down on us!Read more

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    Bonkers boat day

    September 12 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 79 °F

    To start the day we head to brunch. Savannah is such a cute town I can tell just from this little walk. It’s easy to walk around and the old buildings make it much more picturesque. We then got ready for the boat day. It started with a photoshoot, paparazzi moment, moved to more photoshoot, and later another photoshoot. Our shared album from the week has over 2000 photos and this day has to be the majority of them! It was such a blast though, we had a really fast boat and the guy driving it let us off to swim and then took us to a few bars on different islands/banks. The whole thing is giving very outerbanks vibes. We order multiple shots at the first bar and then the local drink called a scrap iron at the second. We also brought seltzers and water bottles of hard liquor on the boat. We are heading for a very drunk return trip!Read more

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    Bachelorette trip here we come!

    September 11 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 63 °F

    We are off to Savannah Georgia to celebrate Sydney getting married!! I’m pumped for my first bach trip and to have a vacation fully planned for me - I’m just along for the ride! We get some food after our flight and then get to decorating the Airbnb. It was fun to make the place look more party ready and to surprise Syd! It was the cozy night in theme tonight and we played jeopardy about Sydney and Mike’s life. It was hilarious and some good stories came out about them that I didn’t even know about! It was a cute and fun night getting to know Sydney’s people.Read more

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    Anna in town

    August 23 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 64 °F

    These pics are from two separate trips Anna made to MN. On the first one we went up to her cabin and had a great weekend relaxing, playing a ton of games, and seeing the sites. The sites being Gordys and the lift bridge in Duluth. We also got to go to the fair together which is my favorite place and with my favorite people it made it even better! Then she came back and she stayed at mine and Chris’s. It’s so nice to have a really great guest room to have people stay over in. We went to the apple orchard and drank Thor’s hard cider and picked our own apples. I haven’t done that before at Aamodts so that was really fun and gave the fall vibes even though it’s been a hot fall so far!Read more

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    Lots of food to end the trip

    August 9 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 77 °F

    We wake up feeling pretty rough after being out till 2:30AM. We walked home after the beer garden and I had to take off my shoes but now my feet feel raw and I slept like a log so my neck and shoulders are stiff!! But we mange to check out and meet Chris’s friend Josh out at brunch. It was more delicious biscuits and a grilled cheese and soup for me. My body is failing me so while they disc golf I just lay on the ground by the playground. Then we get some insane milkshakes back by our hotel. It’s such a good trendy area and everything’s so close so we just keep heading back into that area. At the airport we have a lot of time so I get more food and all I really wanna do is lay down. It was great timing to see Chris’s friend. I always love the opportunity to hang with Chris’s people for a change. It was short but oh so sweet to be in Raleigh!Read more

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    It’s time for a wedding!

    August 8 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 79 °F

    We got some big seltzers as a pregame while we got ready and then we took an uber over to the wedding venue. It was a really nice old brick building with the ceremony upstairs and then cocktails down in a little patio space. It was free drinks so I was getting wines all night. Food was a really good buffet with a lot of options. I had some of everything. We then danced to their live band who had one of the most amazing singers I have ever heard live in a small venue like that. The night went by so fast all of a sudden it was the end of the wedding. Since we were having a good time talking to Brandon and Nicole’s new friends from Raleigh we decided to go to a bar from there and then ended the night back at the beer garden. Brandon and Nicole met up with the group there. It was an incredible wedding and so good to see them again. Really feeling like coming back to hang out with them again soon.Read more

  • Rachael Zielske2025 Travels: USA & GuatemalaTraveler

    Raleigh here we come!

    August 7 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 72 °F

    Finally it’s the trip we booked months ago to see Brandon and Nicole’s wedding in Raleigh, NC. We get in in the evening so we check into the hotel which is really nice and fancy feeling. And then we walked to Midwood Smokehouse in downtown and had some really good brisket cheesesteak and BBQ nachos. I also got a spicy mule. We then walked to Raleigh Beer Garden where they have 366 beers on tap at the same time! Insane! I had a pineapple cider and Chris had a mango cider. It’s super cute in there and has a great vibe. The next morning we went to the state capitol building where they historically ran the NC government. We also went to the natural science museum. But half of it was closed, not too big a deal since it’s free, but a bummer anyway. They had real whale fossils and dinosaur fossils there though. And they are actively studying them so we got to see some scientists at work. We then went to Biscuit Belly for lunch and omg it was so so good. I’m so sad we don’t do biscuits much in MN because it is a superior bread option. And the gravy was amazing!Read more

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    Bonfire time

    July 13 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 75 °F

    That night we had pizzas in the pie irons and The Dessert. I switched it up and added peanut butter to it and wow what a perfect treat. We chatted and then had to go to bed when we saw lightening coming in from the distance. Unfortunate to get rain on the last night but check out is late actually so we mostly can dry everything out while finishing our books and enjoying the last of our sunny moments. The ferry ride was very nice again for the weather and views and so it’s a really great way to end another fab camping trip.Read more

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    Cliff jumping into an ice bath!

    July 13 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 70 °F

    Today’s a good day in the neighborhood! Our kayaking tour was cancelled for weather which really is unfortunate given it seems like a beautiful day and that’s what brought us here. But it’s another reason to come back! Instead we go on a hike, this one was 5 miles through tall grasses and forest. Willow’s longest walk ever! She crushed it as our leader. We then had lunch of sandwiches, so officially opening loaf of bread number 4. After that we got to go cliff jumping which I haven’t ever done. We saw someone doing it so it seemed legit. Also with such perfectly clear water you can see that nothings under there to impale you. First jump was freaky and the seconds of falling would have taken my breath away anyway but hitting the ice cold water made that feeling 10x more! It was so intense but incredible!! I did it over and over. I want to do that again soon! Willow was very cute watching us go over the edge and wondering where we went.Read more

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    Hotdogs while camping? Crazy!

    July 12 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 68 °F

    Of course most of our time if we aren’t hiking we are reading. But we also make a fire so we can do hotdogs and chili for a late lunch. I think this is the first time we have ever done hotdogs for a camping meal. Who knew they would be a good thing to bring camping?! Dinner is french toast per usual for night two. We brought bacon this year too which was a really good idea for yumminess and a really bad idea for cleaning up. So far the bugs aren’t too bad so we don’t even need the bug tent for its intended purpose. But it’s definitely making it feel like this might be a campground we come back to.Read more

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    Camping activities have begun

    July 12 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 66 °F

    Today it rains in the morning so me and Erin and Willow took shelter in the bug tent but it’s really not meant for rain protection so we are damp. But we just get to read and take turns eating breakfast under the truck door and using the breakfast spoon. One spoon for all of us so we save dishes. Then we went on our first hike which was along the shore. It was a bit gloomy but very pretty. The hike was like 4 miles long and we were hungry for lunch when we got back!Read more

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    Let the annual reading circle commence!

    July 11 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 77 °F

    We are off to Madeline Island in Lake Superior for our camping trip this year. So I work for bit in the morning and then we drive up and get the car onto the ferry. It’s so gorgeous and blue! I’m already so pumped. We got pasta for dinner as usual on the first day but this time all we have to do is heat it up since Mike cooked it this morning. That way we don’t have to cook while also setting up. Our first time camping with a dog we just brought Willow since Pebs and her still can’t be chill around each other. Willow is a perfect little camper so it’s worked out to have her crate in the main tent and use the little tent for wood and chairs at night to stay dry. It’s actually really handy for that!Read more

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    Happy 4th of July!

    July 3 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 82 °F

    Another great cabin weekend. It’s a small group with just Joanie added to the same family who just went to Guate so we really must like each other a lot. But we get to have pebbley butt and wilster with us! I went kayaking and loved it! We saw some green herons and loons! We just watched fireworks from the cabin window as it was meant to storm but they had some big shows at cabins just across the way so it worked out! One awesome thing was having a boat selling cold stone in the middle of the lake so we got ice cream sandwiches while in the channels!Read more

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    Me encanta Guatemala

    June 28 in Guatemala ⋅ 🌧 72 °F

    It’s the last days and so we do some shopping in Coban. We actually go into a more local market meaning the locals shop there not just tourists type things. It was cool to see where you might actually get your meats and spices and things if you lived here. For our final night in Coban we all had some drinks and played games! We then head back to the Lutheran Center the next day and that wraps up the trip! It was the most meaningful trip I have had to Guatemala yet! It was so fun being with new and old friends and having the whole family together. I have a renewed love for this place and its people. I also have more motivation to learn Spanish and be a part of the church group working to make us an official partner for Porvenir! Can’t wait to come back!Read more

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    Tourist day!

    June 28 in Guatemala ⋅ ☁️ 70 °F

    Today we get to be a bit more chill and do some regular tourist activities. First we do a coffee plantation tour and learn about how they grow different types of beans and styles. Who knew not only the roasting process but the growing and drying out process makes the beans taste different and be more or less expensive. The banana trees provide shade for the beans. Then we went zip lining through the plantation. We got to do like 10 different runs which was unexpected but awesome! Then we got a coffee taste test and demonstration. The girl running it was super sweet and let us see a couple different brewing styles! We had a really good lunch there and then back to the hotel.Read more

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    Bumpy ride x100

    June 27 in Guatemala ⋅ 🌧 81 °F

    We get to do the whole process backwards to get back to our hotel. The boat ride is smooth and though slow going having a bit of breeze is nice. Guatemalan humidity is on another level. Unfortunately it starts raining on the truck ride so we have to put the tarp over and sit down. Really a horrible way to travel. So humid and claustrophobic and BUMPY! We are rattled around like a can of beans and get bruised and cramped and everything in between. However with our group we are all fun and silly so we manage to pass the time. Then, thank goodness, after pouring it down the rain stops so we stand back up for the rest of the trip. So many more people wave and stop to look at us! A whole field of soccer players stopped their game to turn and wave at us! It’s so funny being the town attraction just for driving through.Read more

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    Church and lunch and leaving

    June 27 in Guatemala ⋅ ☁️ 77 °F

    After breakfast we change into our skirts to be more presentable for church. We have some time to try to learn all the kids’ names as well as sing some songs. They were into it right away and even did some of their own songs for us. Since we know a few kids church songs in Spanish, or really I should say LeighAnna knows some songs in Spanish, we got to all sing together. We didn’t even have to teach them at all they just joined right in! Then we went to church with Pastor Karen, Pastor Raul, and Pad leading. Padre preached. They have electric pianos, guitars, and microphones so we had a lot of music. We then had time to say thank you and present the school supplies and activities we brought. Everyone was so grateful to have us there and very sweet. The matriarch of the town was in tears thanking us for being there. I’m really glad we got to go while she was able to receive us. The visit ended with a big lunch of Guatemalan chicken soup and tamales. We said goodbyes and we are definitely all leaving hoping we can go back. We want to make this place our partner congregation as they were so delightful and welcoming.Read more

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    Meeting new friends

    June 27 in Guatemala ⋅ ☁️ 75 °F

    When the road ends at the river we get a brief break to sit down after the three hours of standing in the truck. The boats we take next are unique canoe shaped boats that sit really low in the water but they zipped us really quickly over to the path up to the village. Then we were met by some teen boys who helped carry our food and water up the hill. At the top we had the sweetest welcome from the children of the church who had a dance prepared and were wearing their traditional outfits. Of course the little guy kinda stole the show! We also danced with them a bit and got to say hello in the church building. They made us breakfast of beans and eggs and great fresh spicy salsa. So after being awake for like 6 hours we got to sit down and eat! They welcome us so kindly and generously. It doesn’t feel very awkward and is just a really fun start to the visit.Read more

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    The Gringos are here!

    June 27 in Guatemala ⋅ ☁️ 63 °F

    Our long day as just begun when we get changed into our mud boots at the gas station and prepare for our ride. We pass along some school supplies to the village we originally planned to visit and then it’s all of us except Jeannie and Karen standing in the back of the truck. We even have the pastor of the church we are visiting riding in the back with us but did I know who he was for the whole ride? No I did not. So were we acting crazy and singing and being strange the whole ride? Of course we were. It’s a very very bumpy ride with ramas (branches) hanging in the way but what a way to see the sights! So beautiful and the breeze is great and we were having so much fun. We definitely got some funny looks from truck loads of people heading to work the other way. Probably thinking what are a load of gringos doing heading deeper into the mountains? One little boy was very excited to see us though and looked up into my eyes and shouted in awe “¡Gringos!” I haven’t laughed so hard in a while! Loved the journey!Read more

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    Going to Coban!

    June 26 in Guatemala ⋅ ☁️ 72 °F

    Today we are taking the bus about 5 hours to Coban. We have a fun group so it’s pretty enjoyable to drive around in the bus all day. We get some good views and we’re laughing and chatting up until lunch time. We went to San Marin which was a very pretty place and had a ton of food options! We get some iced coffees of course and head back on the road. By the time we get to the hotel we just have time to hang out and then have dinner. I shared some pasta and a Guatemalan enchilada with Erin. It’s crazy how tired riding in a car makes you, I’m so ready for bed! Which is good because we are driving away at 4:00AM tomorrow to head to Porvenir. First on the bus for an hour in the dark and then when the sun finally comes up we will take a truck for 3 more hours!Read more

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    A classic Guatemalan day

    June 25 in Guatemala ⋅ ☁️ 75 °F

    Today we start off with our devotions like we have been doing. We have a great spot for it in the court yard. It’s nice to all get to know each other and fun to have new people here and show them the amazing things Guatemala has to offer. Such as the textiles museum. We got an actual tour this time which made it more interesting and was fun to hear from someone first hand who studies this kind of thing. Each Guatemalan village has their own clothing style and our tour guide has been the one to study that and the way colonizers influenced the clothes. We then went to lunch! I had an amazing grilled cheese and tomato soup for lunch at this really cute restaurant. We also got Nutella coffee and crepes! Then we went back and met with the Milagros girls! We actually got to talk with them more as they each introduced themselves and told us what their experience was coming to the school. Sounds like some culture shock in some cases and homesickness too. But they get to learn a lot and enjoy baking and sewing classes mainly. Then I led us in a craft about the tree of life. It was awkward to do without much Spanish but they were all very good at following and much more precise than us when crafting.Read more

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    The school day

    June 24 in Guatemala ⋅ ☁️ 70 °F

    This morning we have eggs and salsa, beans, plantains, cheese and, of course, tortillas. Seems like a very Guatemalan breakfast. Then we hop on the bus to go to the school supplies store. We were there for a really long time having Beatriz selecting all the stuff we need and having Valeria translate and order everything. We had made $500 on our bake sale at church so we got a lot of helpful stuff! Then we got lunch at the mall and it was very tasty! Then finally we went to the school to deliver our stuff and do some lessons with the kids. We did a little lesson on the Lutheran rose with the 5th graders as Karen had suggested we do. They are trying to make sure church stays in the older kids’ lives. We then did some church camp songs we had planned. We practiced one of them in Spanish so we could all sing together and the others worked well as they have a lot of fun actions. We got a tour and it was amazing to see the school again as I haven’t seen it since it was brand new. It looks so amazing now! This stuffed chili dinner was my favorite one of the trip!Read more

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    ¡Vamos a Guatemala!

    June 23 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 81 °F

    4:30AM and we are off to Guatemala! We meet everyone at the airport and take over the caribou and then we get to go! Once we get settled in we begin organizing the supplies we brought down to give to each teacher. We also get to hear about our schedule and where our village visit will be. Turns out it will be to El Porvenir who hasn’t had a visiting group since before Covid and we can’t get to the other village due to rain washing out the road. Also luckily have a chef for this trip as well so we have some Guatemalan soup for dinner!Read more

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