Guatemala 2009

Our last full day here was full of lots of fun. It started with the team dividing up. The ones who came here for outreach prepared to go to the local school to show the Jesus film. The ones who came for adventure got ready for the zip line. And one team member simply stayed home to take a nap.

I’ll need to let the zip line people and the school people give their own reports, since I wasn’t at either place. But I can tell you briefly that the zip line folks had a wonderful time, and the girls who went along just to watch seemed to have a good time too. Apparently there were monkeys in the jungle who were willing to pose for a few photos.

The school team gave a good report too, though the movie was very long and didn’t hold the interest of the children as well as they’d hoped. They made the best of it though and were proud of Molly for being a good translator. Bill C. kept talking about the snack that was served partway through their visit. Apparently it was amazingly delicious.

Around 11:00 a.m. we all gathered for lunch at the home of Marta, the secretary here at Eagle’s Nest. Her mother (and the rest of the family) worked hard to make a nice lunch for us. We started by getting a lesson in making tortillas, and some of the team did pretty well. However many of us found that the dough stuck to our hands and we simply could not do the task that seemed so simple in the hands of our Guatemalan hostess. I finally decided that brown hands aren’t nearly as sticky as white ones. Still, I’m eager to try again at home, and see if there’s any way I can figure out the trick to making tortillas.

I was so impressed by the friendliness of Marta’s family, specifically her mother. She encouraged us to walk through her house and look around, which we did with great interest. I loved standing in the little building that is her kitchen. I was also intrigued by the fact that their house is not all in one building. The kitchen is one little building, while the older living quarters are another building just across a tiny courtyard. There is a newer bedroom & bathroom building also facing the courtyard. In the corners of their little piece of land are some chicken coops, a clothesline, etc. It all seemed very homey and comfortable. I could quickly see how one would find this life and this arrangement far superior to any other way of life. These people don’t live like this just because they have to. They live like this because it’s just how things are, and it’s home for them. They like it.

Marta’s father came home for lunch and quickly jumped into the role of a good host. Both Larry Boggs and the host couple here, Greg & Karen, were with us at lunch, so it was nice to hear extra Spanish speakers visiting. It was also beneficial to see how Larry acted, because he is so Guatemalan. He is very comfortable in that setting and knows exactly what’s what. He gives a nice greeting to the adults, gives little hugs and then teases the children, and is so relaxed the whole time.

Lunch was a simple meal of tortillas and a beef topping, but it was quite delicious. Everyone ate with enthusiasm.

When it came time to head back to our vehicle, several of the team members decided they wanted to experience riding in the little taxis called a “touk-touk”. I rode in the van back to Eagle’s Nest and then I waited in the drive for the touk-touks to show up. They are so cute and so photogenic.

No sooner did the team get back together than some decided they wanted to go to Panajanchel to do a little more shopping and to visit the famous coffee shop there. It was so fun to see folks getting excited about exploring things here. The team really embraced all the adventure here.

After the team was reunited, it was decided that it was time for a soccer match in the new soccer field that was roofed this week. What an exciting game! Our team held their own for a while, getting the score all the way up to 3-3. But then things went downhill quickly and soon there was no point to keeping score. Still, the team fought valiantly and everyone kept a good attitude. Eric Ross was an AMAZING goalie, and most certainly kept the team from being totally embarrassed.

We are pleased to report no serious injuries, with just some bruised toes and pulled muscles. After the match was over I hurried back to the kitchen to set out the final supper, while the sweaty guys headed for the pool.

Larry Boggs seemed delighted to be invited to supper, and we were delighted to have him.

Having finally learned how to feed our crowd, there was lots of food and lots left over. Fortunately there are two girls here who are staying for two more weeks and who are very eager for some food for their little kitchen. So as we were cleaning out the kitchen last night, I loaded bag after bag with the things we had left from our week here. I was again grateful for help with the dishes, especially since I was emptying pots and pans and making even more dirty dishes than usual.

Dr. Phil tried to scare the dish crew by dropping off a “dirty dish” that contained a few chips, a little salsa, and a HUGE millipede. But he didn’t get the screams he hoped for. Instead he got a lecture and he had to wash the dish himself since the dish crew refused to touch it.

After supper, Michael took the computer and headed over to the nursery. Yesterday he had promised the older children there that he would come back and show them photos, so he wanted to make good on his promise. When I went over a little while later, there was Michael, sitting on the floor in the hallway, completely surrounded by little kids in their pajamas, showing all the photos we have taken this week. Every time a new photo came onto the screen they would exclaim and point and be scolded by the mama (also standing there looking at the photos) for touching the computer screen. Michael was so patient, with the kids just climbing all over him, fiddling with his hat, touching the computer, etc. We got a few photos, but as is the case with photos, it’s hard to capture the moment.

Our final worship meeting started with lots of announcements about the packing and leaving process. Dave Keithley and Dave Loomis are heading to Guatemala City early this morning to try making some progress on Abigail’s case. Please pray for them! The rest of us are going to Antigua and then will meet up with the Dave’s at the airport, unless Dave Keithley gets some good news and decides to stay for a few more days to wrap up details.

On that note, I must say farewell for now. If our trip home is like our trip here, we won’t have internet access unless we are willing to pay for it.

Be sure to check the blog periodically after we arrive home. The team members here have not read my daily posts, so I will encourage them to do so and to add their own stories to the chronicle.

Thank you for all of your comments and your prayers. Michael has done a good job of relaying messages to the team.

See you soon!

Love, Christie