Guatemala 2009

I’m on the mend. I felt good enough to go out and mow today (sheer force of necessity overwhelmed any “blah” that I felt) and even empty my grass clippings at the local yard waste place here in town (Normal doesn’t pick it up for you). I’m going to take a nap in [...]

Here is an e-mail I received from Dave this morning regarding his health. He gave me permission to post it on the blog.
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I’m on Cipro, prescription strength Robitussin, and a strictly, hold on to your hats, Gatorade diet for 24 hours (that’s almost over, thank goodness). They ran all sorts of tests yesterday, [...]

Yesterday’s travel went surprisingly smoothly. But I was reminded what a job it is to travel internationally. Coming home through immigration and customs was a little nerve-wracking. It’s not that I was trying to transport anything illegal… it’s just that I have to sign forms and promise that I’m on the up-an-up, [...]

Even though I’ve already posted twice today, there are a few gaps in the story of the day, so I’ll fill the details in quickly.
This morning we gathered together and our luggage was loaded on to our bus. Some of the children came out to give last hugs and say goodbye. When I [...]

Greetings! We are at our motel in Guatemala, safe and sound.
The bus ride was uneventful, for which we are very grateful! No one needed to use Grandpa Ray’s porta-potty. What a relief.
Now we are waiting for room assignments, and then we’ll have supper and enjoy the pool and hot tub here. [...]

The team is hurrying through breakfast, and doing the last of their packing. Seems like everyone is on track for our 8 a.m. pickup.
I was very glad to hear from the folks who manage the place that we’re welcome to just leave the kitchen as it is with the extra food, and they’ll take [...]

After breakfast this morning, Joyce announced that anyone who wished to join her daily group into town was welcome to do so. Several of the kids who had been wishing all week to go along gladly accepted her offer. Joyce said it reminded her of her days as a school teacher. She [...]

It has come to my attention that a previous posting intended as a humorous poke has actually been taken seriously by some of our readers. So please let me assure you that our teasing about artillery or gunfire or bombs was actually only the noises from a festival in the local towns. The [...]

Our mornings are becoming predictable. People appear in Apartment 6 starting at around 7 a.m. sometimes only having coffee to start, and other times helping themselves to cereal. As people report for breakfast, they give news from their rooms. Each day new people are well, and new people are sick. Fortunately, [...]

Thanks for your continued prayers for those who are not feeling too well.  I’m happy to report that almost everyone is feeling at least a little bit better today.  Work continues on a new building that will allow more activities for the kids, a medical and dental clinic and a chapel.  Our work is primarily [...]