Guatemala 2009

This morning brought us some team members who were completely better, and a few more team members who weren’t feeling too good. Quite frankly, I feel like I’m walking through a mine field, dodging sick people right and left. So far the only thing I’ve experienced is a slight twinge of morning sickness at a few different points. A few people have speculated at what might be the effect of the camp cook getting sick. While I like to think I’m indispensable, I happen to know there are several very capable cooks here who could step up and take care of folks if I get knocked down by the bug going around. We don’t need to share that with the group though. I think it’s nice that they are concerned about me.

Right after breakfast, most of the team reported to work at the construction site. A few sickies headed to their beds to continue their recovery, and a party of five of us headed to town to get a few items needed by the kitchen staff. We walked into town, which was a first for me. I’ve decided that there is great merit in the taxis around here. However, others feel the walk is excellent exercise. I’m glad I made the trek uphill and down into town, but I have no desire to repeat it voluntarily.

When we arrived in town, we realized that the “Tuesday Market” was a much busier place than we had anticipated. People were swarming everywhere in the marketplace. We decided to get our produce from the market before heading to the store. However, a very short time into the market one of our team disappeared. Fortunately, that person is an adult, and quite capable of taking care of herself. But we knew she’d be frantic about the safety of the rest of us. We were also not happy to think of her being alone in such a crowded market place.

We searched as best we could, without losing any more of us, but had no success. Interestingly, we were then approached by a market vendor who walks around selling her wares. She told us she knew who it was we were missing, and she headed out to look for her, telling us to stay right where we were. She looked in two different directions, and when she was unsuccessful, she promised to keep looking. Joyce told her that we would be in the little store nearby if she were to find our friend. Once the market lady headed out again, We divided our party of four into two groups. Two of us headed to the store, and the other two decided to walk around the perimeter of the market to continue searching.

When I was almost done with my short list in the market, a young girl came rushing up to me, speaking eagerly, and pointing. I responded, “…mi amiga????” She said yes and urged me to come with her quickly. We pushed our cart to the side and hurried out front. There was our dear friend, safe and sound. We were so grateful, and of course, the lady who had searched so hard now expected us to purchase some of her items. She was not disappointed. In fact, not much bartering went on either. We were just so grateful to be reunited.

We finished our grocery shopping, packed three of our members into a cab headed back to Eagle’s Nest, and then Joyce and I headed to the market to pick up the vegetables I wanted. What a crowded place. We were smashed into there with many people. There was no way to be polite or considerate. We just had to push our way through the isles along with everyone else. I was quite concerned about being pick-pocketed while there. I must confess, by the time we were delivered of that market, I was surprised there was anything left in my pockets, but gratefully, everything was intact. I found everything I needed, including some more pitaya that we enjoyed last time.

We looked for a tuk-tuk to bring us home, but could only find cabs. Finally we decided we’d rather go back to the Nest than keep looking for a tuk-tuk, and we waved one down. It was the same guy who had transported the first three members of our group just a short time before! So it seemed like a familiar person to take us home. He was polite and conversational, and we enjoyed the bumpy ride.

Once back at the Nest, we hurried our items up to the kitchen and got started on lunch preparations. You might think that 1.5 hours is plenty of time to throw together a lunch, but when the produce must first be washed in bleach water, and then used to make fresh salsa and guacamole, perhaps you’ll understand the haste. Thankfully, Sarah came back to make more guacamole, and Susan cheerfully deboned two chickens for us. I don’t know how I would be able to do this job without their help. And lest I sound ungrateful, I need to again thank the dish crew for their hard work. The crew is headed up by Joyce and Don, and supported by Lorna and Susan and other folks who see the need.

While we were working hard on lunch, some of the team members accepted the challenge by the Guatemalan workers to a soccer game. The final score was 2-7, in favor of the Guatemalans. That’s no surprise, really. But I think it’s an improvement over past games between the “Christ Church Missions Team” and the Guatemalans. I think there is some rumor of another game tomorrow.

After lunch was served, the rest of the afternoon seemed to go smoothly. I think the workers were sent home early thanks to a heavy rainstorm. But there weren’t any complaints at the work being cut short. The team is really working very hard, hauling rock and sand and dirt down a hill, bucket by bucket.

Supper was “Guatemalan Lasagna”, that included tortillas, cheese, chicken and a red sauce. It wasn’t as popular as the chicken-rice soup last night, but folks seemed to like it alright.

This evening’s worship time included another round of sharing highlights, so I’ll give those to you here to close out this post. I hope you enjoy them as much as we all did.

Every day we draw closer as a team, and grow more and more fond of each other. Also, we are getting to know each other in ways that you just can’t do in a normal situation. Anyway, here ya’ go.

Love, Christie….. for the team.

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Lizzy: I didn’t sleep all day.
Susan: I got to spend a couple of hours helping care for the children this afternoon. feed them, change their diapers… caring for orphans that are close to God’s heart. Being used by God to love and care for the orphans.
Hannah: I got to dance ballerina with little girls for about half an hour.
Elizabeth: after we finished working and it was time for our lunch break, I sat down cuz I was tired, and 3 little Guatemalan girls ran over and hugged and attacked me. Made my day.
Lars: I watched Spencer hold Byron, and he got him to smile. He’s a serious guy who doesn’t smile much. He loves Spencer.
Millie: Two things. First, I liked the soccer game. Second, there was a time after soccer camp before the game that I got to hang out with some girls. I don’t know much Spanish, but there was no communication barrier.
Molly: Soccer game was fun. Never done that before. And spending time in the orphanage was good, too.
Ariana: Being in the orphanage again was really neat. It’s sad, but it’s good to be there and see what the Lord reveals. I thank Him that we get to be here. I got to feed Jose Pablo, and he was very eager to eat!
Eric: Obviously, just feeling a lot better today. The other highlight would be the Guatemalan Lasagna we had for supper tonight.
Dave: Finally getting to be able to work. I was able to work all afternoon, and felt productive. Also getting to watch everyone else work, and encourage each other.
Isaac: Feeding the littlest girl at the orphanage my last “Toxic Waste” sour candy.
Laura: It felt really good to finally be able to work today. Soccer game was fun, too.
Nathan: I really enjoyed the soccer game, and it made me feel good that even though I was sick I was still able to work.
Ethan: My highlight was God allowing me to work today, and I hope He’ll allow me to work again tomorrow.
Carey: Being with the orphans is always a highlight. There was a segment of time where the work was enjoyable on the “bucket brigade” on the side of the hill. Lars pretended to fall down the hill.
Spencer: Doing the bucket brigade. Then a little kid named Hector came down to stare at me while I worked, and I finally got him to come talk to everyone, and then he started helping us out. When we left for a drink, he finished carrying two of our buckets down for us. And God sustained me throughout the day.
Lorna: There was a huge crowd at the market, and I got separated from them. My highlight was when the vendor came and tugged on me and said “Come with me”, and I said, “Mi familia?” and she said, “Si!” I was really happy to see them all.
Bill: Hearing that my mother was not lost in Guatemala. It would have been tough to leave without her. I also enjoyed some of the interactions with the Guatemalans between the soccer games, and let some of them use my camera and take some pictures, and it was fun, along with some funny pictures.
Joyce: When Maria said, “I know who you’re looking for! You stay here, and I’ll go find her!” That someone who knew how to get through the crowd quickly was willing to help look. The second was coming through the crowd and seeing Grandma Ray’s smiling face.
Sarah: It was good to get out and do some work so my children can’t tell me I’m not doing diddly any more. But it was also good to take a good long nap after lunch.
Caroline: The reading party we were having in apartment 5.
Annelise: First, the search for the missing grandma was kind of a good team-building thing. Second… I forgot.
Jonathan: soccer game and being able to interact with the workers.
Christie: Annelise’s comment.