David

It took our little group of 5 longer than it should to drive home from Chicago, thanks to several “necessary” stops along the way. But we finally made it and were so glad to see family again. The children were beaming from ear to ear and wanted lots of hugs from their mama who’s been gone for over a week.
Since I can only write from my own experience, I want to encourage the other team members to either post here in the comments section, or to e-mail me their thoughts for posting on the blog. I’ll also try to communicate with Dave Keithley and see if we can post a health update on him here.

Yesterday evening my children and I shared some stories and showed some of our treasures, but then finally Laura, Isaac and I dragged ourselves off to bed for a sound sleep. Thanks to getting home at a reasonable hour, we were able to sleep well and get up in time for church this morning.
This afternoon I took yet another nap, and when I awoke, I had to lay quietly for a few moments trying to figure out where I was. A motel? Solola? home? Finally I heard the children’s voices and woke up enough to remember that I’m home.
My world now has no Spanish speakers in it. I’m eager to walk down to the street to our Hispanic neighbors and try to speak Spanish to them. I want to ask them to help me continue learning. My heart and my world has again been stirred with a passion to communicate with the Spanish-speakers around us.  I’m eager to see what God has next for me.

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 saw Molly holding her sweet little lamb, Claudia, I wondered how she had the strength to stand there without crying. After Claudia begged to go to Spencer, I went up to Molly and asked her how she was able to say goodbye. She replied, “I don’t know. I think I’m about to cry.” And then she did. I gave her a big hug, and we held each other and wept over the seeming injustice of a little girl who doesn’t have a home, and who is going to be transferred away from Eagle’s Nest. After a good cry, we wiped our eyes and tried to compose ourselves.
A few minutes later the rest of our group arrived, and Joyce led us in singing “We Fall Down” acapella. After that, we sang the Doxology, including the “Amen” at the end.

Then it was time for a big group photo, so we gathered and squished and invited some of our favorite folks from Eagle’s Nest to come into the photo with us. The bus driver snapped a few photos using Bill’s camera.

Then we piled into the bus, and headed out, with more waving and goodbye’s out the windows.

The trip down the mountain was several hours, but we all survived, and arrived in Antigua safe and sound. We did a little more shopping, and had lunch at the beautiful McDonalds there. Before too long, it was time to head back to the bus, which we did very cheerfully, knowing that a nice motel was waiting for us in Guatemala City. A short hour later we were climbing back out of our bus at the motel. It felt like home to those of us in the first group who had spent a day here last week. We were eager for the Group Two folks to see our lovely place.

Our rooms were ready quickly, and we headed upstairs by 4:30, with directions to report in the lobby for supper at 6:00 pm. A few of the younger kids headed straight for the pool, while others rested or relaxed in their rooms.

Suppertime found us walking to the Pizza Hut nearby. It’s very big, and even has a play-land inside. It’s been decided that the fast-food restaurants in Guatemala are far fancier than the ones in the U.S. They’re really amazing and beautiful, and the food is delicious.

Now everyone is tucked into their rooms, complete with a phone call from Dr. Ray checking to make sure all are in their rooms, and reminding us to report to the lobby at 3:55 a.m. to catch our shuttle to the airport.

Tomorrow will be a busy day. I wasn’t able to post while in transit last time, so I’m guessing it will be the same this time. But I’ll be sure to post an update when I can.

Thank you all for your prayers and notes of encouragement. We’re very eager to get home.

Love, Christie…. for the team.

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. Tomorrow at 3 a.m. we’ll have a harsh wake-up call to head to the airport for our 6 a.m. flight, but the thought of being reunited with family will make it easier.

See you soon!

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 care of it. They even encouraged us not to throw away anything. They’ll be happy to see what they can use.

Our big prayer request is that we’ll make the bus trip without any health incidents. All we can do is head out on our way and hope for the best.

I don’t know what my internet availability will be, but will post if I’m able along the way.

Love, Christie…. for the team.

The morning was rather quiet. Even at the morning snack time, not very people showed up.

Our lunch included the last order of fresh tortillas, and they were amazing, yet again.

This afternoon was gloomy. The rain ended the afternoon work early, and everyone kept wondering aloud if our evening plans would transpire. But amazingly, as it came closer to the time to head to Panajanchel, the weather cleared up and Pastor Dave came out of his cave looking somewhat alive. We piled into the vehicles and headed into town for supper.

Once we arrived in Pana, we allowed about 30 minutes to do some quick shopping, and then we met at the restaurants where we planned to eat. Some of us chose “The Bistro”, and others chose “Don Rodrigo’s”. After supper, both groups raved about their choice of restaurant. We all had a wonderful time.

The ride back up the mountain in the dark was a little disconcerting for this flat-lander, but we made it back safe and sound. Our group met for a quick worship time, and then Eric suggested that we pray for those who are sick. We gathered around and laid hands on the sick, praying for them to be healed for our travels over the next two days.

Now everyone has been dismissed to their rooms to pack. The bus arrives at 8 a.m. and we are to be ready to report on time.

We plan to head to Antigua, hang out there until about 3 pm, then head on in to our new favorite motel in Guatemala City where we’ll hopefully have a relaxing evening before heading to the airport bright and early on Saturday.

Due to time constraints, we did not share highlights tonight. The plan is to gather tomorrow evening and share at that time.

Even though we are eager to head home, we’re already talking about the “next time” we come. This beautiful part of our earth really captures the heart.

Love, Christie…… for the group.

Today for breakfast I served some “pitaya”, which really made folks stop and take a second look. It’s a bright pink-purple color, with black seeds. The best way I can describe it is to say it’s like kiwi, but it’s different. On the buffet line with the pitaya was fresh mango, fresh pineapple, a “honey bun” coffeecake, along with the usual milk & cereal.

After breakfast, Joyce took a crew for the morning walk to Solola. Today that crew included Lorna, Susan, Bill, Caroline and Jonathan. From the reports I’ve heard, they had an enjoyable walk, and in fact, after sending a few folks back in a taxi with the groceries, three of them decided to walk back as well, rather than getting another taxi. I certainly admire their level of physical exercise!

In the middle of the morning I was able to connect with the tortilla lady and finalize our tortilla order for today and tomorrow. She said she’d have some here by lunchtime, and then a smaller batch here tomorrow morning. I decided that we just would not serve lunch until the fresh tortillas arrived. They’re just that delicious.

Around noon there was another soccer game between the Americanos and the Guatemalans. Again, the Guatemalans won, but our team was glad to lose by a smaller margin. I’m hearing rumor of another game tomorrow.

Lunch was the usual fare: tortillas, guacamole, salsa, chips, and, as I’ve said at almost every meal, “If you don’t like those options, there’s peanut butter and jelly.” Folks have started quoting that last part along with me now that we’ve had several meals together.

The work crew again wore themselves out by hauling buckets of rock and gravel down the big hill. No one can figure out what the end result is supposed to be. There is some speculation that the same piles get moved back the other direction by the next team that shows up.

MId-afternoon, word was quickly spread that one of the local ladies (who a few of the team members seemed to know or recognize) was here with some beaded items she was selling. We hurried to see what she had for sale. The necklaces and bracelets were beautiful, and the prices were reasonable, so we bought quite a few of her items.

After the work crew was dismissed around 4:30 pm, and they headed for the showers, it was discovered that the water had been turned off to the building. That has been happening daily, but usually only lasts for an hour or so. This time it was going much longer. So some of the kids just went for a dip in the pool. Soon the water was back on, so others were able to get their showers.

One of the things Sarah did today was several loads of laundry for the team. She offered that everyone could give her their things, and she would take care of them. Once things were washed, she folded them and spread them out on her bed for us to come and find our items. It was such a treat to have a laundry service. But there was a slight glitch. In the laundry pile were Spencer’s “Green Bay Packers” sleep pants. Since the Rays are not fans of Green Bay, Sarah decided that something must be done with the contentious garment. Signs were posted all over the apartment complex declaring the virtues of the Bears, and the sleep pants were hung on the ceiling fan above the central dining table in Apartment 6. Everyone giggled at the joke when they came back from work, and Spencer retrieved his pants with declarations that he would wear them with even more loyalty.

Supper was a new recipe I found online, called Mango Chicken Chorizo Quesadillas. It required a lot of preparation with lots of chopping. But it turned out nicely, and everyone seemed to like it.

Tonight’s worship time is happening without Pastor Dave. He has been up and down today, and we all keep thinking he’s on the mend, but then he has a setback, which is discouraging mostly for him. He’s never been sick on any of the missions trips he’s been on, so it is hard for him to just lay low and be infirm.

We did something a little different tonight.  After we sang, Ariana asked us to tell what God is doing in our lives this week.  Participation was optional, and I was asked not to record people’s answers on the blog.  I think folks wanted to share from their hearts without feeling like their words were going out over a loudspeaker.  I think I am free to share though that God is really meeting us here.  He is bringing things to the surface that each of us needs to deal with.  God is good.

So, again, I’ll close with the team highlights.

Daniel: One of them is laughing at where Spencer’s pants were. And the other one is continuing to play with the little kids at the orphanage. At the orphanage, when one of them kept giving me high fives, and another one was tickling me.

Nathan: Having Dr. Ray on this trip with us, because it’s been really nice, since we’ve all been sick.

Sarah: Just going to the orphanage was a highlight. What a joy. I fed Arwen lunch, and she was sort of spacing out while I was feeding her, but by the end of lunch she was grabbing my nose and finger, and I felt like I made a connection with her.

Carey: Seeing that horrible hill flattened and leveled, and conversations with people today.

Lizzy: I had several. I woke up and I didn’t feel sick. And I was able to work all day and not feel too terribly tired. And I also got to play with the kids in the orphanage.

Bill: Visiting the orphanage.

Elizabeth: Hanging out with Ani and Maria, especially when Ani introduced me to her friends as “Mi amiga.”

Susan: Being able to refresh the children’s hearts, and then God surprised me by refreshing mine.

Hannah: I really enjoyed when we had the last bucket of gravel, and the huge group of us cheering when the last bucket was dumped on the pile. And when we scored a point during the soccer game. When we were carrying down buckets, the little girls on top of the oprphanage, we were trying to tell them not to drop their doll down, but they did anyway.

Joyce: NOT losing Grandma Ray in the market today. Second, walking up the mountain, coming back from Solola to here.

Lorna: A highlight to go to the market and back with Joyce and Bill. And then getting a chance to visit the kids.

Jonathan: Being able to work at the end of the day after not feeling well most of the day.

Spencer: First, getting to see everyone carry and dump that last bucket at the bottom of the hill. Second, getting to visit with Lars this afternoon, getting to know her better. Third, getting to see some of the orphans who were more reserved actually let me hold them today, and smile and laugh and respond.

Millie: I don’t like not feeling well, so I was frustrated with myself all day. So, there were 20 times that something funny would happen, and I would start laughing, and I’d forget I wasn’t feeling well.

Molly: Working with people and talking and joking with each other.

Ariana: Getting to be at the orphanage when Pastor Dave brought stuff over for Arwen Georgas. Getting to see her with a picture of her family, and hear the voice recording. The brief conversations I’ve had with Mrs. Mathes have been very encouraging. Remembering God’s heart for the downtrodden, and knowing that He’s faithful.

Laura: First, seeing this little girl who followed me, and she asked for sweets, so we gave her sweets, and then she just left. She knew what she wanted. Second, when someone informed Pastor Dave that he was Willie Wonka and he started singing the song.

Eric: After sleeping in and then waking up 100% healthy again, and then during the work realizing I had WAY too much energy, and wanting to sprint up and down the hill. Giving piggy-back rides to the orphans tonight.

Annelise: Going to play with the orphans, even though I couldn’t communicate with them at all.

Caroline: I got to go the orphanage for the first time, and I made some new friends, and Juan Pablo, when I showed him the photo I took of him on my camera.

Lars: I had good conversations with both Carey and Spencer. Also, Mrs. Ray did our laundry, and she folded it all and put it on the bed in little piles, and she took a lot of care with it. Then, I got to feed Anjalito his dinner, which he proceeded to spit all over my pants and all over himself.

Isaac: One, playing soccer was really fun. And two, showing the orphans “Photo Booth”, because they were really amazed by it. Before the soccer game, I was playing with the smallest girl, and we were playing with the soccer ball, and she kept bringing the ball back, and she stole my gloves and rubber bands, and it was fun.

Christie: Seeing the beadwork the lady brought for sale this afternoon.

Ethan: feeling the end of my sickness. Felt like I’ve broken through it towards the end of the day, and then I got the opportunity to go see the orphans, including Jose Pablo. Some of them remembered my face, which was cool. Later the water turned on while I was in the shower all soapy. And I got to read a story to Jose Pablo.

Bill Ray