It seems surreal -- I am sitting in my chair, watching some TV. My cat has curled up in my lap and is taking her nightly bath. I just finished a bowl of my favorite Blue Bell ice cream. Why is it surreal? Just a few hours ago I was eating panqueques, arroz con leche and piña at the Martinez home in Zone 12 in Guatemala City. It seems like a lifetime ago -- it seems like a dream but the still untouched suitcases in my living room are proof that I have just returned from somewhere.
It's been a long day. The flight from Guatemala City to Atlanta was followed by a rush to immigration where we waited -- and waited -- and waited. Mostly I waited. By the time I reached baggage claim, Annie, Maggie, Danielle and Jared had all the luggage and we were on the way to customs. From customs we dropped the luggage to be rechecked then the race was on to reach our gate -- and hopefully to find something to eat before boarding again for RDU. We didn't have much time and of course we were at the most remote gate possible in the terminal without the normal fast food choices. Jared was scheduled to take the next flight from ATL to RDU and his gate was not as far and had a better selection of food but he made the trip to our gate out in the boonies just to help us. We were all rewarded when Maggie suggested that they get Jared on the wait list for our plane -- and he got a seat! We had already said goodbye to Becky in Atlanta and had determined that we would wait to welcome Jared home but instead we made it together.
Maggie's sister was the first to break from the welcoming party. I think she missed her. Words tumbled over words -- we all have so much to share. All too soon it was time to part. The past 12 days have been a shared world but here we have our separate homes and lives. As we unpack our treasures won through bargaining and negotiating we will also unpack memories: cleaning the boys' home, touring the orphanage, driving through the river, freezing in the back of the pick up on the way home from the hot springs, bumping over rough roads in the back of the big truck, sharing Chick-fil-A cows with the people of Arenal -- have you actually stopped to think how funny it is that a cow wants people to eat chicken instead? The people of Arenal enjoyed the joke.
Altogether we have 1000's of pictures to share. Some of them will only make sense to those of us who were there. Others will tell a story anyone can understand. We have seen God at work in Guatemala. We have seen the enemy's desperate attempt to hold these precious people in pagan superstition. We have been forced to step outside our personal comfort zone for the sake of our team and the people we were privileged to serve. We have come home with a vision for ministry that goes beyond today. Whether we return to Guatemala ourselves or we become senders who support others who go we know first hand the needs of the people we have met. We have made friendships that will last into eternity. We know we have been blessed beyond what we can ask or think.
Tomorrow is the first day back in our "real" worlds. My menagerie of cats and dogs have tired of welcoming me home (especially since I still won't let them share my ice cream or lick my empty bowl) and gone to sleep. I should probably do that too but I am not quite ready to admit I won't wake up in my little room behind the washer and dryer in Huehue. I don't want to forget my second homeland. I miss my friends who live there. I am grateful to be home with my girls, cats, dogs, Diet Coke, Blue Bell, Walmart, Bojangles -- but I am ready to take the next flight possible for Guatemala. God knows when that will be and I will rest in His will. Tomorrow I will unpack and begin to distribute the souvenirs I have brought home (way too many pounds for two suitcases but that is a story for another day). Tomorrow I will make plans to return to school and make my classroom ready for students. Tomorrow I will drive my car to Chick-fil-A (gotta do what the cows urge) and remember the laughs and smiles of children and adults alike who got their very own cow thanks to the generosity of a franchise owner. Tomorrow I will put all my pictures on my computer and relive the past three weeks I have spent in Guatemala. Tonight I will unplug the overly full answering machine that keeps beeping at me and sleep in my own bed grateful that God allowed me to to be blessed serving in Guatemala with Annie, Danielle, Maggie, Becky, Jared, Edwin, Gail, don Carlos, Douglas, Mary, Rosy and so many more,
En manos de la gracia! In the hands of Grace.
(Note: I want to post pictures with this entry but I also want this to be timely. I will edit it soon and add the pictures. Please check back!)
Once the team arrives it seems I have little time to write. The time is filled with activities and sometimes sleep. As I write, we are at Berea Bible Institute. The young folks are painting and I have gotten a short reprieve to update my blog.
Friday was a long day. Annie, Danielle, Jared and Maggie arrived about noon. I took a transport from Antigua to the airport to meet them. We ate lunch and had the opportunity to go to the central market in downtown Guatemala City. Becky’s plane was delayed so we had a late night.
The next morning, fortified with an excellent breakfast, we loaded the van and headed for Huehuetenango. We took a detour to eat our bag lunches lakeside in Panajachel. I was grateful that everyone was able to see Lake Atitlan. It is a beautiful area ringed with volcanoes and small Maya villages.
The weather was not as cooperative as we would have liked. This is Guatemala’s winter which mainly means it’s the rainy season. We went through several areas of heavy rain. We were delayed at one point where there had been a landslide. The Pan American Highway is fourlaned through most of Guatemala but in reality there are always stretches where most of the road is covered by mud. Nevertheless, we made good time. The young folks drifted in and out of wakefulness. It was a good opportunity to get some rest.
Sunday morning we went to a community called San Gaspar Ixchil. We took the Pan American Highway north and then went up into the mountain past a larger town named Colotenango. San Gaspar Ixchil is a Maya church where the main language is Mam. Thanks to the diligent labor of Wycliffe translators, the Bible is available in Mam. Our group sang in English and Spanish and Jared and Becky both gave testimonies. We are grateful for the privilege we had to share Sunday worship with our brothers and sisters in Christ. A highlight of the service was the profession of faith made by a young lady in front of the church. A new soul was added to the Kingdom!
Because we had some extra time between church and lunch, we stopped along the Selugua River. The massive rains have swelled the river which is now the color of café con leche – very appropriate for Guatemalan coffee country. We had some good photo opps too
After lunch we had some free time so Douglas (pronounced Doog les) took us to see the ruins of Zaculeu, the last stand of the Mam people. We got there right at closing time. No problem – we went to the Huehuetenango State Fair instead. I have been to this fair before and am amused that it is so much like any other fair. There’s way too much food – including roasted corn – and rides and all manner of stuff for sell. What is unusual about it to me is that the ferris wheel goes at about the speed of a roller coaster. I rode it once and never foresee the need or desire to do so again. Our intrepid young folks (and Douglas who is youngish as well) took the challenge and seem eager to do so again. I was very content to hold backpacks and take pictures.
Monday morning we finally had the chance to walk to the Parque Central and Mercado – the Central Park/Square and the Market. I like to take groups into the market through the door that opens onto the butcher shops. Get the rough stuff out of the way first. This is a true Guatemalan market. It is not meant for tourists. Many people buy their meat, fruit, vegetables, grains and anything else they need at the market. This is a slice of Guatemalan life. I have been through this market so many times that I forget that my white face is drawing attention. With five more gringos, we got even more attention. I have never taken pictures inside the market. This is everyday life for Guatemalans and I want to respect that. They are not oddities to be photographed for curiosity’s sake.
Monday afternoon, we went to a home called Finca Juvenil. It is a home for boys who do not have anywhere else to live. Many of them are former drug addicts and/or former gang members. The goal of this ministry is to keep these boys off the streets and make it possible for them to have better lives. I do not know a lot about it yet, but the founder/director is a man named Mark. We did not meet him because he had gone to Guatemala City to be married.
The physical house has been built by the boys and some volunteer groups. They are still working on the inside. Our goal was to do some deep cleaning. Can you imagine the grace of this new bride who is willingly moving into a house with all boys? We were able to help the guys clean the main floor and the second floor. It did look – and smell – much better after we finished. We also cleaned up around the yard. We hope she will be encouraged when she comes to her new home to see it neater and cleaner. We were also able to leave a box full of navy and khaki pants as well as oxford cloth shirts donated by the Cary Christian School uniform sale. The boys can use these for school and work.
Last night the group finished dinner in time to go to Pops, the ice cream store in the mall. They brought it back so they had time to practice their songs, discuss the day and eat ice cream. We had an early to bed night – everyone appreciated that.
This morning we went to the orphanage here in Huehue. Sadly for us, the children were all at the fair. It was a good day to take that many young ones but we were very disappointed not to see them. We might have an opportunity to go back but we are not sure. The young child/mother I mentioned previously is still at the orphanage. Her name is Mercedes. The babies look so much better! I found that their names are Esther Sarai and Esther Nohemi. Good Bible names! Mercedes seemed to be recovering well from childbirth. I gave her a handful of gifts: a couple of crocheted blankets and hats, preemie size sleepers, and socks. We chose one of the quilts made by Jared’s mom to give to Mercedes for herself. Please pray for Mercedes and her tiny daughters. Praise God for this home for her to raise her girls with watchful care.
Becky brought construction paper and markers – all supplies the school needs – and we left these for Alycia, the young lady mentioned in my last entry, to use. We also had small size uniforms for the boys and girls donated by the CCS uniform sale as well. Even in public schools in Guatemala, the children wear uniforms. Since navy blue and white are especially popular here as they are for us, these will be well used. If you are interested in learning more about this ministry you can read their website at MoreThanCompassion.org.
Our next stop was Bonanza Colchas – a factory where blankets (colchas) are woven. The production has been drastically cut since I first saw the facility 13 years ago. There was not a single loom in use. Despite the reduced stock, we managed to buy 18 blankets. Danielle was so intrigued by one that the lady of the home considered inferior that la señora gave it to her. Add one free blanket to the 18!
Finally, we arrived at the ruins of Zaculeu in time to tour. We spent about an 1½ hours walking among the history of the Mam people. Zaculeu was possibly built about 400 AD. The Spanish conquered them in the early 1500’s after a long standoff. The loss at Zaculeu meant the defeat of the Mam. Foreigners are charged Q50 (about $6.50) to enter but Guatemalans pay only Q5 (around 75 cents). The reason is that the native people need inexpensive access for freedom to worship their gods. When we arrived the altar was still smoking from a very recent sacrifice of worship to the gods of the Maya. We prayed God’s protection from the evil one and prayed that God will someday break the hold Satan has over these precious people.
Lunch was ready when we arrived back home: quesadillas, fresh guacamole, black beans – all very good and enjoyed even more. Our afternoon will be the subject of another entry. As for now, it’s almost time for dinner!
¡Adios – hasta luego!
Tomorrow I will be welcoming the team to Guatemala! As I write this, the Raleigh group is meeting to pack team suitcases, eat pizza, and, most importantly, pray for the team. They arrive at 11:12 tomorrow which is 1:12 in North Carolina. Guatemala is in the Central Time Zone but when we switch to Daylight Savings Time, they do not. One team member is coming from Georgia and arrives at 8:45 in the evening. Then, for the first time, we will have the whole team together.
As for me, I traveled from Huehuetenango to Antigua on Monday. I rode the first class bus, Los Halcones, to San Lucas, then crossed the Pan American Highway to catch a local bus into Antigua. My hotel is not too far from the bus terminal but I treated myself to a tuktuk ride to the hotel door. Altogether, all that travel cost me under $14.00. Not a bad deal at all!
On Sunday, while I was still in Huehue, I had lunch with Hilde, a young lady I met through the Martinez family, who is now a missionary here. Afterward, we set off to find the orphanage, Fundacion Salvacion. We walked up just as Alycia, the young woman who oversees the day to day activities, drove up. Good timing!
Alycia showed us around the facility. It is very large and well kept. There are about 96 children from infants to 18 years old. Many of these children have been here most of their lives but it is not unusual for children to show up at the orphanage door. Some of them have parents who are not able to take care of them and surrender them to the orphanage.
The most recent child to come to the orphanage had been there 5 days. She is 14 years old and she came with her two-day-old twin daughters. The babies are so small. I have not heard any update on this young girl and her girls but I pray that they will begin to thrive. Alycia told us she is welcome to stay as long as she wants to stay. I hope to see them again next week. Please pray for them. The babies had not yet been named when I was there and I do not know the mom's name but God does.
There is more to say but for now, here are a few pictures from the orphanage.
I arrived in Huehuetenango on Tuesday night exhausted, cold, queasy from the long bus ride on top of the flight on top of not sleeping at all on Monday night, but thrilled to be home. Huehue is a home to me. Coming here is like what I imagine Lucy felt stepping back into Narnia: I have a home with my children, parents, friends, school, dogs and cats, and I love them all dearly but, like Narina for Lucy, Guatemala never leaves my heart. There are people here who are precious to me. I am honored and humbled that they also care for me and welcome me home.
Wednesday was a "catch up" day for me. I basically slept all day -- even in the car. There is a small group here from Snellville, GA. I always enjoy meeting the other groups who come. It is fascinating for me to "see" Guatemala through their eyes and experiences. I learn from them as they share their ministry ideas with me. I also enjoy playing tour guide and leading them to the Central Square and the market. Those who are first-timers notice and comment on the things I have come to take for granted. Lori focused on the practical: the market bags. These bags fold flat but carry far more weight than they appear. They definitely hold up longer than the mystery fiber of our reusable bags.
Sarah was fascinated with the aprons. They are frilly and might seem frivilous but to a Guatemalan woman the aprons provide pockets to carry what they might not be able to otherwise. And, just because it is utilitarian, that doesn't mean it has to be plain. It can be made beautiful as well. God made us to seek beauty in our surroundings. I will look at the aprons with a little more interest now.
As I write, I have the house all to myself. Edwin, Gail, don Carlos, Mary and the team left yesterday for three days in Agua Dulce. They will return on Monday but I will already be on the way to Antigua. I will see them on Tuesday when they stop to shop on their way to Guatemala City. I miss the companionship but I savor the silence as well. Freed from the tyranny of closets that need to be cleaned, floors that need to be cleaned, grass that needs to be mowed, porches that need to be painted -- well you get the idea -- I have time to relax, write, crochet, write, read, and sleep when I want. But, for now, I want to get out into the sunlight and enjoy being in Huehue.
Stay tuned! More later! In the meantime: please continue to pray for my team. I am looking forward to seeing them on Friday at the Guatemala City airport. We are still a little short on our funding -- please pray for God's provision for us. Prayer is what we need most of all but if you are interested in supporting us financially, please message me and I will gladly tell you how to contribute. We do need financial support as well.
