Day 5 May 12

Slept Well! Took a wash cloth bath... day 4 withOUT water! Carolina and the children went somewhere to take paid showers. Jose was busy working in the shop... The pics are start to finish of his project... he is quite the craftsman! Carolina's mother was watching Melanie and when Carolina and the kids got back we ate... cream of oatmeal drink and a hard boiled egg for dad and me.

Then we left for the bus station to inquire about buses to Patelul... on the way we went through the daily market... recall the largest flea market you have ever seen and multiply it by 3 or 4 and you might be close to the size and crowds that are in the market daily. MANY, MANY people ALL trying to sell something. There are very few jobs and most people have to sell things to make enough money to even subsist. Rode in another mini van/bus with 30 + people cramped in it!

Everyone is in a hurry... can't even wait for you to get off the bus before they try to get on... at one point, that made me so angry... I almost had an outburst telling the people trying to get on to WAIT!

After lunch of fried fish, which we got at the market, we went back to town to get some photos developed and while waiting for them, we walked through part of the market and even had a coffee and pastry in a little shop. From there we walked through a rough looking part of town to stand in line at a pharmacy so, Carolina could get some medicine. The line was 1/2 hour long. We walked home about a mile or so through some rough parts.

Spent the evening doing the "how do you say in english/spanish game" with the kids and doing math problems... it was fun. The other adults all were busy talking.

We called Aaron this night to make plans to meet them n Pochuta on Thursday.

Hard Time....

Boy, am I having a hard time transitioning to being here in the states! It seems so unreal! Drinking water from the tap! The plushness of our mansion! The technology! Being able to watch the news. The lack of roosters and dogs! Driving home last night was surreal too... after not driving for 2 weeks!

Two weeks worth of mail is quite a pile too! And then there was laundry and of course Sunday's commin....

Day 4 May 11

Breakfast was hot milk with LOTS of sugar over corn flakes. The flakes had been in the milk a while so they were very soggy. Due to lack of water, we had no coffee.

Went to church @ 9:30 was to start at 9:30... no one was there... until 10 and then it started. Sang/prayed intermixed continually for 50 minutes and then the pastor preached for 50 minutes. They did invite Dad to come up and give greetings. It was a LONG 2 Hours for me! Two ladies got so worked up during the singing that they "fell out" and were caught by two deaconesses who followed them around stacking chairs and waiting to catch them so they didn't fall and hurt themselves... interesting!

After the service, we purchased a fried taco to help with the building fund.... they currently meet in the bottom of the pastors house and are building a church that will seat 1000. From the foundation that is pictured... the building will rise up 90 meters!

We then went to a Restaurant as a total group... turned out to be a RITZY one... waiters in black ties... NOT what Dad wanted... but where we went... so costly Dad had to use his credit card to pay for it. Check out the way we rode there in a taxi! TEN of us in one 70's Toyota Corolla taxi.

The Restaurant did have live marimba music... great! And outside it had a four level cement slide. We spent hours sliding down it... at one point ALL of us went in a train line! The kids loved it. This was the FIRST time they had ever eaten in such a place and was sure to be a day they would remember for a long time.

It is interesting how something so simple... such as a cement slide can bring such joy!

Then we caught a mini van/bus to the zoo... 29 people in the bus... Pictured is one like we took. The kids loved the zoo! Quite a memorable day!

Day 3 - May 10

Was excited to be able to call home today... didn't think I would be able to do that until we got with Becky and Aaron. Talked to Emma and Caroline... it was GREAT to talk to them!

Had a great breakfast... eggs over easy and refried beans -- no utensils, just bread.

It is Mother's Day in Guatemala... so we went to a program @ the kid's school. It was a good walk to the school... 3/4 mile or so up hill. The program was LONG and very unorganized. They fed us lunch there... a kind of corn mush cooked in a banana leaf with a bit of meat in it and two slices of a very sweet white bread.... didn't take the tea they offered due to amoebas.

Prior to the program, we met the headmaster of the school. Dr. Ke is Korean, but has lived in Xela for 30 years and considers himself a Guatemalan... he is 75 years old. He was very interested in soliciting money from Dad and he was intrigued that I was a pastor (the school was Presbyterian) He preferred to talk to us rather than go to the program, but Dad told him that he came for the program, so Dr. Ke quickly changed from his sweat suit to a real suit and came to the program. At about half way through the program, he interrupted it to introduce Dad and asked him to make a few remarks... (buttering him up for a donation!) Dr. Ke told us afterward of his grand dream of making that facility a school for 2000 kids and a seminary and university for 2000 students total of 4000! Only one floor of the 4 floors was completed and one other one under construction with hopes for 2 more. He invited us to his office to talk more and make a pitch for money... but when it became clear that Dad wasn't going to give a sizable donation, he left the office for a while... with us just sitting there!

After the program, we walked home to find out that we had NO water in the house... water was out in most of the neighborhood.

We then took a taxi to Ahora's house in the country. Interesting contrast... their small cement and tin home sits right across the road from a very new and elaborate house, compound that includes a pool, a garage with three new cars and a soccer field.

We very much enjoyed visiting there and ate a very delicious meal together ( tortillas, rice and a freshly killed chicken... they wandered in and out of the house as we ate!) then walked up to Jacob's grave as a family... this was about a mile walk up a pretty good hill. The whole family, except the youngest son who was not there went and it was a very moving experience as we gathered around his grave and shared some memories. On the way home, the boys and I started a game of passing a soccer ball back and forth and that turned into a game of "how do you say...in english/spanish... which we played for a long time at the house.

We left by taxi and went to the supermarket....a small store that was jam packed with goods to purchase. After a several hour nap, we had supper around 9 p.m. of refried beans and fried plantains with cream. VERY good!

LOTS of firecrackers continued to go off ALL night.. which again stirred the roosters and dogs... not a very peaceful place. Since it was Saturday, there would be no water until Monday at the earliest. Oh well who needs a shower! (one of the reasons, I shaved my head was to deal with this possibility!)

A few notes about the family we visited in Xela...

Just thought I ought to take a few moments to provide some info on the family we visited in Xela (pronounced SHAY-LA). About 16 or so years ago, my father met and hired a Guatemalan, Jacob. Jacob had been forced to leave his country during the war... he was told to leave or he would be killed... so he came to USAmerica on temporary political asylum. He worked for my dad in the christmas trees in the evenings and on Saturdays after his other job. When he left Guatemala, he left behind a wife and three kids.... 14, 11, and 3. Jacob lived here for about 10 years during which time he constantly sent money home to his family. Then in 2001, Jacob got sick and returned home to die (my dad didn't know this until later). While home, he was able to get things somewhat situated for his family's future... by securing some land and a house.

After Jacob's death, Dad adopted the family and has been helping them financially, sending two of his grandkids to school and helping one family build a house, giving money to establish businesses and helping with health care needs. Four years ago, my dad traveled there to see how they were doing and that was the reason for our return trip. The widow, Ahora, lives in the farm house (three rooms that are cement block and three rooms that are tin walls and roof with dirt floors) with her daughter and the daughter's four children. The oldest son, Jose, lives in the city with his wife, and three children (they live in the pink house). The youngest son lives with his in-laws and his girlfriend and 2 yr old daughter.

Notes about the pics... the one is taken at the farm house where Ahora lives and the other is taken our last day in Xela... the two children dad sends to school are not in the pic....also in the picture is the mother of the oldest son's wife, who lives next door. The picture of the larger group is taken in the shop part of the house where Jose does metal work.

HOME!!!!!

Left Becky and Aaron yesterday in Antigua, Guatemala around 10 a.m. and had a private shuttle to the airport... 45 minutes for $25. Got checked in and waited til 2:30 p.m. to take off... arrived in Charlotte, NC around 8:30 our time... went through customs easily and then waited till 10:30 to fly to BWI... Arrived around 11:40 and made it to Mom and Dad's by 1:15 and crawled into my own bed around 2:40 a.m.... was GREAT to sleep in my own bed after 14 nights in other beds and three of them in a bed that was too small and nothing but boards for a mattress. Got up at 6 to see the girls and Sharon before they left for school and work. Now doing laundry... catching up on emails (114)... thinking about going back to bed!... and then will work on sermon for Sunday... did some thinking about it on the trip....It is good to be back!

Great trip....and anxious to share more!

Leaving Guatemala Today!

Right now we are sitting in a cafe and bagel shop... with Becky and Aaron eating breakfast and updating our blogs.  It's 7:40 a.m. here and we leave on a shuttle at 10 for the airport.  Our flight leaves Guatemala City at 2:30 and then we get to Charlotte around 8:30 p.m.... hope to be able to call home then.... we leave there at 10:30 and arrive in Baltimore around 12 midnight.

It's been a great trip... but I am really ready to see my family.  Will post more journal entries soon and lots more pics!

Day 2 May 9

Slept well at the hotel... went for a walk with dad around the block... two gringos walking against the morning rush hour grain... interesting experience... we were waiting for the restraunt to open so we could eat before meeting Oscar.

Met Oscar who took us to a bus station and put us on a direct bus to Xela... got on the 8 a.m. bus just before it left... Oscar insisted we take first class... it was an old trailways bus... which meant that we had our own seats... not a seat to share with 3 or 4 other people like on the chicken busses! We rode for 4.5 hours to Xela.. the ride was intersting... we were stopped several times due to construction and while stopped... LOTs of vendors got on and off the bus selling everything from fresh fruit to drinks to candy to crafts....there are no where near enough jobs for everyone here... and this is one way they make money... these were mountain roads and the vendors had walked for miles to the place where the construction would stop the busses.

Very mountainous terrain with corn growing everywhere... we spent more time driving 55 mph on the wrong side of the road even passing other buses and cars on curves and going up hills.... Latin time goes out the window when they get behind a wheel!!!!!!!!!!!!!.... and when the person ahead isn´t going fast enough you blow your horn and pass... even when the road isn´t wide enough... playing chicken and blowing horns is the way it is done!

We arrived at Jose and Karolina´s house via taxi from the bus station... their street is dirt and rocks and ruts... see pic... their house is the pink one... My dad helped them build it. They insisted we stay with them in their kids room on the third floor... very comfortable accommodations! We ate lunch around 2 p.m. when the children came home from school and then went for a bus ride on a ´´chicken´´ bus... the center of town and walked around it all afternoon. Saw some gringos at language schools... feel a bit like I am on a silent retreat... since I don´t know the language.

The night was very loud... Sat. was Mothers Day here and they celebrate with fireworks... MANY MANY fireworks... they started at midnight and didn´t let up until 8 a.m. and then went all day and for several days... The fireworks stirred the roosters and dogs and it made for quite a ruckus!!! We even heard live music (a band) a few doors down around 2 a.m.!

You will notice that Xela doesn´t know what to do with trash... so they just drop it where ever it is.... you can see the evidence of the USAmerican marketing... and packaging everywhere.

Our First day in Guatemala... May 8, 2008

On May 8, I left my house in Salisbury, MD to travel an hour to meet my parents so that my mother and their Pastor, Tom could take us to the BWI airport to get on our way to Guatemala. We had a great flight and arrived around 3:30 p.m. Guatemala time (5:30 p.m. by our time). We made it through customs very easily... waved right by... got some money exchanged for our trip here and went out to find our friend Oscar, ready to take us to our hotel and for a tour of the city. Oscar is the brother of the pastor of the Hispanic church that meets at the Easton Church of the Brethren, in Easton, MD. My father has developed a friendship with both and Oscar was our tour guide!

The hotel was very nice, but we were escorted to our room with an armed guard and he even looked into the bathroom and closets to make sure all was well!!! What have I gotten myself into... LOTS of armed guards all around the city as we toured it.

We went to the Presidential Palace where Oscar arranged for an English speaking tour and then saw a cathedral and a cement model of Guatemala. Notice the height of the mountains and the rough terrain. Then we rode around the city... crossed one bridge and saw lots of shacks (homes) on the hillside... even down almost to the river below.

This city and this country is one of extremes... not unlike ours... but GREATER... nearly presidential houses and shanties. Lots of armed guards... LOTS of street noise and a very rowdy neighborhood.

All in all it was a great first day!

Today is our last day in Antigua...

Today, is our last day in the touristy town of Antigua. And boy have we been tourists! We shared breakfast with Becky and Aaron in a little cafe a couple doors down from our hotel and then met our friend, Oscar, who lives in Guatemala City. Oscar is the one who met us when we came. Dad has helped his family over the years and now he was a huge help to us. The pics are from some of the ruins we visited and from the overlook. The mountain in the background is a volcano.

What I have decided to do with my trip is to share my daily journals and pictures with you. I´ve taken and kept over 800 photos while here!

It has been a real experience! One I will never forget! But, after 14 days here, I am more than ready to see my family... so tomorrow when we arrive at BWI at midnight, my mother will pick us up and then when I get to their house, I will drive to my house so I can see my family before they head off to work and school!!!

We did our trip in a great way... A night in Guatemala City touring with a friend and then 7 days in Xela which was not near a plush as home, but not as primitive as Union Victoria... then 4 days in U.V. with Becky and Aaron where it was very primitive and then 3 days in San Lucas and 2 days in Antigua which is the most touristy and plush of all....

On our way toward home....

Spent three lovely days in San Lucas touring the mission projects of the church there. Father Greg, who has been the priest there for nearly 40 years has made a HUGE impact on the community. We toured the rabbit project, the reforrestation project, the clinic and saw the chicken and duck project. While we were there, we saw lots of gringos from Minnesota there on mission projects as the local church there has a sister church relation with the parrish in San Lucas.

We are now in Antigua for two days which is the most touristy we have been yet! Then we will make our way an hour to Guatemala City to the airport on Thursday.

Yesterday, Becky and I got the news that we both had picked up ameobas and I am now on the medicine for that... however it is starting to make my stomach uneasy!

Definitely been a trip to remember forever!

The pic is from Antigua... it is our hotel for the next two nights.

Traveling around Guatemala

When I get home, my plan is to do a daily entry for our trip... with lots of pics... but for now... we are in San Lucas Toliman with Becky and Aaron. We left U.V. at 5:30 a.m. to day and jumped a loaded pickup (small size) with 18 people and drove down the mountain in the rain. Once in Pochuta, we covered the pickup with a tarp and proceded to the next town Potelul and jumped on a loaded school bus (chicken bus) to San Lucas. San Lucas is a real break from where we were in U.V. The place we are staying has real beds and a shower and is in a quiet garden. I feel like in many ways we are transitioning back to our culture. We had pancakes for breakfast and pizza for lunch.... and SHOWERS and a Matress! Tomorrow, we will visit the Mission and hope to talk to the priest who has been so instrumental in helping here and we hope to see more of the lake... Tuesday we will catch a ride to Antigua with Becky and Aaron and tour it with one of Dad´s friends. Wednesday we will part company with Becky and Aaron and then travel to Guatemala City in preparation for leaving on Thursday.

It has been a very eye opening experience for me and I am glad that I came. Especially glad that we had three days in Union Victoria and some other time to travel and talk with Becky and Aaron. Anxious to share what I have seen and some of what I am learning.

While it has been a good trip, the conditions have been harder than I expected and am looking forward to being home and ESPECIALLY looking forward to seeing my family!

The picture is Antonio, Maria, Jose, Paulina, and Flora, the family we stayed with in Union Victoria. They were a delight. It is taken in their Kitchen which is a detatched building with wood and tin sides and a tin roof. The cooking and eating is done there.

In Xela...

Having a great time with Dad in Xela! We have been here in Guatemala for 7 days now and it has been a real experience. The greatest challenge besides the language has been not having water in the house. They usually have running water, but it has been off for the entire time we have been here... so wash cloth baths are the best we can do. It hasn"t been too bad. We have seen LOTS of intersting things and I wish that I could post pictures now, but I left my camera cord back home. Will post some upon my arrival home. We leave Xela tomorrow for our visit with Becky and Aaron in Union Victoria and I am really looking forward to that part of the trip. We expect to be with them through Monday or Teusday. And then to Guatemala City to tour for a couple days and then flying out on Thursday a week from now and arriving at BWI at 12 a.m.. Wish I had time to write more... but am being watched by our friends and don"t want to be rude!

Adios!

This is the family in Xela at the home in the country.

Final Blog entry for a while....

Bright and early tomorrow morning, I will meet my parents and travel with them to BWI airport to hop a plane with my Dad to Guatemala. We will be traveling there for a little more than 2 weeks...so... this will be my last blog entry unless I can find a computer cafe when we meet up with Becky and Aaron sometime around the 15th. If I can, I will try to post an entry and a picture or two.

This is going to be a very different travel experience. I take more stuff camping when I go for a week than I will take to Guatemala. I already took some things out of my duffel bag so that it wouldn't be so heavy to travel with. I am taking one duffel bag and a backpack (as a carry-on). With my recent gout outburst, I feel as though I am taking a pharmacy.

When I return, I will preach the final installment of our LiveSTRONG series at Community of Joy... it will be based on Philippians 4:10-13, which reads... "I have learned to be content with whatever I have. I know what it is to have little and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." I suspect that this passage is going to take on a new life in my spiritual journey as I travel in Guatemala. I am looking forward to what the Lord will teach me on this adventure!

Final Turkey Entry this year....

It's been an eventful turkey season for me. The first one I ever pursued them with a bow. Could have taken a couple Jakes early in the season with my bow... but didn't want to do that! So, my friend, Steve got the only bird off my regular farm that I hunt turkeys on. It was FUN taking him and seeing him get hooked on turkey hunting!

After 7 days of trying a new property (one that I nicknamed "Heaven"), I am skunked! I could have taken a Jake there too, but was holding out for a longbeard!

This morning our plan was to go to a field that the turkeys ALWAYS go to after they fly down from roost and wait for them to come to us. It was a great plan! But as with some plans... it didn't work as planned. We got to the field and ready to set up, when a gobbler sounded off on roost and then the others joined the chorus... and wouldn't you know it, they were roosted on the far side of the clearcut that was past the field. They wouldn't be coming our way! And that was ensured when we heard the hens calling and they were already with them. They didn't gobble as much this morning as other days, and so it was a short day! Got home by 8 a.m.

We did see 17 deer this morning! Five in one group that came out the the field and snorted and stamped to try to get our decoys to move. Finally, I snorted back at them and they ran off. If I hadn't done that, don't know how long they would have stood there trying to get the turkey decoys to move. And then a short while later a group of 12 went by single file.

It's been a great season and lots of fun trying to get a turkey. It will be my first one since I started hunting turkeys in 1997 that I didn't get a turkey! And most of those years, I have taken two. I will arrive home from Guatemala on the very last day of the season. Doubt I will hunt it... but who knows!