Well, we have arrived! What can we say other than it was an amazing, long, long day. But God is good and already we have been blessed with seeing the enthusiasm of the children in a school that will honour Him.
We met at Lloyd and Anita's to load up and enter into prayer. We drove to Buffalo and after a pitstop at Tim's headed for the US border. After the first carload they began to recognize the 'orange' T-shirts and waved us through. Check in and security went well....oh, other than Nellie who had to be frisked because of her pacemaker. Then they checked all their bags, took a few things away and checked Evert's bags! Flights were on time, everything went as smooth as it could have been.
We landed in Guatemala City three minutes early! Luggage and immigration went well and we met Hank Stronks and his wife Rosario just outside the airport. So many different sounds and sighs, smells and tastes. We stopped at the Pollo Campero for lunch - a kind of KFC - as we became accustomed to this new place. We piled into two vans, all our luggage up on top covered with a tarp. And off we went.
We left the city and began the long trip into the mountains. Up and down, around and around! We went as high as 12 000' just before we decended into the Totinicapan area. We are in San Cristobal. The views and sights were breathtaking. The sun was setting behind the mountains as we travelled. Travelling in Guatemala, as in most Central American countries, is interesting and best and frightening at its worst. Busses, transports, crazy pick-up drivers, people walking on the roadsides and lots of cars. People passing each other in blind spots were you could literally look thousands of feet down the cliffside - what a drop! This is the Pan American highway, opening the way up for free-trade in Central Amercan. Construction, dust, stopping and craziness! However, thanks to Timoteo and another driver we are here safe and sound. As a reminder of how difficult and dangerous it can be, we saw a rather bad accident just before we arrived....God has protected us. After de-briefing from the day and devotions, it truly was good to crawl into bed!
We arrived to the hospitality of Timoteo and Mary-Lou's home and a hot meal. It was good to realize that we were really here and enjoy fellowship with them. Four of us were here two years ago and there were hugs and smiles all around - they remembered us! This morning we received a tour of the new school and saw all the kids in class - so cute! Its amazing how faith and vision, along with support of the community of the saints around the world produces such works. God is blessing these Guatemalan's and it is our prayer that he will continue to do so.
Today, Lloyd and Hans are helping the block layers continue working on a wall that sits between the main road and school property. A truck with three loads of block came and needed to unloaded. Blocks are being wheeled to the layers and moistened with water. Ed and Michael are doing some strenthening to desks that were built as over 30 brand new computers arrived this morning. It is difficult to to much work in the school itself as it is preferrable to keep noise, dust and distraction to a minimum during school hours.
We are adjusting today - to new routines, new food, the altitude, each other, the language and customs. We are trying to pace ourselves a little although many of us would just like to "do something" and that's not always possible at all time durng the day. We ask that you would continue to pray for us as a team and individually. We are here and we are looking forward to 10 days of being Christ to the people of Guatemala!
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