Reports from Guatemala

Third Update
March 13, 2004
Hey Everyone —

Here is another great update from the group.  As I write this (Saturday 3/13 at 5:30 PM), they are enjoying their last few days — finally relaxing.  The organizers always plan a day or two to wind down and enjoy the markets and the sights, sounds, and smells of daily life in Guatemala.

They are very lucky this year to be on Lake Atitlan for these last two days.  It is amazingly beautiful. They will take a boat ride over from Panachel tomorrow morning for services in a very old and emotion filled church and community (Santiago Atitlan).  It has always been a moving experience; I know they will repeat that.  If they are lucky they will be able to persuade the boat driver (and Drs. Mowrey and Kelso!!) to let them swim in the lake.
 
They will end up back at the market in Panachel (and hopefully buy us all some really cool stuff!!!).  I expect the next email and call you will get will be from your tired and exhilarated loved one.  I will send out a message when they have arrived.  Until then, enjoy this:

On Wednesday, we began our work with the reforestation program.  We started by filling bags with dirt and those will soon become the beginnings of trees.  It was so warm and the sun was really beating down on us.  We enjoyed a lunch in the forest made by some of the women in the community.  It was chicken with a sauce and rice!  Afterwards we trekked up the mountain and collected seeds.  The men climbed up the trees barefoot and then used machetes to cut the trees down.  They were amazing! 

We ate dinner at the Presbyterian Church and then we began our homestays.  Most of us were pretty nervous about this since some of our Spanish is not that good.  However, we split into pairs and ventured into new houses with new people.  For all of us, it was an amazing experience and this morning we spent our time retelling our stories and lauging about the language barriers and the interesting bathroom adventures!

Today, we collected mulch from the forest bed and climbed up and down the high elevation mountain many time.  We enjoyed our last lunch with the community and then had to say a sad goodbye to our new friends.  Now, we are all nice and clean!  The showers back at COFA were so nice and we were so thankful to get rid of at least some of the dirt!  Some of us are a little sunburned but we are all looking forward to our weekend in Panachel!

Please keep praying for us and thank you for all your support.  We miss you greatly and can't wait to see you soon! Adios!

 We visited with the community Heart of Women on Tuesday.  For a few members of the group, this was an emotional experience as they have worked with them before. We all heard the stories of the displaced Mayan women as they rebuild their families and community after the war. We had a great time playing soccer with the kids and seeing the beautiful weavings. They fixed a great lunch for us and then we were off.

 Wed. afternoon we were faced with a challenge. We arrived at our work site (Chico Mendez) and were split into three groups.  Everyone but the leader of each group had to be blind folded.  They led us up an enormous mountain with very steep inclines.  We learned about the forest and the trees and prepared for our day tomorrow.  Work begins at 8:00 am and we are ready.