Saturday, March 15

Anxious anticipation when I woke up this morning. I had a strong sense of excitement that took awhile to register. This was travel day for the Guatemala Mission. The excitement continued to build as my fellow mission members gathered at the airport. I have been cautioned to set my expectations too high for this trip but my expectation is to experience communities of people who have much less in material possessions than we do, yet love and cherish the same God in ways that will humble me. This is a very important trip for me as it begins a new chapter of my life - one of giving thanks and giving back. My expectation is that my world will be much larger, yet much smaller by the time I return home. My expectation is to visit one of those 'thin places' that Reverends Dave and Janet speak of - a place where you are a little closer to the Creator.

– Bob Utter (3:38 a.m. somewhere over Mexico)

Sunday, March 16, 2008
Palm Sunday

We arrived in Guatemala City at 4:30 a.m. The first thing I noticed was the smell of wood burning as we stepped into the jet way. That was the beginning of my transition from my hectic life back home to the 'real' life of Guatemala. As we rode up the mountain in the early morning hours, morning broke over the countryside. From the darkness of Guatemala City to the bright sunlight in the mountains, the country came to life before our eyes.The afternoon was spent in the market…everything from textiles and t-shirts to strawberries and melon….bracelets and earrings to bread and beans. There were fried chickens, live chickens, dried chickens, roasted chickens and cut-up ready to cook chickens. Once again, an eye-opening adventure through the ChiChi market.

Several buses and other vehicles were adorned with palm branches and purple flowers for Palm Sunday. I expected a traditional Palm Sunday service when we attended church at the Methodist Church here in ChiChi. I was surprised to find out that they were celebrating Thanksgiving today. We were greeted warmly and felt very welcome at the service. Then back to the hotel for dinner…you guessed it…chicken!

– Jerry Hertzler

Monday, March 17, 2008

We were all very tired last night I had the best night's sleep in a long time. Unfortunately, I was awakened by the sound of the water in the next room's bathroom. This turned out to actually be good news, because I had set my alarm for 6 p.m. instead of 6 a.m.We had a great experience in the morning when we visited the John Wesley School in Santa Cruz del Quiche. To those that have been there before, the renovations are amazing. Three quarters of the building have been torn down and rebuilt and they'll be able to add four more stories! As we entered, we walked through a line with students on both sides applauding us; it was very moving. The Directors did a nice job of welcoming us and thanking us. The older students sang several numbers for us.My favorite part of the day was meeting my sponsoree, Karla. We talked quite a bit with her and her father. She is in 8th grade and this is the 2nd year we've sponsored her. She would like to continue in school and go into accounting. From my perspective, the Bible Camp went well. It seemed chaotic at times, but it went much better than previous camps. We were well prepared, there weren't as many children, their teachers were there to help, and we had a confined space. We did crafts, bubble blowing, throwing balls jumping rope, puppets, and tattoos. All the kids and adults had fun.

– Ken Fong

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Struck by the poverty and yet how happy people are! - same as Sambruru in Kenya - what lessons these people could teach us. Good hard work for a couple of hours. Then the children again - so many children! Great group we're traveling with - all seem dedicated and easy-going. All for now.

– Merilee Saxe

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Reflections on Monday - Ushered in by a warm-hot shower (whew) and then a delicious breakfast and then another ride through beautiful mountain countryside and very narrow streets on the chicken bus. Colorful homes, flowering plants, curious stares and people going about their daily routine - babies carried in back slings by all ages of women - large containers filled with water, food and who knows what balanced with ease on top of heads - women washing clothes in an algae covered lake - cows tethered in any little patch of grass - the laughter of children and the delight of our group of just having fun with children.

Shyness and smiles of mothers looking on at us playing with their children. Graciousness and gratefulness of the people we work with - the simpleness of living and working together - unplugged from all out complicated lives and machines and yet finding great joy and fullness and love - God fills our lives if we just slow down and listen.

– Lou Hopkins

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

It's so nice to be back in Guatemala again! I love seeing familiar places (especially the places where we worked and visited in the past years - Lake Lemoa, the Retreat Center, Hogar del Nino, the John Wesley School) but even more than that, I love seeing familiar faces. Yesterday we visited with Rosa (the 8th grade girl that we are sponsoring) and her father. With Pamela's help translating, we were able to even talk with them a little about their family. Rosa's father said that their house had been robbed a little while ago, so they appreciated very much the money to fund Rosa's education. Later yesterday, our whole group went down to Rosa's family's store next to Lemoa and bought almost all of the Pepsi Lights.

Another group of familiar faces that we saw yesterday were all of the kids from the orphanage (who have all grown so much in the last two years). Shelly, Kristina, Rachel and I saw some of the kids playing Uno and joined them. Uno was the perfect game to play because off you really need to know is colors and numbers in Spanish - I've got those down! It was so nice to just play with the kids and not having to worry that we spoke different languages. In fact, there was a lot of laughing during our game, and as Bob pointed out, laughter is the same in every language! I had been so worried in the morning about communicating with the kids at John Wesley that I had forgotten to stop and just have fun with them. With the orphanage kids, we put aside the language barrier and all spoke with the little English and Spanish that we knew. My favorite line- which pretty much sums up the whole experience - was when Luis had "Uno" and said: "Estoy happy!"

– Beth Richards

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

I can't believe we are in our 4th day. I am writing while sitting under an avocado tree, cooling off. It isn't overly hot, but the sun is muy caliente! Our group has gone from two projects here in Lemoa to four as we have added one more adobe home and are helping fence the basketball court.

I loved seeing the pure joy and happiness on the faces of the children at the John Wesley School. The week of planning and preparing the games and crafts for Bible Camp was all given back by the smiles of those precious children. I can't wait to go to Chontala for Bible Camp this Friday. This collection of individuals from St. Luke's has been such a joy to spend this experience with. What an accepting, sharing and caring group. We have become an extended family. I love them all. As of today, this trip has surpassed all of my expectations. I have come to love the children and the hard working people of Guatemala!

– Jan Rufien

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

I'm sitting under a huge avocado tree at Adobe 5. I have had to take shelter from the sun. Wow! What hard work we have taken on! My muscles are talking to me - wondering why I didn't choose to go to a beach, for my first vacation in two years. Would I trade, no way! My spirit has been soaring since Monday morning at the John Wesley School.

Those faces…they are imprinted on my brain! Mass chaos and laughter in a small school courtyard will fuel warm memories for years. Finally, I think I know how my parents feel about the children of Kenya. Speaking of 'the work' I am witnessing a mass concentration of effort at Adobe 5. Four rows of bricks have been laid today and with the workers from Adobe 3 coming to help I feel confident that row 5 will be completed. What a joy it has been to work for this young family! You can see it in their eyes that they are grateful and this surprise project has brought another blessed memory for us to take home.

We will visit the sisters later today to deliver a 'care package' from St. Luke's. God's grace shines from Sister Connie's face. Her life's work has been complimented by the compassion and resourcefulness of Lesly and Mark. They all are true disciples in modern times.

– Jennifer Calhoun

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

What a blessing to work on Adobe 5. Juan smiled constantly and six rows with a seventh one started when Jenn and I left for Sister Connie's home to deliver the care package. How impressive to span language barriers to get so much done in a day. The John Wesley School and the adobes with a visit to the Sisters has left such an impression. I now know and understand why my mother went to Appalachia and Jenn's folks go to and support their school in Kenya. Mark and Lesly are true lights of God and true disciples of Christ. So much from Bible study and this mission come together and now make sense to me and if I never do another trip like this, I will always understand being a disciple. What a delightful group - compassionate, loving and showing the peace, grace and love of Jesus and God. May Mark and Lesly's work continue to be blessed by God!

– David Moore

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Today has been a wonderful day. My girls and I started the day at Adobe 3. We were busy mixing mud and helping to haul it up to the roof of the house. Several of the men did back breaking work carrying the 50-lb adobe bricks up the ladder. It has been amazing watching Adobe 3 get closer and closer to becoming a home.

Later in the morning during a 'break in the action' we went over to Adobe 5 and helped fill in the mud gaps at that home. While we were there we met two young boys, maybe 5 and 3, who wanted to play with us. The 5-year-old was fascinated by my camera. He liked pushing the button that turned my camera on and off. He would turn it on and when the lens popped out he would day "Hola". Then when he turned it off and the lens went away he would say "Adios". I think my camera batteries are almost dead, but he had a lot of fun!

The best part of the day happened after lunch. Rosa's father brought their whole family (mother, 4 brothers and 3-month old baby sister) down to the work site to meet our family. It was such fun to meet the whole family - we took some wonderful pictures! It made my day, though, to see Rosa smiling and so happy. Each time we come down to Guatemala we get to know her a little bit better. I really feel like God put us in the Lemoa school two years ago so that we could meet her and begin this wonderful friendship with her family. I feel very privileged to be her sponsor and watch her become such a wonderful young woman. Two years ago, I came to Guatemala hoping I could help all the people of this area. I've come to believe that God's plan was for our family to be able to help Rosa's family reach their goals and dreams. If we can help this one family gain education and options ….that would be the best blessing we could ever receive. God is good!

– Laura Richards

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Adobe 3 - what an amazing day as we helped the six workers finish the home dedicated to my Aunt Allie. She was a South Dakota pioneer woman and served as a county treasurer for 32 years. Having never married, she was like a mother to all 20+ of her nieces and nephews but was especially close to my family. She would be honored to have an adobe home built in her honor and memory to help this Guatemala family.

My expectations this year are far different than last. I can slow down, realizing that the pace is much different here. By respecting the people and their culture, it is much easier to take the time to establish relationships and share God's love.

We have much to learn from the people of this third world country. By simplifying our lives and putting God at the center, perhaps Americans could be as happy and as fulfilled as the Quiche people. Blessings to all the shy smiling faces.

P.S. I will return!

– Cheryl Wolff

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

I am taken back to my youth when I am in Guatemala. This is the place of agriculture, hard physical work and limited mechanical assistance. I have seen no tractors in fields, no combines. This area around Lemoa is subsistence farming. I am greatly touched by the laughter and sincerity and welcome from the people of the state of Quiche. What we do for them is far less than what I get in return. I have changed from my first trip her last year. Last year I was project-oriented: get a house built. During that trip I started to realize that mission was more than bricks and mortar. It is looking strangers in the eye with respect, acknowledging that we have nothing better than these people have. Our big air conditioned home, microwave ovens, stores filled with choices and big powerful cars to drive on wide highways do not make our 1440 days any better than these people's days. My goal now is not to change the world but to offer opportunity by encouraging education here. Our work building homes and providing efficient stoves permits children to go to school. Schooling permits informed commerce and, consequently, informed choice.

Mission is one life at a time: in these two trips to Guatemala that life has been mine that was improved and strengthened.

– Jim Wolff

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Wow! This is the third year I have visited Guatemala and I feel so so lucky. The people here are amazing. Today was technically a 'work day' but I didn't get too much work done because I was playing with Gary Christmas (aka little boy from Adobe 5). I love being able to play with the kids here because they are so loving and show that they really care for you. Kids like Gary Christmas are the reason why I can't stay away from Guatemala. Also, today we got to go around to each of the adobe houses to bless them. It was really cool because this year, we go to see houses actually finish and witnessed the final product. However, this experience was very meaningful to me because we dedicated adobe 5 to Mario and Kelly. I was so happy we did this and it will always hold a special place in my heart because of that dedication.

Overall, this trip has been amazing. The people on this team are wonderful and I couldn't imagine sharing this experience with anybody else.

Until next year….

P.S. Sorry my handwriting is not as pretty as everybody else's.
P.P.S. I love Pato! And I will miss her!

– Shelly Richards

Friday, March 21, 2008
Good Friday

Today gave me great joy working in Chontala. We were able to start the building of two chicken cops and provide Bible camps in the afternoon for the children. I also was able to see the real outback of Chontala looking for our other team. I walked about 30-45 minutes until I just got a little scary with no one around. The afternoon with the children and being able to meet our sponsored child will hold forever in my heart. We are off to Lake Atitlan tomorrow. Stay tuned.

– John Williams

Saturday, March 22, 2008

We went to two towns today. I don't know what either of them is called, but they're both on the really big lake. The first town was really touristy and warm. My dad and I went into an internet café and I made two new little friends, both about 3 or 4 years old. We took a long boat ride across the lake to our hotel, which is beautiful. And the hotel has wi-fi. I didn't think there was wi-fi anywhere in Guatemala.

Several of us went into town. There was a market area, hardly as crazy as the one in Chichi, though. A few of us failed to make a turn and ended up walking in multiple large circles, but we did get to see a lot more of the town and it was very different than the other places we've been this week. The houses are very close together and there are a lot of narrow alleys going between them. Near the road, there was a small area with a couple cows fenced in. There were a couple of little girls that said 'Hola' and waved at us as we walked by. The town is a lot like Lemoa in the sense that you see a lot of families (or at least groups of children) together. There were a lot of fences and walls and there were a lot of church-type buildings, but not many of them actually looked like churches. Two were very tall and looked very nice and new -- one had clean really shiny blue windows. On some of the streets there was colored sawdust on the ground, like there had been carpets and processions earlier.

It's really beautiful up here, a really nice place to relax. I miss the kids, though. I don't want to go back to the US.

– Kristine "Panda" Fong

Saturday, March 22, 2008

Guatemala is such a cool place! Everything is so beautiful. I loved playing with all the children. Even if we don't speak the same language, we can still communicate and connect with the kids. Pato was a great part of the trip too. Pato was so pretty! She was always around us until the little boy at Adobe 5 chased her away. Poor Pato.

Guatemala is great and I hope that I will get a chance to go next year to have even more fun! See you soon.

– Rebecca Suby-Long

Sunday, March 23, 2008
Easter Sunday

I cannot believe that this trip to Guatemala is drawing to a close. As I sit here in our room at the Lutheran Center in Antigua, I feel so extremely blessed to have had the opportunity to come here with this group. Before I came, I had no idea what to expect. After being immersed in Guatemalan culture for the past week and a half, I feel that my world view has been greatly expanded and I have a new appreciation for a different way of living. I can't help but reflect on the entire week and some of the experiences that will remain with me forever: Seeing the children in Chichi selling items in the street during market day; women presenting live chickens in church as an offering; the joy of the children playing during he Bible camp at John Wesley School; playing Uno with the kids at the orphanage; spending time with the children at Adobe 3 and playing 'beauty shop' with the little girls; tossing around an avocado with the boy at Adobe 4; being invited into Geronimo's sister's home for soda and Holy Week bread; and seeing the incredible alfombras in Chichi along with the Holy Week procession. God has been so apparent to me this week through the graciousness and joyful sprits of the people we have encountered. I hope that the strong connection I feel to this county will remain throughout the year until I can come again! Happy Easter!

– Rachel Suby-Long

Sunday, March 23, 2008
Easter Sunday

The group arrived in Antigua late morning today and I have to admit, the town is unlike any I have ever seen. The distinct colonial architecture is apparent, and gorgeous blooms are budding on various trees, from deep pink colors to purple and white (so pretty). Unfortunately, the change of pace in lifestyle and cuisine has caught up with me, so as of about noon I have been cooped up in my family's room in the Lutheran Center (which luckily is very nice) feeling ill. At least it gives me an opportunity to kick back and write.

To say the least, this trip has offered so much more than I ever expected. The physical labor was all accomplished; the relationships I have built and the time spent close to God this week are events that I will always remember. Favorites this week have been hanging out with the kids from Adobe 3, having our sweet little dog Pato follow us around all week, Good Friday processions and almost getting ourselves lost in the crowd with Marcelo, and meeting a child whose name is either Gary or Yaway (we're not sure:).

I feel blessed to have met the people I did from St. Luke's, Lemoa, etc. and I'm so glad I could share these experiences with our group. See ya'll next year!

– Sarah Suby-Long

Sunday, March 23, 2008
Easter Sunday

What an experience this trip has been! As I sit here at the Retreat Center that is simple and beautiful, I am so grateful. Our week in Guatemala has been more significant than I could have ever imagined. The gracious hospitality and kindness of the people of Guatemala will forever be etched in my heart. And the smiling faces of Jessica, Angelica, Ricardo, Anna, Laura, Tomas and many more were so precious….God's love is reflected in their joyful spirits.

Antigua is a very intriguing city and how fortunate for us to be here on Easter Sunday. Our visit to the Santo Domingo Hotel and Museum was spectacular…the history here is fascinating and there is such beauty in the stone streets and pastel-colored adobe buildings framed with brilliant flowers. I have especially enjoyed and appreciated our 'team'…what a loving, interesting and dynamic group of people it is an honor to be a part of this group as I've learned so much from seeing everyone in action. So, on this Easter Sunday, I'm feeling more peaceful than I've felt in a long time. I pray that this will be the first of many trips to Guatemala.

– Sallie Suby-Long

Monday, March 24, 2008

What a great trip this has been. Everything we did was exceptional and far exceeded my expectations. Guatemala and its people are beautiful and so filled with hope and love. Our team from SLUMC was fun to work with and so dedicated. My family (as always) amazes me with their flexibility and great attitude and willingness to try new and different things. Thanks to John and Sharon, Lesly and Mark and all the others who planned and executed this mission trip so well. I can honestly say this ranks among the most meaningful experiences of my life! I hope to be back next year if possible.

– Tomas Suby-Long

Monday, March 24, 2008

Once again, as our trip draws to a close, I'm truly lost for words - this is how I spend most of my days in Guatemala. I simply cannot find words to express what an incredible experience each and every day brings. As I look back at this week, the days almost run together - to form one beautiful tapestry in my mind. As we sit on the plane in route back to the United States, I feel sad. Sad because I know what is coming next. As soon as we step off the plane in LA, we'll see people scrambling, pushing, shoving, screaming, and demanding like there's no tomorrow! I will try desperately to hold onto the solitude and beauty of this past week. I will work diligently to stretch the memories of each day and each new relationship out just 'a little longer". I will remind myself daily that work is not urgent. Having a cup of tea will bring a warm memory now with each tea cup I touch.

I can't express how grateful I am to each member of our group. I have learned something from each of you. I am bringing back much more than I took with me, and am anxious and excited to share this year's experiences with even more people. When I think what we just 25 'ordinary' people have accomplished, learned and given back to the world this week, I just smile. When I think of Carla and Saundra running to greet me with arms thrown wide, I just smile. When I think of how grateful I am to Mark and Lesly for forging the way and giving John and I an opportunity to sponsor Lesly and Yesica, I just smile. When I think of these two young girls excited about the opportunity to grow in school, I just smile through my tears. They have made a huge difference in our lives. When I think of what a truly incredible week and huge impact each of you have had in my life. Now I close - because I'm once again, speechless. I am so grateful. Love to each of you.

– Sharon Williams