My Reading Blog

As we flew towards Guatemala City, I looked out the window and saw clouds and more clouds and then something dark and big jutting above the clouds.  The mountains loomed large ahead and beside us.  Their peaks pushing upward thru the clouds and then the sky opened and below us was lots and lots of buildings and roads - closely pushed together in the bowl between the mountains.  Guatemala City is a big city with lots of people and traffic.  Fortunately, we didn't spend much time there and headed northwest toward Antigua, where we spent our first night.  Familiar territory.  It was where stayed last year. The next morning we headed to Xela.  It was a five hour drive and the scenery was beautiful and yet, so much poverty all around.   Buildings in need of repair or still being constructed. People everywhere cramped into buses, pickup trucks or walking. Mountains and clouds, lakes and trees. Green, lush, fertile.  Cows tied to the ...

The build was very similar to last year, although we didn't have a big hill to climb, we were still building at an elevation of 8000+ feet above sea level.  The temperatures were in the high 40's in the morning to over 70 by the afternoon.  We were much closer to the sun and it is the beginning of summer in Guatemala, so it was very intense.  Even though the forecast before we left home predicted rain and clouds every day, God blessed us with exceptional weather - not too hot or cold and no rain. When we arrived at our build site, the first thing we saw was that the footings had all been dug.  Hurrah!  I know my brother was not looking forward to digging again this year.  The head mason was Umberto and he had his son, Marco (13 years old) and four other apprentice masons helping him.  He gave the instructions to Willie and Fredy and they in turn gave us the assignments of what needed to be completed first.  Since all of us had been on the bu...

I'd like to introduce you to some of the people that I was privileged and blessed to work with and spend time with during my Guatemala adventure this year. Allan & me with a view of a volcano at Lake Attilan My brother, Allan, was moved to once again join in our journey to Quetzaltenago, aka Xela (pronounced Shay-la).  It is the second largest city in Guatemala, toward to western coast at approximately 8000 feet above sea level. Our Team - Willie (with the machette) is our Thrivent Team Coordinator Our team consisted of 13 people from Arkansas, Illinois, Ohio and Oregon.  We were joined with another team of 11 people from Florida, Tennessee, Minnesota, Massachusetts and Wisconsin, plus three Habitat coordinators.  With this amount of people, we could divide into three groups and work on three different houses. Our Habitat coordinator is Fredy.  He has been been with Habitat Guatemala for five months and lives in San Juan de Laguana with his w...

  Trying to process all that happened last week. Building relationships - old and new Amazement - all that we accomplished Awe - a beautiful country with lots of poverty Needs - a home, a kind word, a smile, a hug Desire - to do more Emotions - joy & sadness, tears & smiles, pride & humbleness, fulfillment Sharing - God's love and receiving so much more in return  The week went quickly, and yet so much happened.  More next week about the family we helped and our build.  Here's a few pictures of some of our trip.