Tuesday and Wednesday in Guatemala

Tuesday the team worked on many construction projects. Some hung suspended ceiling in the roooms that were painted Monday. Some worked on the plumbing and wiring. Some worked on building shelves and cabinets. Some repaired rust damage to metal stairs and railings and then painted them. Some sanded rough hewn boards from which storage  shelves had been build so items would not get caught on the shelves. We ate lunch in the group homes with the girls, house parents, and staff members who interpreted. The five of us working with the girls in the afternoons discussed the name of God, made banners, and played games. That night we visited Doug and Sara Johnson at their home in Guatemala City.  Wednesday we traveled to Zapote, an impoverished village that required riding in trucks and fording four rivers to visit. The church in San Lucas has established an educational program there that last year involved about 50 kindergarten age children, and this year has grown to over 70 children ranging from age 5 to about age 8. We issued each child a T shirt that  said God Loves      . We helped put the name of each child on the shirt and then sprayed each shirt so that it looked tie dyed. We then spent the afternoon traveling up the side of Mount Pacaya.  We drove to a village near the top and then either walked or rode horses about 2400 meters higher. The mountain is an active volcana, and we  were able to walk across recent lava flows to get to within a few feet of flowing lava.  This was an experience none of us had ever had before and probably would never have again. The trip left most of us feeling our age... very tired and sore. The next three days are work days. More later.

Comments

[Chuck and Deb Van Hoorn]

Hi Guatemala Group--
We're praying for each of you. Sounds like you're seeing some non-central-Illinois type sites and doing some non-central-Illinois type activities--great! Knowing some of your personal health histories and ages, we admonish you to BE CAREFUL!

Sam Deal--Tyler assured us last night that he has everything under control at your house. Better hurry home!

Blessings to all--Chuck and Deb VH