The Last few days

Monday morning was spent visiting the schools at Chicoy, Machon and Pruhula (spelling is wrong) It was very interesting to see the difference over the past few years. After lunch we picked up a couple of CBC radio reporters and visited a coffee plantation. This year they had just delivered a load of coffee beans so we got to see it working. After the trip down the mountain we went to visit a family where the father does weaving for Impact Ministries to sell and then helped make a kind of corn meal perogie.

Tuesday morning we went back to the high school (in the morning it is an elementary school) to finish our project and participate in morning devotions. After lunch we went back and visited the site when the high school was in session. Later we went over to the soccer field and played the students. Our girls did fine but the boys had a little trouble.

Tonight we had our final devotions with Les in Tactic. This will be the final blog entry until we are back in Canada. Everyone is healthy (Scott is getting back off his back finally). We will spend the next two days in old Guatemala city (Antigua) and fly back on Friday.

The mission continues

Friday will go down as the day we tried to fit a weeks worth in. After an exhausted crew got back from VBS in San Antonio Les asked us if we wanted to go to a small church just west of Tactic and help with the showing of the Jesus film (Children's version in Spanish). The team said sure, so without showering (nice van ride) off we went again. Home about 9:00.

Saturday we were allowed to sleep in until 8:00 then go to Alex's supported child home. It was cute the way the little girl hung onto Alex and would not let her go. Next we visited the McLaren's child. It was heart breaking to see the "home" she lived in. After we visited the home's of the two children that the RCS supports.

After lunch we took a trip to Coban. It is a larger center with an interesting mix of traditional Myan and modern city life. We visited the government supported hospital where we prayed for the children and babies in the children's ward. It is very hard to see the conditions the doctors and nurses have to work in compared to the facilities we have at home. The girls went to the maturity ward and prayed for the new mom's and those that had lost their babies. We were able to give a small stuffed toy to all the children we met.

As the girls were praying for the new mom's the boys went out side and surprisingly a basketball game broke out with some kids on the court within the hospital grounds. After only 15 minutes of playing enough of a relationship had developed that we invited the boys and girls back to the hospital where we (not Scott) sang some songs for those waiting at the emergency entrance. The crowded kept asking for uno mas (sp). After 5 or 6 songs we gave out some pamphlets.

On the way home we stopped and had some very good ice cream.

One of the perks here is Les and Rita opening up their home to the teams for lunches and suppers. They have a beautiful yard, which we get to enjoy.

After supper the worship team at the church asked if we would come over and jam with them getting ready for Sunday service. (they want us to perform 2 choir pieces and a general song with their team in a mixture of Spanish and English)

Sunday morning was another lazy morning getting up at 8:00. After some devotionals and quiet time we went on a "cultural experience in the market". What a blast, the people are so nice ... and love to play little jokes on the Canadians.

At 4:00 we will go the Church service. (it is held in the "Gym" of the original school, which RCS' first team helped build, I think they dug out the hillside) Rita said the we needed to be there a couple of minutes early to set up and we will start at 4:00 but most will not show up for 30 or 40 minutes. In the end the service should be 2 ro 3 hours long with us singing and giving testimonies in the middle somewhere.

It is hard to realize that we are over half way. I am sorry to say that as much as we miss you we do not want to go home yet.

Here Gloria tries to show Nate and Adam how to hand wash cloths. I think they are just playing at not getting the finer points so she will keep showing again.

Going Down Under

We visited the Chicoi sinkhole just before lunch. It was very powerful. You will have to ask about that experience when they get back, you cannot describe it. Here are a few pictures of the sinkhole and the final day at San Antonio VBS.

VBS

Wed afternoon we went to San Antonio for VBS. The kids there are part of an afternoon program.
Where they go to public school in the morning and then a man named Rene helps them with their homework, feeds them a meal and teaches them a little about Jesus. About 90 kids were waiting for us, we were prepared for 60. After some quick thinking all went well. It is a little strange to be doing VBS on a baskteball court built into the mountain side.

A happy but exhasted crew went back down the mountain for some great food at the guest house. The kids are really liking Carmella´s cooking. After supper Larry and Val led us in devotions and then it was into bed by 10.

Thurday

A visit to Chachem after breakfast opened their eyes to some of the practices in our ¨Religon¨ that do not really make sense.

3 more hours in the hot morning sun is starting to produce some results in the hillside that is being moved. It is hard to get much accomplished during recess as every kid wants to help and ride in the wheelbarrows.

After lunch we went back up to San Antonio for more fun. It is so great to see the joy in the childrens faces when we show up.

Sharon you will be proud of your choir as they have been asked to sing 3 or 4 times already.

This afternoon we will go the the sinkhole, that should make their eyes pop open.

Scott´s back is not well, if you could pray for him he would be very greatful.

Finally found an internet connection

We made our flight connection out of Calgary by 2 minutes. They held the flight for us for 20 minutes. The rest of the trip was uneventful. We met Les, Eric, Heber and Jeremy at the airport with 3 vans (one is very large). We went directly to Seteca (The largest semenary in Central America). We arrived after lights out so we went directly to bed. Breakfast at 7:30 then we left to visit the sites of Guatemala City.

A long hot drive 180 km in 4 hours (40 C in the valley) followed. After a quick clean up we went to Les' for supper and orientation. Home and bed by 10:00.

Up at 6:30, breakfast and a quick walk to the school for morning devotions. The worksite came next and a very hot and exhasting 3 hours of work. This afternoon we will go to San Antonio for VBS.

More Preparations

We are busy every week (Wednesday noon hour) and 4 Sunday afternoon / evenings getting ready. We divided our 19 team members into 3 groups headed by Scott, Julie and Erin. Each group is responsible for one session of VBS crafts, skit and testimonials. This will allow us a fair degree of flexibility when we are in Tactic.

This Sunday (April 5) we will meet for the last time before we go. The parents and students will join in a meal, packing of the large duffel bags (50 lbs each) and finishing touches on their VBS crafts.
8 Days and counting!!!

Crazy game of 4 on the coach.

(Can you remember the right name)

First Sunday Meeting

We met Sunday Nov 23 for some preliminary paperwork and team building exersises.

We will be having weekly meetings every Wednesday at 12:40 with our next Sunday meeting on January 25.