June 15, 2009
We are in Guatemala and it is Monday, actually it is Tuesday, ok now it is Wednesday, but we didn’t get this posted for a variety of reasons, but mostly the uncertainty and undependability of the internet connection. It is available but power outages are frequent. So back to Monday…wow what a day! We began with a breakfast of freshly made pastries and instructions to hurry up. We all climbed into the trucks and headed for the Jungle School. We left the hotel and headed for the country. We dropped off the guys to get the bus and the rest of us went to the school. We found the 5th and 6th graders ready to go on a field trip and for a ride on the bus. Many of them were going on a bus for the first time. The 47 kids were so excited to be going on their first field trip!

We drove about 45 miles to visit Mayan ruins. The tour was conducted in Spanish, but Ruben, one of the teachers tried to explain in broken English what we were seeing. There were two teachers and the Superintendent that went along. All three teachers were very kind and compassionate and you could tell that they cared deeply for the children. There was a small zoo with wild boars, a white tailed deer, raccoons, and monkeys. The monkeys were my favorite.

First Lutheran from Manchester provided the lunch of ham and cheese sandwiches and freshly squeezed lemonade. We were told that this was not a typical lunch for the children. They came back for seconds and some for thirds!

On the way home the kids had become comfortable with us and started talking. Most of the words we did not know, but when we found words that we knew in common such as numbers, colors, and letters we all laughed and clapped.

When we returned to their neighborhood, the kids were not ready to go home yet. But as they left, family by family we waved out of the windows and said Adios Amigos! What a day!

We went back to the hotel for rest and prepared for the evening meal and the evening devotions. All of our evening meals were served at the Dardon family home. Everything was handmade and authentic Guatemalan. As you may have heard the food is delicious.

My new favorite thing is Panchos…it is like a taco sandwich made out of chicken, lettuce, tomatoes, and mayo. Yumm!