Kristen & Joe in Guatemala: Semana Santa
This has been an odd week. It’s called Semana Santa here. The Guatemalans are devoutly religious. There’s a church on every corner. I’ve found that to be true in all the third world countries we’ve been to (which really haven’t been many). It makes sense to me. They need the hope to cling to. They need … Continue reading
Kristen & Joe’s Guatemala Mission Trip: Climbing an Active Volcano
We wanted to do something fun on our last day, so we decided to climb Volcano Pacaya. It’s an active volcano almost an hour from Antigua. On the trip up, we met a family from Michigan, a couple from Denmark, and a couple girls from London. After we got out of the vehicle there … Continue reading
Kristen & Joe’s Guatemala Mission Trip: A Dying Cathedral
Today we hopped on another shuttle and headed back to Antigua. Our flight was leaving on Friday from Guatemala City, and even the locals won’t spend the night in the city if they don’t have to. Antigua is about 45 min from the airport and a natural choice to end the week. We got … Continue reading
Kristen & Joe’s Guatemala Mission Trip: Last Night in Pana
Today was a lovely day! We went to Casa del Mundo (the magical hotel across the lake) for breakfast than went back to the village we went to last week. Joe did some magic and juggling for the kids and then we started handing out goody-bags for the kids. The bags didn’t contain much: … Continue reading
Kristen & Joe’s Guatemala Mission Trip: Sick, Sick, Sick!
I was so sick from the ice cream I never made it out of the room for two days. Today, however, I was able to get out of the room a bit. Joe and I went shopping for presents to bring back. Still feeling pretty weak.
Kristen & Joe’s Guatemala Mission Trip: Semana Santa in Antigua
Today we were supposed to come back home, but we didn’t. Joe and I said goodbye to the rest of our team, then got on the bus and headed to Antigua (a 1 1/2 hour ride from Pana) for the biggest celebration of the year in Central America. All week people were partying all over Guatemala, leading … Continue reading
Kristen & Joe’s Guatemala Mission Trip: Ziplines & Babies
Today was another free day, so the group of us went ziplining in the morning. Joe and I went ziplining in Alaska last year, but this one was longer, faster, and higher (also more scary). In Guatemala, there are lots of volcanoes (most of them still active) that form mountains. T his adventure was a … Continue reading
Kristen & Joe’s Guatemala Mission Trip: Joy & Heartbreak
Today was pretty similar to Monday. The morning was spent doing construction and the afternoon doing VBS. Joe was feeling better, so he was able to join us. In the morning, we did more manual labor–carrying blocks, cutting wire, carrying water to the site, etc. It was also our last VBS which made me sad. … Continue reading
Kristen & Joe’s Guatemala Mission Trip: Doctor’s Visit
Today Joe and I never made it to the work site. Joe woke up really sick. I had breakfast with everyone then Bobby, who works for Lloyd and Melanie, ran to the pharmacy to get the doctor. Joe came down to Porch soon after. When the doctor came, Bobby helped translate and then we went … Continue reading
Kristen & Joe’s Guatemala Mission Trip: Work Day
Today was a work day. In the morning, we were at the coco lady’s house tying rebar. It is amazing how little tools they have here to build houses. Instead of using a tape measurer, they measure things according to the span of their hands. Instead of using a level, they use a tube filled … Continue reading
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