Guatemala Trip - 2007

Day 1 - Day 2 - Day 9

We had a group of people from ULCSC and led by Pastor Mike who traveled to Guatemala in the spring of 2007. They left early in the morning on May 21 and arrived in Guatemala City that evening. Here are the reports that they sent back.

You can also read a little about Guatemala for background.

Guatemala Day One - May 21, 2007

Day one of our journey to Guatemala was characterized by smooth roads, clear skies and lost luggage. After an opening prayer for safe journies and a "before" picture, everyone loaded into Pastor Mike's minivan and headed south for Dallas. The planes left on time and Eva remarked how smoothly the trip was going. She spoke too soon. A last minute gate change in Miami resulted in our luggage missing the plane to Guatemala City. We weren't alone. About half the people on the flight didn't get their luggage! The line for the baggage claim was long, long, long. Hopefully, we will retrieve our luggage tomorrow! Until then, we are grateful that the Sharing the Dream Center has soap and towels!

In spite of lost luggage, God is good! While standing at the back of the baggage claim line, we met a Mennonite man who works as a missionary here in Guatemala. He let us use his phone to contact the folks here and let them know what the hold up was. That was a good thing... they were waiting outside, wondering where we had gotten lost.

This is Pastor Mike´s eighth trip to Guatemala and he said that things change every time he visits. The big change this trip... much more English. Ten years ago, when he made his first trip, there was no English. Now, there are English signs in the airport and the airport staff speaks some English too. There are a lot more American businesses, including Burger King, McDonalds, Pizza Hut, Dominoes and of course, Walmart.

We arrived at the Sharing the Dream Center which is in Mixco, a suburb of Guatemala City about 9 PM local time -- Central Time, without Daylight Savings -- and settled in. The Center is a beautiful three story home. On the main floor is the Sharing the Dream office, a dining room, kitchen and small store. The second floor has bedrooms. The third floor has a sitting area and terrace that overlooks the city. What a stunning view! Diana our translator, guide and host for the week, cooked us a light supper consisting of eggs, black beans, fried plantains, hibiscus tea, and, of course, tortilla. Delicious and just what we needed after a long day of travel.

Tomorrow, we head out into the city! And, hopefully, get our clothes!

Peace,
The Guatemalan Delegation

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Guatemala Day Two - May 22, 2007

Friends,

Just a quick note to let everyone know -- OUR LUGGAGE ARRIVED!!!! Celebration and fresh underwear all around! However, we went out to the airport late last night to retrieve it, and had to schmooze our way into the place. Three cheers for our guide, Diana who knew just what to say to get in.

Yesterday was a full day. We started at a group called Madre Selva, an environmental group trying to fight mining concerns, working with water issues, land use and other issues. They were very excited to talk with Kevin, our meteorlogist and Duane, our hydrologist.

In the afternoon we visited UPAVIM, an organization which empowers women in many ways and has dramatically changed their community. At the center of UPAVIM is their craft project -- over $400,000 in sales last year -- also a Montensori school, medical clinic, bakery, soy milk project, tutoring program, internet cafe, and much more. All run by the women in the community.

Today we are visiting the center of Guatemala City and then heading out into the countryside to a city called Xela.

We'll write more when we can.

Peace,
The Guatemalan Delegation

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Guatemala Day Nine - May 29, 2007

We are back in Guatemala City after an amazing week out in the countryside of Guatemala. My plans to write journal updates didn't work so good, because there was no Internet anywhere.

Everyone had a great experience. Eva had a little altitude sickness, but recovered well. We met a lot of warm, wonderful people, ate a lot of good food, saw a lot of beautiful scenery, were inspired, awed, challenged and moved. I will have to give a complete account when I get home. We are planning a Guatemala dinner night to tell our story and share what we learned.

We should be home tomorrow night.

Peace,
Pastor Mike

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