…so as I mentioned in last blog, our mission in Guatemala will take place in a town called HueHuetenango. Yesterday was travel day to HueHue, pronounced way-way. It was an interesting ride to say the least that had us experiencing the joy of not only riding the ‘chicken bus’ but also having to switch buses twice at so-called bus stations(an intersection on the side of the road).
First of all riding the ‘chicken bus’ is just a thrill for real, I mean sometimes its a scary ‘ I’m gonna die, thank you Jesus I know you’ type of thrill, but a thrill none the less. Between the crazy windy roads and the crazy drivers that don’t seem to need any type of knowledge of lanes or meaning of lines that divide oncoming traffic lanes, it was almost better than six flags. We even had a moment where our bus was competing with another crazy bus on the next lane, traveling in the same direction, in a windy curve at speeds these glorified school buses were never made to go at, on the side of a mountain with a nice valley drop below. You could almost see the busses touch as they leaned over side by side going through the curve…it was pretty gnarly(amazing)…one of my new words.
Waiting for our ride at the bus station/market for our contact.
Anyway, our team, team abandon was supposed to have the shortest travel day with four hours of travel to our location. However, with a seven hour wait at the bus station/market area, our day turned out to be an 11hr travel day…yea, team abandon ended up having the longest travel day…funny how that happens. I am super proud of my team though, there was’nt much of any complaining or other. It definitely made trying to figure out alternate solutions a tad easier. They truly stepped up and ’twas a blessing.
On the other note, we were eventually able to reach our contact, and there were a couple of little complications that kinda hindered communication and got us bonding at the bus station for a few hours…Meeting our contacts has been great, and its been a pleasure to come serve with them, even though they seem to be continuously serving us.
Our Contacts, Pastor Estuardo and his wife. Pastor Estuardo doing his very kool dissapearing coin trick. Very kool!…Our ministry in Huehuetanango will include primarily working with a medical team from Lee University in Tennessee and since they don’t get in for a few days, it gives us some time to serve some local churches and communities, to which our contact serves as an overseer.
Team w/contact and youngest daughters on both ends.
The language barrier has been a little difficult, sometimes frustrating, as I would really love to be able to make conversation in certain situations. I mean, even with the barrier, we are still able to make it work…between our little spanglish from some on the team and for some of our new family, their little english, its actually working out great. I am actually learning and commited to being able to carry a conversation, if not completely speak espanol by the time we leave this continent.
Anyway, i’ll try put up some more stuff and tell a little more later. We actually seem to have access to the internet a lot easier here than would have thought…just another blessing that has been provided, however, between getting team stuff done, setting up our schedule with contacts, ministry preparation and helping to manage our finances, its been a swamped couple days. I’m usually just drop dead tired at end of day, so please pray for continued strength even though He’s already begun giving it to me. Talk soon.
When the team was in Panajachel, Guatemala for debrief. Oh did I mention it is a lake town, gorgeous…
p.s do check out blogs of my team mates Jess,Luke , Erin, Cori and Kimi…even squad mates too…..there are some really increadible blogs out there that prob share a little more about where we are and what we are doing. Other teams in my squad(I-squad) are in other parts of Guatemala….two teams are on the eastern coast(Atlantic) of Porto Barios…something like that and the other 2 teams are a little more to the south..Not sure exactly where they are…
