NEBC - Guatemala Trip - Day 1

Early morning beginnings for this team as we had to be at the airport at 5.  After an evening at the Ramada - preceded by the Pedro and Inger Johnston picking me up at the airport and going to dinner with me - morning broke early and I was on the shuttle from the Ramada at 4 o'clock in the morning.

I arrived at 4:12 (a 12 minute ride from the Ramada - which was a whole lot shorter than the 1 hour trip that I took last night to get to the hotel), Pastor Matt, Leslie and Allie arrived about 30 minutes later, and then the rest of the crew arrived shortly after that.  By 5:30 we were checked in and heading through security.

Our flights today were rather uneventful as both were about 3 hours long, and we didn't crash either time, so there really isn't much to talk about.  The 1 1/2 hour layover between flights was enough time to meet with Jenny and Brooke Wilen - who flew out of Newark instead of Boston.  It gave us a little time for introductions, and then off to lunch, and shortly after we boarded a plane that was about 4/5 full - lots of extra room!!

We arrived in Guatemala on time, and headed to the Seminary for our housing for the night.  By 4:00 we were at a local church getting ready for a concert.  This was a "special" event that just popped up last minute, but I think the team enjoyed it.  It was supposed to begin at 4, but about 45 minutes after 4 it finally began. 

The first group did mostly Spanish songs with a few English lyrics thrown in.  The second group sang a number of songs that we were familiar with in English, and occasionally Sam would go on stage and interpret into Spanish some of the things the group was saying.

During the concert, the youth pastor gave a challenge, and then one of the members that is traveling around Guate with the band gave her story.  She was a young girl - maybe 25 - and she shared that her husband was diagnosed with stage 4 brain cancer on July 9, and passed away November 9.  She didn't know why God brought her on this trip with the band, but just last week, God gave her the opportunity to talk with a Guatemalan woman who had lost her husband to brain cancer as well, and, believe it or not, he also died on November 9.  Isn't God amazing??

We went to Taco Bell (yes, Taco Bell) after the concert for dinner - it was about 8:00 local (or 10 at home) when we were eating...  Yeah, you gotta love Taco Bell at night!!

It has been a long day - tomorrow we drive to Matochos for church and to see the school (and the kids).  We are looking forward to that.  Then we will be driving to Camp Canaan - so tomorrow will be a long day - starting very early, and with a lot, A LOT of driving.  Pray for Phil and Sam as they drive.

It's late and Matt is already sleeping - so I better shut down for now.