viernes: Shortest long week

Dear family and friends,

This has been the shortest long week of the year . . . or rather, it has been the longest short week of the year. I don't ever remember a year when that has not been the case. The trip is at times hard and the week is long but is happens fast. I guess it is the new surroundings each day, and even when you know what is coming, you never know what might happen. (Wow, I just reread that. What did I just say?)

Our day began as they do every day with Guatemalan led devotions. Because our day today was based in Guatemala City, we were offered the opportunity to go to Godoy Coffee to see how coffee is roasted or to the Mayan Ruins down the street, yes, down the street. There are Mayan mounds and ruins everywhere. The Mayan Empire was massive and its artifacts in many instances are unprotected here. After, we had the opportunity to eat lunch in the mission house with all of the Guatemalan missionaries and Ginny and Kevin, we prepared to once again present our faith lessons. The number served is smaller in Guatemala City, so it is all done in the mission house, the adults in the garage, the teens around the table, and the kids outside the house but inside the gated yard. We had another opportunity to talk with another student , Libny, sponsored by Trinity and Bequer, sponsored by my family. Trinity also sponsors Oscar and Julian, two exceptionally gifted, Guatemalan missionaries.

It is much harder to say goodbye to the Guatemalans and to Ginny and Kevin than 8 days would suggest it would be.  I think it is because every day we are in surreal, real world situations with these people without our technology. Tonight, we spent time debriefing and tomorrow we look forward to a side trip to the colonial capital of Guatemala, on our own, before our departure on Monday. 

I am so sorry this is brief.  I'll be honest, we are really tired. Perhaps I can revisit this later. We are all well. We have all independently expressed our thoughts about how we have been changed by this opportunity to serve with Groundwork and how each of us has grown. I can't wait to see how God will use each of us as a result of what we have experienced and learned this week. 

Blessings and good night,

Sally and the 2018 Mission Team of my dreams