April 13

Greetings!
This morning we got up later than usual so we could be ready for the activity to start at 9:15. We were put into groups of four or five to go shopping in the market. Our groups were given a Q100 bill and a list of the fruits, vegetables, and other things that we had to buy for Carmella to cook with. It was an interesting experience to try and communicate with the Guatemalans because although most of them spoke Spanish, some of them spoke Poccumchi. After this we went for ice cream.
After eating lunch at Les’ house, we went to a coffee plantation. We drove up a road that went along a ledge on a cliff. It was a really long way down, and the road was extremely narrow and bumpy. In some parts, half of the road was higher than the other half, so it would feel like we were about to go over the edge.
At the coffee plantation, Zaak gave us a tour. We saw where the beans were put into the machines, and how the husks were beaten off. Water runs through the whole plantation. It was really interesting to learn all the steps involved in preparing coffee beans.
We then went to a church service at the school. Once again, the worship was amazing. The singing was extremely loud for the 200 people that were there. Kaitlyn, Mark, Chelsea, and I shared some scripture with the people who were there. The message was really intense. Rita shared the sermon, and we had some of it translated by Les to us. At the end of the sermon, there was an invitation to become Christians and lots of people who had been touched by the sermon went up.
After this we went straight to Les’ house for supper. After we ate, we had a surprise party for Ryan M., Ryan C., and Ever. In Guatemala, the tradition is that the ones who are a year older have to take the first bite of the cake. There is also a tradition that includes setting off firecrackers. Each of us got a firecracker and Johnny (Les’ son) lit them for us. It was extremely loud, and some of the pieces of firecracker hit us in the ankles.
Everyone’s doing pretty well. Amanda is much better from her heat exhaustion. However, I gashed my foot open on a pipe while walking down the street.
God Bless.


Submitted by Kristi