New Sunday Experiences!

Buenas noches!

Today the team experienced several things that we hadn't done before. Church, obviously wasn't one of them, but getting there for me was. The rest of the team went to the Galilea church as we have done for many years, but I had the opportunity to go to the Nazaret church, where the Oasis girls go, to meet one of the girls that my wife and I began sponsoring 10 years ago. She just recently left Casa Ester, the Kids Alive Independence home for older girls. What I thought was going to be a van ride with the girls turned out to be a mile or so walk down to San Lucas and then ride a "Chicken Bus" to their church. Just let me say, it was like being in a NASCAR race. Three lanes wide at high speed around lots of curves. All in a normal day in Guatemala. Church was great, but a malfunction of their video projector meant the worship pastor had to lead us in a rousing "sing-along" for 45 minutes before the message. I recognized some of the tunes from youth camp 50 years ago. It was really enjoyable.

Guatemala Chicken Bus

I met the team back in San Lucas for lunch and then we went to an open house at Casa Ester. Many of the girls there have gone to beautician or massage school, so the open house was to let them earn some extra money as part of the independence process. We helped them out by purchasing a manicure, two haircuts and several shoulder massages. Manicures and massages BEFORE we start work tomorrow didn't make sense, but it was for a good cause.

Dennis getting her manicure.

Chris getting a trim from Paola

Caleb with Odeth and Candy at their craft table.

From there, we went to a small town our team hadn't been to before called Pastores. The town specializes in handmade leather goods. Probably 50 or so shops all making boots, hats, belts and anything else leather. It was an enjoyable change from the Antigua shopping run we have done in past years.

Well, tomorrow the real work begins. They have a new room for us to build and wire in the main building, cabinets and cribs to design and build and painting to be done. A full week for sure.

As a side note, if you're wondering about why the photos with Oasis girls in them seem to be poorly taken, let me just say it takes great skill to do that. For safety of the girls, many of whom are high risk, Kids Alive policy won't allow us to show any faces. So when you see lots of legs, arms and backs, you'll know why.

For the team. Neil