TUESDAY: (Lisa)
John and I and our two teachers took a walk up to a local organization "Asociacion Nuestros Ahijados" - in the States we knew it as "The GodsChild Project" as this non-profit was founded by Patrick Atkinson whose family is from Bismarck, ND. Small world when you really think about it! We toured with the director of one of the program areas and learned first-hand what they are doing - great organization for the education, health, and safety of some of the children in Antigua. In particular, the Casa Jackson program area provides for the medical and nutritional needs of many infants suffering from malnutrition from all over the country. It was eye-opening in that the organization has been in operation for more than 25 years and is well integrated in the community and has become a true blessing to those who are able to get into their programs.
With as much poverty as we are seeing in Central America (and I'm sure, around the world), it gives me great hope that in some small way, if we can contribute to make the life of even one person stronger for knowing Christ and meeting some of their basic needs, God will smile.(Mark 14:7 For the Poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me.)
WEDNESDAY: (John)
Have you ever ridden in a 15-seat minivan? In the very last row? With no leg room? On cobblestone roads? With worn out shock absorbers?
If not, then don't ever do it, unless you want to aggravate your back and experience the ongoing pain of cramped legs.
That is how I started my day Wednesday as Lisa and I traveled out of Antigua with a handful of other students from our Spanish language immersion school.
It was a Guatemalan holiday and since we had the day off from school we signed up for a field trip to Santiago (not the capital of Chile.) The smallish pueblo about an hour drive away wasn't the main draw, but was the site of a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
It was "Dia de Los Muertos" -- also known by many as "Day of the Dead."
My knowledge of the celebration was limited, and for some reason an image of a skeleton head popped into my cabeza. But the day was much more than a Halloween-themed image -- and not nearly so sinister.
Thousands of people attended the event, held each year to honor the dead -- and also to protect them against evil spirits trying to invade the graves and tombs of those who have reached their final earthly resting place.
Such protection is said to come from enormous and colorful kites (barilletes) flying above the cemetery from ropes tethered to wooden crosses. Many individuals flew smaller kites high into the light blue sky, backed by billowing light grey clouds.
Hundreds of vendors were selling grilled corn-on-the-cob, meat, chicken, nuts, clothing, shoes, water, sodas -- just about anything one could imagine.
People tramped across dirt mounds (graves) and picnicked on top of tombs.
A heavily-armed police/military force kept the peace amid excited children tagging along hand-in-hand with adults.
And an uncountable number of skinny homeless dogs roamed the narrow streets looking for special scraps on a special day.
It is appropriate to describe the occasion by using an old and tired cliché: "A good time was had by all." And while it was certainly a huge party, it was more importantly a cultural education at its finest.
But after the pageantry and intrigue faded away, I thought about 1 Thessalonians 4:16 -- "For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first."
FRIDAY: (Lisa)
Thursday night I studied... and studied... and studied. And yet, when I sat down for my test Friday afternoon, the words on the paper seemed completely foreign and incomprehensible. Granted, the words were in a foreign language, but I was overwhelmed. The voices of teachers and students in other rooms, the music from the construction crew in the building next door, a bird landing on the sidewalk next to my classroom door --- distractions! Eventually I came out of my fog and was able to focus in and pulled off a decent grade, but it was a tough afternoon.
As with anything in life, diligence is important. I am amazed that I am actually able to learn a new language and communicate decently. Hard work is paying off 'poco a poco' (1 Timothy 4:15 Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress.)
OH - and by the way, we have an offer on the house in TN! Appreciate your continued prayers for a smooth closing in December. We are blessed!
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