Changing Storms

Flooding in Wawa Tenago

Up to this point our Mission trip had been rather smooth with no real hitches or issues to deal with.  Everyone was getting along and had remained relatively healthy with the exception of some stomach problems.  This day, I think, would turn out to be a day that will become a defining moment for everyone on the team.  For me at least it was the first time I would witness first hand and experience the moments of angst, in a devasting natural disaster.  I was oddly in wonder of being there while also feeling helpless, frustrated, and worried for the people of Guatemala. 

In addition to Mount Pacaya erupting, the west coast was also starting to feel the effects of a pending tropical storm, and we ended up travelling through some of the hardest hit areas.  Severe flooding and mudslides were a common sight throughout this day.  No words could accurately describe how the day impacted me and this is likely a good thing because I had very little energy or drive left to write a great deal for this journal entry.  Most of this day was spent in a mini-van driving from Nebaj to Antigua.  What is normally a five hour drive, turned into a 13hour trudge in a crowded mini-van.  Incredibly, with a team of 10 people and one driver and all the potential stress factors around us, we all made our final exit out of the van in good spirits.

May 29, 2010
Rain was the norm for this day of travel and it would turn out to be a stressful day.  Our goal was to go to some hot springs but on our drive we passed numerous mud and rock slides.  We were approximately 1-2km away from the springs but a major slide blocked our path and we had to change our plans.  Now we headed to Antigua, but before we got to far an emergency vehicle passed with injured people in the back.  A sad reminder of what was happening around us and how devastating it was to the families living in this region of Guatemala.

A mudlside completely blocks one lane between Nebaj and Wawa Tenago
(photo from files of L. McCullum)

We continued towards Antigua and slowed a number of times for mudslides.  Every town and village we passed had rivers where roads used to be and some vehicles were completely submerged.  We stopped in Wawa Tenago for lunch and many roads here were running torrents.  Many shops and homes were being heavily flooded and in some cases materials were floating out the doors.  One thing I couldn't believe was the amount of garbage that was being carried down the stream, and in some cases this garbage was causing more issues, especially near culverts and bridges.

Some of us had Chinese for lunch, miraclously many restaurants were still open, while others ran to a nearby McDonalds for a taste more like home.  I chose to stay in the moment for the time being. 

After lunch we continued on to Antigua where we planned to stay in a hostel.  Again we were stopped from reaching our destination by Mother Nature as a bridge had been washed out less than 500m from the hostel.  Domingo, all though visibly worried, remained calm in the moment and made arrangements to put us up in a nearby hotel.  Bernadette could not hold her bladder long enough though and peed along the side of the road while some of the team provided some cover while the rest laughed with amusement and exhaustion.

Once settled in the hotel we all ate pizza and sent emails and phone calls home.  It was a long day and, despite being stuck for over 13hours in a mini-van, the team has been great to one another.  No one is being difficult and everyone is getting along incredibly well when you consider the situation.

God has showed us many blessing and his natural pwers.  We feel blessed to have been granted safe travel to this point and pray for things to work out as the week moves on.  At this point it is looking like we will be staying in Antigua at Los Casa de los Bucaros at least until Monday.  Our flight is being shown as cancelled due to the volcanic ash and a pending tropical storm.  God will keep us safe.