Another "Almost"

Taken from a van window this was a dramatic peak as we left the mountain
region for the Pacific Coast.

Many times in our lives we are all faced with uncertainty.  Recently, here in New Brunswick everyone was uncertain as to the path of Hurricane Earl, and we did what we could to prepare for the uncertain.  Usually the hardest part about that kind of situation is the mental preparation and not the physical sort.  Another funny thing about most of the uncertainty I typically face is that it is usually brought on by Mother Nature.  In Guatemala the team was faced with great deal of uncertainty and it was strongly influenced by Mother Nature.

The best thing we can do when facing uncertainty is simply put it in God's hands.  I have found that when I do this that I do not stress out as much and that I can more readily accept the end result, even if not a favorable result.  With Mother Nature throwing many things at us, I sought God's Wisdom to determine my next steps.  I believe he guided my mind not to thing to far ahead but rather focus on the moment.  That being said, I was still feeling the uncertainty. 

I have attached the link to the "Common Hope Hostel" in this entry and I encourage you to view that site and take note of some of the Agatha pictures.  They have some great photos that illustrate the devastation caused by tropical storm Agatha.  In comparison, tropical storm Earl paled in damage created.

June 1, 2010

My first time to the Pacific Coast.  A black sand beach with most of
the sand now missing.

Our day started with some confusion as we tried to figure out where we would be spending the next couple of nights.  After some long discussion with the staff at "Los Bucaros" we decided to keep one room there for our luggage and later head towards Monterreco and what is touted as the best beach in Guatemala.

We had breakfast at a McDonald's before heading to Common Hope.  This is the hostel we were to originally stay in while in Antigua.  They had been heavily impacted by mudslides and we were going to help them out.  When we arrived I was surprised to see the place was already very clean, so instead of mopping and shovelling floors we unloaded a truck of bagged water and packed rations for delivery to displaced families in outlying communities.  This was an awesome experience and a great way for us to continue to serve while here.  I think I could almost consider this our best service to date.  The staff at "Common Hope" were glad to have our help and I could have stayed there the rest of the trip helping out there but our plans were to help for the morning and then head to Monterreco.  We left at about 12:00 noon with a heavy but rewarded heart.

These are the first coconuts I have seen up close on a tree.  I think
they make a great picture.

We checked out of all but one room at Los Bucaros and headed towards the west coast in hopes of finding a beach and hotel to stay in.  The drive out of Antigua was very scenic.  We drove past volcanic peaks, raging and new, heavily eroded, rivers, devasted homes, and then the
scenery changed as we left the mountain region.  One last dramatic peak with extreme slopes and topography that fell into lying, flat, fields filled with sugar cane.  The river was now a boulder strewn channel that was ever widening on our left.  Suddenly a large mine or mill appeared on our right, then a refinery, and a shipping yard.  Despite all this industry the people seemed to be struggling as the homes are rudimentary.  Many by this point were flooded and residents were encamped along the walls of a resort.  It frustrated me to see the money that industry had and how little the country's people had.  I question the morals of the federal government and of industry to exist in such an unbalanced manner that keeps itself so safe and stable, while those around it and those who work to keep it struggle simply to live a meager life.

Shortly after the waves knocked me off my feet, I quickly
made my way back to the shoreline.  Sometimes my
foolishness gets the best of me.
 (Picture from L. McCullum files)

The storms had flooded the river and pushed water and waves at these people from both sides.  The river on the east and the waves from the west.  We crossed the river and onto an island in hopes of reaching Monterrecco but the roads here were heavily flooded in places along with many more homes.  We crossed a couple of watery holes but had to turn back with less than 10km to go to reach the beaches.  Once again we "almost" got there.  We did find a way to the ocean but it was not a public beach so we did not stay long.  The Pacific Ocean though literally and figuratively swept me off my feet.  The beach we visited had large waves pounding it and a great deal of sand had already been lost.  This, once again, illustrated the power of nature.  After some pictures, and play time, we headed out to find a place to stay for the night.

After checking out a couple of places,one of which would have created a great horror film back drop, we laid our heads in a seedy hotel in Escuintla, a modest size city with some modern day perks.  The hotel was not one of them though but thankfully it had air conditioning.  After checking my sheets for bugs and stains I crawled in.  I had spent nights in worse places, in fact I had an apartment that might be considered worse.  In any event I spent a more comfortable night than many in Guatemala.

I had a bottom note about singing country music during the driving time.  Music is one of those things that I can always turn too, to ease my mind and relieve stress.  Thanks Denise and Lauren for sharing the head set.

After a long day cooped up in a van, you tend to get a little silly.
Sara T and I were goofing it up before eating supper in Escuintla.
(Photo from files of L.McCullum)

Reminders of God's Wonderous Work

In the rain forest heading up a mountain, this was
and amazing experience

This past Monday the 2010 ACC Guatemala Mission team hosted an Encounter where we presented our feelings about our trip to Guatemala.  It was a wonderful evening filled with memories and emotions.  My emotions on May 27th were intense according to my journal.  Some of those emotions were very present at the encounter, not just mine but a number of the team wore their emotions proudly like a badge of honor.  Sara T gave a heartfelt version of how she felt and how the trip changed her and through listening to her story I realized maybe, one of the biggest changes that took place in me during the Mission.  It happened so early in the trip that I think I missed it.  It goes back to when to flight from Bangor to New York and the silage bales that read "Gods Wisdom".  From that point I was relaxed and I had decided that I was in God's hands, but it wasn't until I listened to Sara's story of our flight into Guatemala with the lightening and how I had told her "We were in God's hands" and that it would be ok.  This was not something that I would have normally been comfortable stating out loud, but I think seeing that mesage in the silage wraps actually gave me the comfort I needed to make that statement and apparently make Sara a bit more comfortable.  God's work is amazing and I witnessed, on this day of the trip some of his natural wonders.

Standing at the first shelf leading up the mountain in front of the
Mission House, and looking down on Villa Hortencia II

May 27, 2010
Today will be the last full day in the Village and I have a feeling of anticipation and disappointment.  Since we have some cool activities lined up and we'll be heading for home I'm excited to leave, but I also think there is much more to do here.

The pankcakes this morning were great and provided me with the energy I needed to work throughout the morning pouring concrete at the sport court.  I feel great when I can work a solid pace like we have done while here, and to work in such a beautiful place to create such a worhtwhile project makes the work easy.  While Wendy, Sara, Denise, Chris, and I continued to work, the rest of the team went on home visits and visited some of the ladies who will be weaving.  When the team returned we all signed our names in a wet block of the cement.  Though the court isn't complete, it will be awesome for future teams to come and see this team's contribution to the Village.

After lunch the whole team went to VBS and sang songs, told a story of Christ healing the blind, and made crafts.  It was kid chaos as we tried to help them with their crafts.  Some were very pushy while others sat patiently as we handed out the needed materials for the craft.  The language barrier definitely made it harder to control the kids but everyone was having fun and that was the important thing.  After the crafts were complete we took the kids to the sports field (the sports field should not be confused for the sports court) for some soccer.  This was great fun as the kids would scream and laugh, and usually louder if a Mission team member had the ball or fell or something of the like.

Domingo and I had earlier decided we wanted to hike up one of the nearby mountains, so after my team won the soccer game 1-0, he and I, along with Denise, headed out in the rain to try and top the ridge directly in front of the Mission shelter.

When I was struggling simply to stand, this man
efficiently lugged four large timbers down
the muddy trail.  Amazing.

I seriously didn't think it would be a difficult hike but man was I wrong.  The height and distance were deceiving.  It is also tough to walk up the hill while sliding down hill in the muddy terrain.  On the way down though this proved to be really entertaining.  I was amazed as we nearly reached the first shelf of the slope to see a man pulling four large pieces of lumber behind him as sure footed as a mountain goat.  I had a light pack on and I was struggling after only 10minutes into the trek.  I was highly impressed with Denise and her determined effort to move ahead and stay close to Domingo.  As the oldest individual on the trek I felt it my duty to bring up the rear and be a safety net, well that and I couldn't keep up anyways.  We never made the top as clouds moved in and the sun was soon to set.  Disappointed but wisely we headed back down.  The trees silhoutted in the clouds made for an awesome backdrop to the lush green forested foreground.  Once under the canopy of the trees it became dark on the way down but before we got to far the sun broke and the Village appeared far below for a brief moment and the three of us shouted like school kids, claiming a victory to simply be alive in that instant.  We shouted like fools at anyone who might hear us from far below.  The rest of the trip down the mountain was joyous, sliding, fun.  When at the bottom shelf where we had seen the man with lumber, Denise and I had some fun mud skiing down the hill.  We also smeared mud on our faces and gave the rest of the team a little laugh.  Shortly after returning to the shelter and sharing stories and laughs I took a good, but cold shower.

Supper and the evening was a bit of a blur as my body was tired and I was pumping with adrenaline and raw emotion.  Anxious to go home and see my family, but not ready to leave.   

From near the top of the mountain, we
looked far below as the clouds broke to
see the Village and hollered like kids

Some of us faired better on the hike than
others, but from the smiles, you can tell
we all had lots of fun.