Guatemala Day One

Guatemala Day One

Well, we made it down here all in one piece after a relatively trouble free day of travel. Our team's day began by meeting at Hartford International Airport at 7:00 a.m., checking our luggage as a team, and printing our boarding passes. After some group photos and goodbyes to family we moved on through security. Happily, no one was detained or singled out for any extra patting down, and we were able to move quickly on to breakfast. For breakfast we had free reign of the food courts. The main force of the group split itself between Goldberg's and Caribou Coffee, both quite satisfying. After being able to take a leisurely breakfast we queued at our gate at 8:48 a.m. and were boarding by 8:53 a.m. Our flight was originally set for a 9:45 a.m. departure and at 10:40 a.m. we were finally taxying down the runway. Once in the air, the flight was a pain-free and quick ride down to Guatemala City. Being able to see the country on our way in was breathtaking.

View from the plane coming into Guatemala

After landing, we exited the plane and regrouped at the restrooms before going through immigration and customs together. Again, thankfully we were able to pass through customs without much scrutiny. 

Past the security and into the parking deck we loaded three SUVs with our luggage and headed off through Guatemala City on our way to the mission house. The drive through the city was something else-- truly an experience to be felt rather than described. For our first meal on Guatemalan soil we were treated to the delicacy of a small local restaurant called MacDonald's. Quite groovy.

Our afternoon was spent by splitting into two teams. One team of four was dispatched to a local wholesale grocery store similar to Sam's or Costco to purchase food for the week. The other eleven team members spent their time unloading and sorting through all the team supplies and organizing it for the coming week. Thankfully, no crucial items were left behind or detained on the way down.

Before dinner, Hermann, the ministry leader and founder, spoke to us and prepared us for the coming week. He gave a brief message on 2 Timothy 1:9 about our identity and purpose with God. He answered any questions we had and laid out the rough plan for our first full day.

Dinner was prepared for us by two wonderful local women, Brenda and Lesdi (I'm sure I butchered that spelling). They graciously prepared stuffed chicken breasts, a baked eggplant dish, rice with corn, a salad, and Hibiscus tea. All of it was superb.

To close, please be keeping our team in your prayers this week. Please be praying for the people of Guatemala, that they might be open and receptive to what God is doing in their lives. Please pray for our team, that we may have energy and stay united throughout the week. Please also be praying for the teams that have gone before us and the teams that will come after us. Also, be praying for our protection and strength for the spiritual warfare that will be and is happening around us.

In Christ,
Calvin