Spanish Classes, Cultural Studies, and Beach Adventures

Things are going well here in Guatemala! Tina and I have a great staff and are loving the opportunity to invest in them.
This Weeks Pictures: http://picasaweb.google.ca/colintina/20070130
For the last couple weeks students have been in Spanish classes during the week, spending time in small group bible studies, various service projects and cultural exposure activities. The weekends have been full - with classes at a seminary in Guatemala City - CASAS (Central America Study and Service), as well as a weekend retreat for one of the groups to the black sand beach of Monterico the waves were amazing! During this time we have had the privilege of hosting Blayne and Betty Griener. Amazing people who spent the majority of their time pouring into staff and students alike.
Of course amidst all of this adventure and study there is always a little drama - a logistical glitch here and there, a dead car battery where no one in the country seems to have jumper cables (we do now!), and sprained ankle - one of our students. But all in a thing are going smooth. It is good to be here.

Upcoming - this Sunday we switch gears as everyone heads out to work with Habitat for Humanity. We will be working in the desert area of Guatemala. Please continue and to pray for safety and also for the health of our teams - especially hydration issues.

Week one

Our students have now been here for a little over a week. Things are going smooth: the banking all came together, coodination of volunteer projects and cultural events is all coming together well. Blayne and Betty Greiner have joined us for this time. They are always a great encouragement to ourselves, staff, and students.
This week the students spent their days in spanish language study, and Tina and I were able to join one of the groups on their night hike up Volcan de Pacaya. It was amazing!! I think it was my 5th or maybe 6th time up and it has totally changed! The mountain has been very active of late - spewing lava. We left the trailhead at 5:pm as the sun was getting low. Up through the forest - into the alpine where the clouds were think - it was getting dark when we started crossing the new lava beds... See the movie slideshow of our trip up the mountain! Who brought the Ring??....

They are here!

Last Thursday our students arrived in country. Tina and I were there to greet their smiling faces. The groups spent their first 3 days at a beautiful camp near to Antigua - time to reconnect with one another following the Christmas break. On Sunday afternoon they packed up to meet their host families. I think the ´meet the families´day is one of my favourite days in the semester - the blend of excitement, fear, joy, and general anticipation as the students wait for their names to be called to meet their Guatemalan family.
I posted some pictures at : http://picasaweb.google.com/colintina/Guate07Arrivals

Upcoming:
The students will be in spanish class over the next three weeks - with weekends going to the Guatemala city to study with ´Central American Study and Service´, a trip to the beach, and an afternoon/evening climbing Volcan de Pacaya.

Banking - an item for prayer

Today was a great day... Tina made a number of connections here in Antigua for the students' sevice projects and culture day. I travelled to the city by bus for a meeting and to get our pick-up truck. I was also able to get all of things from the airport.
Tomorrow we will be off to open a bank account. Prayer is always welcome as we jump these hoops in this process!

Safe Arrivals

Well we are here! And it feels ... very normal. Tina and I arrived into Guatemala city and made our way to Antigua where our apartment waited for us. Unfortunately, for the first time in all of our travels our bags did not make it with us - might have had something to do with the literally 2minute layover that we had in Dallas/Ft. Worth. Hopefully we will have everything tomorrow.
We have loved our first 2 days here as we have set up our home and had great opportunities to connect with people which has made us realize that we have a good community of people arround us here as well as back home.
I know you are all curious and i know it will make some of you envious: yes - it is beautiful here (it always is!). The sun has been shining, the flowers are in bloom and the temperature is a warm comfortable (about 25 in the day, 15 at night).

We have our phones set up so if you would like to talk to us in person call +502 5665 9455

Upcoming: Thusday our staff and students arrive (67 of them)! They will stay at camp Adulam for a couple days as a group before we farm them out to their host families this coming Sunday!

Items for Prayer: That we get our luggage ( i am a little taller than the average Guatemalan - which could make replacing my wardrobe a little difficult).
- Safe Arrival of our teams

In the Guate Zone

It was great ... 2 days ago I simply woke up in the zone!! In my Guatemala mode: on fire, high energy, ready to get things done.
Tomorrow we leave Prince George for a couple days visiting in Edmonton. Friday Tina and I travel to Guatemala arriving that evening. We will spend the first few days confirming logistics, getting banking set up and meeting with our Guatemala partners. The staff and students will arrive Jan 11th.
Guatemala here we come!!