It’s Sunday, and I can’t think of anything better than waking up in Guatemala City with my friends and fresh coffee.  When I went to the lobby of the hotel, I was thrilled to see Berta, our leader from the last trip.  It does feel like coming home to old friends, and I wonder at the  deep connection that forms quickly when you serve with brothers and sisters in Christ, no matter the difference in culture or miles.  It was lovely to see her, Heidi, Amed, and Roberto, Guatemalan friends from past trips.

And then the fun part: the flight to Nebaj in a 6 passenger plane.  We flew to Nebaj in 2 groups, and we were glad to do it.  The alternative is a 6-8 hour ride on a bus up winding, puke-inducing, pot hole filled roads.  The flight offered a breath-taking view of the green mountains of Guatemala, and our pilot was wonderful…anyone who can land on that strip of a runway while being chased by a dog is my hero.  I took some video of the landing that I won’t show my parents until I get home.  Here you can see Stephanie, Mariah and me in front of our transportation for the day, as well as the gorgeous vista from the mountains.

It has been wonderful to walk around the streets of Nebaj and see the sights.  There is a festival this week, and there has been music, dancing, costumes, and so much to see.  We ate at a local restaurant and feel fortunate to have ordered what we wanted even with the language barrier.  It’s been enjoyable to wander around the city and soak in the experience, including the local market.  We also snuck into a local church service after hearing the singing out of the streets…I’m not sure all that they were saying, but it was good to be with other believers who were gathered around our common Lord.  Check out Scot’s blog for more details about the day.