Day 7 | Out of the city

Today started bright and early with coffee cake breakfast at 6:00 am, an hour earlier than usual. Today, we traveled to Lake Atitlan, a lake we’d seen only in paintings and wall murals. We piled our duffels on the top of the van, and then piled ourselves into the van, every little seat filled. I can’t say anything about the first hour of the trip because I was sleeping, but I’m sure it was wonderful. I awoke some time later because the van was bouncing in strange ways. We were definitely in Guatemala City no longer, but in the country with corn stalks on either side and narrow dirt roads that are the antonym of flat. It was quite the experience.

But there was more to come…

We got on the curvy mountainous roads which happened to be under construction. Then for a while, there was a fog that limited vision, and always were there speed bumps and buses that insisted on passing us and spouting black smoke in our faces (well, in the van’s face). But Bob did an amazing job navigating, driving very safely, and maintaining patience in difficult driving situations. It was pretty great tearing down those Guatemalan roads. We were all glad we weren’t behind the wheel.

We got to Chichicastenango and visited a mystic Catholic cathedral. Their religion is one of syncretism. (Look it up.) It was comparatively bare cathedral, but had candles and flower petals on metal slabs down the center aisle. A man kneeled before the first slab (each slab representing some aspect of nature and life) muttering prayers and lighting candles. It was darker and more oppressive than usual Roman Catholicism.

The cathedral is in the middle of a market offering a variety of colorful merchandise. We shopped here for a while, practicing our bargaining skills and finding nifty souvenirs to bring home. It’s kind of like the Ladies’ Market in Hong Kong, except with more aggressive merchants. I decided I should quit asking how much something was in Spanish (Cuantos Es) since I couldn’t understand their Spanish reply. (What’s vientesinco??) Some kids tried to charge me 5 quetzales for taking their picture, but I quickly (and a bit sheepishly) ducked away.

We partook of our delicious bagged lunches on the side of the road and shared tracts and cookies with some eager local children, a super-eager grandmother, and a skinny dog. (No tracts for the dog.)

After more incredible driving by Bob, we made it to Panajachel where our lodging lies by Lake Atitlan. A little more shopping, a tasty dinner, evening team discussion & sharing, and now we’re all turning in for the night, ready for another early morning tomorrow.

God has been teaching each of us different things on this trip. Please pray that we would keep our focus on Him whether we are teaching kids, shopping, traveling, or mingling with locals. Please also pray for the health and safety of the team, as some of us are feeling under the weather. Thank you!

Tune in tomorrow to hear about our horse-riding adventures….

Rachel Hung