Transitions: Today marks the end of our first two months of the Sabbatical and tomorrow begins our third and final month. My how time flies. At the end of this week we finish our Spanish course, fly back to Miami one day, and on to North Carolina to unpack and repack. Don will take the children to West Virginia to be with the grandparents. And on Monday Don and Amy leave for Florence, Italy. It will be a big change for us all, but one that we look forward to.
Learning: We are in our final few days of Spanish classes. Today, the children were taken to a small zoo at a local university where they saw monkeys, pumas, and condors (the incredibly large birds native to Peru that soar on the winds in the great mountains and canyons). Also today, Amy went on a field trip to a local public hospital where she experienced some of the differences in health care and witnessed the delivery of a baby. Tomorrow she visits another hospital. While we are far from fluent or even smooth in conversation, Amy and I have learned enough to slowly communicate with others in Spanish if they are willing to work with us. We are able to read many basic communications, but our vocabularly is limited to a few thousand words. Much more than the few hundred we began with. Luke and Rachel have learned many of the basic nouns. Just as importantly, Amy has worked with Rachel and Luke almost every day doing their "homework books" (in English). Luke has read through an entire series of short books this summer and worked on his math and logic abilities. He has become a good beginning reader. Rachel has learned to identify and write all the letters of the alphabet and the numbers. She can now writer her name. Luke also learned to tie his shoes this week. And of course we have learned much about other cultures and peoples.
Machu Picchu: This past weekend we traveled north through the mountains and canyons to see Machu Picchu. We took a bus half the way. Then we took a PeruRail train as its tracks followed along a river for the remainder of the journey to the secluded town of Aguas Calientes (Hot Waters, named for the hot natural springs located there). Train is the only way to access this town. On Sunday morning we took the buses up the mountain Machu Picchu to the great and mysterious Incan city that is perched at its top. It took us half an hour by bus through the numerous switchbacks to get to the top of the mountain. The mountains here were incredibly steep and beautiful. The city was built around the same time that the printing press was created and the Americas were discovered by the Europeans. No one knows the true name of the city, who ruled it, or why it suddenly ceased to be used a little over a hundred years after being completed. But it was clearly at an important point between the center of the Incan Empire in the highlands of Cusco and the lower jungles and the Amazon river basin of eastern Peru. This is the most visited man-made site in South America. I was pleased to learn that Machu Picchu has been selected as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
Thursday, August 2
Cusco, Peru
Church: This past Sunday I attended the morning mass again at the local Catholic church before we left for Pisac for the day. The people here are very religious and are primarily Catholic. The Catholic church is very integrated with the government. I was told that during a border war years ago the country was bankrupt and it threatened their ability to win, but the Catholic church stepped in and provided what was needed. I don't know the historicity of this, but it would go a long way toward explaining the current relationship between church and state here. The Catholic churches are all extremely ornate with gothic and romantic architecture covered with paintings, murals, carved wooden shrines painted gold, and many statues of wood and stone. The paintings depict the life of Christ and the Apostles, Mary, other biblical scenes, saints of the Catholic church, and local history. Sunday evening we attended a local Presbyterian church we had found. I learned that there are three Presbyterian churches in Cusco and a nearby village. About a dozen people gathered that evening. They indicated that the main service had taken place in the morning. We began with prayer and hymns. The songs in their hymnal are all Psalms that have been put to music. Presbyterians once believed that it was only proper to sing songs that were the direct words of Scripture. I didn't ask, but it appears that is what this particular group still believes and practices. This was followed by an hour-long explication of a passage from Chronicles, a discussion, two more songs, and a long time of prayer. Nearly half the people present took part in leading the service. Afterward I learned that they were all lay persons. They have a pastor that is currently in Lima and only occasionally can be present to lead services. This is a great example of the importance of elders and lay leadership in the Presbyterian Church around the world. It also contrasted greatly with the formal, high liturgy in the Catholic churches led solely by the priests.
Dance and Music: On Tuesday evening we attended a performance of Peruvian music and dance in the Cusco Municipal Theater. It was presented free of charge by the city of Cusco. It was delightful. The first group of six men played traditional instruments of guitars, drums, and various types of flutes and horns. We watched men and women dance in colorful wardrobe and grand hats. There were several different dance troupes and bands. They all performed native arts and were native peoples. Unfortunately I don't have any photos. We enjoyed it all but had to leave early to get ready for bed and another day of school. (I didn't finish my homework that night.)
Us: We continue to live and study in Cusco, Peru, high in the Andes mountains. We are doing fine, although we are becoming more homesick each day. We miss many things: our friends, our church, our home. I miss a nice shower with hot water. We miss having good water available to drink. We don't have great playgrounds and parks for the kids here. And we are all getting a bit tired of beans and rice at most all meals. That was our lunch and supper again today. Being the carnivore that I am, I miss having meat. And just like Antigua, none of the houses or stores have air-conditioning or heating systems. As it is winter here in the southern hemisphere and we are at 11,000 feet altitude, we wear several layers of clothes all day every day. At our school we wear our coats as we study. The same is true in restaurants and churches. At night, we climb under 5-6 layers of heavy blankets. On the up side we have more room now than in Guatemala. There our family's private space was confined to an area much smaller than our bedroom back home. Amy and I could barely fit on the bed, and the kids were just a few feet away on their shared bed. But here, we have an upper floor apartment with two bedrooms, a private bathroom, a kitchen area, and a living area. Privacy is nice, but a luxury for many people in the world today. Nonetheless, we are having fun every day, we are not suffering, and we are learning. We have had family wrestling matches and family dances. We meet and play with new people. This is truly a beautiful land. And we are seeing how God is at work in this place so far from home.
Transportation Here: Each day we take a taxi to and from school. It is too far to walk like we did in Guatemala. But this isn't a problem at all as there are hundreds of taxis around. All we do is go out the front gate of the house and stand on the sidewalk. Within 15 seconds a taxi drives by and we're on our way. The same is true everywhere we've been. Very few private vehicles are on the road. Almost all vehicles are taxis and vans that are crammed with people (these serve as public buses). A 10-15 minute taxi ride to school costs us 2 nuevo soles (about 60 cents). There seems to be only two types of taxis here: 1) Toyota Corolla Stationwagons, and 2) The more popular Daewoo Tyco. There's not much room (or power) to spare in them, but they get the job done. There aren't many bicycles or motorcycles as it is too cold. But there are many people who walk everywhere.
Peruvian People: The people here are a mix of the Incan indian tribes and the Spanish/European groups that invaded the land in the 1500s. It is a very interesting history. The town itself is built upon the rocks that were carved by the Incas long ago. Many of the original foundations, walls, and streets still remain. Cusco literally means "belly-button." It was named that because it was the center of the vast Incan Empire. Hundreds of roads met in Cusco. From Cusco, the Incan Emperor controlled the four domains of his territory. We just happened to be here on Peru's Indepence Day. The town was decorated with the red/white/red Peruvian flags and balloons everywhere. But here in Cusco, they fly a second flag. It looks like a rainbow and is the flag of the Incan Empire. They celebrate both their past and their present as the two mix in this interesting culture. Likewise, the old and the new meet in the town as you see people wearing jeans and suits alongside persons with traditional dresses, aprons, hats, and blankets.
Trip to Pisac: This past weekend we traveled up and over the mountains to the northeast of Cusco. On the way, we stopped at several Incan ruins including an important religious center and a fort guarding an important pass. As we descended on the back side of the mountain we could see the town of Pisac far below alongside a substantial river. It was surrounded by steep, rugged mountains. And in the distance we could see a mountain covered with snow and a glacier. Above the city of Pisac were the remains of the Incan city of Pisac. It was on the ridge and we visited it by following the narrow trails that go along the mountainside. As steep as the mountains are, they manage to farm them. They constructed sturdy rock walls that shaped the mountain into large steps or terraces so that they could control the erosion and irrigation of their fields. It is amazing how perfect all of the walls look to this day. Afterwards we shopped in the market in the modern-day Pisac. Below is a photo of food served in a traditional restaurant. It is roasted potatoes and cuy (guinea pig). They are cooked in a huge oven -- with a diameter of 15 feet or more. The cook places the plate of food on a 12 foot paddle and slides it in and out of the oven. And no, we haven't tried the cuy yet, but the fresh bread was great.
Arrival: We arrived safely and with all of our luggage, and believe me we have a LOT of luggage, in Cusco, Peru on Saturday morning. The flight was wonderful as we watched the sun rise and began to see tall mountain peaks poking there way through the blanket of clouds below. The Andean Mountains are truly awe-inspiring. Cusco is in a vast valley, nestled between many hills and mountains. We were all exhausted. After more than 24 hours of travel with little sleep, we were ready for a nap. It didn't help that Cusco is more than 2 miles above sea level. It only took a couple of flights of stairs moving our luggage into our new home to leave me totally winded. Luke especially had a hard day. He literally looked a bit green. We took the rest of the day very easy. The only things we did were to unpack, eat, and take a nap (all four of us). But we knew what to expect and had planned a few easy days to adjust. As Amy is from Colorado we were familiar with altitude sickness.
Sunday: Sunday was much better. We walked to the local Catholic church for morning worship at 8:00, but learned that it had actually started at 7:30 am. We enjoyed it and I recognized much of the liturgy of the mass. We were the only white-faced ones in the congregation. In the afternoon we took a taxi to downtown Cusco. We went to the Plaza de las Armas and visited several churches that dated from the mid-1500s. They began shortly after the arrival of the Spanish in the new world. I will say more about Cusco later, but it is a very interesting and beautiful city with ancient origins. It was a great city long before the Spanish arrived. We saw numerous persons in traditional Peruvian attire and even met a few llamas on the narrow cobblestone streets and sidewalks. This is going to be a neat place to visit.
School: We are taking more Spanish classes in an immersion school here during these three weeks. It is similar to our school in Antigua. All four of us are studying for four hours each morning, ending at 1:00 pm, with our own individual teacher. We are living with a host family again, speaking with them in Spanish some each afternoon and evening, and eating all of our meals with them. And we are studying and doing our homework each evening. The main difference is that we each have two teachers each day, one for the first two hours, then a different teacher for the second half following our break. This allows us to hear a slightly different voice and to be instructed in a slightly different manner. We like it.
Thursday,
July 19
Antigua,
Guatemala
Return to Antigua: Our family and Don's parents and brother made it back to Guatemala City last Friday evening in time for them to return to the US and our family to return to Antigua for another week of school this week. It was a good break from school, but we were ready to return, to study, and to settle into the same bed each night.
Our family: The Hernandez family has graciously hosted us along with many others who have passed through, staying in the upstairs rooms. Their house is very different from what we have in the US. First of all, it is in town and all of the buildings are constructed against one another. There is no yard. You enter the house through a metal door in a metal wall (like a garage door) and are immediately in the dining/living room. But the dining area is open on the end to a small courtyard area. Only part of the house is covered with a roof. Our room is enclosed, but the hallway outside it is not. When we have to go to the bathroom we have to go "outside," through the rain at times, although it is just a few short steps away. Their young adult son lives in a shed atop the bathroom, accessed by a ladder. They don't have a microwave or dishwasher, nor do they have a washer or dryer (most all Guatemalans do laundry in a wash-basin and hang their clothes to dry). Hot water is available, but at a drip. We have to buy all our drinking water. At night they bring their family vehicle, a small engine motorcycle, into the living room so it won't get stolen. It has been interesting getting to know them, discussing life in the US and Guatemala, politics, and religion. The kids have loved playing with their son Gustavo and daughter Linda. We have been blessed to be with them for more than a month now. A highlight was when we took them out for dinner one Sunday afternoon.
Our Guatemalan "Daughter": On Tuesday we visited our "daughter" Claudia. When Amy and I got married we learned of a Christian ministry named Compassion International that allows you to sponsor a child in another country. We sponsored a boy in Brazil named Lucas. Over the years we corresponded with him, enjoying the pictures he drew and hearing of his progress. At age 18, he graduated from school a couple of years ago and our sponsorship ended. Soon we decided to sponsor another child and asked for one in Guatemala since we planned on studying in Guatemala. So for the last two years, we have begun a relationship with our Guatemalan "daughter" Claudia. We have told Luke and Rachel that they have a sister and they have made pictures and written letters to her. We were all excited to meet her in person and finally got to do so on Tuesday. We traveled to the zoo in Guatemala City and spent the day with Claudia, her mother, one of her teachers, and a school administrator. They traveled from her small hometown 5 hours away to the sights and sounds of the big city and the zoo. Claudia and her mother, of indigenous Mayan indian descent, had never done anything or seen anything like this. They were both very shy and reserved, but over the day Claudia warmed up to the ever out-going antics of Luke and Rachel. She even flashed a smile a few times. Our monthly monetary support helps Claudia attend this church-run school and be a part of the church after-school program that meets two to three times a week. There, the children receive a good meal, take part in learning and games, receive instruction about hygiene and health, and learn about the Bible. They also get to go on camping retreats.
Departure: Tomorrow we leave for Cusco, Peru. We will fly from Guatemala City, through San Jose, Costa Rica, and arrive in Lima, Peru late in the evening. We will go to the hotel for a short sleep, and get up at 3:45 am to catch a flight from Lima to Cusco. We are anxious and excited for all that awaits us.
Friday,
July 13
San Pedro, Belize
Transportation: You name it, we've taken it (except train). Car, bus, mini-bus, tuk tuk, foot, mule, launcha, boat, taxi, innertube, swimming, diving. We've been on the move this past week. We have seen and done many exciting things around northern Guatemala and a good bit of the country of Belize.
Jungle Adventures:
1) TIKAL We flew into Flores, Gautemala and stayed on a small lake island (with wall to wall buildings) the night before going to visit the ruins of Tikal, one of the most grand Mayan cities of old. There we saw unusual birds and monkeys in the wild as we trekked between the stone remains and the large pyramid Temples. We were sweating in the heat and humidity, and thought of those of you in the North Carolina summer. Luke put a stick in a hole in the ground and stirred up a tarantula. He later saw another tarnatula atop one of the tall temples, scaring us all until we learned it was dead. He loved it.
2) JAJUAR PAW After Tikal, we went into Belize and spent a day at Jaguar Paw and the Belize Zoo. Jaguar Paw is a nature park where we rented innertubes and headlamps, hiked through the jungle, then got on our innertubes on a river. We floated down the river and through a large and long cave (see photo above). The Zoo we later visited was enjoyable as it only contained animals native to Central America, many which were unfamiliar to us. We were also able to get close to the animals.
3) LAMANAI We then spent two nights in northern Belize in the town of Orange Walk. It is inland and also in the jungle. We made a day-long trip up the New River in a motorboat to another ancient Mayan city named Lamanai. The trip was as much of a treasure as the ruins. Our boat captain/guide spotted wildlife on the river and along its banks as we went. There are many rare and interesting birds here, like the above pictured "Jesus" bird -- it appeared to walk on the water as it walked around on the lillypads followed by its chicks. We also saw a "Jesus" lizard that truly did run on top of the water. We also saw several crocodiles in the river, including a large one across the river from our hotel. And the iguanas are giant. At night we watched the geckos that climbed on the trees, walls, and ceilings everywhere.
Ocean Adventures: After another van ride and boat ride, we arrived here at San Pedro, Belize on Ambergris Caye (Island). The turquoise waters, white sand, and palm trees are picture perfect. The cool Carribean breeze keeps the temperature just right for swimming in our hotel pool. Four days of relaxation with Don's family before they leave as well as some time for scuba diving and snorkeling. Every day we were out in the ocean exploring the strange looking plants of the coral reef and enjoying the aquatic life. We've seen brilliant fish, eels, sea turtles, giant fish, and more. We've petted manta rays and nurse sharks. And all the while we have enjoyed the interesting mix of people here in Belize: Carribean African Garifuna, mestizos, Hispanics, those of European descent, and even Amish/Mennonites who immigrated from Canada in the 1960s.
Thursday, July 6
Hello again. We're sorry it has been so long. Things have been busy, fun, and exciting the last week. Last Saturday Don's parents and brother, Jay, arrived in Guatemala. We all went to a large market in a small mountain town called Chichicastenango. The city streets are transformed into hundreds of little stores with Mayan artisans and farmers from the surrounding villages gathering for the day. We went on to Panajachel (mentioned before) and enjoyed a clear, beautiful day. The guys went up a mountain through a forest trail and rode zip lines down. There were six in all and each went fast and high over the trees tops and valleys below. If you don't know what a zip line is, it is basically a metal wire. You wear a harness and attach its rollers to the wire, hang on it, step off the rock, and zoom along.
On Tuesday, we toured a coffee plantation and learned how this important part of the Guatemalan economy is grown and prepared. This was Jay's favorite as he is one who measures his intake not by cups but pots in a day. That evening Don, Don's dad, and Jay took a bus to the Pacaya Volcano to climb up it. In my father's words, "It was a hard climb. With the elevation, breathing was more difficult. We wore gloves to protect our hands. We were right by hot lava. We could smell rubber burning from our shoes. I would compare it to working in a foundry. Luckily, none of us fell. It got dark while we were still on the volcano. The fire coming out of the top of the volcano and the lava coming down the side was an amazing site." It truly was remarkable. The power of God's creation at work is unbelievable at times.
We have now flown to northern Guatemala and visited the ancient ruins of Tikal in the jungle. Pictures and stories of this and the jungles of Belize will be in the next update.
The following photos are: a typical public bus (each is uniquely painted and outfitted), three from Antigua with Don's family, and the final one is Jay, big Don, and Don on Volcan Pacaya with the heat of the fresh and cooling lava to our backs.
Thursday,
June 28
We have had a good week. We have gone on a few local trips, but have spent most of our time in school, studying, and enjoying Antigua. By the way, thanks for all of your emails and prayers.
Last Wednesday we toured Casa Santa Domingo. This large hotel and a neighboring college are the site of a grand monastery from long ago. They just unearthed much of it in recent decades. It contained a sanctuary, kitchens, crypts, and living quarters. They are still in the process of restoring it. It now serves as a museum containing many paintings, artwork, and sculptures - historic and modern. See the Guatemala page for a photo of one of the works (a statue of Jesus) found there.
Antigua had been the capital of
Last weekend, we remained in
And yesterday I (Don) went on a mountain bike ride. I went through a local bike touring company with a guide, a guy from Asheville, and a guy from the Netherlands. It was a great trip. We traveled up the "faldas" of Volcan Agua to the small pueblo of Santa Maria. From there we went another kilometer or two up and followed a narrow trail around the mountainside and down into Antigua (about 25 kms down). The trail had a lot of rocks, turns, hills, dirt, and jumps (very technical) and it was a blast. But I enjoyed the great vistas over the entire valley and the countryside just as much. Far away we could see the tops of two other volcanoes. Close up we saw the fields and orchards as well as the farmers who tend them. Along the way we passed lots of corn, some coffee, flowers, avocados, apricots, and more. The farmers walk this same path every day, going miles up and down the mountain, with hoe, machete, or plow in hand and carrying out loads of sticks or harvest. A number of them were leading or riding burros. And I noted how some were not wearing shoes (not the first time I've seen that around here). I was struck by the realization of how difficult their lives must be, how simply they live, and how little has probably changed in several millenia. I enjoyed seeing these Mayan Indian people, their farms, and their beautiful surroundigs on the bike ride. And I only wrecked once...very little blood, but lots of dirt.
Tuesday, June 19
Lago de Atitlan: I want to share about our trip to Lago de Atitlan last weekend. Our tour van wound along the roads up, down, and around the mountains. They became bigger and steeper as we got closer. Then we could see the lake and the towns dotting its shores. Lago de Atitlan was formed by volcanic action long ago. It is up to 12 miles across at its widest point and over 1100 feet deep. On Saturday we took a small boat (launchas) across the lake, staying near the shore, and stopped at two small towns. We hiked up the steep roads into the towns as people tried to sell their products to us. In the town of Santiago Atitlan we visited the Catholic Church which had been founded in 1547 - not so long after Columbus first came to the Americas. The people here are primarily of Mayan descent. They live simply, growing and selling food such as maiz (corn) as well as other fruits and vegetables, fishing in their one-person and hand-made boats, and making cloths and wooden products to sell.
Cloud Forest: While in Panajachel we hiked through the nearby Natural Reserve. The environment there is what is called a cloud forest or jungle. The climate is special because of the unique combination of altitude, terrain, and waterfall due to the lake and surrounding volcanoes. There we watched several spider monkeys and coatis, saw a tall waterfall, and enjoyed the lush and dark trail aside unusual trees and plants with large leaves.
Church: We missed church Sunday. The local churches in Panajachel begin at 6:30 and 7:00 am and go until about 10:00 am. I didn't inquire about church services until we finished breakfast and were ready at 9:30 am.
School: Our school grounds are beautiful and comfortable (far right photo above). It's name is Centro Linguistico Internacional. Our studies are going well. We are amazed at how much we have learned in just a little over one week. It is difficult, but we our progress is apparent. Rachel and Luke are learning through games, coloring, and crafts. Their teachers are doing a great job with them. We still don't know that Rachel is learning much, but she is enjoying it. They have been great travelers and have adapted to the many changes well. This afternoon we went on the school trip to a nearby organic macademia plantation. It was interesting and Amy came away with a pound or two of macademia chocolates.
Friday, June 15
Today after school we left for a weekend trip to the village Panajachel. It sits in the high mountains at the edge of Lago de Atitlan, a large lake. Surrounding this lake are three volcanoes about 10,000-11,000 feet each. We are staying at a nice hotel with a swimming pool in town. Tomorrow we will take a boat around the lake, stopping at several of the other small villages on its shores.
Thursday,
June 14
Earthquake: We’re OK! Yes, there was an apparently large earthquake just off the southwestern coast of
Food: Fluvia, our hostess, prepares three meals a day for us and her other 8 guests. The diet is a little different than what is typical in
San Antonia Aguas Calientes: After lunch today we went on a tour our school arranged to a nearby pueblo (village) called San Antonia Aguas Calientes. This pueblo is in the hills overlooking
Bus: To get to San Antonio we all boarded a local bus (like a school bus in the US). Most people rely upon the public bus system to get around. As I got on I saw that all the seats were taken and there were about 20 more students behind me ready to board. We squeezed on. As we went we made several stops in which others boarded. There were 3-4 persons in each seat (we only put two per seat in the US) and the aisle and front steps were loaded with persons standing, holding onto bars from the ceiling. Eventually we had about 90 persons, mainly adults, on one bus.
Antigua
Guatemala
Our first day of school! We woke up early and walked to school down the cobblestone streets past the vendors and the bustling shops. On the streets vehicles buzz by. It's an interesting mix of buses, motorcycles, cars, bicycles, mopeds, and the three-wheeled vehicles. Most people either don't have a vehicle or rely on one of the two-wheeled sorts. We see families go by on motorcycles - husband, wife, and two children on piled on. No helmets of course. We passed through the marketplace and the bus station before finding our way to school.
Amy and I were humbled by how little Spanish we know. We have plenty of room for progress. Luke learned by drawing and coloring pictures. He learned his colors and parts of the body, as well as some other words in Spanish. Rachel has been very shy. I don't know if she said a word today.
This afternoon following lunch we returned to school for their daily activity: salsa lessons. I'll give you one guess whose idea this was. We had fun and now are salsa experts.
Sunday,
June 10
Antigua
Guatemala
Our flight to Guatemala Friday was canceled due to a thunderstorm in Miami, so we were put up in a hotel and left early (4 am) Saturday morning and arrived in Guatemala City. We met a friendly couple in the airport that live in Guatemala City and drove us to our Spanish school in Antigua when we arrived. We met our host family and were taken to our new home in a three-wheeled taxi the size of a golf cart (it took two full loads).
Our hostess, Fluvia, has three children. Two are younger (8 and 11) and have been great with Luke and Rachel. Despite the language barrier, Luke has really hit it off with Gustavo. Today after church we took the four kids to the central park plaza. There are lots of people just enjoying the day, sitting on benches, eating, and playing. The kids played in a fountain for a long time, then with someone blowing bubbles. Afterwards we visited the ruins of an old convent. It had been a large building. The kids climbed on the stones and Luke and Gustavo wrestled in the grass.
We are all adjusting to the new environment well.
Friday,
June 8
Well, we're off! Thanks for all of the prayers. Our passports arrived 19 hours before we left. It has been a crazy couple of weeks as we have been doing lots of work in preparation for this trip. Stress and exhaustion levels have been high. As Amy said as we got to the hotel yesterday afternoon, "I'm starting to decompress." Ironically, we have both neglected exercise, time with the kids, time with each other, and time with God in order to go away pursuing these same things.
Right now, this feels like leaving for a week-long vacation. I wonder when it will sink in that this is something different, something more? Amy and the kids are enjoying the pool and the beach as I finish up the last couple tasks on my infamous "To Do" list. Maybe I can do without my "To Do"s for the summer.
We leave for Miami International after lunch and will arrive in Guatemala this afternoon. There we will be met at the airport and taken to our host family in the city of Antigua for the next month and a half. Antigua is in the mountain time zone (2 hours behind eastern). We are all excited, but unsure of what to expect.
Sunday,
June 3
What a wonderful Homecoming celebration at Springwood this morning. We had a fun and uplifting time of worship. It was great to see everyone, and of course there was great food. And it was bittersweet saying good-bye to everyone as we are about to leave home.
We leave this Thursday! That is, if we get our passports in time. We applied three months ago and are still waiting. I called the day we were within two weeks of leaving and they upgraded the status. We cannot do anything more until within 48 hours of leaving. Tomorrow I will call them again as well as Rep. Howard Coble's office. I was able to meet him today as he was at Springwood for Jerry Small's Eagle Scout Ceremony. We pray that it works out, or we may have to alter our plans a bit.