One week to go for Guatemala!

Here's the thoughts that Kelly had put together prior to the trip. Its a solid read, especially for all of you supporters that are not getting a chance to go down there with the team. Please read:

As we enter into our final week before the trip, please continue to pray for God’s guidance and safety as we travel and share in the lives of the people in Chiquimula Guatemala. What you will experience there will be unique to you; however, I can assure you will be impacted by your visit. I would really like us, as a group, to meet each morning for breakfast and spend some time in God’s word and prayer before beginning our daily activities.

I am attaching a few things to remember, some are etiquette type things that are specific to Guatemala and its people. I am also providing you with some basic Spanish that will get you by in the markets and visiting with the families.

1. Purpose of the Trip: To reach people in the Chiquimula area of Guatemala with the gospel of Christ by enabling and supporting the work of Myra Smith and her church. Minister to the people and to Myra Smith, the single missionary working in Chiquimula, and her staff. Being a missionary in the field, especially being single, can be a very lonely life. It is our privilege to serve Myra and her staff and do the tasks that they normally do such as cooking, dishes, cleaning up and any other jobs like that. We are there to serve God in many ways.

2. Toilets: No where in Guatemala can you put toilet paper in the toilet. There is always a trashcan or plastic/paper bag near the toilets where you are to dispose of your paper. This is hard to get used to but very important because their rudimentary sewer system can not process toilet paper. You might want to bring some toilet paper for our walks as we will have no access to bathrooms and a plastic grocery bag for example.

3. Flexibility: While we have spent great efforts in organizing our trip and the activities we want to accomplish, I can assure you that things often do not go according to plan☺ We will all need to remain flexible and allow God to guide us. By remaining open to His plan and His will, we will experience even more than what we could have imagined. I will have extra cash in the event we are led to do some other project that presents itself while we are in Chiquimula.

4. Safety: Myra’s house is a short walk from the hotel. However, it is located on a very busy road near a bar, bank and gas station – so we will be quite visible when walking to and from the hotel. For safety purposes, I am requesting that no one travel unaccompanied. This applies to everyone in our group. In fact, we should never have less than 3 people together at all times. So if we have finished dinner at Myra’s and you wish to return to your hotel, we need to make sure we travel in groups – ether all together or in groups of 3 or more. Also, you should not carry a lot of cash on your person on a daily basis—just enough for a snack and soda will suffice, unless otherwise directed. You can also leave your passports hidden in your room (they might have a safe but I can’t remember). Cameras are okay to be out or around your neck. Keeping your items in a small daypack is strongly recommended (i.e., bug spray, hats, bandanas, water, small amount of cash, photos). When we are in the city, keep your money and passport on your person.

5. Area: Guatemala is located in Central America; the capital, Guatemala City, is the arrival point and Chiquimula is located slightly north and west of the capital, which is about a 3-4 hour bus ride from the capital. In general, Guatemala is fairly safe—there are reports of petty crime (pick pocketing, etc.) to more violent crimes of thefts and hijacking of buses and cars. There is not an Anti-American sentiment in Guatemala and having traveled there four times in the last two years, I personally have never felt unsafe. There are armed guards (with very big guns) everywhere. They often make buses pull over for “checks.” There government is fairly stable right now, which helps to reduce violent crimes; however, poverty is rampant and the there are little to no social programs in Guatemala so crimes associated with poverty, drug use, etc. are plentiful.


6. Food: We will eat breakfast at the hotel – they serve coffee, juice, eggs, pancakes, etc. Not sure if they have cereal. If you are worried about eating the food, bring granola bars or whatever you like to eat for breakfast. We will eat lunch at the ministry. On two days we will have traditional Guatemalan food. For dinner we will likely order out each night (sandwiches, chicken, pizza, etc). Lunch is really their big meal so if you want to bring instant oatmeal, mac and cheese, ramen noodles – that will be good. We’ll also have plenty of fruit. We will have no problem getting bottled water—drink lots of it to avoid dehydration. It is not advisable to drink any of the well water in Guatemala—including brushing your teeth with the faucet water in your hotel room. Use bottled water and remember to bring pepto bismol and Imodium.

7. Working with the people: The women are very quiet and tend to be a little shy. It is best to kneel on their level and compliment their children (Tu ninas/hijas estas muy linda” (your girls/daugthers are very pretty) or “Tu hijos estas muy guapo” (your sons are very handsome). The children are sometimes shy but warm up quickly to the attention. As a courtesy to the Guatemalan people, ask before you take photos. None of the women speak English but Myra and her daughter, Aimee, will be there to translate. There are also people in our group that can help with translation. Feel free to ask questions and talk to people through the translators. They like the attention and it is another way to show that they are loved.