29 August friday

last night here in the Guat…..some went to the volcano….4 went to Candida’s…good thing…a number of minor and not so minor problems to fix….rained very hard on those who went to Candida’s, complicating the repairs….party with our team, Candida’s family, IMJ staff, and friends of Candida….thank yous said….final clean-up…..went to a nice restaurant for a final meal here….on the way, saw a guy riding a motor cycle with his dog on the back, that is litterly rear legs on either side of the seat and front legs holding the guy’s waist….too funny….all ready and excited to be heading home…early up, finish packing, breakfast, devotions, a trip to a market or somepace, then the airport….weather permitting, home late tomorrow nite….great memories and powerful moments with those here and our Lord!!!! ….more than a 1000 pictures to sort through… see you tomorrow in the land of clean drinking water and the big PX…

 

JW

28 August Thursday

Today was the DAY!!!!…..we’ve done it !!!!!….completed the project…..turned over the house to Condida and her “family”…..on Monday nite it was looking like we might have to cut or curtail some of our list of rehab or updates to the house…..everyone pulled together, worked extra hard and extra long…..(as I write this, Jim and Dom are performing haircuts of an unusual nature on each other and on Trevor)…we finished at about 6:02pm…Gloria rounded up Condida and her family and we had a “Bus Driver….move that Bus! presentation”…..at the end, we formed a circle to pray…the locals went first, with a number of her friends joining Condida in talking to our Lord….Tom went next, along with some singing “Amazing Grace”…awsome moment…no dry eyes in the group….we have really bonded as a team….much laughing and kidding…serious moments, too…..Upon presenting her new house to her, Condida said (as was relayed by our Guatemalan friend Jonathon), “Your reward is in heaven. I can’t repay you.”…..like I said…..no dry eyes…still some unfinished things on Tom’s punch list…most going to the volcano tomorrow…..some going back early to Condida’s to finish up….”see you’all” tomorrow…..”one day and a wake-up”…

 

JW

27 August – day 8

today was an iinteresting day….all of the team worked hard and long to try to put our goals within reach…..only 1 more work day….it’s been colder and rained (cold) on and off all day….interfered with and slowed down our efforts….all returned to the B&B (nice place, three to a room,early ’50s decor) wet, cold, and tired….roof trusses in place…most new furniture delivered, all hand-made furniture painted and delivered….toilet giving us fits….shower and drains a problem….water on only every two or three days, so it’s a problem to plumb and check things….roaches continue to wander every where…..everything continues to take twice as long as planned…the hour each way, each day, in traffic that’s amazingly dense and nuts, doesn’t help….food continues to be great….team spirits still high…end of trip in sight…”see” you tomorrow

JW

August 26 Tuesday

short blog today….el primo jefe had a discovery style service tonite after dinner….which cut into our time….rained on and off today…much cooler……Dom flooded the casa today, poor supervision on his part….we can’t agree on or find the right table for the house….everyone looked like Santa at X-MAS upon arrival at B&B tonite, due to many large bags of roach infested dirty laundry carried over their shoulders……our new friend Christian went cistern diving after dropping his knife……our on again off again dog friend tried to bite a passer-by, after pooping in Gloria’s fresh pile of stone…..work continues with much painting, shopping, and buying, to include Dom’s favorite Home Depot in Guatemala, where our primo Jefe has also made a new friend……tomorrow promises to be a heavy work day as many of our projects are coming together….only two more shopping days ’til x-mas….”see you’all tomorrow….

JW

Monday 25 August

another day, another series of challenges…..our pre-trip time lines have been, and continue to be, verrrrrrry flexible…..everyone’s working at maximum…..we’re trying meet all our initial goals……need some prayers out there for a successful completion!……it seems that each day we stretch to accomplish…team spirits high and we’re still working and talking to each other…Praise GOD!!!!!……up at 6 am., breakfast at 7…..on the road by 8……return to B&B casa around 8 pm……dinner, meetings and tomorrow’s schedule…shower and lights out (voluntary)….by 11pm……even with IJM and Brennen, still challenge…..Dom says “no problem, as he has met the Father, Mother, and children who own/run the local equivalent of Home Depot in Guatemala”….he says the guy’s name is either Satastianano or Frank……early up and out tomorrow….everyone is fine….later……

Sunday 24 August

Our day of “rest” began at 6a.m. We left for church at 7:30  to visit a local church. We envisioned a small white church, with a few locals. What we pulled up in front of was the biggest church any of us had ever seen: 12,000 seats and a building surrounding them of Herculean proportions. As we drove up we saw a throng of people in black suits and tie. We knew we were under-dressed. Turns out they were the ushers. The place was virtually empty except for the ushers. No wonder…the service didn’t start for an hour and a half. We met in front of the sanctuary and Trevor took a vote. After several ballots (and a clarification of what we were voting on) we decided to stay. (fast forward). We were provided with headsets with an English translator whose Enlish was passable. But occasionally, she would give up in mid-sentence. The music had an extreme Latin flavor and was great. Sermon…. Warren Buffet and why you need to pay cash, tithe and save. Even in Spanish it sounded familiar.

We then headed for Antigua. We drove up a very STEEP mountain and the van quit halfway. All 12 of us got out and walked up  what John estimated to be a 45 degree grade. Back in the van near the top with another try. No luck. Walked to the top. Beautiful view at the top, overlooking Antigua.  Many photos… Michael does his Batman imitation with several backflips off the statue. We share our concern about injury, but he comes out unscathed.  Down the hill was easy.

We arrive in Antigua for lunch and Lloyd splits to find his Spanish School he’s been using on the internet. Everyone goes in different directions and we meet again for dinner. But as we meet, we are approachwed by several young kids trying to get us to shine our shoes. Lloyd is approaced first. He tells the boy “no”… the kid gives him a look and a gesture that says “Are you kidding me? Look at your shoes.” So he asks ”How much?” “3 Q” (about 40 cents.) He agrees.. The hustle continues as he is polishing and asks the usual questions. Finally he says “You buy me cheeken?” Lloyd parts with 2 dollars US (about 5 times what he had originally asked). From a different direction, the kid approaches and lands Jim. Bottom line – he asked 10Q to start (1:40$) and Jim asks “10 dollars?” Kid “Yeah!!” But finally got 4$. Now comes Dom (with John in trail coaching him). The kid offers the shine for 3Q – great shine, Dom gives 3Q (40 cents) and walks…..

Great meal….. hop in the van and return home at 8pm.  We are still weary from Saturday. We are already scheduling the work remaining and are anxious to see how the cement came out.    . Carrie, Gloria and Sarah are troopers. They are willing to do whatever is needed and are a great addition to the team. Keep praying for our health and safety (Micahel is now OK, Dom is not feeling great).

Day 4 in Guatemala

[gallery]day 4 was brutal…..concrete day…..gravel, bags of cement, and sand to move (sometimes up to 3 times)….80 wheel borrow loads of mix…..Dom learned something about toilet paper and toilets in the third world, Lloyd and John still recovering from being left in the Hood for several hours in the street while our fearless  leaders, D,T, and T returned to the B&B for a hot shower and a meal…..some excuse about the non-engish speaking driver not understanding…no rain today which was God’s blessing on us for this day….Alvero, Candita’s son, has been a real workhourse for the past days, easily out pacing Dom and Tom during the concrete work today…actually, he was left to finish the work, while they retreated to the B&B for a hot shower, a flush toilet, and a great meal…..Lloyd won a serious meal from Tom (Dom welched out)by guessing the correct the number of wheel borrow loads during the pour….He was spotted with a marker in his hand, which was used to keep the count…all team members surrived the day…..Gloria has so far been the only casuality with a sneak attack from a local dog….as has happened each night since we’ve been here, we once again avoided a fancy meal in a local restaraunt to return to our B&B…..the only one’s who were disapponted were Trevor, and Erica ( who dreamt up our schedual)…..more tomorrow….

 

JW

pics from 21 August

SECOND DAY–21 AUGUST

FIRST DAY OF WORK….SERIOUS WORK…..CLEANED OUT THE BUILDING….TORE-OUT THE FLOOR…..DOUG-OUT THE PLUMMING…..THE SMELL COULDN’T HAVE BEEN WORSE…THE FOOD TODAY WAS GREAT…ETHNIC  GUATAMALAN FARE…..THE FAMILY WE’RE HERE HELPING ALL WORKED VERY HARD WITH US….EVEN THE 6 YEAR OLD….TOMORROW WE’RE ALL GOING TO BE SORE…..”SEE YOU ” TOMORROW…

JW

we’re here!

team at IJM

the team has arrived, all safe and sound….met the folks at IJM….had a little to eat….got to the bed & breakfast too late to take a meaningful picture….going out to eat, change some US to local quetdal’s, look for a disposable cell phone….up early tomorrow….will try to add a photo or two

JW

out side of B & B