Here We Are!

So we haven´t been in touch in a couple of days. We have just been so exhausted after long days. So here we go: three days in one blog.

Friday
We awoke, dark and early. We drove an hour in a bus to Raleigh. We checked sixteen bags in no problem (Thank God!). We flew to Atlanta, then on to Guatemala City! We had miraculously few problems once we arrived. And, better yet, all our luggage got here at the same time we did!
In the evening, we spent some time with the adorable children in the orphanage. There are about 15 or 18 kids under 2 years old, then four older girls. Everyone had a great time with the kids

Saturday
We left Nido del Aguila at about 7:30, in an impossibly small bus. We took a boat-tour of the lake and a few surrounding villages. We started in Panajachel. Then we went to Santa Cruz, and walked up a mountain. I´m not exaggerating here folks... we walked up a steep winding cobble-stone staircase to a small village called Santa Lucia. We learned to make tortillas. Next, in San Juan, we ate lunch in a restaurant that is run by an association of Guatemalan women. Next we went to Santiago, where we shopped in the market. We had a great time making deals and buying hand-made souvenirs. We had dinner at a fabulous restaurant in Panajachel. The food was amazing, and the service was great too. The waiter brought us chocolate cake for Aaron´s birthday (actually today, Sunday) and had the band sing happy birthday.

Sunday
We slept in today, and then went over to the orphanage. Then we went to church (on the property) with the older girls. The service was in Spanish, of course, but it was still an interesting experience. We had lunch with the pastor, and planned (tentatively) our week. This afternoon we are going to a grocery store.

Keep praying for us as we start our ministry. Pray that we all get enough sleep, and that no one gets sick. Pray that we have an impact on the kids at the school we are visiting tomorrow.