Day 2: Finding our way around

Our group took advantage of the opportunity to sleep in, thinking that that this would help us recover from a full day of travel.  Unknown to us, there is no daylight saving time, so were actually an hour early still.

Our day consisted of lunch prepared by Common Hope staff. They served us a great spinach pancake, fabulous rice with freshly made tortilla.  It was a satisfying meal and we all departed with full stomachs.

After lunch we headed into the town of Antigua.  Our first stop was Central Park – where we get to see the local commerce at work. The youth did some light shopping.  Then we started a walking cultural tour of Guatemala. Where we visited the City Hall, Cathedral of Santiago - Chapel of the King, Chapel of Silence, and Chapel of the Black Christ.  We also saw where they did cremation of individuals with diseases. 

The tour continued with a visit through a Jade Museum – where the archeologist and owner gave us a personal tour and the actual history of the resurgence of Jade in Guatemala.  We ended with some light shopping before going to see the Convent/Hotel/Museum.

Our day ended with a trip to a local Grocery store to shop for the three meals we would prepare at Common Hope.  Helpful hints when in a Guatemalan grocery store. 

·         Baking Soda is found in the pharmacy

·         Milk comes in both liquid and powder

·         Aisles are 1 feet wide

·         Eggs are so fresh they don’t need refrigeration

·         Workers are not readily identified

As always we ended with a lovely pasta meal prepared Anna, Nora and Kellie, supervised by Vance and Brenda.   A true advantaged to cooking the meal is that you are close to the snacks.

Devotions are how we wrapped up the day with Luke 24:13 – 36. Students shared their motivation for sponsoring children – and others shared their passion that led them to participate in this trip.

Erich's small group: Ty, Sam, Natalie and Carly 

We now have 2 cell phones with local SIM cards that can be used in case of emergency

Pam – 502-558-13791

Carly – 502-447-63750

First morning in Antigua

Greetings from Common Hope in Antigua!

We arrived at our home for the week at about 5 p.m. last night -- our flight arrival in Guatemala City was a little late due to thunderstorms, but it meant we got a couple extra views of the mountains from the air as we were waiting to land. The contrasts between rich and poor are evident even from several thousand feet over the capital, and the beauty of the land is stunning.

We were welcomed by CH staff, shown our rooms and ordered dinner in. The group was very tired but in great spirits.  Our host Shelley reports that plans for our service and visit days are coming together very well.

Because Common Hope's security measures are quite stringent, we've been staying "at home" since arriving. We are discouraged from walking the road at any hour and forbidden from being out after dark, but fortunately there is plenty of space for us here to gather out of our rooms with a view of the mountains and the rooftops. Parents will be happy to hear that the group does very well "unplugged" -- there are lots of card games and plenty of laughter.

 Vance and Andrew elected to sleep on the open-air porch last night, enjoying the birdsong.  It rains off and on at pretty much any hour, but the temperature is very comfortable.

Today we'll have lunch with the CH community (staff, long-term volunteers and other Vision Team volunteers are also here on site), then taxi into town for a walking tour of Antigua, grocery shopping, and getting our bearings in both the geographic and cultural sense.

Watch for small group members to be trading off on future blog updates.

Pam

Departure...and safe arrival!

Guest post by Will:

We saw kids and chaperones off early this morning (MSP is surprisingly busy at 4:15 am); everyone was chipper and excited.

And now I just got a short note from Pam:


"Safe and sound at the Common Hope center

"It's lovely. We're getting oriented."

ECLC Youth Depart June 22!

    For nearly nine months, we have been dreaming of this trip. Since the snow was piled high, we have been raising funds. Now summer is here, school is out, and twelve youth and three adults are packing their bags for eight days in Guatemala.

   We will be staying at the Antigua headquarters of Saint Paul-based nonprofit Common Hope, whose mission is to educate children and empower families living in poverty. Already six of our families have begun sponsoring children through Common Hope, and their pictures and stories move us. Imagine a family of seven living on just $150 a month.

  In Antigua we have several days to get oriented to the city, explore some of the amazing natural and social history of the place, and then we plunge into days of service, exchange and conversation with youth and families that Common Hope serves. 

Please keep us in your prayers!

We are:  Pastor Pam Fickenscher, Brenda Froisland, Erich Martin, Samantha Aamot, Vance Anderson, Ty Arnold, Kellie Asher, Sophie Breen,  Anna Caspar, Carly Crist, Grace Gerloff, Natalie Hanna, Andrew Merriam, Camille Pinckaers, and  Nora Steinhagen.