Marimba, Marimba!! Welcome to Xela (Quetzaltenango)yea xela is better, but just so you know, the quetzal is a muy bonita long tail bird (somewhat rare now), so the name means place of the quetzal. Anyway marimba (think xylophone, that spelling is not even close, with 3 guys playing it at once) so how do home- made marimba’s become a big thing? Must be a MAYAN thing!! This is what you say when you just don’t understand something about Guatemala. Must be a MAYAN thing! The people of Guatemala are the most concentrated indigenous group I’ve encountered with every area of the country (except guate) speaking a different Mayan language as its 1^st language, Spanish is second fiddle here, but all speak it. I hope the indigenous languages will not be lost on the next generations. Xela is the2nd largest city, but small by comparison. Yet this is where we met Sam’s familia de Guatemala, as it is not far to Sam’s village of Almolonga. We had dinner at the B4 mentioned Fried chicken joint (not the place to be with a queasy stomach). It was loud and crowded with marimba music flowing and they ONLY served fried pollo(chicken) Regardless it was wonderful to meet Jose y Maria y hija Elysa. It must have been a funny sight as we were the only gringos in the place and all 3 of us over a foot taller than any of them, but we had a grand time and it warmed our heart to see Sam so knit together with them. We were to spend more time with them in their home in Almolonga.

Sam of course fought all our battles for us. Bargaining hard for the best price, rejecting taxi’s who tried to take advantage of the gringos, protecting us in crowded markets, on buses, squeezing us into tuktuks, finding us wonderful hotels, helping us with menus (except as a vegan,(she wont like me calling her a vegan) she was lost when it came to cuts of meat. The poor waiter had to point to his body parts…oh you mean ribs?) The greatest joy for us was seeing her embraced by the communities where she lives and works. At 1^st Almolonga was hard for us. Dirty, smelly, congested. But then we started meeting all the people who knew sam. Warm smiles hugs kisses, excited conversation, excited to meet the parents of their Samantha. That’s right, they don’t plan to let her go. The children running by all greet sam, the girls give a hug. Away from the main street Almolonga settles down as it slopes down to the fields for which it is famous. Here there is a beauty and serenity that is hard to describe and you begin to understand, in a small way, what it is the people value. Down the road a ways is another village,Zunil, cleaner but only because they throw the garbage in the river, but a lovely place with lovely people who like all the rest work extremely hard through the course of their day. It was a sight as the women do their laundry by the river in the shadow of yet another volcan with the brightness of their faces reflected in the vibrant colors of the blankets spread out along the river bank. We had a short visit to a Almolongan church, and it is safe to say that the Hand of God is active here and His Church is alive.

Salsa, Salsa!!! Back to music. Sam surprised us with private samba lessons. OH yea we were surprised all right. Private meant one-on-one instruction in front of a room full of folks on exercise equipment. But what can you do? You roll with it!! GUATEMALA !!

What my Papi has to say about the first part of his trip...

So why in every airport I’ve ever been to do you have to walk a mile to get to customs? My visit to guate began with this great mystery, but our experience with Guatemalan immigration went smoothly despite all the Thanksgiving contraband in our luggage, including a can of pumpkin for what became an incredible pie baked at altitude in a propane oven, but I am getting ahead of myself and that is a story in itself. Like most Latin city airports there is a crowd of folks outside the doors. Its one of the 1^st things that your mind registers as different.

In the throng, we found our hija’s smile and long strong hugs were enjoyed, then into a waiting taxi and the streets of Guate (that’s Guatemala City for you gringos). We know the white lines on the road as lane boundaries, but here and in a lot of places those are motorcycle lanes inbetween the lines of cars, buses, trucks (mostly diesel gag/cough!!!). The city is alive though with people walking, on bikes, babies on back with large loads carried on heads, vendors, shop keepers; throw in a lot of dogs, chickens, goats, horses. The city sights were interrupted by an ambulance that decides to Uturn over the median in front of us. The car next to us was rear ended. Ah, Guatemala!

The ride to Antigua was lovely. Mountains sprang up even before we left the city and our travel for the rest of our stay was up&down and side to side. Hard on queasy stomachs, but what the heck, the food was good (except for the fried chicken place but I’m getting ahead again; can you say” necesito el servicio”). Of course nothing tops a “tuktuk” on the cobblestone streets of Antigua. Now I know how a Christmas tree feels when they put it on the shaker (tuktuk-a 3 wheeled scooter that carries passengers). It was fun though in a “how did I get here” kind of way. Antigua is a lovely Spanish colonial town, in the shadow of volcano Fuego. Shops and restaurants and street markets and of course the centerpiece is the park fountain with 4 bare breasted maidens, the water of life streaming from their breasts! Bonita old churches, young street vendors, candy señor? Flute? Necklace for the pretty lady? Woven bracelets, scarves, blankets. Gracias, no. Lo siento, no. Cuanto cuesta? The bargaining is on! (Sam, I still want the pecking chickens! 10 q only!!) A Buenos dias/tardes/noches from almost every passerby.

Hotel Aurora, muy bien!! Street markets are crowded, lively affairs with tight 2-way traffic in each isle. Tried a new fruit I had never seen before and wanted to buy a sombrero as I can never seem to remember to bring a hat on trips, but came up empty. Street markets are not the tourist markets (I dislike tourists) full of weavings in every form, carvings, bright paintings that all look the same, toys, leather items. I believe there is a large factory somewhere in South America (maybe China) that supplies all the markets around the world. It’s owned by WALMART!!!

Installment 2 next week

The moment you ve been waiting for... The thoughts of Mrs. Donna Boss on her recent visit to Guatemala!!!!

So, today I reread my journal from our trip to Guatemala and all the memories and images came flooding back. It is nearly impossible to use mere words to describe our experience but I will try(not as eloquently as Sam or Bob!) to share with you my visions of Guatemala...

*The joy of seeing Sam as we exited the airport...it had been 11 months since we embraced!

*Entering Antigua...our first stop...bumpy streets of pieced rocks/stones, people everywhere out and about

*Hotel Aurora...women selling their goods at the entrance...beautiful courtyard, lovely room with flatscreen TV(we don't even have this at home!), yet no toilet paper can be flushed down the toilets

*Antigua central park...breasts of life fountain...children selling candy, jewelry, weavings and all sorts of items...one little boy, a bit disheveled with sad eyes selling woven bracelets

*Many people with disabilities and old men and women with cup for begging...one man with no legs or arms...only able to look up at the sky..so much I take for granted, so much I've been given Lord

*Vibrant colors of woven clothing everywhere

*Warm greetings of "Buenos Dias"!!

*Shops of all kinds...Dona Luisa bakery...giant chocolate crinkle cookies!!

Onto Xela, Almolonga and Zunil... Sams "hood"

*No straight roads...hairpin curves, climbing mountains, decending mountains...no thought of wearing seatbelts!

*Boulders or tree limbs instead of orange barrels

*Meeting the family Sam lives with at Albamar Fried Chicken Restaurant...Jose, Maria and Elysa...Warm, kind and attempting to communicate thru Sam's translation(amazed by her fluency in Spanish)

*Unfortunately stomach issues begin to plague us...Bob is pretty sick but thankfully the worst of it is over in 2 hours

*Taking our first chicken bus to Almolonga(no chickens!)...

*Almolonga...concrete built homes with rusted roofs on the side of mountains...valley filled with vegetables growing, meticulously tended...streets with a foot of dirt, ruts, and more looking like dry river beds than roads

*Children calling out, "Samantha"...she is clearly known and cared about

*Watching Maria make tortillas...such tiny skillful hands

*Seeing the church of Jesus Christ gather to worship...alive and well

Santa Maria...volcano that overlooks Zunil...women side by side washing clothes in the river

*a ferris wheel and rides set up for Feria or Fair

*trash strewn everywhere..in the towns, streets and even in the fields

*Chicken bus nationwide strike...buses parked to block anything but local transportation in the whole country, thankfully only one day!

*Sam's big surprise for us on our last evening in Xela...private salsa lessons with Antonio...private is relative term...dance area is half the room...the other half is full of people on treadmills and other workout equipment...they even took pictures of us!

Loved the lessons and learning some new steps with my hubbie.

Onto Lake Atitlan..."the vacation"

*Arrive into Panajackel...after 4 hour shuttle...steep mountains.. section of one lane road because of rain washout in Oct.

*Incredible views of this huge crater lake with 3 massive volcanos, Atitlan, Toliman and San Pedro

*Bustling little town...get Bob and all our luggage onto a ferry boat to go to Santa Cruz la Laguna, village where our house rental is

*Sam and I take a tuk-tuk(scooter like vehicle that has back passenger seat for max. 3 adults) to grocery store to buy supplies... we even find a can of whipped cream for our Thanksgiving pumpkin pie!!!(I have brought with me stuffing, canned pumpkin and evaporated milk)

*Walk up to our house...actually more of a climb...at least 50 steps but well worth each step...beautiful home...glassed in veranda with striking views..flowers everywhere, hummingbirds and butterflies...all the amenities of home...well, except for the large wall spiders and scorpion living behind the bathroom mirror(which Bob and Sam didn't tell me about until the morning we were leaving!)

*5 wonderful days together...talking, sharing, kayaking, playing cards, reading, praising and praying, resting, eating, visiting other lakeshore villages, shopping, collecting the floating rocks of Lake Atitlan, and having a Thanksgiving day of giving thanks for this time together and His provision for it all

Our time comes to a close as we travel back to Antigua for our final night in Guatemala...we were excited to finish our time by seeing Laura and husband Hugo...we had the priveledge to have Laura stay in our home several years ago when she traveled to Cleveland as a soccer coach with Ambassadors in Sports, conducting a soccer camp at our church...a sweet time of fellowship and encouragement to end our 10 days in Guatemala and an amazing blessing to see them in their homeland!

I am truly thankful to have had this opportunity, first to see Sam and the life she is living and those she is seeking to help in Guatemala as well as those dear people who have befriended her...and experience in a small way the kind people and beautiful country and sights of Guatelmala. May He continue to build His church and kingdom in Guatemala and bless this nation...

-Donna (mamasita as Sam calls me!)

long time no see...

happy belated thanksgiving!!!

and happy december!!! (decided to listen to christmas music this morning. bad idea, 75 and sunny with nat king cole is no good)

i've had a busy and beautiful past week, my parents came to visit me here in Guatemala and so there we were hacking through the bush, laughing, and making wonderful memories!

but alas, i'm back in almolonga busy as all get out... english classes once again (my pride and joy), getting caught up with friends here and just trying to stay on top of things.

i have a lot to tell you all, but i'm going to leave it to my parents! yes that's right, reflections of their trip from my lovely parents. get excited...