The First and the Last...

of November, that is. Why has it been a month since the last post? There are many things that I could list, but I know you don't want excuses, just results. Right? Just suffice it to say, I am sorry that I have not been dilent in posting this month but I will try, in the next several days, to bring things up to normal.

November Highlight I:
We were thrilled to have Miriam and Mike, our oldest daughter and husband, visit during the month. "Flat Stanley" had arrived earlier so he traveled with us during the week as I wrote his journal for a third grade class in Martinez, GA.

Saturday -- arrival then "lupper" (that's lunch and supper combined) and a little football at a missionary friend´s before arrival at home.

Sunday --after church, we traveled to Panajachel to spend time at Lake Atitlán. It is definitely one of the most beautiful places in the world.

Monday -- a boatride across the lake to shop and photograph Santiago then enjoy a typical lunch at El Pescador Restaurante (The Fisherman Restaurant) before returning to Pana to experience the zipline there. David, Miriam, and Mike enjoyed the experience while Carol and I enjoyed our time watching the monkeys in the trees and the ones that zipped across our view.

Tuesday -- a leisurely departure and drive home and on into the city for our introduction as new missionaries at the Guatemala Baptist Convention. Dinner at Pizza Hut lessoned the pain for Miriam and Mike as they sat during the afternoon meeting...totally in Spanish.

Wednesday -- back to the capital to view the Relief map, a wonderful to scale depiction of the entire country before an afternoon of shopping in Antigua.

Thursday -- a gorgeous ride to the Pacific. Our drive takes us between volcanoes -Acoctenango and Fuego on the right and Agua on the left. Volcán Fuego was spitting her stuff high into the air and made some fantastic photos. A little further down the drive, Volcán Picaya, also shooting into the air, came into view. Gorgeous photos. A walk down the Pacific shore, playing with another "Wilson" (a washed up coconut to throw and retrieve from the ocean, over and over again - one of David's favorite things at the beach here), cooling off in the huge pool and enjoying delicious foods occupied the rest of the day.

Friday -- a must for Miriam and Mike...playing in the ocean. Huge waves and a STRONG undercurrent made for some careful and hilarious fun. An afternoon drive home carried us up river on the ferry (previous post) and a long drive up the mountain to home.

Saturday -- a "typical" drive through the country for us, carried them over some "interesting" roads yet spectacular views before and afternoon and evening of football...Go DAWGS!! Miriam, an AUBURN fan, and her folks, GEORGIA fans, watched the game of the year together...Go DAWGS!

Sunday -- after church and dinner another leisurely afternoon shopping and enjoying coffee and the atmosphere of Antigua.

Monday -- a tearful goodbye.

Well, I had some fantastic photos of the week...but...last week, my computer crashed leaving me without these new photos. I am trying to recreate many of them but it will be later before they could be viewed...and you wanted results pronto.

November 1 – Day of the Dead, Día de los Muertos

November 1 is celebrated in Guatemala with a combination of Catholic rituals and Mayan practices as a day to honor deceased loved ones. Beginning early in the morning before daybreak, the family will visit the cemetery where their loved ones are buried to spend time cleaning and repainting the graves. Often favorite photos and other memory items are brought to the grave where the family is gathered. The original intent was to communicate with the souls of the departed in order that they hear the prayers and comments of those who gathered. Kite flying is also included. It was believed that the flying kites communicated with the spirit world – with the flight by the wind the bad spirits were frighten away from the people and with the colorful flying paper good spirits were attracted.


Several customs are an integral part of Guatemala’s celebration of the Day of the Dead.

1. Respect for the dead – graves are cleaned and painted, incense is burned, prayers are offered and the loved ones are honored with flowers and candles. Orange marigolds along yellow and white chrysanthemums are the most often used flowers for the cemetery. Often picnics are carried to the cemetery as the family spends the day there.
2. Kite festivals – the most spectacular is held in Santiago Sacatepéquez. The kites here are judged and winners are awarded in four categories – women’s, children’s, exhibition and flight. But whether or not a town has a contest, kites are flown. The most traditional are handmade of natural products – yucca flour paste, bamboo for the larger kites or castilla (wheat type plant) for the smaller kites, light weight handmade paper with tails of woven cloth. Others use tissue paper for the lightweight high flying kites.
3. Horse race – the most notorious is held in Todos Santos, a highland village near Lake Atítlan. Not an ordinary horse race, riders try to stay on the horses while having drink after drink. The last man on the horse wins.
4. Fiambre – this traditional food is eaten only once a year as the traditional dish of the Day of the Dead. It is served cold and contains cheese, meat, eggs and vegetables cured in vinegar.

Although many of the traditional beliefs of the communication with the dead spirits did not seem to precipitate the flying of the kites today, the celebrations are still steeped with traditional pagan beliefs of prayers to the dead for salvation and spirit release. Because of these foundations, we found that believers did not take part in the celebrations. Instead they have found that true spirit release comes in the forgiveness of personal sin through the death, burial, resurrection of Jesus Christ alone. No longer seeking to have prayers answered through the spirits of those who have died, they can enter boldly to the throne of God. They can live victoriously through the Spirit who dwells within. No longer bound by traditions, no longer bound by the one who enslaves the heart and mind but FREE in the love of the Father!