Looking Back

Recently when traveling from Sacapulas toward Uspantan, we looked back. Wow, what a view!! You can tell that the road goes higher, higher, higher.



But isn't it pretty?

The following picture shows Rio Negro, the major river in this area, with the town Sacapulas located beside the river. Click on the picture and enlarge it. A couple of things to notice:
1. Note the river...quite a river flowing by, huh? Remember it IS rainy season and we have had some major rains recently. (On the bypass of town, the bridge and part of the road washed out from Tropical Storm Agatha. They have been "repaired and are passable now.)
2. Note the white three story building just to the left of the bridge. This is the hotel, Hospedaje Tujaal, where we spent the night.
3. Note the bridge...I'll have a closer view later.


We "passed the night" at Hotel Hospedaje Tujaal ("Sacapulas' in the Quiche' language). The room was little...you opened the door had 2 and a half feet walking space beside the bed directly to the bathroom, 2 inches on the right side of the bed to the wall, and 6 inches at the foot where the television sat in the "bumped out" window.


But no worry, there was this outside sitting space.


At the rail, there was an overview of the river below.


Here you can see the bridge. The steel framed part is the one lane "rebar" bridge. Interesting...and loud as a cars pass all during the night too.


When we checked in, we inquired as to the availablity of hot water; but alas, there was none. However, David saw the "widow maker" in the morning and knew he could take a warm shower.


After a few minutes, he noticed a "smell," looked up and saw smoke coming from the box on the wall by the shower head. Yep, they aren't called "widow makers" without reason. Needless to say I thought my hair didn't need washing that morning...I could definitely wait until we got to Uspantan in the evening!

But what can you say to a "passing the night" in a "clean comfortable" place for $13? It's not the Ritz or the Red Roof Inn, but it's not bad.

Looking back...priorites change...ministry reshapes priorities.

New Roads to Travel

You have walked with us as we traveled the roads through Chiquimula, Jocotán, Camotán, San Juan Ermita, and Olopa but these days we are learning new towns. Now you will hear of Chichicastenango, Santa Cruz del Quiche, San Andres Sajcabaja, Uspantan and many others.

You have seen as we have traveled dry, curvy, ROCKY, high drop off the side roads. Now we are traveling...the same type roads just add in the slip and slide of the rainy season.

We spent several days this week on some very remote dirt and rocky roads, with enough rain to make them muddy and squishy. It is a little unnerving to slip and slide on a road on the side of the mountain, especially when there are some pretty significant washouts on the sides. It was several hours of no relaxing the muscles. Thanks to the Lord, your prayers, and 4-wheel drive, we made it! Some of the Quiché population pockets are in remote areas. We have quite a few more areas like this to research.




Some of the area we traveled reminded us of Georgia...tall pine trees and red clay. I couldn't help but laugh. I've said that the schools in Georgia pipe in red clay for their playgrounds...here they must have also for this soccer field...nothing but red clay!



It continues to rain, so we will wait until tomorrow to go back, hoping for a little sunshine. We are having progress in working this massive area. Thanks for praying, and as the Lord reminds you, keep it up.

We go so that they may hear the Truth and worship ONLY HIM!

Sunday, July 4, 2010

Sunday, we joined our church at 6:30 AM to travel to Esquintla. What a beautiful drive south down the mountain to a recreation park. We arrived in time for folks to spread out and "stake your spot" and begin with a little breakfast.


Sweet praise time opened the worship, followed by the preaching.




Several came forward to receive Christ.



These 20 were the ones to be baptized today.



The baptism took place in one corner swimming pool. Rather than changing into "baptismal attire," they wore their regular clothing. All remained in the pool, forming a semi circle around the pastor and chairman of deacons and the candidate until after the final person was baptized. What a priviledge to be a part of this special service! What a joy to see and experience the FREEDOM from sin that Christ brings to a life...Eternal Freedom...Eternal Joy!





After the baptism service, the activites continued with soccer, swimming, visiting, and lunch. What a special church family we enjoy at Iglesia Bautista Cananan.


This little fellow and his mom were sitting near us during the service. He is just too precious not to include. I wish I had taken a photo of him in his tshirt...in English, it read "My aunt rides a HARWEE!" Too precious!

THE Derrumbe (Landslide/Rockslide)

For our facebook and blog readers this will be a repeat but it bears worth repeating. We covet your prayers as we travel. We covet your prayers for the many people who are affected by derrumbes which are especially prevelent during the rainy season.


When we first visited San Cristobal in May 2009, we visited the site of the massive derrumbe which had occurred in January 2009.


From the former road, we looked down at the new road that had been constructed to enable people to still travel the only northern east/west highway.

We went back in September 2009, the view was still much the same...massive destruction. As people passed along the new road, often the noise of rocks cracking could still be heard. Rocks and land continued to slide down the mountain.

When we visited again in September 2009, trucks and cars continued to use the new lower highway even if it meant passing by huge boulders which could, with just a little shake, completely crush the truck.


It is a long road to travel.

A long road to travel that still has continual slides that constantly change the overall view.


This past week in June 2010, we entered from the other side of the derrumbe on a misty afternoon, praying the Lord to hold the rain until we were safely on the other side.


It just looks differently as we enter from the west side.


We were trying to take pictures that give the total view but it is just impossible.


Many cars and trucks just like this pass through the path everyday.

This view is to the right of the car looking down to the river far in the distance which received much rocks and earth from the original slide.


Look at the size of some of these boulders...they could crush a car very easily.


Heading up to the top of the road, this was the view of the overall derrumbe.


We are climbing up from the low highway.


Not a really good photo but was taken backwards as we reached the top and reentered the former highway.

As the rains come, some landslides cover parts or all of the roads. They can also wash out the earth under the roads and roads can collapse. Travel is interesting to say the least. Remember us before the Throne!

Why we ask you to pray...

This week we began to travel into our new area of research, the Eastern Quiche. It was a profitable first journey but as we traveled we surely were glad that you were praying for us.

This is rainy season and we have experienced some heavy rains. First there was tropical storm Agatha which racked havoc in many areas, washing out bridges and causing mudslides. Other heavy rains have followed and each has only added to the original damage.


As we looked to the left, we saw the large landslide. Even as we were stopped to take pictures, we could still see rocks tubling down the mountainside.


This is a major highway artery of Guatemala...buses, trucks, and cars travel this road all during the day and night.


We looked ahead and saw this side of the mountain had slid down...before it had been a beautiful grassy tree covered mountain...but no more.


Many times (more than we would care to count) we rounded the curve to find that rocks had covered one lane or the other or both lanes. Here the road had been almost completely covered and we drove to the far right (yep, close to the edge) beside the tuktuk (glorified golf cart used as a taxi) which was waiting for a new wheel.


As we drove through areas like this, we asked the Lord to hold back the sides.

Now you can understand better why we ask you to pray as we travel and why we so depend on your prayers for us as we go. Keep them flowing...we have many miles to travel as we study the Eastern Quiche.