We have hit our halfway mark today, and in reflection thus far I can honestly say this is the best mission trip on which I've had the privilege to serve. The team gets along famously, respects each other and is working hard being Christ's hands and feet. No one is complaining, gossiping, nit picking or being difficult. What an honor to serve with such kind and compassionate people.
Yesterday we were given fresh tamales made from corn grown on the property of the house build. We also were served the best tea! And the family, and the community in which they live, were so grateful to receive us and the new structure. They pitched in to help, and showed us just how important honest gratuity is to the human condition. Lesson learned.
This morning we bumped into another mission team at the McDonald's in Coban. They were heading home after spending a week as a medical mission team. Very kind people. The only thing was that just as we were sitting down to eat, and getting to know the other team a man working on a roof across the street electrocuted himself then fell off the building. Our resident nurse, Katie, and our host, Chris, as well as medical professionals from the other team went to check on him. Katie sensed a slight pulse, but noticed bad burns on his chest, and worse, indications of a bad head injury. The medics arrived within 5 minutes of the tragedy and whisked him away. Unfortunately we do not know his condition. We are asking that you pray for him, his family and those who witnessed the accident, including several of our team members.
We are now at the Lutheran Center in Antigua with Chris. It is a good place to be after such a traumatic day. This is a peaceful place. And we found out the Mayan women who sold their textiles here have purchased the place with some Lutheran women!! Proceeds go to help bring water filters and stoves to the village they are from. And, our good friends and missionaries Dick Rutgers and Pat Duff stopped by to have dinner with us. They will not be with us this week, so we appreciated the time we spent with them. God is certainly good when we are in need of his strength and compassion.
Tomorrow half of us will go to the orphanage and half will go to Chris's shop in Chimaltenango.
Cathy
