Friday / Saturday, Communion on a roof top

Waking up to a glossy lake surrounded by mountains and volcanoes is never tiring. We packed up our bags from the hotel we had been staying at and headed to breakfast, knowing we had a full day of traveling ahead. It was a sad day because we had to say goodbye to Pastor Luiz and everyone who we had spent time with at the church all week. After saying our goodbyes, we took about an hour boat ride across the lake to Panajachel (another local community) where we spent the day shopping for a few hours. The boat ride was beautiful and took about an hour, in which most of the males forgot to put sunscreen on their heads. This resulted in burt scalps for the remainder of our trip. The city was amazing! The cobblestone streets were lined with vendors trying to sell handmade bags, bookmarks, and headbands. There was never a dull moment or a time when we were not bombarded with locals trying to sell us items. The experience was fun, however I think after the first hour of shopping everyone was tired and hot and ready to get back on the bus to head down to Antigua where we would end up staying the night at. We ate lunch on the bus, and from there we spent another 3 hours, heads bobbing up and down from the unpaved, winding roads. When we finally reached the city, we were amazed at how clean and 'touristy' it was. This was not the city we were used to looking at! In fact, it didn't even seem like we were in Guatemala anymore! Our hotel was unreal… Seemed as if it was out of a magazine, and I think some of us felt almost out of place staying there after the places we had previously stayed on the trip. However, we enjoyed taking hot showers with water pressure. That night, Wayne took us all out for a pizza dinner where we were able to relax, wind down, and rest our backs from the bus. When we got back to the hotel, our group had to face our 'debriefing' for the night. However, unlike all of the other meetings we had as a team, this one was going to be about re-entry into the United States, and how to deal with some of the emotions we might face as individuals and also as a team. We laughed, we cried, and we wondered how God would pull everyone together to defeat such overwhelming emotions. But isn't that like us to question God? As we started winding down and getting ready for bed, I think there was a sense of peace that fell over the group… The knowledge that God would be with us every step of the way, even though one of the most daunting tasks of our trip… Coming home. Saturday I can't say that having communion on a rooftop with 18 new wonderful friends wasn't one of the most beautiful experiences we all have ever had. Not only were we on a roof, but we were able to see an active volcano, be surrounded by beautiful buildings and greenery. We had a serene time of prayer and communion, and were able to share some ending thoughts and encouragement about the trip. We went downstairs to breakfast, packed up, and were on our way. Sadly, we reached the airport and were forced with the grim reality that 'home' was waiting for us just a plane ride away. I think some of us left a part of ourselves in Guatemala… Our home away from home. Each individual on the trip learned something new about not only themselves, but about God. Our group was truly unique in a sense that God placed us together in a miraculous way to do His will. And none can deny that His will was accomplished on this trip… God was glorified.