Today I am at home preparing to leave for Guatemala. My airport ride will be at my house at 3:10am. When we arrive in Guatemala City we will drive a few hours by minivan to the San Lucas Mission on the shores of Lake Atitlan. I am excited for myself and excited for the students I will help to lead. I expect the trip will be both challenging and inspiring. San Lucas is very beautiful and poor. Last time the accommodations were…well…I’ll use a phrase here that we northerners are accustomed to – rustic. For me, the challenge of the trip comes with truth that all peoples equally deserve good lives – All are loved by God. Seeing how our human systems of government, business, and class can fail, and seeing people being hurt by these systems can be more than a little heart wrenching. Simultaneously, the natural beauty of Guatemala and people’s hospitality are very inspiring! I am looking forward to seeing Father Gregory Schaeffer of the mission. He is one of the greatest leaders that I have ever met and he truly walks along side of the people in his parish – not in front, and not behind. Many of the people in San Lucas show us how to love our neighbors in ways that we would never imagine here in the US. We will travel to Guatemala to make friends, offer help when we can, appreciate the country’s beauty and learn to be better global citizens. I appreciate people taking the time to read my postings and will try to send updated pictures or comments when I am able. Internet access can be difficult, so please be patient.

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