Serving in Guate - guatepics

February 2010
Dinner and good times with friends from the States.

March 2010
DI Instant Challenge Practice Day

March 2010
DI Instant Challenge Practice Day

March 2010
10th Annual Avon Run/Walk Against Breast Cancer

March 2010
10th Annual Avon Run/Walk Against Breast Cancer

March 2010
10th Annual Avon Run/Walk Against Breast Cancer

March 2010
10th Annual Avon Run/Walk Against Breast Cancer

March 2010
Eighth Grade Class/Middle School Banquet

March 2010
The boys and Me!

March 2010
I even got a shot with Joseph!!!

March 2010
Senior Class/High School Banquet

March 2010
Senior Class/High School Banquet

March 2010
The Ladies of the Senior Class

April 2010
DI preparations

April 2010
Di preparations

April 2010
DI Team: Joon, Yo Han, Jin Won, Samuel, Kang Won, Do Young

April 2010
Di Competition

April 2010
The Hold It Monkeys!

Dr. Seuss Harvest Fair
Two Whos: Myself and Trisha, Senior Sponsors

Dr. Seuss Harvest Fair
Su Chong plays the Cat in the Hat while working the diner.

Dr. Seuss Harvst Fair
Rosie and Abby: Sweethearts of the kissing booth!

2009 High School Retreat
Rosie helps build

2009 High School Retreat
Eric, Ha Young, and Su Chong man the shield

2009 High School Retreat
Ha Young puts on the finishing touches

2009 High School Retreat
Lauren dons the helmet

2009 High School Retreat
Ammi displays the spear

2009 High School Retreat
The competitors in the Greek armour competition display their wares

2009 High School Retreat
During the Greek drama: Josh, Hye Young, Carlos, and Lauren

2009 High School Retreat
All dressed up for the banquet: Eric, Ana, Abby, Lauren, Ha Young, Hye Young, Su Chong, and Spencer

2009 High School Retreat
Hye Young and Ammi

2009 High School Retreat
Hye Young, Eric, Su Chong

2009 High School Retreat
The Cyclops and her Goat (aka Me and Javi!)

2009 High School Retreat
With thanks and praise for an amazing retreat!

Class of 2010
Senior Retreat

Class of 2010
Problem Solving

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Building Teams
Team Building

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Class of 2010
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Welcome Back Night
Our Site Manager checking the progress of our tower

Measuring
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Laura
enjoying the build

More Measuring
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Happy Builders
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National Anthem
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Guatemalan Grandmas:
It's Now or Never - for Peace, Justice, and No More Impunity

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President's Interview on CNN
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Protestors from Chimaltenango
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Peace Memorial
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Another Peaceful March
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At dusk,
the crowd began to gather at the Obelisco, a well-trafficked area of the city.

Prior to the event,
the organizers were approached by press, but also police wanting to know how long the event would last and what they wer

The Obelisco
is Guatemala's Monument to Independence.

At the bottom
is Guatemala's Declaration of Independence.

"Guatemalan:
This flame symbolizes our supreme desire for liberty and justice. Venerate it, respect, and never permit it to be extin

Prior to marching,
the crowd sang the National Anthem (yes...ALL the verses!...for those of you who know...this is quite possibly the longe

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At dark,
everyone lit their candles and began walking the heavily-traveled circle of the Obelisco. The crowd, though not large,

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I don't remember how many times we circled,
but everyone: moms, dads, kids, grandparents, were content to do so peacefully as many times as we were allowed.

At one point during the march,
the President's motorcade rolled past, presumably taking him to meet with the president of Thailand who is here. We wer

At the end,
people were asked to leave their candles in front of where the eternal flame should be burning.

Proverbs 28:5
Justice makes no sense to the evilminded; those who seek God know it inside and out.

Peace and Justice
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98% of all murders go unpunished
...on average 17 people are killed here EACH DAY...you do the math

Cops
there were surprisingly few

Party Flag and Guatemalan Flag
They were both lowered to half staff by the mayor of the city. The party flag is usually white.

No More Violence
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Javier
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Violence
is the only recourse of the incompetent

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No More Violence:
We demand justice

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Discombobulating Randominators
Esther, Josh, Amanda

Discombobulating Randominators
Amanda, Josh, SuJi, Kevin, Nolan, Marynes

Discombobulating Randominators
Planning for their Surprise Element

Me & Keila
(the gracious older sister of one of the team members)

Javi & Me
after a long day of di-ing

Ginny & Rene's Wedding
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Greg & Gail
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Javi & Me
Superstar Pose

Rene and Suzy
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Suzy & Me
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Palm Sunday Alfombra
Zone 1, Guatemala City

Palm Sunday Alfombra
Zone 1, Guatemala City

Ramos
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Globos
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Trisha Williams
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Procecion de las Capuchinas
Palm Sunday Zone 1, Guatemala City

Leaving the church
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La Imagen de Jesus
Las Capuchinas Zone 1, Guatemala City

La Imagen
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La Imagen
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Alfombra
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Alfombra
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Alfombra
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Alfombra
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Alfombra
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Alfombra
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Family starting their alfombra
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Zone 1
Palm Sunday

Selling Ramos
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Carrying the imagen
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Cucuruchos
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Delicious Start!
cinnamon rolls from Coach!!

Katy & Lauren
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Johnny & Timothy
my travel companions

Hye Young & Lauren
awaiting their work

Eric & Timothy
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Ammi
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Katy
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Ha Young
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Chipping
my job

View from worksite
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Poor Carlos!
Ana, Rosie, Carlos, Lauren, Me

Me!
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My chipped wall
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Me & Trisha
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Resting
Hannah, Lauren, Eric, Katy, Hye Young

Johnny
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Ana & Spencer
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Spencer
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Rosie, Ana, Carlos
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Hye Young & Ha Young
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Jae Won & Su Chong
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View from worksite
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Lauren
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Chipping
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Ammi, Lauren, Ana
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Carlos & Katy
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Lauren, Ammi, Ana
Queens of the Mountain

Coach, Timothy, Spencer
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Spencer
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Eric
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View from worksite
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Fuzzy Sheep
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The Little Girls' Room
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Inside!
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Kids & Soccer...of course
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Gang Getting Ice Cream
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Eric
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Anthony
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After Hours Fun
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Class of 2010
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Middle School DI
Getting down with costume making

Yo Han tries on his party crown!
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Angie enjoys a four-legged friend!
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An intense game of chess
(The boys were the big winners over Javier...going to prove two brains ARE better than one!)

All Together!
Middle School English Enrichment...Angie, Do Young, Mrs. Alvarez, Yo Han, Rebeca, and Elisa

New Friends!
Javier and I were thrilled to meet new friends Sarah and her brother Howard when they were here with their mission team building and ministering near Mazatenango.

Still more New Friends!!
It was a busy and blessed week as we were able to meet up with another group of family friends who were here enjoying Guatemala: Walt, Fran, and Mark!

Sixth Timing Running!
On this year's Avon Run Against Breast Cancer, I was joined by high school students Pamela and Katy, and our first grade teacher Jana Kuhn. This is our pre-running pose!

The Pink Flash
Jana was so excited to finish her first 5K in great time!! Congratulations Jana!!!

Here I Come!!!
Finishing one minute slower than last year, I was still happy with my time and mostly with being able to help a great cause!!

We're All Winners!!
Here we are with our medals held high! God is Good!!!

Heather & Trisha
(Miss Houskamp and Miss Williams, that is)

Pretty Ladies
Mrs. Cojon, Miss Williams, Me, Miss Houskamp

Javi & Me
all gussied up!

Felicita & Me
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James & Feli
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Me & Corinne
We were so glad she came back to visit!!

This semester, as all, was chock full of events...visits from Stateside friends here on their own mission work, all kinds of DI events, two banquets, and even an Avon Run/Walk (at seven months pregnant!!).  Enjoy the sights!! :)

This fall the senior class participated in two special events:  Harvest Fair and High School Retreat.  While both were tons of fun, they also provided opportunities for the kids involved to grow closer to God through service, worship, and prayer.

The school year is off and running...we're starting the fourth week of classes already!!  The first few events have been Senior Retreat, where the Class of 2010 spent time preparing themselves for their final year of high school by setting goals and making plans for the year; and Welcome Back Night...a night of family fun for everyone!! :)

For the fourth time in a month, Javier and I joined the ranks of those here in Guatemala crying out for justice and an end to government corruption.

The unfolding story is long and convoluted and, I realize, of little interest and importance to most people outside of the situation, so while I do believe it is important to continue to get this story out, I will try to relay only the highlights here:

At this point in 2009, more than 2,500 people have been murdered in this country of only 13 million. (That exceeds the number in neighboring Mexico with 100 million residents.) This year is on pace to be the most violent in the nation's history (outside of the civil war years). Approximately 2% of all of those murders will involve an investigation, trial, and punishment. This is due to the overwhelming power of corruption and drug money that has a stronghold on all parts of the government. Guatemalans are tired. They are attempting to ban together to demand some sort of accountability and change. They are tired of being afraid and unheard.

This protest, unlike others we've been to, involved public prayer from leaders in the Jewish, Catholic, and Mayan communities and the support of different socio-economic parts of the society; it took place simultaneously in other cities; and the organizers presented specific actions that those attending can take to help.

Guatemalans are to be commended for their ability to peacefully and freely oppose their leaders, (a blessing in light of recent events in Iran). Guatemalans do not oppose an open democratic form of government, as the local state-run media would have people believe. This group is not trying to overthrow the government. What people oppose is the fact that "democracy" here is only a 'pc' label covering corrupt officials and tactics. Guatemalans want true democracy and freedom, which will never exist as long as rampant injustice is allowed to flourish. And although the government here does allow for these demonstrations, they are not heavily covered in the mainstream media (which is the basis for any news that comes out of the country).

This Friday, people will be confronting the DA to demand an explanation for his inaction in following through with the key Rosenberg investigation, in which the president, his wife, and other key officials have been accused of murder and cover up.

You can read more about it here:
http://www.economist.com/world/americas/displaystory.cfm?story_id=13703911

The movement for justice is itself in crisis as various groups are now polarizing, NOT on the issue of demanding justice for EVERYONE in Guatemala, but on the issue of WHO is doing the demanding. The government has successfully played the "class" card and for me, it's a very sad turn of events to know that people would actually refuse to lend a voice because of assumed differences. The story here is long and convoluted and morphing every day.

But here is what I know and believe: everyone needs to be interested in justice for everyone else or else there will continue to be no justice for anyone.

Last night we joined a small group of citizens who very clearly cried out for peace and justice for ALL Guatemalans...regardless of social standing, hometown, occupation, race, age, or any other ridiculous "difference" the enemy wants us to believe in.

The president of Guatemala has been accused of murder.  As the president, he has immunity from prosecution (from anything).  Guatemalans are trying to find a peaceful way to have him step down while the investigation takes place.  His responses to their requests have included: "...over my dead body," and "They don't know who they're messing with." 

Today tens of thousands of people marched for justice.  Javier and I joined them, prayer walking and asking God to intervene and bring peace, safety, and justice...today and for all the days to come.

This latest album has pics from the Destination ImagiNation tournament and visits with friends!  Enjoy!!

The Palm Sunday processions in Guatemala City are my favorites!  This year Javier and I took our friend Trisha, who had never been with us.  The procession starts at 6am, so it's always an early morning, but always a very beautiful one.  The carpets that are laid on the city streets for the procession to pass over take hours to create.  Mostly they are created by families who live nearby.  They are made from colored sawdust or woodshavings, flowers, fruits, pine needles, anything families have available.  This year we noticed fewer alfombras than usual, and those that were there, were much less elaborate than in past years.  I think a combination of economic woes and recent security issues in the city have kept people from fully participating in this tradition.  I'm sure glad there was nothing that could keep Christ from making the first ride into Jerusalem.  God is Good!!

Just thought I'd see how this picture page works!  I'm hopeful that it will be a fruitful way to spread the love!!