Guatemala: Day 6

Saturday.
Alright, this post is a day late (sorry… I am pura Guatemalteca. That’s how we roll down here…)
Mucho Gusto, mi nombre es Kat(rina), and I am host to your fine youngsters here in Tizate. There was a gap in the blog schedule, so I volunteered to fill the “Saturday” slot.
Saturday: started with the Best Carnival this town has ever seen!!!!! (A HUGE thank-you to Robin Dueck and Nancy Friesen who, I understand, had a hand in donating supplies and organizing this event). One thing that was totally unprecedented was the appearance of several mothers with their infants…not a crowd that usually comes out to things, but the carnival attracted a LOT of attention because it was so FUN! My headcount was 70 or so Guatemalans. Pretty incredible.

Saturday.
Alright, this post is a day late (sorry… I am pura Guatemalteca. That’s how we roll down here…)
Mucho Gusto, mi nombre es Kat(rina), and I am host to your fine youngsters here in Tizate. There was a gap in the blog schedule, so I volunteered to fill the “Saturday” slot.
Saturday: started with the Best Carnival this town has ever seen!!!!! (A HUGE thank-you to Robin Dueck and Nancy Friesen who, I understand, had a hand in donating supplies and organizing this event). One thing that was totally unprecedented was the appearance of several mothers with their infants…not a crowd that usually comes out to things, but the carnival attracted a LOT of attention because it was so FUN! My headcount was 70 or so Guatemalans. Pretty incredible.
Lunch.
Hit the Chicken Bus for ANTIGUA (much deserved reprieve from a good first week of work.) Seeing as it was Market Day, I led the troops through the colorful medley of both vegetables and Mayan women selling their goods all splayed out in front of them (I never tire of seeing this.) This in turn led to the maze of “The Guatemalan Market”, a sort of indoor, seemingly-chaotic (but in reality, not) series of corridors selling all manner of things. Took me three years to get the hang of the layout and not get lost and now I get a kick out of shocking foreigners with how utterly un-North-American it is (raw chickens laying out to be sold…no refrigeration in sight…).
It was fun.

Sent the troops off to hone their bartering skills in the Artisan market and they seemed to do alright, seeing as they were loaded up with colorful goods when we met up several hours later.
Caught a bus to the church to join the youth group for their youth time. Had some great praise time with them, Elevate performed their two drimes (In the Light was met with wild applause when Jesus (aka: Dan) came out victorious….PROUD PARENT SYNDROME, you all would have been so proud, I was), and then we played some ridiculous relay games (I think Brandie got footage).
Walked over to Julianna & Jacobo’s house (pastors), and gave our stomachs a reprieve from local food and garbled down some Domino’s Pizza. (a-MEN!).
Had an eventful/uneventful ride home in a pickup and called ‘er a day.
kat.
Post script: Thoroughly enjoying the presence of my church mixing with Global Shore via the presence of ELEVATE! Thank you for entrusting this team to us. Their energy and enthusiasm is contagious. You have an awesome bunch of teens in this team. BLESSINGS NORTHVIEW! I miss you and love you! Que DIOS LOS BENDIGA!