Ed-ified

Well, here we are just arriving in Petén, Guatemala after two days of travels. This week we are meeting up with our old friend Jesse Eggman who is a full time missionary with Go To Nations here in San Benito. Our plan this week is just to bless them in any way we can as a family, and tag along with their normal ministry here.

Our travels here have gone fairly smoothly. Yesterday we flew nonstop from Dallas to Belize City, a relatively short 2:45 flight. After arriving and braving the long line through immigration, we caught a cab and checked into our hotel in Belize city. Apparently this is not the greatest city to stay, but the Best Western on the city outskirts was very safe and nice (though a bit pricey). The kids swam in the pool and we gorged on a big breakfast buffet this morning in preparation for the 5 hour nonstop bus ride into Guatemala.

Then we took the taxi over to the bus stop and after stocking up on bottled water and snacks climbed aboard. Funny what they can call a “first-class” bus in the third world! At least it was not a “chicken bus” as they call them. But no AC or bathroom. Generally as long as the bus was moving and the windows were open it was fine, though the seats were permanently reclined. The kids did some homework and played on the iPad pretty quietly for the first 3 hours to the border.

At the border we got out, swatted away all the pestering money changers, and paid $.50 each to use the bathroom. After paying our Belize exit fees (kids were free!) we walked out and there was no one and no bus in sight! Holding in our panic for a few minutes we gradually realized we were not actually across the border yet. We had to go around a corner and across a narrow bridge, then get our passports stamped on the Guatemala side. Not very organized.

So now we are in Guatemala! It feels like we are picking up our Spanish quickly, almost like home after all our Mexico visits in the past. It’s nice to understand the language and culture a little bit, unlike going to a completely foreign place like Thailand or India. Had some yummy tacos on Flores by the lake, and we are settled into a super nice three bedroom guest apartment at the mission base here (luxury)!

Tomorrow we will go to the Bible institute and help out with painting.