Finally Getting to Work

Another busy day in Guatemala!

First, we will talk a little bit about yesterday, Day of the Dead.  We followed a processional from the church to the cemetary.  The cemetary was filled with people, and vendors selling things.  Right outside Father Greg's tomb, an alter was set up.  Throughout the service, the names of deceased loved ones were read.  It was an honor to hear the names of members of Gloria Dei and Salem alongside names of local people who have died.

After the service we walked to the Lake to watch the kite festival.  Kites are a big part of Day of the Dead in Guatemala.  They symbolize the connection between the living and the dead.  People made these huge kites (bigger than a person) and flew them over the lake!

Lunch was a traditional salad called Fiambra (pickeled vegetables and meats) that everyone eats on Day of the Dead.  In the afternoon we drove to another town on the Lake, Santiago.  In Santiago we visited the site where Father Stan Rother was murdered then did a little shopping.

After dinner, singing practice and devotions, a family came to visit us.  Abilino, his wife Manuela and their two daughters came to visit.  Abilino is the god son of a Salem member who has visited Guatemala many times.



Today was our first work day!  We drove in the back of a pick up truck to the town were we built stoves-the view on the drive was amazing.  Our two work sites were far away from each other.  The first task was to carry all of the stove bricks up many hills, which was a hard task....or so we thought, until we were passed by kids, and mothers with babies carrying bricks.

Building the stoves was fun, hard, but fun.  On Monday we will return to build more stoves at different houses in the same community.