Antigua to Menlo Park

It’s hard to believe that we are heading back to California today! We feel like we are in another world. Most us had little or no opportunities to phone, email or get news from home for 12 days.

Steve offered to take those interested to breakfast at 7:00 am to Doña Luisa’s restaurant close to the hotel. The rest of us slept in a little and packed our bags. Steve was worried about traffic because there have been some demonstrations by students which have been blocking streets in Guatemala City. They are protesting against the Government’s plan to raise tuition. As he feared, we ran into bumper-to-bumper traffic on the way back. There was no other road back so we had to endure the traffic and anxiously watch the time. In San Cristobel, Steve and Eric decided to take a turn and go another direction. This proved to be a good idea. We arrived in time for our flight and there was enough time to turn in the vans It was an exciting ride as we all experienced some very creative driving by Steve, Eric, Jeff and Al in order to get to the airport on time.

Our flight to Houston landed on time and by the time we went through customs and took the airport train to our next gate they were just beginning to board our final flight to San Jose. We said goodbye to Evelyn, Christian, Barbara, Jeff, Donna and Kaitlyn in Houston. I forgot to mention that we said goodbye to Steve, Laura, Eric and Al in Guatemala. Al is returning to Antigua for a 1-week language course. Steve, Laura and Eric are traveling to Nicaragua for an anniversary celebration for their association of pastors and churches in Nicaragua.

We’re just about to land in San Jose. It will be strange for our team to split up and go our separate ways. One of the huge blessings has been the friendships we have developed during this trip. We had lots of time to tell stories, laugh, cry, and care for each other in a way that is rare in the culture in which we live. We are hoping to see each other at 11:05 Café on Sunday. I’m sure we will all be missing each other!!! Que Dios les bendiga!