LTIP trip to Guatemala
Leaving Guatemala
I’m here in the Guatemala airport. It’s early Thursday afternoon, and I am waiting to board my flight to Chicago. Unfortunately, it seems there is no wifi here, so I may have to wait a while to post this.
I’m heading back a day earlier than the rest of the group to attend a District Council meeting tomorrow. Since Bro. Pat will not be there, I will do his report on the trip and on the new LTIP cohort.
Despite being closed for a week, today the airport is open and thriving. Once again, it seems, this LTIP tour is singularly blessed. Yesterday, no one knew for sure if flights would be operating today. But today and tomorrow, as scheduled and God willing, we will be able to get back home with no delays, unlike so many other travelers and groups.
During our nearly three weeks here, we have witnessed the devastating effects of both a volcanic eruption and a tropical storm with its ensuing landslides. And yet, the only real challenge we faced was having to find an alternate route to San Lucas last Sunday when we found out the road was closed. Max and his boat got us there and back!
I have mentioned this to a lot of people: we have felt the power of the prayers directed our way. Things have worked out for us, despite some significant potential odds. So often on the buses and trucks here in Guatemala, we see the phrase “Dios Me Guia” (God is guiding me), and only a slight alteration is needed to describe our experience: “God is guiding us”. There is no doubt hat we have been in the hands of Providence.
What a blessing to be with Adam, Cullen, Jon, and Steve, as well as Brothers Pat, Jim, and Marty as we travelled this journey together. The Lasallian spirit and hospitality we experienced in so many places was outstanding. The beauty we saw on our many drives though the country was often spectacular. But perhaps what touched all of us the most is the joy and gentleness of the people here. Their unwavering faith is humbling; their sense of community, especially in the face of adversity, is an inspiration.
My heart is filled with gratitude for this very special experience. Thanks to all of you for your interest and support throughout our Lasallian journey here in Guatemala.
¡Vive Jesus en nuestras corazones—-por siempre!
Live Jesus in our hearts—-forever!
Bro. Larry
“Got more cars than a beach got sand” – DMB
Yesterday we left from San Lucas for Guatemala City. We decided to leave a day early from San Lucas for security reasons, namely, making sure we had a flight home. Our trip started off with a boat ride from San Lucas to Panajachel where we picked up the van and headed off down the road. Though it is somewhat hard to make out in the picture we ran into a traffic jam. If you look closely you will be able to see cars lined up bumper to bumper, stopped because of a mudslide that occured 30 minutes before we got there. Luckily some machines showed up an hour later and two hours later we were moving again. However, that was only one of a few slow downs. The trip took us almost all day but it was amazing to see how fast the roads were cleaned up with the limited resources that they have down here.
Today we are heading into the city and this evening we will have one of our last meetings for class. Tomorrow we will have our final early in the day and then have the rest of the day to get packed and rested for the trip that lies ahead of us. We miss you all,
Love Steve and the LTIP Group!
San Lucas Toliman
Hello everyone from San Lucas. Tropical storm watch day 3. Yesterday we finally got a chance to get dirty as we helped some locals clear their road from all the mud. After 3 hours of intense shoveling we escaped with a only few blisters, hardly comparable to what the people who live here have had to deal with.
This morning we learned that a small community of homes right outside San Lucas was hit badly by mudslides. Over 20 families lost their homes and for sure one family of six has lost their lives. There is the possibility that many more have died as well. We’re not sure how much you all are hearing about this in the States but for us it’s an entirely real experience and we are right here in the middle of it. Still, it seems that by Providence alone we have been spared on numerous accounts from really being affected by it. Even now, as other volunteer groups struggle to make travel plans, we are continuing our journey to Guatemala City, leaving in about a half an hour. The airport is planned to be open by this afternoon.
In the coming weeks San Lucas and its residents will struggle to get back to normal and maybe even to survive. The price of food and supplies has already doubled, and all but one road to the city is entirely wiped out. The one road that is passable is dangerous; last night people were robbed and assaulted while using it. A huge truck transporting water to the town is now half buried in the mud, a fitting symbol of how difficult it is for resources to reach the community. Chris, the volunteer coordinator here, has taken our e-mails and will keep us updated. The danger for these people is far from over so please keep them in your thoughts and prayers. By God’s grace we will be in the capital later today.
Thanks for everything,
Cullen
