Drew and Peter at the Grand Plaza
Star Wars shot
Julie, Geoff, and Tommy
Climbing the steps
Spider Monkey

Casa Shalom


Petthehorse.com

What a trip.

In myriad ways, we were able to experience God's provision, the beauty of creation, the uniqueness of cultures, the joys of friendships, and the mirth of laughter. We have gained a new perspective on our lives and our Savior.

Thanks to all of you who supported us on this trip: whether through financial giving, prayer, donations or following along with us...you were such an integral part of our team, you allowed us to be a blessing to many people. Thank you.

Thanks also to the Osborn family and their love and care for us while we were in Guatemala. Thanks Dave for guiding us along.

Thanks to Julie (and Tomas) for the hours of planning, preparation and prayer that you put into it. Much of what we have learned and now love is a result of your passion and foresight. You guys are awesome...Tommy you are so gifted with people, thanks for helping us to meet Ricardo, Jose and Margarita.

Thanks to all the team members for being willing to take a step of faith and go on this trip and for choosing to have a positive attitude in the midst of many subject to change moments. Life is all about relationships and the relationships that we've gained and strengthened over the last 8 days will make each of our lives more full.

Thanks to our God and Father who has blessed us with every heavenly blessing in Christ Jesus.

-Geoff

Hanging out on the pyramid in Tikal in the evening. Only 1 other person was in the park with us!

Waiting for news about how we'd be getting home, at the Continental desk, for over 2 hours this morning.

Some of our team members cutting potatoes at the Imperio Maya restaurant. Most of our team was in Margarita's kitchen helping her make our dinner. Fun.

Julie speaking...So after a LONG day in the airports of Guatemala City and Houston, the rest of our team is on their way home now. While it was frustrating to have our flight delayed, then canceled, then delayed again, it was worse for the poor Continental agents (Pobrecita Itza) trying to figure out how to get 14 people back to San Diego. No other airline had room for us, so we're thankful God worked it out. We're thankful too that we found Kate's passport (in my purse, somehow) and that Tomas finally made it through secondary inspection at Immigration! We wanted to leave you with a couple more pictures of our adventure. Hope you enjoyed experiencing it with us! This was an amazing group of people and we're sad to end our time together. Please pray that each person continues to learn the lessons God has for them and that not even one of us would go back to life as it was. May we all be changed.

P.S. To my team, thanks for the soccer ball! I love it.

Tikal Star Wars shot
Group photo
on top of the rainforest

Yalu
building a coopdelivering a coop to una mujer
ninos de yalu
delivery

We come home tomorrow. We have had an incredible couple of days, there is really no easy way to describe them except that they have been life-changing in many ways. Absolutely full of God. Thursday we went to an indigenous village named Yalu, it was about an hour outside of Guatemala city and Dave took us to a ministry they have there where they provide meals for many in the village. We built 9 chicken coops and Kate and Dave drove to Antigua to get baby chicks and feed. We delivered 6 coops to families in the village with 10 chicks in each. It was both beautiful and heartbreaking and beautiful again. We all gained such a perspective on the simplicity of life and a reminder on the things that matter in life. Friday we flew to Flores and drove an hour into Tikal national park. We woke up at 4.30 am and landed in Flores at 7.30 am. We spent the morning tourning the Mayan ruins in the rainforest with our guide, Donald. We all agree it was the most beautiful place we have ever seen. So mysterious and powerful, Tikal is a place unlike any other. Plus, it was used for a shot in the original Star Wars, so that´s pretty sweet. We came to our little hotel in the park for lunch, naps and swimming in the pool for relief from the humidity and mosquitos. In the evening most of us went back into the park (about 25 minute walk from the hotel) and toured more ruins, climbing to the top of one of them for a 360 degree view of the forest and sunset. Breathtaking. Dinner was a Tomas special. We visited the 1-star restaurant of Margarita, a sweet little lady that Tomas and Julie knew from last year. Our group ended up being the clientel, the waiters, and the kitchen staff all at the same time. It was hilarious...great greasy fries. This morning we took a canopy tour of the rainforest in our zip lines and harnesses. What an rush. So much more to tell you, we'll have to do it face to face. Holy smokes, Brazil is about to lose to France in the World Cup. That may be the most amazing thing we've seen yet. Love to all. See you tomorrow...we land at 1.50 pm in San Diego, Continental Airlines from Houston...we expect signs and a large contingency.

Hey everyone, it is Wednesday and we have had so much fun today. It was our last day at Casa Shalom and we finished our little fence and wall project and had a little soccer tournament: girls vs girls and boys vs boys...un torneo de futbol. It was fun. We handed out all the gifts and hats to the boys...we gave the girls their things last night after shopping with them and taking them to Pollo Campero, the Guatemalan version of KFC. It has been so fun to watch them play and laugh and ask all of us gringos questions about our lives and stuff. The kids from Casa Shalom are great, we absolutely love them. Tomorrow we go with Dave to a rural village to visit a pastor that he works with. We have a list of things they need, so we are going to buy what supplies we can and bring them with us. We still have a ton of donated hats left over, so we'll probably bring those too. Friday we fly to Tikal.

For all who know Reece, make sure you ask him the story of his most embarrasing moment...it's been the source of much laughter for us. Tuck and roll.

We're having trouble uploading photos today, I've got about 15 minutes left at the internet cafe to make it work.

We love you and miss you all.

hanging out at Casa Shalom
Joe, Susan and one of the ninos doing some shopping

Good news: Internet cafes are everywhere Bad news: They all are lame. Rarely do they have service and when they do they are very slow. It is hard for me to know the posts are working because it doesn't show it to be updated. Hopefully, you are all able to keep up to date with us. Sorry if there is duplicate stuff, it's due to me retrying the posts. We have one more day at Casa Shalom, then we're going out to a rural village Thursday. Friday and Saturday we are in Tikal, then home Sunday. We'll update you when we can.

buying shoes
the chicas from Casa Shalom shopping on Tuesday afternoon
working on the wall and fence of the soccer and basketball court
Betsy, Hailey, Julie, and Kathy

Lining up for a game of soccer

Hey everyone! We're having an incredible time and had a great day Monday with the ninos from Casa Shalom. Aside from a slight challenge to our intestinal fortitude, we're all healthy and happy. Casa Shalom is a children's home about 30 mins away from where we live in Guatemala City. It houses 60 kids ranging from infant to 20 yrs old. The kids are awesome! We're doing a small work project putting up fencing and repairing a wall around their soccer/basketball court, intermixed with some jugar de futbol. Yesterday afternoon, we took 22 boys into Guate. City to shop for new shoes and clothes...it was so cool to see how excited they were to get to leave the grounds, much less get whatever clothes they wanted. Each of us had a nino or two with us and we helped them get their stuff...afterwards we went to Polla Campero (like KFC guatemalan style) and had a huge meal and played on the play structure...They acted like they were at Disneyland! It was so awesome to see their faces and feel their joy! Today we do it all again with 24 little girls...we're like Santa Clauses, there's not a thing we could be doing with them that would be more satisfying.

Thanks for your prayers and support...oh, and don't ever buy a Kia Van. Oh, my diesel.

Love, GVC Team

Group at Las Capuchinas Convent (we played a good game of sardines here)

Antigua cathedral

Saturday was a day of travel, first to Houston then to Guatemala City. We arrived 10 pm local time. (We´re 2 hrs ahead).

Everyone´s luggage arrived and we went straight to the mission house with Dave Osborn. The house is great; guys in one room, girls in another.

Today (Sun.) we´ve been in the beautiful city of Antigua...it´s an old city with ruins (many cathedrals and monasteries and convents were destroyed in 1773. It´s beautiful, situated at the foot of a volcano. We went to church here and had a great lunch and have been sightseeing and shopping all afternoon. Tomorrow we go to Casa Shalom children´s home. Love to all our families and friends.
(Geoff)

Top: At the airport and then Pieter, Matt, Tomas, and Reece in Antiqua
Group shot in Antigua


Andrew, Peter, and Hailey

Everybody ready?

We leave Saturday AM. Let's pray for safety, humility, and that God would be active in and through each member of our team.

Don't forget your itinerary and your passport.

Hopefully, we can get through customs...