Saturday, May 16, 2015

Welcome to Guatemala!

Greetings family and friends!
We have arrived! The 2015 Concordia University Chicago Guatemala Mission trip is officially under way.
Travel day is always exciting. Our team met this afternoon at Concordia to pack donations, check paperwork, weigh luggage, count heads, and be sent on our way by Pastor Jeff and President Gard. The energy at this time is always contagious. Nine people ready to leave, ready to visit a new world, ready to see what the Lord has in store for them, ready to serve.
Sometimes when I lead groups of students on trips, I tell people it's a bit like herding cats, because it's hard to keep track of everyone. It's not the case with this team this year! Our whole trip was smooth and we kept together without any issues.
Spending days counting people does make one feel a bit like a cat herder at times still. Nine people in the van. Nine people checked-in. Nine people through security. Nine people on the plane/off the plane/on a new plane/off the new plane. Nine people through Passport control and customs declarations.

Nine people safe and sound in Guatemala.

Kevin, Ginny, Manuel and our friend Brian met us outside the Guatemala City airport and brought us back to the Groundwork Mission house. It is such a joy to see your friends. In a way, being here and seeing them is like coming home to see your family. Nine people whos' family is about to get a whole lot bigger.

Everyone received two essential rules for the week to get them through the night; don't flush the toilet paper, and don't drink the tap wáter or use it to brush your teeth.

With that we look forward to an exciting day tomorrow starting off with church. Please pray for us this week as we share Christ with our brothers and sisters in Guatemala, and are blessed in return with the gifts of love Christ has given to them!

In Christ's Name,

Buenas noches!

~Deaconess Betsy Karkan

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