Llegaramos!

(We arrived!)
Hello from the frigid cold in Guatemala (okay, 57 degrees, but for here it's cold!!!).

Yesterday, Marie and I safely arrived to Guatemala even through some potential complications. We praise the Lord for that. We were greeted with open arms by the family we will be staying with. The two-year-old even had roses for us!

Travel: After we arrived in Guatemala City, we stopped at McDonalds for a quick bite to eat (the menu looks very different I might add!) and traveled along close, fast-moving traffic to the grocery store. It was fun playing and practicing our Spanish with the two-year-old while we shopped. :)

Home: Then we arrived at home, which is located on a steep, cobblestone street in Sumpango. I was very impressed when we were able to back into the garage located on the steep hill! We entered a beautiful home (it may even be nicer than my house in Wisconsin...sorry Mom!). The yard esta muy pequeño (is very small) but very beautiful with ivy, grass and a fountain. Marie and I are sharing a very small room about the size of a closet with a bathroom attached. It's a good thing we like each other! Our family has already helped us feel welcome and we enjoy playing with the 7-year-old daughter and 2-year-old son.

Dinner: Dinner is a small meal because lunch is the "big" meal in Guatemala. We had tacos with small, warm, yummy tortillas, chicken, fresh avocados, and other toppings. They were muy delicioso (very delicious). After dinner, we cleaned up together and then listened while Oscar (the father) read the Bible and explained the passage when Jesus was crucified and the curtain was torn symbolizing that we no longer need a high priest to have access to the Father.

Marie and I then went to bed after a long day of traveling (we left our apartment at 10:45pm and arrived in Guatemala about 12:45pm the next day). Thankfully, Guatemala is in the same time zone, so we don't have that to adjust to. It was definitely nice to get a good night's sleep!

Escuela: This morning, Marie and I went to school at 7:30. Today was the first day of school. The parents and students assembled together. The principal talked to all the parents and students and then introduced all the teachers of the school, including Marie and I. Then we talked with the teachers of the school. I am very thankful that Marie knows as much Spanish as she does, because I was fairly lost, although I started to improve even in the short time I was listening.

Later, a teacher showed us around the school and introduced us to the classes we will be teaching. I was able to understand the idea of what she was saying, which was a huge improvement compared to earlier in the day. It was fun to watch the students' reactions to us being there. They were very excited! The students and teachers have a hard time saying both my name and Marie's name, so they call us Brita and Maria or Mary. Some of the students were able to say my name; I think these students had one of Marie's friends as an English teacher earlier.

After we met some of our classes, we went to watch the kids run around during recess on their snack break. Because the students get out in the early afternoon for their lunch, they have a snack around 10:00 and a recess break. As we walked through groups of students, I already had students holding my hands and asking me to play ball with them. I made some small talk with the students using what I know ("Como te llamas?" "Como estan?"). They seemed to be pleased that we were even talking with them.

Now: The students and teachers left school early on the first day, so Marie and I were home by 11:30. We just ate lunch and are using this time to catch up on e-mails and communication home. Tonight we will meet some of Oscar's family at his parent's house for his brother-in-law's birthday dinner.

Marie and I appreciate your prayers and interest in what we are doing here to serve the Lord! Keep praying and reading! Let me know if you would like an e-mail update every so often (it could be a reminder to pray!).

Love from Guatemala