This is our first of many "Looking Back" posts which features photos from our early days in Guatemala. We will be randomly posting them from time to time.
We arrived in Guatemala on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2006. Seems just like yesterday! The airport in Guatemala City was very much under construction at that time and was nothing like it is now. We actually have a very nice airport today. That is just one of many things that have changed and improved in our few short years here. 
We were greeted with a warm welcome from some of the other mission families. They made us feel very "at home" right away.
We were greeted with a warm welcome from some of the other mission families. They made us feel very "at home" right away.Casey (front), Mark, Debby, Laurelle, Regina, David, Christy, Jo, Jim, & Allen
Our first meal in Guatemala was at Nais. We were very impressed then and still love to eat there when we are in the city.
Our first night was spent in Guatemala City and the next day we traveled with Jim, our supervisor, and Allen & Laurelle Stoudenmire to Coban to spend a few days there. This next photo was taken outside of the apartment where we currently live. 
We visited a local park, Las Islas, in the neighboring town of Carcha.
Our first meal in Guatemala was at Nais. We were very impressed then and still love to eat there when we are in the city.
Our first night was spent in Guatemala City and the next day we traveled with Jim, our supervisor, and Allen & Laurelle Stoudenmire to Coban to spend a few days there. This next photo was taken outside of the apartment where we currently live. We visited a local park, Las Islas, in the neighboring town of Carcha.Jim, Regina, & David
Allen, Jim, Regina, & David
We also spent some time walking around town getting to know the place we would eventually live. I remember seeing the open food markets and wondering if I'd be able to eat anything here. ha
Allen, Jim, Regina, & DavidWe also spent some time walking around town getting to know the place we would eventually live. I remember seeing the open food markets and wondering if I'd be able to eat anything here. haThat weekend we also made our first of many trips to the Dieseldorff coffee farm next door. It was our first introduction to the coffee process. The idea of living next door to an actual coffee farm really excited David!
David & Allen
David & Allen
That weekend we also attended a birthday party for Keeley & Brantley- the McGriff's kids and went to a New Year's Eve service/ fellowship at a local church and showed the movie "The Hope". Sunday morning we attended our first service in a K'ekchi' church. Click here to read a little about that. We returned to Guatemala City for a few days of orientation before loading up and moving to the town of Antigua where we would live and study Spanish for the next 6 months.
Heading to school in our first vehicle, Clyde.
Happy belated birthday, David- that looked like one awesome cheesecake!!
ReplyDeleteThoughts and prayers are with you, especially as I look down at my precious daughter, and think so often about her birth mother there. God bless all your endeavors in bringing the light of Christ to Guatemala!!
That's a great post, Regina! Great idea as well. I didn't start blogging until our second year here, so some of the early cultural adaptation stuff we dealt with never got posted. I look back on photos from our first year, sometimes I shake my head at how incredibly green we were!
ReplyDeleteIt's encouraging to hear that you two have remained true to your calling. We also have never looked back. I think of the words of Jesus' apostles: Where else would we go? Who else has the words of life?
Blessings to you guys and your ministry! Have a wonderful week.
I happened upon your blog at Coffegirl Confessions on WOTH. I spent a week in July 2006, in Guatemala City. Myself and a team of 19 other women (& 2 husbands) did work with Potter's House in a community around the city's dump. It was an amazing yet difficult time. I love Guatemala and long to live there one day. For now, my families journey is to Thailand. I will be back often to catch glimpses of the country tha stole my heart.
ReplyDeleteBlessings & thanks for sharing!
Kim
OK I'm with David, living next door to a coffee plantation would be the bomb, I think as I sit here drinking coffee!! Love the pictures and a little BTW. My daughter turned 1 yr old on Dec. 28, 2006. Small World!!
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