Saturday

Hey everyone

Well, as Peter, Paul, and Mary said...our bags are packed, we're ready to go. We had a great time the last couple of days. Friday morning we had a "despedida" (going away party) hosted by the people in the community where we've been working. It was a meaningful time to celebrate new friendships with them and say our goodbyes.

We left Guatemala City late Friday morning and spent several hours hiking a 8,000 foot volcano. Those who made it to the top were rewarded with some impressive views and a unique treat--roasting marshmallows over volcanic heat comning out from a rock formation. After an adventurous decent we got back on the bus and moved on to Antigua--a city with several four hundred year old buildings that served as the first capital of Guatemala. That night on the roof of the hotel we had a good meeting where we talked about highs and lows of the trip as well as lessons learned.

This morning began on the roof of the hotel, where we saw an active volcano (very far away--don't worry) send up some puffs of smoke in the air. Then we spend the day in the city--visiting some amazing old buildings, shopping the markets, and enjoying some traditional Guatemalan food. As it happened, the president of Guatemala was also visiting the town that day, so many of us got to see him (at a distance) as he addressed the crowd. After dinner we returned to our lodgings here in the city to shower, pack our bags, and get ready to leave. We have a 5:15 AM wake up time in order to get checked in for our flight. We are scheduled to arrive in Tulsa at 4:50 pm, so if everything is on schedule that's when you'll see us. We'll be coming on American flight 434 out of DFW, and we look forward to meeting you there and sharing stories, photos, and memories of what we've experienced this week.

See you tomorrow.