I looked at Sheila today at lunch and said, "This is sure some adventure. Living here is like being on a different planet." And for a number of reasons.

It seems unfair that a place could have so many perfect days stacked on top of each other. It seems like we have lived 2 or 3 summers already. It is hard adjusting to the fact that it is dark every night at 6:30. Warm days at home mean late nights with plenty of light for fishing...but not here.

Everyone is up and on the move with first light (maybe the roosters wake them up?). I guess this is to make use of the 12 hours of daylight. They eat here from 1-2 pm, and then at 7 or 8 each night.

There is a Catholic church 2 blocks east of here that has an insane bell ringer. I jokingly say insane because the number of times the bell rings is amazing. For example, at 6:45 this morning, I counted 40 rings and I know he started before 6 am. Walking home tonight, it rang for 15 or 20 minutes.

Then there is the moon hanging with the quarter crescent visible on the bottom. All the stars look different and the angles are all wrong.

Most of the people ae just a hair taller than my belly button. I walked into the library and heard one boy say, "Whoa, mucho hombre!"

The term 'gone south' means more now than it did in Canada. Everything seems marginal here and JUST works, JUST functions. Wiring and building codes and water systems are all sadly lacking compared to Canadian standards. We see babies sleeping on the fuel tanks of motor bikes as their parents drive to and from work. Sometimes, there are 4 people on one scooter. It's all very dangerous. Talk about a different world view! Even removing the aspects of my Christian faith, I bring with me a view of a very different society, safer, easier on children and women, a place where order and respect for others is higher. A society where the downcast are supported, etc. Most people work here, though, which I believe is good, but the wages are terrible and the indigenous people suffer. Everyone's dream is to get to the US so that they can pursue the American dream and indulge in material possessions. I suppose that if the British had settled this country, the layout of the towns would be more organized and a very different society created, but... It was the Spanish, and well, fireworks and firecrackers are huge down here. Every day they go off!! Almost every morning 6 am, someone is setting off firecrackers to announce someone's birthday, and in the evening there are fireworks and some kind of a loud explosion device used that is so loud, it sometimes sets off vehicle alarm systems. If the owner is not close by, they just go on and on and on....

I am grateful to God that we are here to meet a most urgent need, which is to provide a practical training so that individuals can work at a decent job for decent pay. All humanitarian aid is good, however I am beginning to think that many of the short term missions organizations are in place to meet the needs of the 'rich' believers rather than the needs of the developing Third world. A few skits, a few trinkets and the feeling that all the little people like you all makes for a feeling that we rich gringos are doing something meaningful. Actually, the locals know that if they stay close to you, they will benefit in some way with clothes and ongoing funds of some kind. The fact is that the problems are systemic and best addressed through education. I thank God for the meaningful work we have been given and pray that together we can continue to partner together to help the underprivileged of Guatemala.