Lots of Traveling, but Now Back to Work

Hello friends and family,

As you may have noticed, I have not posted anything new in quite some time. Life in Guatemala has presented several interruptions in the past weeks, some good, some bad.

The day after my last post, I made an all night trip to Guatemala City to catch the earliest flight possible back home. Grandpa’s condition did not improve, and he passed away the morning after I arrived in Minnesota. I felt very lucky to have made it home in time, and that I could be surrounded by supportive friends and family in those last moments. It would have been very difficult to bring closure to the situation from Guatemala, I think.

I returned to Guatemala the day after Easter. Honestly, I wasn’t very excited to return, as my time was so close to being finished, but I left in such a hurry that I had too many responsibilities I couldn’t walk out on down here – whether to new friends or on-going projects. I am glad I returned and I have been working feverishly to try and complete several projects before returning home.

A week later my mom arrived. Her vacation was scheduled long before the incident with my grandpa passing away, so I was glad to see she still came. I think it ended up being a great break for both of us, especially her. We toured ALL OVER Guatemala. I can’t remember the last time I had such a compacted travel schedule…I guess mom still has more energy than me!!!

Some of our highlights included Antigua, climbing Volcano Pacaya, Panajachel, Lago Atitan (including San Pedro and Santiago), Tikal, Cobán (both where I live and work in the surrounding aldeas) and then back to Antigua where we relaxed at an outdoor eco-lodge hostel called Earth Lodge for our last day and a half. It was an absolute awesome experience for both of us. Just ask my mom for pictures…she has plenty!!!

After spending all this time away from work, traveling to MN for my grandpa and then touring with my mom, I arrived back to Cobán with lots of work! As I said before, I am working hard to try and wrap up several projects before I go home. This has been a little more difficult, as Fr. Bernie (my boss) is in the States. He has to have a hernia operation and then is spending his vacation time traveling throughout the States. I am looking forward to spending some time with him in MN when I return.

I bough my airline ticket this week. I will be arriving home on May 13^th! Anyone that would like to join me for a happy hour on the way home from the airport, just let me know!!!

Warmest regards,

PD