Guatemala: Day 7 Reflections

Written by CTS Student Candace Bright

We started our day in the lakeside town of San Juan La Laguna listening to the neighborhood’s local rooster (he’s not particular about times, he can be heard both before and after midnight). We had had a late dinner the night before, but even so two of our party rallied to beat the sunrise and climb to a local lookout point. The pictures afterwards were breathtaking!

As we waited for breakfast, we were led in devotions by team member Debra Chee. Deb reflected on some of the surprising gifts we’ve been given (being gifted a handmade item by someone who has struggled hard against poverty is humbling indeed!). She noted how God is using that as one of many ways of saying, “I don’t love you for what you are doing.” It is so hard to lay down our own self-reliance or our posture as problem-solvers and simply receive. But time after time on this trip we are asked to do just that–receive hospitality, receive gifts, even just receive the help of a translator for a language we don’t understand.

After devotions we gathered our things and headed down to the city dock. San Juan La Laguna flanks the stunning Lake Atitlán. To begin our day of travel toward Antigua (and then back to Guatemala City), we boarded a taxi boat we had rented to cross the lake. Our party of 14 travelers plus local hosts jetted across the lake, surrounded by the idyllic mountains and sky (a much faster way toward the opposite shore than the winding road with hair-raising switchbacks we had to take two days before!). We docked in Panajachel with just enough time to grab a coffee, quickly shop (some of the vendors can be a bit intense!), and board a bus for Antigua.

Antigua Guatemala was yet another new cityscape for us. Not the vast concrete sprawl of Guatemala City, nor the cheery lake town of San Juan, nor yet the breathtaking remoteness of Pak’awex, Antigua is a UNESCO World Heritage site, so designated for its stunning Spanish colonial architecture and history. We were happy, after our morning of travel, to step from the bus straight into our lunch spot, a restaurant steaming with pots of stewed meat and tempting sides. We pointed at the best looking dishes, ate in a room upstairs, then headed out for our afternoon in Antigua.

Antigua showcases both the legacy of colonialism and the resilience of the Guatemalan people. As we wandered the streets, chatted with our guides, and observed the local people, we saw yet another city that holds together so many of the contrasts we have seen in this country. Poverty and beauty, fragility and resilience, bright sunshine giving way to heavy rain, giving way again to sun. We bused at last back to our base seminary, knowing that tomorrow would be our final full day receiving God’s gifts in this unforgettable place.