Christmas

Christmas in Guatemala is actually celebrated on the evening of Dec 24th -- usually with a lot of fireworks. Everyone sets off fireworks in the evening and especially at midnight -- then they open presents and have a meal!!!

For most of the Striders, they celebrated in Guatemalan style with their host families and then came to my house to celebrate in British style on the 25th

Turkey and stuffing, Roast potatoes, brussels sprouts (but no parsnips! boo hoo!) -- and Crackers -thanks to my sister, Jen!!

Living Nativity

Here in Guatemala, Christmas can be a bit of shock for Christians from overseas. Here the majority of the population are nominal Catholics. So churches and many shopping centres have very large nativity scenes -- although I've seen some that have replaced the shepherds and Wise Men with Reindeer and Santa Clause queueing up outside the stable. Many of the Catholic churches have vigils and processions.

On the other hand, many Evangelical / Protestant churches see the Christmas celebrations as too materialistic - or as having a too big a focus on Mary, that they decide not to celebrate Christmas at all.

It can be difficult to talk about the real story of Christmas in that atmosphere. But one of the projects where one of the Striders is working have taken on the challenge. Aulas Abiertas (Open Classrooms) is an educational project in Zaragoza, supporting children who are at risk of dropping out of school. This week they've held a kids holiday club, helping the children understand the real message of Christmas. The week culminated today with a performance of 'Living Bethlehem' in the town square of Zaragoza. The performance involved all the children who had attended the club this week, as well as live animals and a real baby - so definitely drew a crowd.

Habakkuk in the mountains

Yesterday I went with a Guatemalan friend to visit some communities up in the mountains north of Tecpan. He has been working with these communities and churches for about 12 years - and remembers when you could only get there on a motorbike, (it was still difficult with a 4x4). It's also a place where there had been a lot of guerrilla activity during the 36years of civil war here. As a response the army murdered whole villages and burnt them to the ground. My friend pointed out where he knew there's a cladistine grave where many of these were dumped. Now many of these villages continue to live in extreme poverty -- with many divided families as a result of the war and work migration.

We met pastors in some of these villages -- one pastor who had had to sell his motorbike recently due to the economic crisis -- but who continued to visit and preach the revolutionary good news of Jesus in other villages -- walking 7 hours to one village where he knew the pastor was sick - to be with him and minister to his family.

We read some of Habakkuk together...

God, How long do I have to cry out for help before you listen?
How many times do I have to yell, "Help! Murder! Police!" before you come to my rescue?
Why do you force me to look at evil, stare trouble in the face day after day?
Anarchy and violence break out, quarrels and fights all over the place.
Law and order fall to pieces.
Justice is a joke.
The wicked have the righteous hamstrung and stand justice on it's head.
(Habakkuk 1: 1-4, The Message translation of the Bible)

This is definitely something that Guatemalans can relate to - recently there's been an increase in the number of lynchings -- one where a community stormed the police station where 2 people accused of being members of an gang that was extorting money from local businesses etc, were being held. The police and army took several hours to regain control of the situation, which ended with the 2 accused and one police officer dead and 2 police vehicles burnt out. The community says that although the police arrest criminals, within 2 or 3 days, they are often released and back threatening the community members. For them justice has definitely become a joke.

Habakkuk continues -talking of situations when crops fail and natural disasters happen -- all very close to home for these rural villages.

But we read on...
Though the cherry trees don't blossom and the strawberries don't ripen
Though the apples are worm-eaten and the wheat fields stunted,
Though the sheep pens are sheepless and the cattle barns empty,
I'm singing joyful praise to God.
I'm turning cartwheels of joy to my Saviour God.
Counting on God's Rule to prevail, I take heart and gain strength.
I run like a deer.
I feel like I'm king of the mountain!
(Habakkuk 3: 17-19 The Message translation of the Bible)

That's the response of so many Christians here -- choosing to look for God on the move in their communities and neighbourhoods -- choosing to rejoice in God's goodness in the midst of violence and disaster -- choosing to trust that God is building his reign in this place -and choosing to be a part of that hope rather than despair.

Sailing on the Marine Reserve of the Sapodilla Caye of Belize

I've just come back from a weeks holiday with my sister onboard a sailing boat. It was incredible! We started off in Rio Dulce in Guatemala, then sailed down the river to Livingston on the coast.
Sunset over Rio Dulce.

Then we sailed out to the Barrier Reef of Belize -- the Marine Reserve of Sapodilla Caye. Incredibly clear waters....

... even with no land for miles around, the water was as shallow as 5 feet with pure white sand, where the coral grows. We saw loads of amazing fish, sting rays, star fish - (but no photos - sorry!)

The full moon over the boat was stunning.

This is Nicolas Island

The Captain and crew went snorkelling every day and caught enough fish and lobster and crab for us all.

Our fellow sailing companions ... the boys.... Joe, Odd and Angel.

.... and the girls....Cat, Rosie, Beth, Emma, Lina, Mareya and Jen.

..... and the Captain, Raul

Our boat --- from Livingston.

... and our cabin.....

Monterrico

My sister Jen has been here visiting for 2 weeks - so we're been to a couple of new places. This is Monterrico on the Pacific coast, where it's REALLY hot and has lots of mosquitoes. Also great sunsets and turtles laying their eggs on the beach.

It is also on the edge of a nature reserve of swamp and river system, with lots of wildlife. My favourite was the Cuatrojos - which are fish with 4 eyes! They swim with 2 eyes above the water level and 2 eyes below it. Then they fly / skim across the surface of the water -- too fast to get a photo!