In Search of Step Projects

This time of year, I go in search of projects for the step teams who will visit in the following year. I really enjoy meeting churches and organisations who have a vision, and are reaching out to their community, who are working hard - and are keen to partner with others to complete their task. It´s those sort of churches or organisations who really benefit from receiving a Step team - but who are also really instrumental in caring for and discipling the team members that come.

 This time I was visiting a church with a very active after school programme for 250 children, as well as involvement in the local community with sustainable agriculture and reforestation projects. It´s in a village called Buena Vista (= Good view) - and it´s certainly well named!

 It was also a great chance for me to spend a couple of nights in San Pedro La Laguna - maybe my favourite place in Guatemala - and have a couple of swims in the lake.

It always amuses me to travel at this time of year as well. It´s more or less time for the maize to be harvested and from the bus window it often looks to me like there are shiny mirrors floating in a sea of maize -- it´s actually the aluminium roofs of houses which get dwarfed by the maize reaching the roof height.

15th Birthdays

As in most of Latin America, it´s traditional in Guatemala to celebrate your 15th birthday - especially for girls. Well recently I was invited to my friend Abi´s birthday celebration. 

But it´s not really like an equivalent 18th birthday celebration in the UK. Here, the birthday girl gets dressed up  - in a big way. Many of the Quinceñera dresses look more like wedding dresses than anything else - and the comparison with a wedding doesn´t stop there. (For the Chistians at least)  there´s a church service  - complete with a procession of the family (all dressed in matching/ complementary colours) and then the birthday girl. Worship and a sermon are then followed by asking the girl to make certain promises about her adult life. 

(Although talking to a few other people, the promises weren´t the normal part of things - and perhaps had more to do with the fact that Abi´s dad is also the pastor).

 Anyway it was definitely a family event, with each member of the family making a speech and giving a special gift.

On this occasion, it had a slightly 'Wimbledon' feel - as we started off outside in a beautiful garden - but then as the mist drew in, and umbrellas went up as the mist turned into rain, they eventually decided to relocate to the marquee prepared for the reception!