¡Viva Guatemala!

I forgot how much this tiny country has to offer. The shear "untouched" beauty of the indigenous people is amazing. Flying into Guatemala City everything seems "normal" for a Central American country. Lots of traffic, Marriott hotels, popular restaurants etc. Its got comforts of home and the feel of a big city. What you don´t see is the beautifully raw life that lies beyond the city limits. Life is simple outside the capital. Highways are just two lane roads. The majority of the population farms their own land by hand and with horses or mules - no John Deer tractors here. The houses are simple one or two room buildings mostly without reliable electricity. Water is brought up from the nearest lake or river and your closest neighbor could be on the other side of the wall or miles down the road. Life is simple but it is beautiful!! Despite the movies and magazines from Hollywood and Europe the women of Guatemala still cling to their indigenouss clothing with bright colored fabrics and different designs depending on the region they are from. It really is simply beautiful. In their simple living they are a passionate people steeped in the Mayan religion and mixed in with the Catholic rituals of the "conquistadors". In the beauty and passion of their faith there seems also a deep rooted fear of their gods and despite the influx of "Christianity" in this country since its "discovery" it is still in great need of Christ´s love. There is beauty and passion here but also a yearning and searching for truth. I am loving my time here and the experiences I am able to have with the culture, the people and their faith. Tomorrow we are off to Mayan ruins of Tikal. It should be amazing and eye opening! I´ll write more as soon as I can get to a computer.
Blessings to all!