We're okay!

Hi there,

Just in case you’ve had the news on and have been hearing about what’s been going on in Guatemala, I thought I’d check in to let you know we are all okay.

As you may know, we arrived in Guatemala on Monday, May 17th. Two days later, Wednesday, we hiked Pacaya--the live (yes, live)—volcano … even roasting (okay, nearly incinerating) some marshmallows. We stood and watched live flowing rivers of lava getting close enough to feel their incredible heat. Two days ago Pacaya erupted big time sending a ton of ash into the air, claiming several lives and shutting down the airport. Then a huge storm--not quite rated as a hurricane--started yesterday. 60 inches of rain is expected between today and tomorrow. I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that half of it has already fallen. Never in my life have I seen so much rain.

Eighteen of the 24 in our group were headed back to Antigua to fly home tomorrow, but the airport is closed until Tuesday at the earliest. Many of them are arranging to be driven to El Salvador and to fly out from there on Monday instead. The Purcell, and Mark and Liz are still in Panajachel on the edge of Lake Atitlan and hope to be driven to Antigua on Wednesday and then to fly home as originally scheduled on Thursday. Please hold a good thought for us about that because there is some concern about whether the roads between us and Antigua -- usually a 3-hour ride under normal circumstances--will be drivable or not due to the mud slides from the torrential rain we’ve been experiencing.

What a journey this has been!

So glad this extra “excitement” happened at the end of our trip after all the other pieces: volcano hike, zip lining, the handing out of the micro finance loans we funded, the distribution of the 24 laptops we donated to the children and the building and installing of stoves in eight two-room mud-brick homes while in the pouring rain.. all went well. We rightly described Travel With a Purpose when we said it was a life-changing experience combining adventure, culture and sacred service.

Namaste,

Wendy