Meanwhile, home for me is simple, safe, and calm. Last night, we lost power probably five times - and candlelight provided a dim glow in the room. Around 9pm, me and my neighbors (the family that lives on the bottom floor, I am on the 2nd floor) heard the rushing of water and the tearing apart of three local bridges that were destroyed by the local flooding- some 4 blocks from my house. Thankfully, I am up high, and not on the rivers edge. The storm has now come in from the Pacific, hit land and calmed. The sun is out today and the streets are newly paved with mud, landslides, and river stones.

Summer home, nature calls...

Home. This is home to many. Local indigenious peoples who´ve been living here since before the conquest. Spanish speaking Ladinos whose mix of blood, ancestry, and language many times imply a privelleged status, and then there are the Xpats and mission-service providers run by non Guatemalans. All of these people call this place home. Home, during the past three days has faced the ¨hand of god¨ in the medium of an angry mother earth ... It seems she has decided to test patience, resourcefulness, strength, and faith... all at once.

Guatemala summer 2010

Tomorrow begins the summer-adventure. Two months in Guatemala with 20 university students from all over NC. These young adults will focus on language and culture immersion, immigration trends from Guatemala to NC, and service-learning. I will travel in honor of my college mentor: Andy Summers who taught me more in two months (during a Witness for Peace trip) than I learned in the remaining 3 years of college combined. Thank you Andy - and this trip is in honor of you and your legacy. Paz y Justicia - hasta la victoria!