Greetings from San Juan Ixcoy, Huehuetenango Department, Guatemala. As we write this we are witnessing the celebrations of the K'anhab'al people celebrating the election of a new president of the country. The outgoing president has declared a national holiday our town square has been filled with Marimba music, all day! And, on top of that, we write in the dark, as our hotel's electricity is off. Now, it is hard to explain the Marimba music just next door. (They require electricity for the speakers that project the sound throughout the community) And also, it's as if the outage was expected and scheduled: There was candle and matches in our room when we arrived, signaling the anticipation of an outage. We departed from Cincinnati on Friday, on schedule, and arrived in Guatemala City just before noon, Guatemala time. After reconnecting with our luggage, we were met by Philip Beisswenger, PC(USA) Mission Co-worker in Guatemala. Our transportation for the our journey in Guatemala was provided by PRESGOV, an arm of the National Presbyterian Church of Guatemala (IENPG). We boarded the PRESGOV Toyoto Coaster, 18 passenger mini-bus and headed out for our days destination, Xela, and our accommodations at the Instituto Bíblico Presbiteriano Maya Quiché. Following a pleasant dinner and evening orientation to Guatemala by Philip, 11 tired missioners were off to bed! On Saturday morning we awoke to an absolutely gorgeous day. After breakfast, we were introduced to members of the IENPG Committee on International Relations and PRESGOV, and the Leader of the oversight board of the Instituto Biblico. We were inspired by their interest and commitment to our successful visit to the K'anhab'al Presbytery in San Juan Ixcoy. They shared their challenges, and encouraged us to be in prayer for them and their country. By ten am, we were on our way to San Juan ixcoy. We stopped for lunch in Huehuetenango, and then traversed back and forth and finally over the Cuchumantanes mountains, an 11,5000 foot barrier to our final destination. While the West side of the mountains was absolutely beautiful weather, the Eastern San Juan Ixcoy side was socked in with dense fog. It was quite a contrast to the Western side of the mountains. Our PRESGOV driver, Alfredo, skillfully operated the Coaster on the road overlooking sheer drops to the valley several thousand feet below. We stopped in San Juan Ixcoy to meet the K'anhab'al Presbytery pastors and elders, who escorted us to the Mission Project work site. Undaunted, we rebounded the Coaster, and headed on to Soloma, the town in which we will be staying. The Don Chico hotel is the best in the area, and might sport a single star should it be rated. Compared to previous trips, though, it is a palace! We arrive about six pm, in time to have a nice dinner at a restaurant near the hotel. After a short debriefing session it was free time, and reassembly at 7:00 for breakfast. Sunday was a beautiful day here in San Juan Ixcoy. Brilliant sunshine in the morning, and a lovely worship service with the K'anhab'al at the Church of the Resurection in San Juan Ixcoy. We had fellowship, music, and greeting from the entire Presbytery Executive Board, an some of the committee heads as part of the service. Our Cincinnati team returned the greeting, expressed greetings from the Presbytery of Cincinnati, and from the individual churches represented on our team. Rev. Jim Goff, Williamsburg Presbyterian, gave the message. It was well received. Then, after a nice lunch in a local commedore (resturant), we headed for the church apptly named: Gate of Heaven. The road was uphill, narrow, rough, and litterly ended in the clouds! We were told the elevation was 3600 meters, or 11,800 feet. The view from the church was spectacular. We were asked to lead an improptu worship service, and as it was beginning, it was amazing to see the members of the church begin flowing in! Then we were served a lovely chicken and rice dinner. So cool! Then as we were preparing to come home, the clouds moved in, and we were in dense fog again, for the 2 hour return drive back to San Juan Ixcoy, and our hotel in Soloma. What a day. We were received with such warmth and openness. Definitely a memorable day. Monday was another beautiful morning in Soloma, Guatemala. We thought the celebrations honoring the election of a new president are over, and life in the streets and the parking area near the hotel would be returning to normal. However we had beautiful live band with marimba music all day yesterday, in both San Juan Ixcoy, and by the hotel in Soloma, and by late evening, the power was restored. We started the work project. it consisted of moving a mountain of mud and rock (seemed like a mountain) so that an addition to the presbytery building the Cincinnati Presbytery have been working on could be completed. Tuesday brought the second day of our work project. We are digging the foundation for the new office for the K'anhab'al Presbytery in San Juan Ixcoy. So far, all of the group is healthy and holding up well with the ever changing environment. Hospitality has been great, and the openness and acceptance of our presense here is amazing. Wednesday was a beautiful day in Soloma, and San Juan Ixcoy, Guatemala. We spent the day in meetings. First we traveled to a rural church, the Mt. Olive Presbyterian church, to meet with the leaders of the presbytery, then back to town to meet with the youth, and then to a dinner hosted by them. It was a full day. As expected, we learned much about the status of the presbytery and the various churches. We were even provided with a written report. Then we had a detailed review of several of the projects previous groups had completed. The youth were very organized. They provided a written agenda for the meeting and a power point presentation of the projects they had completed. They named their visit "Prophetic Vision", and it includes changing the church and elements of the town in which they live. Impressive. So for today, we are back at work on the project. Two of our members have experienced the effects of the common illness from sanitary conditions. Hopefully today they will be on the road to recovery. Prayers welcome, and we will be breaking out the Pepto and Cipro! Others of our group have been blogging about our time here. Here is a link to Jerry Pitman's blog: http://sycamorechurchabroad.blogspot.com/ We have taken many photos, and hopefully we can get these attached to the next update. One of our members has arranged for a cell phone and we are able to keep in touch daily with our families, so that has been a blessing. Thanks, Harold. Blessings all, For the team, Ron Cowgill .