Coffee Picking

Dear friends: this morning was quite the experience, we had the opportunity to go into the coffee fields and pick the coffee berries which is the fruit that contains the actual coffee bean. You can see in the picture there are two different colored beans the red/purple ones are the ripe ones and the green are the ones that are still growing, the terrain that the coffee is grown is rocky, on hillsides under trees. they plant the coffee trees under other shade trees because in full sun the coffee plants will burn up. the coffee trees are anywhere from 4 feet to 15 feet, and produce coffee for roughly 25 years.

Alex Rohlik

Friday Friday Friday

 Yesterday afternoon we had a little free time before we were going to hear a talk. Most of our group did a walking tour of San Lucas Toliman to find our bearings a little bit. We got to walk down market street and see the beautiful fresh fruits and vegetables along with the men butchering the cows and chickens. Down here we aren't so removed from the process of where our food comes from. We also walked to see the cemetery where Fr Greg is buried. Fr Greg is the Minnesota priest who served as the pastor of the church and mission here for 48 years and just died 7 months ago from cancer. For those of us that knew Father over the years, seeing his final resting place gave some closure.

After our walking tour we met back with about 30 other volunteers to hear Chona give a talk. Chona is the head cook here and I would say the "mother" of the mission. She has worked here for over 40 years along Fr Greg's side and is an amazing woman. To hear her tell her story of the civil war and genocide that took place in Guatemala during the 1970's-1996 is so hard to hear. The worst of the war happened in the early 1980's: when Chona's husband kidnapped and never found, when she helped save countless young children when their own parents were brutally murdered, when she and Fr. Greg had to go into hiding for 5 months when their names were put on a death list. The 1980's were a little rough around here.

We met for group time after to talk through and process our day. The picture above is of that as we sat around the fire pit at our hotel. We have such a great group of people here and it was wonderful to hear the different thoughts and ideas the group had. 

The roosters were up bright and early to wake us again. FYI- roosters do crow when the sun comes up. They crow when they darn well feel like it from 3am on. Sally, Peggy and myself went on a walk early this morning and took this picture of a house boat in the bay of the lake.

Love and miss you Harrison, Nell, Mitchy, Meredith and Jerm!!! Thanks to everyone who is helping fill in for us as we are here.

Andrea Gibbs

Our day in photographs -Kelsey Becker

View of Lake Atitlan from the top of the Church

View from Church bell tower

Steeple of the mission Church

Steeple of the mission Church

Andrea in the bell tower

Quote I found on one of the doors at the Mission. This is exactly what we are here to do, work with the Mayan people, with them as our leaders.

Father Greg's bedroom door. "He is not here, he has risen"

Christmas tree in front of the Church 

Chona in front of the Women's Center welcoming us in.

The first group of Women Center (taken from a photo on the wall)

Young Mayan woman weaving at the Women's Center.

The start of a beautiful piece of clothing.

Andrea, Kelsey, Brady and Brett in front of the Women's Center.

Andrea, Kelsey, Brady and Brett in front of the Women's Center.

The hospital in San Lucas that services anyone in the area for a very low price or free if they can't afford it. Medical teams come here to do surgeries twice a year.

A painting of Father Greg holding a young Mayan boy. This is hanging in the hospital.

Coffee wine.

Coffee beans drying in the sun. The coffee harvest is done completely by hand.

View of the lake from the Church.

The beautiful colors of the lake. View from a street between the Mission and our hotel.

Thrilled

Preparing for a trip to San Lucas, Guatemala, I'm always a little nervous. This time especially so in the wake of the death of our mentor and friend Fr Greg. What I'm always surprised by, is the fact that once I'm here, everything is so tranquil, and life moves nice and slow. And the moment we drive into San Lucas, my nerves melt away and I remember what it feels like to be here. This odd sense of "home" and "we're here, we're here" as if a long-awaited trip to Disneyland has finally been achieved.

I think it's because when you visit San Lucas, you leave a little piece of yourself here. You're never the same, and you never forget living here for a week. And that's what it is...you're not "staying," and it's not a vacation. You live here amongst the people. And your soul doesn't forget...

So when you come back...you re-encounter that piece of yourself you left. You re-remember why you desire so much to come back over and over.

And you're home.

Ronda- Tell Lily mom says "Lily you so crazy!" ...and give her a big silly hug (:

Lori Mathiowetz

Project Tour

Today we have been touring the sites run by the San Lucas Mission.   What a blessing this Mission is and continues to be to the town and surrounding areas.   The first picture above is a picture of the Women's Center that has been in the building phases for 10 years as donations have come in.   This is a wonderful place that the women of the area come to learn skills of homemaking, sewing, weaving and cooking.   They can come here to just embrace the love that the building houses and the comfort of the love there.   They can just "be with their fellow women" of the town.  The second picture is one of the little girls at the Women's Center weaving some beautiful piece of clothing or possibly a piece to use in our homes.   The work is intricate and is done with love and patience.   The 3rd picture was taken when we were learning about coffee and the phases and steps.   At the end of the tour of the coffee building we had a toast - whoever wanted to  - using the coffee wine that the San Lucas Mission now makes.   Pretty tasty everyone!

Peggy Biwer

See this grass here? I planted it, years ago at the Women's Center. Just in case you wanted to see it. Andrea

First Morning

 Good morning from San Lucas!  Winter is in full force here!  We all went to sleep and awoke a bit cold this morning.  The temp overnight fell into the 30's!  Allows us Minnesotans to feel at home!  We have taken up breakfast, and prepare for a day of touring the projects and seeing what is all happening here in San Lucas Toliman.  Hopefully our trip will conclude with a visit to Father Greg's burial site.  I have longed to see it again since we laid him to rest this past June.  Things here at the mission are busy with chatter and positive thoughts this morning, and it feels very much like it always has.  It is always a pleasure to shake hands with the community leaders each morning as they prepare for their work day.  There are several groups here, and each meal has us filling up the Biblioteca.  We get to do dishes this morning, so hopefully we do a good job and get everyint nice and clean once again.  The energy is high, and we are anxious to see what more the day offers!  We will find someone to post later on, and summarize how the day proceeds!  Until next time!

Brett Mathiowetz

Hi all from Guatemala!
We have arrived safely and seen many interesting things. The hillsides are beautiful.
We went for a quick walk down to the lake, right around sunset. People were out busy fishing, washing clothes, and swimming. Many little vendor shops. Made my first purchase of bottled water. It will be interesting to figure out the money value. Learning as we go. Everyone we have encountered have been very friendly and welcoming to us.
We appreciate all of your ongoing prayers for us.
For a little fun time check out this video!
https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10100463086185362&notif_t=video_processed

Dawn Rohlik