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Hello from Magdalena, Guatemala. Our team is having an incredible time experiencing the Lord’s work here in Magdalena. The past week has been full of new experiences that have given us all new perspective on the world we live in and our God who loves it. We all have gotten the opportunity to totally engage with the culture of Magdalena by staying in host homes and learning their customs and traditions. A few experiences stand out for me as I have spent time here. We happen to be in Magdalena during their yearly fair. They go all out here–think Fresno fair but way cooler, a lot more firecrackers, and less deep fried food. Saturday night at 10pm my roommates and I heard a lot of firecrackers going off in the street outside. We walked out to see a giant parade float featuring baby Jesus, the virgin Mary, and the whole gang, along with a tiny processional band following behind. My roommates and host family just stood there laughing and cheering as we watched the endless fireworks and the cheesy little street parade. It was a moment that I will not soon forget because I truly felt like I was getting to experience a piece of Guatemalan culture that probably not too many white guys get to see.
Church on Sunday was fantastic as well. I represented our team and thanked the community for welcoming us and treating us so much like family. The service went on for about three and a half hours and was mostly in Spanish, yet no one seemed to be getting tired or constantly checking their watches. It was truly a beautiful thing to see God’s people present in that moment of worship, not worrying about the past or future, just praising the Creator! This has been such a fantastic trip and I cannot wait to share all of our experiences with you. Thank you Church and we will be in contact!