Gains and Losses

As we prepared to leave El Estor on Thursday afternoon, many of our thoughts turned to the question: How do we make this an "hasta lluego!" ("see you later!") moment and not an "adios." David Wiseman has drummed into us something we knew already -- that an experience like this is not an end in itself, but the first step along the road to friendship, partnership and solidarity. As I (and others) shared Friday night during our nightly reflection time, we feel like we've made a promising start on the friendship thing. Genuine partnership and solidarity with our Kek'chi brothers and sisters is harder to come by, despite our strong simpatico feelings. We'll be asking all of you to help us figure out how CHPC can turn these first baby steps into a lifelong journey together.

We concluded our stay in El Estor with two watery adventures. In the morning, after a two-hour wait for a second skipper, we traveled by boat across Lake Izabal to the Polochic wildlife refuge. We didn't see the manatees, alligators or howler monkeys, but the profusion of flowers and plants, birds and mosquitos made for a wonderful cruise. To be out on the lake that we had traveled along for days, which we had gazed at from our hotel on the shore, and which gives so much sustenance to the people of El Estor gave us a sense of completion to our stay.
About halfway on our two-hour journey on mostly gravel roads back to Rio Dulce (El Estor is on the western shore of the lake, Rio Dulce is on the eastern shore), we stopped for an hour at a baño termal ("thermal bath"). From the parking lot near the road, a dirt trail followed a small river back into lush woods. After about a five minute walk, the trail suddenly opened up onto a lovely glade with a deep pool of clear water...and a steaming 20-foot waterfall. The water plunging over the falls was ALMOST too hot to touch, but it warmed the pool just enough to create one of God's great swimming holes. We frolicked mightily.
We suffered two painful losses on Thursday. Just before we left, we received the word that Andrea's grandmother had died on Wednesday. We hurt so much for Andrea but thanked God that so much of her CHPC family (particularly Rachel, Natalie and Daniela) was with her to surround her with CHPC love. The past couple of days have been bittersweet for Andrea and for us, but God continues to bless us and this trip, surrounding us with constant reminders of divine presence and care.
The other, more surprising loss, came as we arrived in Rio Dulce. There have been sporadic reports of banditry along the isolated road from El Estor to Rio Dulce. And so, three of our new friends from El Estor followed us in their pickup truck all the way to ensure that we arrived safely. Not only were we sorry to have to say "hasta lluego!" we were deeply moved at their commitment to our safety.
On Thursday night we slept well.
Jerry