The beginning of the end

We left San Marcos this morning at about 9 in a nice gentle rain.  It has been raining since yesterday afternoon so everyone is damp and chillled.  Our route took us through some of the most spectacular scenery I have seen as we wound our way out of the mountains.  But we couldn't see any of it as we were in the clouds the entire way down to the plains and Chimaltenango.  We took a short (relatively speaking) potty break there. 70 some-odd people and 2 bathrooms; you do the math.  Then it was back on the road to Solola.  We arrived around noon at the Eagles Nest orphanage for a nice lunch of fried chicken and mashed potatoes, and then the teams spread out over the grounds for one last half-day of service.  It is still raining, so it makes things a little more difficult, but being the last time out the kids are finding ways to cope.  The children of the orphanage are loving all the activity and all the kids who just want to spend time with them.

Tonight we are staying here at the orphanage.  Don't worry, we are not in cribs.  The facility is  actually set up as a conference center as well.  Everyone is up and on their feet for the day today.  Those who were feeling a little sick are on the mend.  There are a number of colds and such due to the weather and the smog and just being tired after the many long days of service.  But everyone is energized for the final days of the trip.  We are hoping the rain clears off for our trip across the lake to Santiago tomorrow morning.  Please pray for a couple sunny days to end our trip - everyone would benefit from some healing rays from the sun.

Our word today is from Philipians 3:12-16 - "Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained."  We will continue to remind each other that this trip and its experiences are but one step in a life-long race.

Here  are some pictures from yesterday and today...