Dallas airport... Again

Hello all,

We are enjoying our 5 hour layover.

Everything seems to be on schedule so we hope to see everybody around 10:10 tonight!


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Location:N Belt Line Rd,Irving,United States

Walking tour

Hello parents,

Today we are off for a walking tour of Antigua, then have some time to explore Antigua and the are off to Guatemala city for our last sleep.

In Guatemala city we do not have wifi so this might be our last post.

Please check with the airlines to confirm our arrival time but we expect we will be arriving around 10:10 Friday evening. We will look forward to seeing you then.

Thank-you for following our adventures!


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Location:Antigua Guatemala,Guatemala

Volcano!

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Location:Antigua Guatemala,Guatemala

A big man in a small world... Part 50

The room is small but comfy!



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Location:Antigua Guatemala,Guatemala

It's a small world after all

Today we found out that Guatemala is a land of inconsistencies and extremes. After a three hour bus ride, Carolyn and I arrived at Las Bucaros in Antigua. Our room is literally the size of a closet with no windows. After coming to the optimistic conclusion that if a mass murderer were to break into the hotel we would undoubtedly be safest, I went to the washroom and a booger-like substance came out of the tap. In spite of the room situation, Antigua should be great! We are now looking forward to the volcano tour tomorrow and praying our shoes are magma-proof.
-Ally Mac




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Location:Antigua Guatemala,Guatemala

On the road to Antigua

We are ready to get on the bus and head to our second last stop, Antigua! Everybody is doing well and we have managed to do a lot of shopping!

Tomorrow we hike the volcano and visit a coffee plantation. It is very hard to believe the trip is close to it's end.


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Location:Panajachel,Guatemala

Transformation of Christopher Thorogood

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Location:Panajachel,Guatemala

Some more pics

On the way by boat



Transport by tuk tuk (not as scary as it looks)



View from lunch spot...




Lunch



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Location:Panajachel,Guatemala

Trip across the big lake!

Teacher....



10 minutes later.....



Kids...



10 minutes later...



All kidding aside, this has been one of our best days yet!

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Location:Panajachel,Guatemala

Dinner and dancing

Needless to say, we've had a great night!

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Location:Guatemala

Next stop...

Hello all,

Today as a group we went shopping in the town's market in Pana. This is yet another culture shock, this town is completely different than the villages where we built our stoves. The people here aren't trying to force us to buy things, instead they are really relaxed and wait for you to come barter. I was able to purchase gifts for my unborn niece/nephew, I bought gifts for my mom, dad and brother and I got a hemp purse for half the original price! I am really looking forward to the boat ride across lake atitlan tomorrow as it looks stunning!

Hannah



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Location:Guatemala

Another very busy day

Hello parents... Mr. Rogers here again.

We just had another very busy day! Today we celebrated an 18th bday (happy bday Ali) and we had a rally day with our partner school (everything from potato sack races to a basketball tournament). We are now off for dinner, a cultural night and a dance! What a great day!

More kid posts to come!

(sorry to hear about the snow!!)

Bonfire with Guatemalan students - lots of singing!!




Guatemalan traffic jam




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Location:Uspantán,Guatemala

Busy day

Hello all,

Sorry for the lack o posts today! We were just very busy wrapping up the work week! Everyone is still well and we are all excited about the rally day tomorrow!

More to come tomorrow!

Mr. Rogers


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Yet Some More Photos from Mrs. Wood's Camera

Some more of Mrs. Wood's Photos

Some of Mrs. Wood's Photos

Will you marry me

Today I was proposed to by a 17 year old Guatemalan Girl. We were building a stove in this family's house. This house was different because my future mother in law was making me buns as I flexed my muscles. The mother told me that I had a doll's eyes and that I should stay and marry her daughter. Mom and Dad, not to worry, I said no and I still intend to come home with the rest of the kids.
Chris 'doll's eyes' Thorogood




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Location:Uspantán,Guatemala

Hola Mom's and Dad's

Today was productive! The majority of the groups were done in record time as we are finally getting into the flow of things. Although that isn't very useful because there is only one more day left of building stoves. The people here are very grateful and I know all of us here are learning and growing through this. When you meet us at the airport, you won't recognize us. That may be because we all got the farmers tan going on!
Despite the various illnesses targeting us Rundlites (jokes), we had a blast last night as we broke a piñata and had cake for the cooks sons third birthday party!!!







Adios,
Prinessa Janine


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Location:Uspantán,Guatemala

Day 6 or 7 we lost track

Kayley's update...

Well we woke up and got some amazing Guatemalan coffee, it's so great! Surprisingly the bus arrived on time and we were off to the work site on the nice paved roads, jk. We arrived in the highlands and started to build our stoves.... Our Guatemalan Helpers are really starting to warm to us! At each of the houses we got to color and play with kids! The kids are the cutest kids in the world. Some of them are so amazed by digital photos that they won't stop asking to have their pictures taken!

The whip master, aka k. Mil aka
Kayley Miller signing out :)




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Location:Uspantán,Guatemala

Few pics from another great day

Gabrielle about to build a stove...



Gabrielle finished a stove.



Mr. Rogers struggling with low doorways...




Ryan Sykes practicing the fine art of siesta...



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Location:Uspantán,Guatemala

More pics from the day

Teachers still smiling...



Andrew enjoying our bus ride home.



Chris and Ali getting ready to work!


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Location:Uspantán,Guatemala

Stove making day three

Today we went back to the same community as yesterday to continue making stoves. We made four stoves in total today and the most memorable was the third house. We met a girl with down syndrome called rosita. She took the stickers and stamps we gave her and put them all over the paper and our faces! Her family made us a really good lunch with guacamole, eggs, salsa and home made tortillas. It was a really long day, but every minute was worth it.















Sophia and Carolyn
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Location:Guatemala

Work Day 1

Today was an amazing day being able to help the Mayan citizens by building them stoves. Today my group Ms. Woods, Brittany and I ( Anya) built two stoves. The first one was for a grandmother who had barely anything in her home, so to be able to build
a stove for her felt so great. The second home we went to was really smokey and we were able to see and feel what it was like to be around all that smoke. This family had four kids and they were so happy to have us there, we gave them some toys and colored with them and they just had the biggest smiles on there faces. After building each stove the families were so grateful and thankful that we had come all this way to build them a stove. Tomorrow is another day and I'm looking forward to being able to help more people.

Anya


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Stoves- day two

We are all packed and about to leave to build stoves! Each team of 3 will complete 4 stoves today.


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Location:Uspantán,Guatemala

A couple more photos

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Location:Uspantán,Guatemala

The first day at uspantan

Today was the groups first day in Uspantan, and we covered a lot! To start, we went to a school and were presented with a history and various dances, followed by our stove construction tutorial. After a brief lunch, we got to work on our inaugural stoves, and after a few hours, we had completed our first of many. Soon after we took up a soccer game with the local children, and then started the long bus ride home.
Andrew Buckley







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Location:Uspantán,Guatemala

Banquet and meeting the mayor

We just had a great meal here in Uspantan and were greeted by the Mayor! He gave us a great talk. All the students are excited to get started building stoves!







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Location:Uspantán,Guatemala

In Uspantan

Hello parents and followers...

We have arrived.  It`has been a full day, but we are happy to be in one location now for a few days!

More posts to follow shortly.

Thanks for following.

Market day

So ww just got back to the hotel in Chichicastenango after spending some time with team Rogers going through the city, we got lost at the begining but Rogers made up for it by buying us some fanta and cola, then we found the market that is more aimed at the locals so it was cool and felt more authentic. It was fun bargaining things to less then half of what thy originally say, and we bought some soccer balls and toys to give to the kids in Uspantan!




Having an amazing time in Guatamala, Gabrielle and Kayley


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Location:Chichicastenango,Guatemala