Ministry in the City

We journeyed to the city today with a group of 20 college students from Florida and 5 from Mount Harmony in Knoxville. This was different as we never made it downtown last year. It is an election year so there was a downtown festival in progress. Supporters of each of the 28 candidates walked around town waving their particular candidates flags. I have not declared my candidacy yet, but I am considering as it only takes $ 39 US dollars to register. We did face painting and fingernail painting for the children as their parents watched the drama enactments the college students performed. Amy Rosine even made a friend and gained an international facebook friend from the city. We went to McDonalds for lunch where Jamie said she had the best chicken she ever had, "even better than Food City." This McDonalds had a full bakery. Laura Woodard had lemon pound cake, that I believe weighed a pound. Jamie and I had what basically was a moonpie with a homemade pure cane sugar caramel center. It was unbelievable. It cost 10 Q, about a dollar. Amy's mother had one of the best looking "manzana" apple pies that I have ever seen. We even saw a dog riding a bicycle! Leah, Laura, and Laura's sister probably won the award for painting the most fingernails. I think after a day in the city, Laura is now fluent in Spanish, or at least "un poco." Jamie and Sara Rosine spent most of the day placing temporary tattoos on the chidren, and I still have a pink rose on my face that even Guatamala water won't wash off. We were able to go downtown to see the Presidential palace and the national church. Jamie rather enjoyed "rousting" the pigeons in the square. All were amazed they had to pay to use the "bano" bathroom. Jamie did get a rebate. She paid 2Q, about 24 cents, and found a Q on the back of the toilet. We were amazed at crowd that assembled for the skits. Guatamala City definitely had a strong hunger for the Word of God. We are heartened that we reached so many people today. It is amazing how far the love we showed for the children went as well. Those smiles will warm your heart. Tomorrow is our "off" day as we head to Antigua. My LOU, "ladies of Union" are on a rampage. As tomorrow is shopping day, my job is to make sure they at least have the $3 dollars they will need to leave the country and come home.