San Pedro de Atitlan

Here we go again. This is my third trip to Guatemala to help install a water purification system and do health/hygeine/training.  Our team will consist of 8 Americans and two  guatemalans. Right now I'm sitting in front of the Westin hotel waiting for two team members from San Diego. Five of us just drove to LAX from Visalia. We'll meet the other 4  team members in Guatemala tomorrow.

Why is there paint on my hand?

 

 

I've been asked why is there paint on my hand in 2 of my FaceBook photos.  When Living Waters World Missions builds a pure water system, as part of the educational component, a poster is made on a 4' x 8' sheet.  In Spanish, or whatever the local language is, we write at the top: "Pure Water+ Clean Hands = Healthy Life".  Then all the kids at the orphanage, church or school, their adult leaders and everyone on the LWWM team put a hand print on the poster.  The poster is a prominent part of the Celebration, when the system is dedicated.  So far, I have been on 2 trips, the red hand is at the Alpha and Omega Church at Santiago de Atitlan (2 systems in one week, one at the church and one at their school!) and the blue hand is at the El Shaddi Church in Chiquimuillia.  All 3 sites are in Guatemala.

Why I go to Guatemala

I am a board member of Living Water World Missions is a non-profit organization located in Visalia, California existing to share the Good News of Jesus Christ in the context of providing clean water in communities that need it. While our current ministry focus is in the Central American country of Guatemala, we are poised to install systems all around the world. We assist and train nationals in the building of clean water systems which use filters and ozone to remove germs and bacteria from city water sources, making it safe to consume. In addition, we train parents, children, and interested others in germ theory, hygiene, and the appropriate uses of clean water.

Please check out our web site:
http://www.livingwaterworldmissions.org/

Our water purification system

Chiquimullia Guatemala Day 2

Considering the issues we faced this morning when arrived at the El Shaddai church to build their water purification system, we made amazing progress.  we needed to deal with the slanted wall issue plus  the water and electricity in that part of town was not working! Despite all that, we actually finished the system.  We would have sanitized and pressure tested the system, but the water supple was off and or too low. So, we'll do that tomorrow.
The education team taught 70 kids today about hygiene and how to use clean water effectively.
There will more education classes on Wednesday and thursday. Since the system will be done I'll probably get involved in that.
Some church installed and basically abandoned a system in Guazapan so we're going to check it out and see if its repairable and maybe train the local church people to run it.
Very hot and humid. The house we're in doesn't have hot water in the shower, so that is fun.
Here is a picture of the system. The group picture is in front of the house across the street from the work site.  A lot of the house here are just a huge blank wall with a metal gate. The group is all of our team (except me) plus Our Guatemalan helper and 2 church members who helped.
Time for bed, David

Chiquimullia Guatemala day 1

Our team of 8 left Visalia at 4:00pm headed to LAX for a midnight:20 flight to Guatemala City. Flight left on time and we arrived on time at 6:30 am local time. I only got about 2 hours sleep. Our "host" from Global Community Outreach picked us up. After breakfast at a Burger King (with an armed guard on the roof) we arrived at El Shaddi church after the service had started. This was the first service at their new building. This is where we will be building the water purification system.
I left my photo chip in my pack which was buried under team bags, but the iPod camera worked good.
The first two pictures are of Fuego volcanoes. The other two are of the view looking left and right from the front door of the house where we are staying. You can't tell, but two people are carrying wood on their head.
The house has a couple geckos on the dining room wall but everyone leaves them alone because they eat mosquitoes.
Hopefully I'll get more pictures tomorrow.  We may have some down time because there is a serious issue with a wall that isn't straight and something needs to be done.

Sacramento Day Trip

Do you have only one day to travel but want it to be to be a history packed experience?  Then load up the kids and head to downtown Sacramento.  If you're in town on a weekday you can start were it all began at Sutter's Fort where support gold was first discovered and started the California gold rush.

 

Your second stop should be right down the street to visit the Capitol building of the state of California.  If you're making this trip on a Saturday or Sunday when Sutter Fort is closed, don't worry make your first stop the capital building.  You can catch up on state history by visiting the museum in the basement.

 

Before entering the Capitol building is sure to leave your knives liquids, etc. in the car because entering the state capital is just like going through airport security emptying your pockets and passing through a metal detector.

There is a free tour every hour on the hour.  For the more adventuresome you are free to wander around by yourself in the capital on your own.  There are plenty of signs with history, explanations, etc. to make your self guided tour a meaningful learning experience.

Next up is old town Sacramento just go about six blocks towards the river there are plenty of signs.  There is an abundance of metered parking if you have the patience to find a spot and want to go back and read the meters occasionally.  I find it much less stressful to park in the city parking structure (research what side of town).  Be sure to get a parking validation from a store or restaurant to get five dollars off your final parking.

There's plenty to see and do in old town there arelots of restaurants and shops with very eclectic shopping as well as the typical touristy T-shirt in key chain stores.  Dining goes all the way from sandwich shops to four or five-star eateries.

Walk over to the river and check out the restored paddle wheeler hotel (what's the name).  Oftentimes there will be a tall clipper ship or other historical vessel tied up alongside the dock.  If you'd like some more museum time there is a railroad museum and the military Museum.  There are plenty of candy stores several of which specialize in salt water taffy.  If you are on a budget and want to skip the museums, no worries as old town reeks of history and there are plenty of historical plaques on buildings fill you in on the color and history plus the Wells Fargo bank has a small but free and informative museum..

Between the Capitol building and old town there's plenty to keep you busy for most of the day.