We have arrived "safe and sound"

The team met in Dallas; those traveling from Indianapolis and South Carolina made it in without complications. The team from Madill had the most challenges , but thanks to the extra drivers who got them to the airport on time . . . and then many more thanks to Herschel for bringing Patty's passport to her -- she made it through security and we were all able to board the plane with leader in tow. Thankfully she had a copy of her passport so they printed her a boarding pass and checked her luggage -- they would just not give her the pass until she had her passport in hand to get through security.

The plane arrived a few minutes early. After clearing customs, we climbed in a van after watching all of the luggage be loaded on top and tied down and were driven to the hotel. The hotel was built as a family home in 1873 and later converted to a 10 bed hotel. We were served a light supper of spaghetti and are retiring soon . . . The water is heated via a solar system and there are 2 tubes (red for warm and blue for cool) delivering water to the rooms. We are in rooms of 2 or 3 per room and all is well.

Shower in one of the rooms . . .

Living room / meeting room looking into the courtyard from this side (and open to the garden with no barrier on another side).

outdoor courtyard . . . the front of the hotel is literally on the street. Therefore, this is the only "yard" there is.

We will depart in the morning after breakfast for a 3 hour drive . . . first a good night's rest is anticipated in the cooler -- but more humid -- weather than we have at home.

Good night . . . hopefully some pictures tomorrow.

Currency Conversion

http://www.oanda.com/currency/converter/

Introductory Video for Mission Project

Augusto made this video to introduce the team to the project:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94ne-mD81kU

Team Members

Oklahoma:
Dale and Jodie Coulson
Lu Stephens
Margaret Long
Linda Kaye Green
Pat Tickel
Patty Tickel
Toni Hignight

Indiana:
Kim and Krystal Johnson
Barbara Longoria

S Carolina:
Melissa Moore

Texas:
Kellye Johnson

Emergency Contact Information

Emergency contact information:
Hotel Pasada Belen Museo Inn (phone #: 866-864-8283 Francesca Sanchinelli)
13 CALLE "A" 10-30 ZONA 1
CENTRO HISTORICO
GUATEMALA CITY
GUATEMALA, CENTRAL AMERICAPH:
Phone: +(502) 2253 4530 +(502) 2232 9226
FAX: +(502) 2251 3478
ttp://www.posadabelen.com/

Hotel Dos Mundos in Monterrico
http://www.hotelsdosmundos.com/

Myrna Giron @ myrnaacevedo@live.com

Travel Information - Itinerary

Departure for Guatemala:
June 30: American Airlines #2195 leaving DFW at 4:40 p.m. and arriving in Guatemala City at 6:05 pm.

Departure from Guatemala:
July 9: American Airlines #2162 leaving Guatemala at 9:45 a.m. and arriving at DFW at 2:10 p.m.

Day 1 - June 30th - Thursday - We will leave Madill @ 12 (noon) to travel to DFW where we will board flight # 2195 with American Airlines at 4:40 p.m. Arrival at Guatemala City International Airport "La Aurora" @ 6:50 p.m. A bus will be awaiting our arrival to pick us up at the airport and transfer us to Hotel Posada Belen Museo Inn. At the hotel we will have a light dinner with soup and sandwiches.

Day 2 - July 1st - Friday - breakfast at 7 a.m.. (Pack an overnight bag to take to Monterrico. We will be able to leave our larger luggage at the Hotel Posada Belen Museo.) At 8 a.m. the bus will be at the hotel to pick us up to travel to Monterrico to the HOTEL DOS MUNDOS. We will have free time to enjoy the accommodations of the hotel and explore Monterrico. We will decide on lunch and dinner times when in Monterrico. Augusto and Gabriel will be accompanying us and this will be a time to relax and experience the cultural differences.

Day 3 - July 2nd - Saturday - Breakfast at the hotel. We will visit the sea turtle reservation. I will need to check what time the reserve opens. Balance of day at your leisure. We will decide on lunch and dinner times when in Monterrico.

Day 4 - July 3rd - Sunday - Breakfast at the hotel. Augusto would like to have a worship service on the beach. Check out of hotel and transportation back to Guatemala City to HOTEL POSADA BELEN. If Pastor Celso and Augusto agree I would like for them to have an orientation at the church so we can tour our worksite prior to Monday. Light dinner at the Hotel at 7 p.m.

Day 5 - July 4th - Monday - breakfast 7 a.m. The bus will pick us up at the Hotel to transfer us to the church. Work from 8 am to 5 pm. Lunch will be provided by the ladies of the church. The bus will pick us up at the church to transfer us back to POSADA BELEN. Light dinner at the Hotel at 7 p.m.

Day 6 - July 5th - Tuesday - breakfast 7 a.m. The bus will pick us up at the Hotel to
transfer us to the church. Work from 8 am to 5 pm. Lunch will be provided by the ladies of the church. The bus will pick us up at the church to transfer us back to POSADA BELEN. Light dinner at the Hotel at 7 p.m. Day 7 - July 6th - Wednesday - breakfast 7 a.m. Work hours 8 am to 1 pm. The bus will pick us up at the church to transfer us back to the hotel to clean up. We will be going to the Central Market with Gabriel. Light dinner at the Hotel at 7 p.m.

Day 8 - July 7th - Thursday - breakfast 7 a.m. The bus will pick us up at the Hotel to transfer us to the church. Work from 8 am to 5 pm. Lunch will be provided by the ladies of the church. The bus will pick us up at the church to transfer us back to POSADA BELEN to clean up and then transfer us back to the church. Pastor Celso has invited us to the church for a meal and worship service.

Day 9 - July 8th - Friday - breakfast 7 a.m. The bus will pick us up at the Hotel to transfer us to the church. Work from 8 am to 5 pm. Lunch will be provided by the ladies of the church. The bus will pick us up at the church to transfer us back to POSADA BELEN. Light dinner at the Hotel at 7 p.m. Pack for our trip back to DFW.

Day 10 - July 9th - Saturday - The bus will be at the hotel at 7 a.m. to transfer us to the
airport. We will have breakfast at the airport and if you still have shopping to do there will be little shops inside the airport. We depart on flight #2162 at 9:45 a.m. on American Airlines. Arrive at DFW @ 2:10 p.m.