Happy Feet--Resistance Overcome

I so much want to convey everything that happened during the Happy Feet campaign, but realize I don't have the time to do it justice.  There were times we knew that our work was being opposed:

• Protests on Monday that kept us getting to the mountains on schedule
• No working stove in the kitchen of the hotel.  Kimberly had cooked and frozen chili for 40 people before we left the Rivas house.  When we got to the hotel we saw that it had a large 6-8 burner gas stove and we were thrilled.  Imagine our disappointment when, after a very long day, we found out that it was not working and would not be repaired while we were staying there.  
• Tuesday we were supposed to have a 30 minute or less trip to the village, but due to the on-going heavy rain there was a landslide that blocked our route.  Instead, we took an almost 2-hour detour around the mountain which included waiting for a front-end loader to clear another landslide.
• Tuesday night during our time of testimonies Nelson received a call that the location on the schedule for Wednesday would be unreachable due to a half mile long landslide.

But, the good news is that God's plans could not be stopped . . . . 

• As explained in my last post, we found a shortcut to the village and arrived in time to distribute 150 pairs of shoes and share the gospel with the precious children and their moms
• Saul, the hotel maintenance man, lives there and had a two-burner gas stovetop which he graciously let us use.  Claudia Jiron brought her single electric burner with her, so between the three heat sources, we eventually heated and served the chili.  
• The detour took us over the top of the mountain and revealed breathtaking views of God's creation.  The front-end loader arrived just a few minutes after we got to the landslide spot.  We made it to the village and had a great day, even holding a afternoon praise/preaching service for the adults.

• Pastor Francisco called his sister who is a school teacher and she arranged to open her classroom in a completely different location.  When we arrived, there was a line with more than 150 kids waiting on us.  Many kids were saved--it was an amazing day.

We serve an awesome God!  

10,000 Ft. above sea level. Cold front above and sunlight down the valley. Tecpán Guatemala

Perfect picture spot while we were waiting for the road to be cleared

Working to get the road open

This is the view from the road beside their house

Girls wearing their new shoes and watching what we were doing inside

Praise team from Pastor Francisco's church singing a beautiful rendition
of Great Is Your Faithfulness

Rich and Pastor Nelson presenting the gospel to the parents

Clean, dry feet deserve a new pair of socks

My new friend and sister in Christ, Luisa

Stephen explaining the gospel bracelet

Bus with Wifi

Well, you know you are going to be late getting back when both of the movies are over and the bus is still at the border.  We left Guatemala  City a little late and then the traffic at the landslide area took another half hour or so.  Not too bad, we thought.  Then we got to the border and the line of trucks was incredibly long. 

We did not have to get off the bus to wait in the immigration line,but it really doesn't make any difference if the traffic line is this long.  We were there for at least an hour, but have finally started  moving.  All this time (and on the trip over) I had my Internet turned off because the bus info said that free wifi was only for the first class passengers.  While sitting at the border I accidentally turned it on  and saw that the wifi was free and open. Silly me!  Nevermind that typing on these rough roads is quite difficult, at least I can check Facebook, and everyone knows how important that is.

Landslides

Landslides on a road just outside Guatemala City have closed two lanes of the highway on which our bus will travel this afternoon.  Long delays are expected, so please pray for our journey home.  The government is not removing the dirt that covers two lanes because the danger of more landslides is very great.  Here's a link to an article that has a picture from the top of the hill. 
http://www.prensalibre.com/noticias/Lluvia-retrasa-obra-km_0_1019298121.html