Justin in Guatemala

Easter, Communion, Good Bye Fido!

2006-04-17T10:01:00.000-06:00

Well its been a busy weekend here in Guatemala.

Friday I got to go to Antigua with the team. We took the brand new 15 passenger Toyota Van. This thing is really nice, or at least it was. On the way to Antigua we were cruising along at about 60mph when out of no where a dog comes running onto the road. Sam only had enough time to take his foot of the gas before he hit the dog with the front right fender. Well that little stray mutt did a couple hundred dollars in damage. He shattered the air filter casing, and the the secondary air intake for the engine. Well it is a relief that the car still ran fine, and that no one was hurt.

The rest of the journey to Antigua was not nearly as event full. We expected to run into all sorts of traffic since it was Good Friday. But we really didn't have any trouble till we actually got into the city. But Antigua was so packed. Catholics here celebrate the death of Christ with these huge processions. They carry this giant floats with figures of Christ 'virgin' Mary, and other 'saints'. The procession then walks through the streets over alfombras which are carpets made out of colored saw dust (pictures on photobucket). But despite all the huge festivities for the death of Christ you would think that their would be HUGE celebrations for his resurrection, nope, nothing. This give you a really good window onto the Idolatry that plagues the Catholic Church.

Besides the massive amount of crowds Antigua was nice. I bought some flip flops, a hat, and some sunglasses in the Market. And I guided a couple of the team members around translating for them. I figure that maybe I should come back next year and hire myself out as tour guide for all the tourist that come down from the states. I also got the meet up with Dana, the guy that I met while I was studying in Antigua. We had a coffee and then spent some time catching up and sharing stories of our ministries.

After we had our fill of Antigua we loaded up into the van and headed to they city where we where staying that night. We stayed in the airport guest house, which is a house that has been converted into a hotel. We had been inside for about 20 minutes when we heard the car alarm going off. Peter looked out the window and said that he saw someone inside the van. Well the door was looked from the inside and needed a key to get out of the hotel. So after about 30 seconds of trying to get out the girl finally came and unlocked the door. So in that 30 seconds this happened. The guy jammed a screwdriver into the door lock, breaking the lock trying to open it (dumb), then he took the screwdriver and broke threw the window on the sliding door. He then opened the door and got in, he took the faceplate for the radio, and then left. So he caused a lot of damage for a faceplate that wont even work without the radio. So Sam and Pete were pretty ticked that on the first trip to the city with the van all this had happened. But the team felt really bad about it too, so they are going to pay for all of the repairs, which is really nice of them.

No much else happened on Friday. We went to a nice dinner for the teams last meal. Then we went back to the hotel and had a debriefing time and a time for the team to share what this trip taught them.

Saturday after seeing the team off Sam and I went to go do some shopping. I went to a mall and bought a new pair of shoes. They were so expensive. They were about double the price that I would have paid in the states. But I wanted a good quality pair of shoes that would last me awhile through whatever I put them through. We got back to Zacapa around 2 and I spent the rest of the day with the Wadells in house one. We celebrated Davids 5th birthday. He got a bike that he just rode around and around the basketball court. And he only wiped out once but got right back up and kept going.

Sunday I spent most of Easter with the house one kids. We made Easter eggs, then had an Easter egg hunt for the little kids. Then they gave Easter presents to the kids. there was even a little present for me! I got a pencil and a stuffed bear. Actually they were for their eldest Son Buddy, but since he is at college they gave them to me. Then we just sat around til about 3 when we went out for Easter dinner. We went to El Establo steak house with all of House of Hope. It was really, really good steak. We even took communion with grape soda and bits of stale bread. Then we came back and watched the Passion of the Christ. It was in Spanish subtitles and since I didn't want to spend the whole time trying to read them I came back up to my house and cleaned. Then Jason came over and we just hung out, and then he spent the night. So overall it was a good Easter away from home.

Your Brother in Christ
-Justin Friel
1st Timothy 4:12

Yes I am still alive.

2006-04-13T23:10:00.000-06:00

It has been a very, very busy week here is Guatemala. So this really is the first time I have had a chance to sit down at a computer and write this. So here has what has happened in Guatemala over the last week.

The team that was here when I got here did construction on Friday and then left on Saturday. In the few days that I had with this team I made some really good friendships. That is something that I am not going to like about my internship is meeting these awesome people and only having a week to share with them. But even though our time together is so, so short this is all the more reason to just pour and pour into their lives. But in a since it still bites.

So Saturday was really busy. The team left in the morning and the next team was going to be arriving at around 6 Saturday evening. So Michelle and all of the house 1 girls came over to clean the team house. So after it was already clean, Michelle looks over at the wall where all the donated clothes are and all the sheets and towels, and says "lets organize all that". So we spent the next few hours shorting through all of the clothes, shoes, sleeping bags, and towels that had been left here over the summer to separate what was going to stay here and what was going to go up to the mountain ministry.

So in the midst of all the cleaning my shoes which where outside drying got thrown away or packed away for mountain ministry. So I have been doing everything in my hiking boots since.
Well the new team arrived about 2 hours late, and went to sleep pretty soon after that. Sunday woke up and had a service here with the team. Then Sunday afternoon I went with Jason and Laura to help out at Mission Zoe. That was really fun being part of that service and seeing the passion the Mission Zoe team have for the youth. That night was a pool party at Danny, the long term Mission Zoe missionary, for the church. So I was also able to spend most of the evening with the youth. Since Jason and I were the only Gringos in the pool the Guatemalatecas had fun rough housing with us and hitting us with the balls.

Monday was another work day. This team is made up mainly of middle age men. So they are all really hard workers. And also all of the kids are out of school because this is their spring break week so a lot of the older guys were out their helping us. We got a lot done on Monday. I spent the morning working on tamping down cement in the walls we were filling. Then the afternoon was using the pick axe to break up a dirt pile we were using to level out on of the terraces at the new team house.

Tuesday was a hike up to the village of San Francisco. The hike was about 2 hours I think. It was a pretty easy hike. This was an actual trail, instead of a road like Plan Del Morro. However I got a little sick going up, but felt fine after I had rested for a while. The team did some work with the kids. I spent the afternoon talking to the pastor and his family. The pastor is a really funny guy. One of the guys on our team is a little heavy, and so the pastor asked us is he was doing okay coming up the mountain, or if we need to send a donkey down for him.

Wednesday we hiked down the mountain. Then the team and the entire orphanage went. It was a really fun afternoon. That night while we were having dinner Sam came in and told us that someone from Plan del Morro had gotten sick and that Baltezar (the pastor) had come down and needed a ride up the mountains so that he didnt have to spend the night in Zacapa. So some of us loaded into the back of the pickup and rode up to Plan del Morro. We found out that it was his daughter and that she was in labor. We also learned that she had been taken down to the base of the mountain on the back of a motorcycle, and then the fire department took her the rest of the way.

Friday was the last day of work. And I was literally working a pickaxe most of the day. We were digging a trench to the footing for the foundation of a retaining wall. We went down about an inch and started hitting rock. So I got to swing a pickaxe and break these rocks up.

Tomorrow I get to go to Antigua with the team. Antigua is going to be PACKED!!! Its a good thing we are staying in the city.

Hey if you are reading this leave me a comment. I really appreciate any contact I get from home.

In Christ
Justin Friel
1st Timothy 4:12

Week One!

2006-04-13T22:51:00.000-06:00

Hey Everyone,

Well I survived my first week on the job, and I am LOVING IT. I am so passionate about these kids and this place even though I have only been here for a week. Well I have a blog about my first week up and ready to go. And another thing, I would apreciate some e-mails from people, I am wanting any contact with home.

Your Brother in Christ
-Justin Friel 1st Timothy 4:12

Check out my blogs

Myspace -http://www.myspace.com/thinkingman14
BlogSpot- http://justinfriel.blogspot.com

If you no longer wish to recieve these updates please e-mail me and notify. If you would like to have a friend recieve these, forward this to them and have them e-mail me. Thanks -Justin

Mountain Update

2006-04-06T21:05:00.000-06:00

Hey everyone I got back from the mountains Early Thursday Morning. We did a dental clinic in the village of Plan del morro. It was an amazign exprience. However I forgot to take my camea with me but I wrote a new blog about it. So go read it!!!

Your Brother in Christ
-Justin Friel 1st Timothy 4:12

Check out my blogs

Myspace - http://www.myspace.com/thinkingman14
BlogSpot- http://justinfriel.blogspot.com/

If you no longer wish to recieve these updates please e-mail me and notify. If you would like to have a friend recieve these, forward this to them and have them e-mail me. Thanks -Justin

Triage 3500 Feet up

2006-04-06T10:14:00.000-06:00

Well on Wensday I got to have my first hike up into the mountains of Guatemala. And this was no cake walk. It was a farely dificult climb for about 1.5 hours. And the mountains are not beutiful like Costa Rica. This part of Guatemala is a desert in every since of the word.

So once we got up to the village of Plan del Morro. We set up the clinic. The team that is here now is a mainly dental team. So since I knew some spanish then I got put in Triage. I got the patients name, and which teeth hurt. Then they went in to have the teeth pulled. So after a while of doing that I got to go in to the clinic and help out. First I was cleaning and santizing the instruments. Then I was put in charge of preeping the patients. I woudl sit them down, put the bib on them. Then i would prep the syringe with novacane, and get all the tools for the dentist ready.

Overall it was a very exciting and enjoyable exprience. Even when the kids mauled me becuase i was blowing up ballons.And i kept on trying to tell the kids to wait and on little smart alec keept on repeating what i said to his friend and laughing because i was making a mistake. Or well so is the life of beginner spanish student

Well i am super tired and am getting ready to go to the pool. Peace out

Justin Friel
1st timothy 4:12

Zacapa at Last (Mass Mailing Update)

2006-04-04T21:46:00.000-06:00

Well I finally made it to Zacapa. I was suppose to arrive yesterday, but the car broke down and will not be fixed until tommorow. So I caught a bus here with my cousin, and another intern, and left Danny in the City with the car. I am literally diving right into ministry here. There is already a team here, so I go up to the mountains with them tommorow. I wrote a blog about all of it, so go check it out. Love you all and I write when I return from the mountains.

Your Brother in Christ
-Justin Friel
1st Timothy 4:12

Check out my blogs

Myspace -http://www.myspace.com/thinkingman14
BlogSpot- http://justinfriel.blogspot.com

If you no longer wish to recieve these updates please e-mail me and notify. If you would like to have a friend recieve these, forward this to them and have them e-mail me. Thanks -Justin

Dive right in

2006-04-04T21:40:00.000-06:00

Well 24 hours and two bus rides latter I have finally made it to Zacapa! I was suppose to be in Zacapa around 7 on Monday the 3rd, but the gods of auto problems decided to interven. We where sitting in traffic when the engine of the mini van started smoking. We took the car into the gas station and popped the hood to see the radiator literally boiling water and coolant out. So after about 30 minutes of cooling the car off with water we limped into a bilingual mechanic that Danny knew. Then we got the bad news that it would be tommorow before they could fix the broken fan in the motor. So we decided to get a hotel in Guatemala City. So we get a pretty nice hotel room and chill for the night. So we get up the next morning and do some of the stuff that they had to come to the capitol to do and then went back to the mechanic and found out that he would not be able to fix the car today either. So Danny decided that Jason, Laura, and I need to be in Zacapa Tuesday night. So we took a $10 taxi to the bus station and got onto a bus boud eventually to Zacapa.

The bus luckly was not a chicken bus, but it was an old charter bus from the states. So the drive took about 4 hours up and down windy mountain roads. And in case you didn't know in central america they don't follow the traffic laws. And therefore the bus driver in and effort to save time thought it would be a good idea to pass semis several at a time while coming up on a blind curve. well it was quite the expreince one that I am not in any hurry to relieve.
So that brings me up to around the current time. I arrive in Zacapa, and after seeing the house that my cousin lives in I got to come over to Houses of Hope. There are 5 houses and only two have children in them. House 4 is the designated house team until we get down buliding the new one. And so when i got here i was under the impression that I would be living with other people. Well I am right and wrong on that. The interns (which I am one) live in house 4 with or whithout teams there. So that kinda sucks in a way because i am the only intern until mid may. However there is a team here this week and next week. So I got to meet everyone tonight, even thought i wont remeber half of their names by the time I wake up in the morning. So I also found out that I will partaking in the two hour hike up into the mountains tommorow. So that will be fun kinda of. yet not considering all of my bags are in Guatemala City with the Car. So i only have a change on shorts. Well good thing my cousin lives in the same town as me so that he can bring stuff over. So its also good that he is going up tommorow.

Well I am very suprised that I am not going to have any sort of getting my feet wet and getting use to the area. I am literally diving in, I guess the proper phrase would be getting pushed into, my internship. Well I guess that is the best way to learn to sink or swim.

Well I am very overwelmed and therefore very tired. So I will write whenever I can next which will be a few days. Love you all. PEACE!!

Wow a month already?

2006-04-01T11:39:00.000-06:00

Hey everyone!

Its Justin Friel writing from Guatemala. It is so hard to believe that I have already been here for a month. This months has flown by so fast! It literally seems like a few days agon that I was getting off the plane. So much has happened in this week and I know so much is going to continue to happen. For more regular updates check out my blogs at the bottom of the page. And to see some pictures go to http://s47.photobucket.com/albums/f172/thinkingman14/.

I passed grade B of school and studied some of Grade C, enough to get my book. I also got a fancy little diploma that sayed I completed through Grade B and studied for 4 week a total of 105 hours. I have learned so much through school, I just have to work a lot on my spoken Spanish and gaing the confidence to speak it with people in the street.

This month has been hard, I have had to deal with a lot of homsickness, frustration, and attacks from Satan. But through all that I still have an overall since of peace about me and what I am doing. Throug all of this I have grown so close to God and have moved to a closer walk with Christ.

I move to Zacapa on Monday Aril 3rd. It going to be wierd moving again. Antigua and my house have become home away from home. It going to be fun though being in a new place and finally being able to get into ministry.

I appreciate your thoughts and prayers. Most of you will recieve my March newsletter Somtime next week. I have typed it up and emailed it to my Mom. She will be putting it in the mail on Monday. If you don´t recieve on or would like one send me and e-mail and I will send it to you as a file on E-mail. Love you all, can´t wait to see you all again until then,

Your Brother in Christ
-Justin Friel 1st Timothy 4:12

Check out my blogs

Myspace -http://www.myspace.com/thinkingman14
BlogSpot- http://justinfriel.blogspot.com

Well...

2006-03-29T16:56:00.000-06:00

All of a sudden I feel very philosphical and deep. I have had to learn so much about relationships while I have been down here. And friendship suddenly makes so much since. I always used time as an excuse to not get close and not enter into a relationship, but that is just ignorance. I mean yeah time is a factor but it is stupid to not open up to someone simply because you only have a certain amount of time with them. I realized here how incredibly esscential friendship is. Without friendship we drift through life not expriencing the joy of having someone that knows everything about you yet still excepts you and loves you like a brother or sister in Christ. yeah i know that this is one of the purposes of a spouse, yet for those of us who are single for whatever reason friendship fills that void. That is the one thing that I have missed most about being down here; the utter lack of someone to talk to, someone to be my friend. Yeah I made friends in the house, yet they are a differnt type of friend. Right now as I type this I miss my friends so much. And the most simple things will trigger homesickness. For instance i was listening to a song last night and it made me want to be singing it in my car with David like we did so many times last summer. Or there is just looking at the LA trip pictures and wishing I could of gone. This homesickness and nostalgia is not a sign of weakness or a sign that satan is trying to attack me, it is a sign that I am human, that I miss something that I took for granted. So I guess i am saying go for that friendship, the time you share with that friend will teach you so much and you will grow so much, wither that friendship last a week, a month, a year you will grow, you will change, you will be scared, hopefully all in a good way. Trust me I know, I have learned that.

Well now on to some more news, I will try not to go off on a tangent.

On Saturday I had lunch with my friend Dana. I shared with him my story from before becoming a Christian to now. It was a powerfully spritual experience, it always is when I share my testimony. And then on Sunday we sayed our goodbyes. On sunday he left for a two week outreach trip to a town completley wiped out in December. So by the time he gets back I will be in Zacapa. But we definently felt that it is in Gods plan for both of us to see eachother again and work together somehow for the kingdom of God.

On Sunday I had my first substantial portion of beef, it was a double quarter pounder with cheese for McDonalds. And for those few moment (second) I was devoring that burger I was in heaven. Also I found out I have lost 10lbs since I have been down here. So that is good because I could definently loose a lot more weight.

I guess sunday was just a sad day in general. I had to say goodbye to Dana and two of the guys that live in our house. I thought that saying goodbye to people back home was hard... But when i say goodbye to these people there is a very good chance that i will NEVER see them again. And true thier is not nearly as much emotional attachment to these people as there is to my friend and family back home, but there still is that bond. It is wierd after spending a month everyday, eating all of our meals together that they aren´t there anymore, yet life goes on, it has too.

On Tuesday I got to go and visit my compassion child. His name is Brayan. We spent the day at the zoo. He is so smart, and so full of questions. My translator told me that she was only going to translate if i could absolutely not get it. So most of the time she would translate the question and I would answer in Spanish. It was so fullfilling to get to vist brayan. Now when I write that check every month to support him I know for a fact that it goes to a person, not a picture. it made my sponsorship real.

Wensday I took and passed my Grade B test. So i will start a Grade C on Thursday. So I will have a few days of Studying and will get a book that I can study for the rest of the summer.

Well that is all the news I can think of.

In Christ
Justin

Plantanos (plan-TA-nos)

2006-03-23T10:26:00.000-06:00

Yes, today was the first day I had plantanos in Guatemala . And for those of you who dont know what that implies here it goes. Plantanos are a banna like fruit they can be cooked two ways, boiled they are simmilar to a patato, or fried they are like a fried banna a little sweeter similar texture. Well most people cant stand the things but personaally I love them. But again that is just me.

I guess I might as well tell you about my diet down here. Probably 75% my diet is carbs. Bread, pasta and Rice. 34% probably fruit and vegetables and 1% meat. That is really hard only getting a little meat. Since I LOVE MEAT it is really hard. Right now I am craving a really big thick burger with a lot of cheese and some chocolate. Maybe this weekend I will go get a burger somewhere. The food is really good, the only thing that I havent liked is Pacaya wich is a really bitter vegtable. But i have liked everything else.

School is going really well. I am taking 6 hours right now. I go from 8-12, then 2-4 with a 30 minute break at 10. It is so hard. Most of the days when i get done I jsut want to ram my head into a brick wall. My brain is slowly turning to mush. Dont get me wrong I love it and I am learning a lot. I can just physicially feel my brain ache from so much knowledge. I mean I have the same amount of time as people in high school, but i am just learning spanish. But I love it and wish I coudl do it for another month.

Well I need to be going, Love you all, Miss you all.
Until We see eachother again, pray for me and the people of Guatemala
Your Brother in Christ
Justin

Field trips, bootleg movie theater, goodbyes

2006-03-19T14:29:00.000-06:00

New Pictures in my Photo Album
http://photobucket.com/albums/f172/thinkingman14/

Well it has been an exciting, sad, and funny past few days.

Ill start with friday. On friday I went on two fieldtrips with my teacher. The first one was to Jocatenango (hoe-k-te-nan-go) which is a town to the north of Antigua. We road in a chicken bus there and back. A chicken bus is an old school bus that takes people all over the country. Most of the seats are three people accross. It is quite an expierence to ride on one. At Jocatenango we saw an ornately made Alfombra which is a ceremonial carpet usually made from colored saw dust. This church also had the scene from John 21 with the miraculous catch of fish. It was quite the sight to see.
Then we went back to the school and watched a student and his teacher make a small alfombra on top of a table. I helped them make it for a while. Then my teacher and hiked up to La crus. La crus is a giant stone cross that overlooks the city. It is about a 30 minute walk up steps built into the hillside. But it is well worth the trek. We were so blessed to have e crystal clear day. We could see most of the town. It was amazing.

Friday night I went to go see a movie. We thought we would be goin to see Kingdom of Heaven in a proper movie theater. Nope. It ended up to be a small room with no airconditioning or ventalation and the seats were musty couches. And to top it all of the movie was a boot legged copy! In fact during the movie a banner came accross the TV that said This copy of this movie is for award consideration only, not for sale or public viewing I am not joking about this. So the entire room started busting up laughing. Then about 3/4 of the way through the movie the tape messes up so we ended up leaving. But it was an experience none the less.

Friday was a day of goodbyes. The americans that were here to volunteer for a week in Guatemala City left. I didnt know them that well so it wasnt that hard. But Renata and Katie who I had gotten pretty close to left too. That was a little hard but oh well. We will be keeping in touch throught email though.

All is well. Hope all is well there too. I would love to hear from you guys send me and e-mail jt.friel@gmail.com or leave me a comment.

-Justin

Salsa dancing and our funny house(youth hostel)

2006-03-16T10:16:00.000-06:00

Well tuesday night I went salsa dancing. Well rather I attempted to go salsa dancing. When I agreed to go I thought it would be a salsa class. But NO it was in a crowded noisy bar with and even more crowded dance floor. But I decided what they hay might as well try and live a little. So I got out there and tried to dance. BIG MISTAKE. I was so bad at it, but it was still a lot of fun laughing at how bad of a dancer I was. So we left after about 10 minutes.
I also passed grade A in spanish class yesterday so I start grade B today. I will finish Grade B by the 24th. But I decided to go ahead and stay in Antigua throught the 31st so that I could finish the next grade. So I get to stay another week in Antigua which is a reward in and of itself.
I have been feeling quite homesick lately. But after talking to David last night I started viewing this place as my home for right now. It has essentially become my home, I am comfortable here, I have a routine and I know whats going on essentially. So by putting my faith in the lord I really have started to get over my homesickness.
Now onto some really funny stuff. I thought it would be a good idea for a sitcom about the house I am staying at. The house is two stories with a total of 7 bedrooms and two baths. So their are a total of 9 students living in 6 bedrroms. The three americans (LD, Nuper, and Jake) are here doing volunteer work in the city. So they are stayin in one room for the week. Marios, Rod, Kallun, and I have our own rooms. So Renata and Katie are saying a room. Our house mom, margarita, even rented out her son Jorge´s room. The house could best be described as a medium security fort. There is a metal door that is triple locked and reinforced at all times. The wall surrounded the house has a broken class top, with two rows of ELECTRIFIED RAZOR WIRE. Yes she installed razor wire with electricity going through it. So to say the least we are very safe. Now beyond Margarita basically running a hotel/studebt hostel she has some very funny people working for her. Isabel is a maid how stand at about 5 feet and jogs everywhere. She is that funniest, happiest little maid and always has a smile on her face. Every mornign she sweeps my room and makes the bed. Usally I just go to the bathroom real quick and she already has it all done. We always know when she is coming down the stairs because she where slip on shoes that bang on the stairs on the way down. So it often sounds like a horse is coming down the stairs. And when she comes into complex, I mean house at the bright hour of 6 she greets all of us who are still most often asleep with a bright cheerful Buenas Dias (good morning). And then there is Amilo the ´´gardner´´ is really creepy. He is missing most of his teeth and just kinda suffles everywhere. He does the oddest things. In the morning he waters all of the garden wiht and obscene amount of water. And then he suffels around cleaning odd things. Yesterday he dusted my door with a paint brush. And Margarita usally uses him to hang up the laundry and run odd errands. So there really never is a dull moment in the house. Like when one of the birds escaped and after we had all ran around trying to catch it Margarita unleashe a torrnent of scream at Amilo for leaving the door open. So it is very exciting to say the least.
More later
-Justin

Volcanoe, Carpets

2006-03-13T08:55:00.000-06:00

I was in the internet cafe and just thought I would tell everyone that I got to see a volcanoe erupt last night. Unfourtanetly it was really cloudy towards the top of the volcanoe so all we could see was the river of lava coming down. But still it was an amazing sight to see.

Also yesterday we got to see the people making alfrombas, they are carpets usually made out of colored sawdust, or sand, or flowers. They are ceremonial rugs that the processions of Jesus and the other sacred figures are cared through the streets destroying the rugs. We didn´t get to see the actuall procession, but we did get to see them making the rugs. I wil get pictures up on photobucket as soon as I remeber to bring my camera and transfer cord with me to the internet cafe.
-Justin

Long time no blog

2006-03-12T10:39:00.000-06:00

I know it has been forever and a Day since I last blooged (okay its only been 5 days but still...). I have week of Guatemala and language school under my belt. Language school is going so good! I am learning so much. I finished with grade a early Firday afternoonl. I officiallt start grade B next week. I should be close to finishing grade B by the end of my studies. I am becoming more confident in my speaking ability while talking witht he Guatemalans.
I am starting to get a little homesick, but its all okay. I have some great friends now that are living in the same house as me. So it really helps to have someone I can talk to when I go home for the night.
I spent the day yesterday walking around Antigua. We spent a few hours in the market buying stuff. I bought a pair of Puma soccer cleats for 120Q about 20 dollars. I am pretty sure they are conterfiet but hey they were cheap. I also bought a hand woven duffele bag and side bag from these mayan women. I also but some souveniers for some people at the ruins of San Fransisco. They are hand made by mayan women. I found out thought that almost all of the name brand stuff down in the market are conterfiet. So you have to instead of buying just by the name you must buy which ever one is the best quality of conterfiet.
I am not in that much of a blogging mood so I guess I will call it quites. Fill free to write me with any questions you might have. I will also have some pictures up on photobucket soon.
Your Brother in Christ
Justin

1st Day of school, Guatemla Update #2

2006-03-07T09:50:00.000-06:00

Hey Everyone,

I started Language School yesterday. It was Intense to the max! I can´t believe that thought it would be a good idea to take 5 hours of intensive spanish lessons in one day. It going to be hard, but it is going to be well worth it. I am loving antigua more and more every day. I have only been here for four days and it already feels like a week. My first weekend went really well I really like my house family and my house mates are really cool. Please pray that Language school will go ok, and that I will not get too frustrated.

I guess now would be a good time to give you guys some of my contact information.

My address is:
Justin Friel
Apartado 21
Zacapa, Zacapa Guatemala
Central America

Things that would be nice in a care pacage are candy (I like skittles and peanut M&M´s) and nuts like trail mix and peanuts) It is going to be very expensive to send stuff down here and it will also take probably about a week to get here. The address above is were I will be working once I am down with language school.

My Phone Number is
011-502-5470-3270. You MUST dial all the numbers, you will hear a strange beeping, that is the ring down here. Also you will not be able to call on you cell phones unless you get an international long distance plan. For cingular I know it is $5/month and 25 cents a minute. Otherwise you will need to go buy a phone card and call from a land line. Please only call between 8-12pm and 7:30-10pm I am on the same time zone as central, until dayight savings begins, then I will be a hour behind central.

I will write again soon, maybe around thursday.

Your Brother in Christ
-Justin

Solo Tú Amor me ha sostenido, Gracias Jesús.-Only your love sustains me, Thank You Jesus

Check out my blogs
www.myspace.com/thinkingman14
http://justinfriel.blogspot.com

Blisters, Exploring, PDA

2006-03-05T19:55:00.000-06:00

I don´t think that i will ever be able to fit in around here. I went to this huge open air market (mercado) yesterday and I was teh tallest person in there! It is so wierd being the minority. I don´t want to sound bad but being the minority and the one that people look down upoun is wierd. I also think that I will ever be able to get use to the Latin American pace of life. They literally stroll everwhere. Even when I am just walking the streets I still take uge strides and walk so much faster than the people around me. Usaully I quietly say escuse me (con permiso) and walk around them, but still.

Today was a day i spent mainly alone. My host family left early this morning for churhc. On sundays we are not provide food we are on our own. So this morning I went down the street to the tienda (a small store) where there is a fruit vendo and I got some fresh Pineapple (piña) and mango for breakfast. Then I went back to the house and read for a few hours. Then I left at around 1130 (once y media) for lunch. I had lunch at a place called the Rainbow cafe for a really good quesidilla, Lemon Ice tea (te frio), refired beans. Then I spent the next couple of hours just walking around the city. I have a nice big blister to prove it. Tonight for dinner I went to a cafe around the central park near where I go for the internet.

something else that is differnt in the Latin culture is thier affection for eachother and how much they so it. tonight while going through central park every bench was full of a couple making out. things are really differnt. But i am enjoying every minute of it.
More Later
In Christ
-Justin

Ruins, Casa, Antigua

2006-03-04T16:21:00.000-06:00

I have been in Guatemala less only and I already love it! I spent the morning and most of the afternoon exploring the city. I toured through a restored 17th century home this morning (check photo bucket soon for pics). This house was amazing. It took them 20+ years to restore it to the condition it once was! The pluming in this house was so effective. On top of the roof the water was collected into cysterns were it was then piped into the house to be used in the kitchen, the bathtub the laundry and to water the garden! The bathtub was heated from the kitchen then pumped into several pipes in the tub. It was +a 17th century jazuzi. The house also had an area for them to keep messenger pidgedons and a beutiful view of the city.

I also spent about an hour exploring the ruins of this old monastary. (pictures on photobucket soon) This place is awash with ruins. In fact there are some jsut down the street from were I live.

My house mom, margarita is a very nice woman! She spent 10 years living in New York City before moving back here. We think that she moved to escape the civilwar/revolution that was taking place. She has two story house with a patio that was a wonderful view of the city. She and her friend are cooking for us and a very good at it. Breakfast consitent of fresh fruit, a toast and of corse coffe. Lunch is usally a bigger meal with meat. And dinner is usally just rice and vegetabels. i have a room by myself. It is very nice. I have a dresser and a armor to hang my clothes in and the goo thing is that is lock so i can keep all of my stuff in it. Currently there are 2 enlgish speaking house mates. Marios is from Germany and Rod is from the UK. Both are going to the same language school as me. Magarita has a son Jorge (George) he is 15 so him and I are getting to be quite good friends. He took me around Antigua this morning and helped me buy a phone and exchange money at the bank.

Right now i am sitting in an Internet cafe by the central park. It caust only $1.50 USD for an hour. So it is going to be very easy to keep in touch since these cafes are every where.

So that is all that I can think of, I will write more later.

Your Brother in Christ

-Justin

Guatemala Update 1

2006-03-04T16:19:00.000-06:00

I arrived Safely in Guatemala yesterday around 1. I met my director at the airport and then he took me to Antigua were the spanish school is. I am really glad that I got here on a weekend because that way I can take time to get use to the city. Anitgua is an Amazingly beutiful city. Today i went to a restored casa (house) from the 15th centuiry with some of my house mates. I just got down exploring the ruins of iglesia de san fransisco (the Church of Saint Francis) I am sitting in an internet cafe typing this. The internet caust about USD$1.50 for an hour! So it is going to be really easy to use email to keep all of you up to date. I will more soon

2006-03-02T17:22:00.000-06:00

Well I am getting ready to leave for Guatemala. I will be gone for the next 4 months and I am so amazed that it was already come. I equate it to a roller coaster. I have been standing in line for the last 6 months. For that last week I have been inside the train being strapped in now I am getting ready to start clinking up the hill before the first big plunge. I can't wait though. I am going to miss you all so much but I can't wait to see you guys again. Well I better be going. I will try and blog when I get into Guatemla.
-Friel