Greetings from Guatemala! This blog will be about our time spent in the city of Antigua on Saturday. After a few days of serving at our ministry sites, and a hike up Corazòn de Agua, we were ready for a day-off. Thankfully, our SI leaders planned a full day for us in Antigua, a popular destination for American tourists. What makes this city remarkable is that there are 3 volcanoes (including the one we will hike at the end of the week) that are visible from the city! With so much we could do, I (Joshua) hoped to do some shopping in the market. Aside from gifts for my family members, there were two things on my wish list: a traditional Guatemalan shirt and a machete.
The day started with a bus ride into the city, and with a few instructions delivered (don’t wander alone, don’t eat street food), we were let loose. Nivia (our SI leader) gave some of us maps of the city with popular destinations highlighted.
At first, a large group of us traveled to a coffee shop. Those among us who enjoyed coffee stayed at the shop, and our crew separated to do something shopping. We first visited a large textile store, but they didn’t sell men’s shirts, so I left empty-handed. We then stopped by an entrepreneurs’ store that Connor (who is working at the Microfinance site and knows the best entrepreneur spots in Antigua!) took us to. I bought some gifts for my siblings (that I won’t spoil here), and the others bought some jewelry, soap, and decorations. At this point, we agreed to fuel up before facing the artisan market. We ate at a restaurant my host family recommended called Pollo Campero. Other groups ate at McDonald's, which was such a unique experience. Imagine a massive park with water fountains, greenery, multiple rooms and corridors, and a couple of McDonald's logos here and there. Additionally, I was told the apple pie was 100 times better than in America.
With chicken wings nested in our stomachs, we felt courageous enough to descend into the depths of the Artisan markets. I purchased a fake Messi jersey just for the humor of it and a traditional Guatemalan shirt. We then stumbled upon the true artisan market—picture a large Walmart-sized canopy with hallways of tiny booths stocked full of bright clothing and trinkets—I merely mentioned that I wanted a machete to my friends, and a merchant heard me and pulled me aside. He displayed to me a large machete with a leather sheath. Caught up in the heat of passion, I resolved to purchase it. The rest of our crew and I bought some gifts for family, and a couple other items before leaving.
After this, we ascended a large hill with a cross overlooking the city. We rested here and soaked in the remarkable view of the town at the base of Vulcan Aqua. After descending the hill, we returned to base camp (a coffee shop) and somewhat split apart as we waited for dinner. For dinner, we ate at the Sky Cafe, which served delicious Latin food. All in all, we had a packed day, and it was special how each group of LIFTers experienced different aspects of the city.
You can rest assured that all of us are eager to return to our work sites this week. Thank you so much for your prayers! There will be other blog posts with specific prayer requests for ministry sites, but for now, continue to pray for health and safety. Pray that we will have the energy to keep blessing the missionaries here at Students International. And finally, pray that each LIFTer here would remain focused on God and his global mission. Thank you for reading this blog, and keep posted for more updates.
- Joshua Magary
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