Centro Linguistico Maya Day One

We woke up in an entirely different country, in a beautiful home, our team together for the first time in the same house!! We each have our own bathrooms to our rooms, and we didn't need to walk very far at all to get to language school. I was able to have devotions this morning with Megan, and we hope to have the group grow over the week. I have already seen such initiative and intentionality among the kids I our short time here to be used as a servant, notice the small things and extend a helping hand. This makes me proud as as a leader and makes things go so smoothly!
Each year, the sound of the students with their teachers using Spanish is so fulfilling, and it will only get easier as the week proceeds. It is only the beginning. Yesssss!
The morning is always a great one to return to because of all the teachers here that have had my students over the years, lots of smiles, hugs, and well wishes. This morning though, I was able to talk with Dona Rosita who works here. She expressed genuine concern for my Mom and we shared such an amazing conversation! It makes me proud, and should make you proud as well at the staff here at the school. They are all top quality people that work here, I am so blessed to be a part of it.

The kids are doing great. We slept a lot yesterday in the afternoon to make up for the LONG night of travel-from Amtrak train, to bus, to shuttle, to a LONG line at LAX airport. Time was short once we made it through that line, but we made it. Once we arrived at the airport in Guatemala City, it was very easy. They had arranged for all of our bags to arrive at the same time and Marcela del Pozo from Students International was there to greet us. We stopped to eat breakfast, and then went to the school where Arturo, the director of CLM Maya school, showed us our home..it was right next to the school in the back of  a hotel! Gorgeous accommodations with our own private bathrooms. So nice.
We took a nap and then met Marcela who took us to lunch in Antigua at Luna de Miel, a crepe place. Some went to the market for a bit and some slept back at the room before dinner and we ate at Pollo Campero for dinner, paid for once again by Students International.
Today we will need to exchange money at the bank before lunch in our home, yes, we are all together, at 1:00. This afternoon we probably will go the market together and dinner is at 6:30 . We will have one of our excursions tomorrow. Yay! Keep us in your prayers!