This morning, in addition to the air horns of the usual 5:15 AM "chicken buses", we were awakened by church bells tolling. On our way to our last day (for now) of Spanish classes this morning we saw a few people with black crosses marked on their foreheads. My own teacher Carlos was sporting one of these. Of course this afforded us the opportunity to practice Spanish: We talked about Ash Wednesday, how the priest applies a cross of ash on people’s foreheads (during masses which start at 6AM), lent and fasting, and even the death and resurrection of Christ. It was great to look into the window of his faith and open mine to him (albeit in broken Spanish!) ...However I’m afraid much of the Catholicism here is steeped in religiosities which can obscure the essence of the life and freedom that Jesus brings. (For instance, a poster at the cathedral advertises indulgences you can gain for your passed loved ones by giving offerings.) We experienced Central American mass, in Spanish, on Sunday morning. It was interesting to sit near the huge door and watch it all: all the different people coming in crossing themselves, and Fuego Volcano spewing it’s own ash in the distance.

Yesterday we visited a women's cooperative work site in a town near Antigua. This group of women makes clothing and curios, and the income is distributed to help them get their kids in school, etc. We had fun as they dressed our family up in traditional indigenous wedding clothes!

Tomorrow I will do a clinic in El Gorrion with a couple other docs. El Gorrion is the village near the town of Magdalena (about 15 minutes from Antigua)--these are the two locations where Students International Guatemala does most of its work.

The kids are starting to miss their friends and home... Thank God for Facebook and Skype, when it works... And thanks again to all who are so generously supporting and praying for us!