R&R and Celebration

The mission trip concludes with a couple of days of R&R in Antigua. Antigua is an old colonial city about 25 miles from Guatemala City. It used to be the capital of Guatemala that is until it was destroyed by an earthquake in the 1700’s. It sits in a valley and on a clear day you can see the peaks of volcanoes that keep things interesting for this old city. We descended through the clouds as we drove down the mountain and drove over the cobble stone streets to arrive at our destination the Hotel Antigua. The hotel is so beautiful with its gardens, wonderful beds with clean sheets and our own private bathrooms it almost seems decadent.

While In Antigua, some folks took the flight to Tikal to see the ancient Mayan ruins, some folks went to beautiful Lake Atitlan, some folks toured. A coffee plantation or went on a walking tour of Antigua, some went on the zip line, some went biking and some just enjoyed the shopping in Antigua.

We spent our last evening in a celebratory banquet in the setting of beautiful old church ruins and were greeted at the entrance by characters dressed in legends of Guatemala. Many of the interpreters brought their parents from Guatemala City to introduce to us. House of Jade as always had drawings for prizes that were key chains or bracelets or necklaces or letter openers. HELPS topped the evening with releasing two hot air balloons of thanks into the air. Such a wonderful ending to the trip.