Honey, Jesus is at the Door Again...

Jesus keeps showing up at our back door unannounced in the form of a 4'9" Mayan woman with no front teeth. He's going by the name Isabel and has a deviously-cute baby named Norma slung over his back. You wouldn't believe how loud he knocks and how persistent he can be with his knocking. The man will simply not go away! In fact, he just left a few minutes ago. Let me be perfectly honest with you...Jesus is really starting to tick me off!
His visits always frustrate me and leave me feeling taken advantage of. He started coming around in October. At first he only wanted money and seemed upset with me when I would instead hand him eggs, bread and milk. But now that's it's Christmas time and all he's been hanging around town more, so we seem to see him everywhere we go. He wants me to buy his baby groceries and take him to the health clinic. That cleverly-disguised Jew sure does have a way of getting under my skin...he asks for more than I want to give, he makes me feel guilty about the money I have, and pulls me away from important things I need to do just so I'll notice him everytime he comes around. Errrrgggg!
Even though I talk about Jesus a lot as a pastor, for some reason there is something in me that is simply rebelling against him barging into my life like this. His mere presence in Isabel is forcing me to re-examine my relationship with the poor I see day-to-day and what my responsibility is to them as someone with money, resources and education. Not to mention the lesson he's trying to teach me about the mysterious joy of being taken advantage of. I'm probably just mad because Jesus is making me put my money where my mouth is. Maybe I'll learn one day, but until then I'd better get to bed because tomorrow I'm taking that annoying carpenter from Bethlehem to the pharmacy early in the morning to get him some meds...
Peace,
Jay

An Open Letter to All Roosters

Dear Roosters,

I hate you.

Sincerely,
Jay (that gringo in Guatemala you have chosen to torture with your incessant, 24/7 crowing)

p.s. Watch your back. If I see one of you wandering the streets alone...it's on!

Reflections at 2 Months...

Things I Miss:
-Route 44 Cherry-Limeades from Sonic (FYI Happy Hour drinks are ½ price 2-4 p.m. daily!)
-Drivers who stop at stop signs
-Hugs and holidays with my family in Texas
-The Jersey shore
-Flushing toilet paper
-Town Lake in Austin
-Ice
-Having dinner at some great local restaurant with close friends
-Preaching on Sunday mornings (mostly)
-Creamy Jalapeno sauce at Chuy’s ~ I could bathe in that stuff (and would if I had the chance)
-Snowy days in New Jersey
-My partners in ministry
-Our dog Molly
-Playing with my cute nieces
-The feeling of college football Saturdays
-You

Things I Don’t Miss:
-The insane consumerism around Christmas
-Being inundated with advertising and media
-Being part of the majority (it’s good to experience being the "different" one for a change)
-Having a car
-Feeling driven to be productive 24/7
-The concrete jungle
-The sense of entitlement I felt in the States
-Bathing everyday (overrated)

Things I’m Learning:
-It’s a lot more fun to drive when everyone else on the road is crazy too!
-It may be easier to see God when you’re in unfamiliar environments.
-It really feels good to say “hola” and smile at people I walk by everyday.
-Where your treasure is your heart will be also (I think some famous Jew said that once).
-The United Methodist Church may be “dying” by some standards in the States, but it sure is full of life down here!
-A small Toyota pick-up actually can hold upwards of 20 people in the rear bed.
-Unfamiliar situations or people are rarely as scary as we make them out to be.
-No matter where I live from here on out I will own a hammock.
-Even though motorcycles clearly are the best and most economical means of transportation, if your spouse doesn’t want you to drive one it just ain’t gonna happen!
-If you smile and nod a lot when listening to someone speak Spanish they'll think you understand them.
-A machete really does make the perfect gift for a 6-year-old boy.
-Mayans must be among the hardest working, yet most family-oriented people I have ever met.
-I should take more time to slow down and enjoy life (even while working)
-If you can't pronounce the name of a particular type of food it's no more likely to make you sick.
-If you look directly into the big, brown eyes of a Mayan child you will feel more hopeful about life. (Remember that verse, “in the twinkling of an eye you will be changed?" Well, it seems to make more sense now.)
-It’s really easy and cost-effective to reuse zip-lock bags, plastic bottles, paper towels, and many other things I used to throw away after only one use (note: reusing toilet paper = bad idea).
-It’s a big world out there, and it is clearly not all about me!

Happy Festivus!
Paz,
Jay

Deep Thoughts by Carey Cooper

I don't know about you, but I am still trying to make my parents proud. This gets a little tiring after 33 years, but I still keep at it. For example, I'll always remember the day I told my Dad that I got a job at Princeton. I've never seen him so excited! For some reason, he was less excited when I told him I got a volunteer job in Guatemala. Go figure. :) But I'm still trying to make him proud, and I thought of something today that he would appreciate...

About 20 years ago, my Dad walked into my room while I was fixing my hair. Chicas, you remember what an ordeal this was in the late 80s, right? So he watched me blow drying, curling, and teasing for a while and then asked, "How long does this usually take?" I remember saying, "Oh, about 30 minutes." (It was more like 45 but I could see where he was going...) After a quick calculation (he's an engineer so it didn't take long), he reported how many hours over the next year and then days over my life I would waste on my hair. I'm sure I only laughed at the time and went on with my teasing. But this morning, when I ran a comb through my wet hair and ran out the door for church, I thought of our conversation. I'll overestimate this time and say that I usually spend about 1 minute a day on my hair. Over the next year, that adds up to about six hours. Not bad, eh Dad?

Carey's Birthday!

Carey's b-day started out with a BANG last Saturday. It's tradition around here for a man to set-off a bunch of firecrackers outside his wife's window on her birthday. So when in Rome...good times : )
We spent the day in a lake town called San Marcos La Laguna, and then I had a couple of new friends here help me surprise Carey back at our apartment when we returned ~ complete with decorations, cake, dinner and a pinata! A truly Guatemalan "cumpleanos."

The birthday chica out on the lake in San Marcos. We couldn't have asked for more perfect weather.

A local enjoying the day in a typical home-made wooden boat.

A great reaction after realizing that the shadowy figures in our apartment were there for a surprise party, and not her impending death.
As you can see, gringos are considerably worse at pinata than Guatemalteco's are. Daniel and Lety are our spanish instructors and friends. They were so kind to offer to set-up this big surprise for Carey.
Since I didn't get to shove Carey's face in cake on our wedding day, Lety did the honors for me on Saturday.
Lety and Daniel taught us how to do meringue dance, and we taught them how to 2-step! Note: Jay is white.
Lety is becoming a good friend of Carey. Unfortunately, it is physically impossible for Lety to keep her eyes open during a photograph.

Keep eating those turkey sandwiches ~ it will be gone soon!

J & C

Happy El Dia de Accion Gracias! Gobble, Gobble

During this time of year I usually find myself thanking God for all the “things” I have. This year, however, I’m feeling blessed for the things I don’t have. Carey and I just recently spent a week in a little town here in Guatemala hosting a Methodist work team from the States. In that time, we witnessed around 628 miracles: 271 medical patients treated, 355 teeth pulled, and two new rooms constructed at the John Wesley Medical Clinic where we served. It was there, among some of the poorest people of Guatemala, that I began to realize just how thankful I was to have “less” this year.
I no longer have disposable income, but now I’ve been given the gift of learning to rely on God and others. I no longer enjoy the safety I had in the States, but now I’ve been given the chance to trust God in unfamiliar situations. I no longer have many of the comforts I’d become accustomed to, but now I’ve been given the opportunity to learn about the cost of following Jesus. So this year, as I lead mission teams on various projects throughout Guatemala and Carey prepares to open the new Susanna Wesley Preschool in January, we both find ourselves thankful, not only for all that we do have, but especially for all that we don’t.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Love,
Jay & Carey

ps - we spent our most unique Thanksgiving ever today with 1 Italian, 2 Guatemalans, 1 Woman from Switzerland, another from Sweden, and a handful of gringos. The only thing that connected us was our ability to speak Spanish (mas o menos)...it was a beautiful thing ; )

Clinic Video

If you're interested in what a "typical" clinic day looks like, check out this 80-second video that I took at one of our off-site clinics...

The woman in the blue scrubs in the video is the one I'm taking over for in February. Of course she's much better looking, taller, and smarter than me and speaks three languages fluently, but I still hope to somehow carry on the great work she's done over the years hosting teams and administrating clinic operations. I think I'm going to love this job...

Pics of Carey's b-day coming tomorrow. Jay

Deep Thoughts by Carey Cooper

"Dead Man's Clothes"

Guatemala receives a lot of donated clothes from the U.S. I was told the other day that Guatemaltecas assume they are "dead man's clothes" because they can't imagine any other reason we would give away clothes in such good condition. Ouch. I'll remember that the next time I think I need a new outfit. :)

Warm Days, Hotter Lava

We finally got a real taste of the kind of work that Salud y Paz does this past week, and we loved it! Carey and I spent 8 days helping host a work team from Utah in "southern" Guatemala in a town called San Antonio Suchi...name continues for about 7 more syllables. Once again earning my man-card, I drove us about 3 hours through the mean streets of Guate. After meeting the team, which consisted of 2 doctors, 1 dentist, lots of nurses, and several construction grunts, we all attended a local Methodist Church (Guatemalan Methodists have "slightly" more exciting worship services than American Methodists do - when Guatemaltecos sing...they really sing!) That week we worked three days at the Salud y Paz clinic and 2 days at off-site/make-shift clinics (at local churches, road sides, etc). It was such a blast seeing the team in action. Despite the extreme heat, they worked long days and inspired me with their compassion. Here's the final tally of big and small miracles they performed: 271 patients seen and given medication, 355 rotten teeth pulled, and two new rooms added on to clinic! I think God decided to show-off a bit.

Here are some more pics and a video of our big adventure...

Outside the John Wesley Clinic in San Antonio Suchi. It's one of our newer clinics and is only open on Fridays and when teams come into town now, but in the near future we hope to see patients several days a week. Carey was a huge hit at the clinic reading to the kids while their parents were with the doctors. The children here are crazy cute. A view from the future patio/waiting area for patients looking into the two new dental rooms. The new rooms are just to the right of the existing clinic. My job was to lay the bricks you see in the background - they're "mostly" straight.

After the week was over, we stayed a night in Antigua with the team and got to climb Volcan Pacaya. It's very active, as you can see in the background of this pic and in this video...

Our guide Felix was kind enough to roast some marshmallows ("angelitos" in Spanish) that I brought with us in case we were able to get close enough to the lava. I know what you're thinking, but he actually looked better without eyebrows.

Have a great week and thanks for checking in! We'll post some pics of Carey's b-day this Saturday and hopefully a short video I made of a "typical" day at the clinic. Love, J & C

A Week in Pics...

Carey and I have had a busy week, working at two of our clinics (Camanchaj and Quetzaltenango), but also took some time to do some sight-seeing after work. I am also glad to announce that I am now officially a MAN! I drove us all over Guatemala and only got lost twice! Yes, I did have to ask directions four times in total, but did NOT drive us over a cliff or run over any roosters, dogs, cows, or children ~ thank God! It's all down-hill from here baby!
Enough talk. Here are some pics from our past week...

The cemetary in Panajachel on El Dia de los Muertos in preparation for All Saints Day. All burial plots were ornately painted and decorated with flowers in memory of lost loved ones.

Ummm...it's kind of windy here. The rainy season ends at the end of October and you know it's over when the wind starts. Imagine Hurrican Ike minus the rain. We lost a tree that crushed our gate. It hasn't rained since (and may not throughout the dry season!) Note: this is not true. I'm just being dramatic ; )

Top of a volcano on our drive to Fuentes Georginas (hot springs) near Quetzaltenango.

This, my friends, is a "chicken" bus! God created it on the 8th day. It can always fit "uno mas" and take you anywhere you want to go for pennies. Chances are good that the one pictured here was the same one you rode to school in 3rd grade. There are no atheists on chicken buses.

The central park in Quetzaltenango (thankfully it's also called Xela). It's the second biggest city in Guat. One of our 4 clinics is right outside of Xela in the same building where the U. Methodist Church has their volunteer office.

Ahhh!! Believe it or not, this store, named Despensa Familiar, is owned by Wal-Mart! They also own a huge store in Xela called Hiper Mart. The end is near...

Now that's a church! This is one of the most unique, colorful churches in Central America. It's in San Andreas outside of Xela and can be spotted from outer space (again, not true). The top of the dome is painted like a circus tent, and over the altar is a neon blue sign that says "Pescadores do Hombres" (fishers of men). Definitely worth the visit.

Fuentes Georginas (Hot Springs) outside of Zunil. A quick dip helped melt away all the stress from driving in Guatemala.

You can never take enough pics of Lake Atitlan. It truly is one of the most beautiful places on earth and is like steroids for your faith.

Prayer Request: Carey and I will help lead a team about 3-4 hours south of here this week in Mazatenango (near one of our clinics in San Antonio Suchi) starting Sunday. We'll be doing some construction work on the existing clinic and offer health care to the locals everyday. Please pray for safe travel, success in our mission, opened eyes, and changed hearts. Thanks!

Love,

Jay and Carey

Guatemala: Type-A "Hell"

I would consider myself to have a Type-A personality. I walk fast, I'm anxious, I need structure, I base my self-worth on my productivity, and I like to be in control. Yep, you guessed it...living in Guatemala is kicking my butt.
Carey and I started work this week, and I feel like I've just entered a treatment center to detox from all I learned about work and self-worth in the States. I know most of us would kill to slow down for a bit and take a break from our hectic lives in the U.S., but it's become clear that if I'm going to make it here I'm going to have to change my expectations. Things here are just slower. People are less stressed, or at least seem to be. Which is ironic because they arguably have more to be stressed about than I do (for example, having enough money to survive this month!) Although the people here are some of the hardest working I have ever seen (bending over for 8+ hours picking onions does not look easy), I don't see them scurrying about like rats. I see them talking with their neighbors at length every day and spending time playing with their children (and it takes a lot of time to play with 7 children!)
I don't want to make Guatemala sound like some sort of Eden, because it's not, but there is something very attractive and natural about this way of life. But I still feel myself resisting it - resisting the slower lifestyle and the society that seems to define me more by my 'being' and less by my 'doing.' I know, however, that this is why I need to be here. I recongize how unhealthy it has been for me to define myself by what I do and not who I am. As I detox from my Type-A addiction, I hope to emerge from treatment as less of human doing, and more of a human being.
Peace friends,
Jay

Deep Thoughts by Carey Cooper

Sometimes learning a new language is like going to therapy. For example, as Jay already pointed out, we frequently rely on about ten verbs when communicating with our Spanish-speaking neighbors and practicing with one another. Well, I realized this past week that I may know ten verbs, but I use the same three over and over again. They are necesitar, deber, and tener que, and here's how I used them today.

Necesito estudiar mas. (I need to study more.)
Debo ir a la iglesia esta semana. (I should go to church this week.)
Tengo que terminar este articulo. (I have to finish this article.)

Now I recognize that these verbs will always be part of my vocabulary, but I would like them to be a bit more balanced with another verb: querer (to want). And perhaps more importantly, I should -- drat! Let me start over. I want to better balance my use of first person ("I") with other personal pronouns (you, she, they). :)

Press "2" for English? Por Favor!

Carey and I have been attending Spanish classes here in Pana just about everyday now since we arrived in Guatemala. During that time we've experienced quite a range of emotions about our ability. On some days, we feel supremely confident - speaking nothing but Spanish to each other and those we meet in the market and in our neighborhood, and on other days I feel like crying because I couldn't explain to the guy on the phone in Spanish that 1) I wanted my pizza delivered because it was raining, and 2) no, I don't have a street address for you because I live on a street without a name! (Proof that God exists: the pizza somehow arrived, much to our surprise, later that night).

Being immersed in a new language has me thinking about the ways in which we help our "neighbors" today. We finally got a cell phone yesterday, and I can't tell you how difficult it was to figure out if I had voicemail on it or not (let alone how to access it if I did). I called the cell company's "Servicio" line to see if I could get some help, and to be perfectly honest I was (naively) expecting there to be a "Push 2 for English" prompt during the call. But there wasn't! I listened to the Spanish-speaking computer lady about 5-6 times before hanging up. Hmmm. It was obvious I was on my own.

Without getting into a political discussion...it seems that different countries try to reach-out to their neighbors in different ways. Most U.S. companies include a "Empuje 2 para Espanol" prompt during customer service calls, and I've found that most Guatemaltecans are happy to go out of their way to help me learn their language and manage in their country day-to-day, even though I do only have about 10 or so verbs - mostly conjugated incorrectly - at my disposal. Maybe a big part of being neighborly in our world today has to do with finding patience for and doing our best to understand those who are trying to make it in our "neck of the woods."

I probably could have made this blog about one sentence, because what I really wanted to say is...this is a really good experience for us and we're learning lots about our neighbors and, in the process, ourselves.

Thus is the life of two Spanglish-speaking gringos in Latin America : )

Peace,

Jay

ps. Carey and I have a little TV in our apartment and can pick-up a station that plays old American sitcoms and comedies - all dubbed in Spanish! Needless to say, we watch 'Alf' in Espanol most week nights and our language-skills have improved vastly!

Deep Thoughts by Carey Cooper

Why is it so difficult to step outside our comfort zone? I've been to the mercado (where we buy a lot of our food, and all our fruits and vegetables) twice in the past week, and although I find it a beautiful and exciting place, I can't help but feel the need to flee the scene! What exactly am I afraid of? I'm not sure, but probably something like this... I walk up to a woman in the market and intend to ask, "Cuanta cuesta?" to inquire about the cost of a vegetable. But instead, I ask something really offensive. And suddenly, the entire market goes quiet and everyone turns to stare at me. Then, one of two things happens. Either all the Mayan women become enraged and attack me OR they fall on the floor laughing. Ridiculous? Definitely. But I'm pretty sure these are the things I fear -- danger and humiliation. And possibly, these are things that kept me from living outside my comfort zone in the US.

P.S. The absense of photos of me on the previous blog has nothing to do with face soap. (This time anyway.)

Introducing...the Clinic & School!

On Tuesday Carey and I were able to make our first visit to the village of Camanchaj and what will be our new place of work for the next 1-2 years. The brand-spanking-new preschool looked ready to go for lots of five and six year-old kids come January and the clinic was full of patients!
Salud y Paz by the Numbers:
1 Preschool (in Camanchaj)
Will open in January 2009
First class of children will be around 20
Students provided 3 meals a day, 5 days a week
4 Clinics (one in Camanchaj, the other 3 spread throughout the lower half of Guatemala)
Each with:
2 Operating Rooms
1 fully-stocked pharmacy and lab
Approximately 75 patients (indigenous Mayans) a day receive medical and/or dental care
2 More "hopeful" clinics to be built in the near future

Here's the clinic in Camanchaj (nearest "big" city is Chichicastenango)

Here's the new Susanna Wesley Preschool (that's our boss Phil in front of it).
If everything goes well, we'll be adding a second story to it in 2009!

One of the patient rooms inside the clinic.

The clinic is stocked with medical supplies and a kitchen to feed the staff.

One of two operating rooms for visiting surgical teams.

A very impressive pharmacy!

The dental room (LOTS of tooth extractions take place here).

Of course the most exciting part of the visit was the fact that I was able to drive us home! If you thought I was a "gifted" (i.e. bad) driver in the States, you should have seen me in Guatemala! I've never dodged such a wide variety of animals before on one trip : )
We'll be posting photos soon of Carey's students and give you information about how you can sponsor them each month.
Thanks for checking in!
Peace,
Jay (and Carey)

Deep Thoughts by Carey Cooper

A special memory I hold is watching SNL with my Dad in high school. (Yes, this means that I was often at home and not out with friends or on a date.) Oh, and I should mention that my stepmom, Donna, was there too, but she was always asleep. :) One of our favorite skits was "Deep Thoughts by Jack Handey." In case some of you aren't familiar with the skit (e.g., my young friends like Lindsay who make me feel really old at times), here are a few examples.

Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.

During the Middle Ages, probably one of the biggest mistakes was not putting on your armor because you were "just going down to the corner."

If I ever get real rich, I hope I'm not real mean to poor people, like I am now.

I don't have a lot of discipline when it comes to journaling (and wouldn't want to bore you with the boring stuff I'd put in a journal anyway), so I've decided to post short "deep (or not so deep) thoughts" as my contribution to the Cooper blog.

For example, the past few days I have been thinking a lot about the difference between want and need. When I was a kid, I would often say to my mom "I need..." (often a new shirt or pair of jeans because I was really into clothes). And my mom would usually reply, "You don't need it. You want it." Well, I'm not sure that I learned the lesson. As one example, today I realized that I was out of my travel face soap. I thought to myself, "Yikes, I need more face soap. Am I going to be able to find it here? And if so, is it going to cost a fortune?" Now, do I NEED face soap? I'm not sure. But I'm an American woman, and Neutrogena has been telling me for years that I do. Well, we'll see. Because starting tomorrow, it's plain old Guatemalan soap for this girl. If you notice a drop in photos of me on this blog, I guess you'll know why...

Jay's Birthday

After a great week of studying Spanish everyday and making several afternoon trips to the market (to learn how to haggle) and to neighboring towns (to learn the culture, etc), Carey and I celebrated my 34th Birthday on Saturday. Note: the Spanish word for old is viejo.

We fixed some kick-butt omelettes (notice a trend with eggs?), and then headed out for our big adventure at one of the lake towns called San Pedro La Laguna.

Carey with the avocado-filled omelettes (avocados here are dirt cheap ~ hallelujah!)

Sodas are 1/2 price if you have them put the soda in a baggie instead of taking the bottle : )

The dock in Pana where we departed for San Pedro (we got done like suckers trying to negotiate the price of the boat ride).

A photo taken while we were waiting for a "rescue" boat to get us because ours ran out of gas. Carey says I look too "shiny" and touristy. I happen to think I blend in with the locals like a highly-skilled ninja.

Enjoying some down-time at a very cool local place in San Pedro called 'Zoola' (means "a place to relax" in Hebrew). San Pedro seems to attract the hippie refugee crowd.
While exploring some trails near the beach, we ran into a large group of children flying kites (look closely and you can see them in the pic above). It was so amazing and reminded me of a scene from 'The Kite Runner.' Kites are inexpensive and are popular past time for kids here.

We spent most of the day exploring the town. San Pedro's economy is highly dependent upon exporting coffee beans and entire families (even very young children) take part in collecting and drying the beans during the months of November and December once school ends (school just ended this week for children across the country - "summer" vacation lasts until Jan. 1st, but the majority of the children and teens here must spend that time working for their parents.

Carey and I went out to a local restaurant in Pana to end our night. It was our first time to venture out at night and we felt perfectly safe (wow, that sounded very American, didn't it?)

We'll be in Spanish school again all this week, with the exception of Tuesday, when we're going to visit the preschool and one of the clinics in Camanchaj where we'll be working come November 1st.

Thanks for checking in on us. I recognize that blogs can be nothing more than a celebration of our narcissism, so I'll try to give you as much info. on the culture, people, country, etc. as possible to make it worth your while.

Peace,

Jay (and Carey)

Mail

Hi everyone,

Phil was kind enough to let us use his P.O. box, so here's our address.

Apartado Postal #20
Panajachel, Solala 07210
Guatemala

We had hoped to be able to receive packages (you know, like camp!) but unfortunately, Phil says that packages have to go through customs and often either never arrive or end up in Guatemala City, which is several hours away. So unless we hear otherwise, it's probably best that you don't send them. We love cards and postcards though. :)

Where the Streets Have No Name

I may not know the difference between Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin, but I know my U2!
Carey and I live at the corner of ? and ? (see pictures below - we're on the second floor). It's said that our street has a name, it's just that no one knows what it is anymore : )

The best way to break down the past 3 days is like this...
The Good:
- Praying in the Cathedral in Antigua.
- Getting to know our new boss Phil (great guy, big heart, kind soul).
- We haven't gotten sick (yet!)
- Resting in the natural sunlight that pours into our new place.
- Thinking about the awesome work we have the opportunity to do come November.
- The scenery and view of Lake Atitlan (picture the most breath-taking view of volcanoes and a lake ever)
- The city - quaint (only 15,000 people), great places to see, eat, and hang-out.
- Black beans, eggs, and homemade tortillas at most meals.
- Being students again while brushing up on our Spanish.
- The indigenous people and children - they're everywhere and I love their smiles and way of being.

The Bad:
- The crazy-high cost of all gringo foods (peanut butter, cereal, granola bars).
- Feeling a little queezy during our first ride on one of the local "Chicken" buses.
- Black beans, eggs, and tortillas at most meals : )

- Feeling a little overwhelmed while shopping and trying to do basic, everyday things in a new culture.
- A little disappointment after our first visit to church (you thought I couldn't sing!)
- The sound of bone-rattling "fireworks" (more like bombs) going off all weekend for La Feria (the annual fair for the Patron Saint of Pana).
- Feeling SO guilty at not being able to give the poor, begging Mayan children money : (

The ugly:
- Witnessing our first decapitated pig head in a basket balancing on a Mayan woman's head!

Overall, our first several days here have been a mix of successes and struggles, but so far things are going as well as can be expected. Thanks for your prayers and NOTE: it will take us 4-6 weeks to receive your donations, but please know that we WILL send you all thank-you notes as soon as we can!

Peace to you,
Jay (and Carey)

p.s. - here are a few pics from the last several days...

Overlooking Panajachel and Lake Atitlan.

Pink Floyd in Guatemala?

Estamos aqui!
We arrived this afternoon and were greeted at the airport in Guatemala City by the Director/Founder of Salud y Paz, Dr. Phil Plunk. Since then our heads have been spinning as we try to take in everything from our new world, but so far it seems like we're off to a great start (good flight, luggage made it, weren't run off the road by any of the crazy bus drivers, etc.) We're staying the night in nearby Antigua because the drive is too long to Panajachel where we'll be living for the next several months. Apparently Antigua is the "Disneyland" of Guatemala (very touristy), but it will make for a good first night transition into the country. After checking into our hotel Phil took us out to dinner - we ended up at a local place that was blaring Barry White music : ) We spent the next couple hours asking Phil about every question you could imagine about the country, culture, etc., etc. Near the end of dinner they killed the '80's soundtrack they had going on the speakers and a man with a guitar came out to entertain. I was expecting some "local" music, but about 30 seconds into it I realized that he was playing Pink Floyd's "Stairway to Heaven." Carey and I couldn't help but smile. Antigua will likely not be our typical Guatemalan experience!

Thanks for your thoughts, prayers and support to get us here. We are absolutely thrilled and feel so thankful to be here. This adventure has been a long time in the making, and we both feel like we're exactly where we need to be in life, and that's a good feeling.

Memorable quote for the day (for Jay at least): In the midst of our conversation with Phil we were talking about how most individuals and teams come to Salud y Paz expecting to give so much to the Mayans and Guatemalan people, and how they always end up receiving more than they gave. To this fact, Phil said, "You can never out-give God." I think he's right.

Peace friends and we'll post some pictures this weekend if possible when we arrive in Pana.
Jay

ONE-WAY Tickets!

Dear Friends and Family,

Carey and I have decided to take an important step in our desire to put our faith and beliefs into action. On October 3rd, we depart for Guatemala for a one to two-year commitment with an organization called Salud y Paz (Health and Peace). Salud y Paz was created through a joint effort of the Methodist Church in Guatemala and the United Methodist Church in America to offer health and education services for the local Mayan population. Over the past seven years, Salud y Paz has provided free health care and other vital services to more than 100,000 patients, the majority of whom earn less than $1 a day and live in extreme poverty.
During our time in Guatemala, Carey will be directing a newly constructed preschool that will offer weekday classes and meals to approximately 40 children, with plans to double enrollment in its second year. On average, children in the region, who speak the Mayan language K’iche, drop out after less than two years of formal schooling. The preschool is designed to help children learn Spanish and develop academic and social skills that promote school readiness. Salud y Paz has asked me to help administrate two existing health clinics, oversee the development of four new clinics, and coordinate and recruit volunteer teams. Once I develop a working knowledge of Spanish, I will also have opportunities to provide pastoral care in surrounding areas.
As we prepare for our service at Salud y Paz, we are beginning to recognize all the ways in which our time in Guatemala is going to challenge us physically, emotionally, and spiritually. In fact, one of our biggest challenges is already underway. You guessed it…raising financial support for our mission. Carey and I plan to live on a very tight budget (picture lots of rice and beans!), but we still need approximately $11,000 for our first year (which includes airfare, language classes, housing, health care and all other living expenses). Trust us when we say that any amount you are able to donate will be appreciated. Whether it is a one-time offering of $20 or a recurring gift of $20 a month, Carey and I will give thanks for every penny received.

If you are able and willing to support us financially, you can do one of two things:
1. If you prefer to write a check, make it payable to General Board of Global Ministries. Please be sure to write “Advance #982465-6, for Jay & Carey Cooper” in the memo line, or we will not receive your donation. Mail checks to: Mission Volunteers Office, Attention: Michael DeBorja, 475 Riverside Drive, Room 330, New York, NY 10115.
2. If you prefer to donate on-line or make a recurring donation, go to http://www.saludypaz.org/.
Click on the “Donations” tab. When you reach the JustGive.org site, follow the instructions to make a donation. Please be sure to write “Jay & Carey Cooper” in the “Designate my Donation” box, or we will not receive your donation.
All donations are tax deductible.

There are other important ways that you can support us while we are in Guatemala. For example, you can send encouraging e-mails to jaycoop1@gmail.com and cejcooper@gmail.com, you can mail letters and/or packages to us (mailing address to come), and you can track our progress and see photos by visiting our blog. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, you can pray for us, the people of Guatemala, and Salud y Paz.
Thanks in advance for your love, friendship, and support. Carey and I consider ourselves blessed to have you in our lives.


Peace,
Jay & Carey Cooper