Yesterday was a full day. With lunch at 1:00 pm, we had to hurry to make a 2:00 pm appointment to visit the macadamia finca. The history of how this particular macadamia farm came to exist, and the products that have been developed from the macadamia nut were very interesting. All of the women on the tour received a brief facial with macadamia oil, and of course, there were many macadamia products for sale. The guide said the women who received the facial would look 15 years younger, but Jan said it did not work. The macadamia is not native to Guatemala, but originated in Australia, was transported to the US (California), and then to Guatemala.
At 5:00 pm, we attended Bible study at the Antigua church. Many of the members had gone to the city for a special activity in Linda Vista. It ended up that I made many comments concerning the meaning of the passage since the usual teachers were not there. In fact, one brother (named Claro) observed that God had sent me since the regular teacher was absent. They asked me how long I would be in Antigua and if I could return on Sunday to preach, but unfortunately, both of our remaining Sundays are already committed with preaching obligations.
We also met Faustina, the wife of Esteban Marroquin (an acquaintance from previous seminarios in Baxter), and so after the Bible class concluded, we walked with Faustina to the center square or park in Antigua and visited Claro’s wife, Gloria, in the Mercadito (little Market). She showed us a wide array of handmade tapestries and other items which she handcrafts. We also visited the booth of Ricardo, the brother of Esteban. We promised to return to the Mercadito today to visit again, but we had to hurry to the house where we are staying for the 7:00 pm supper (since we had not told the cook in advance that we would be absent).
Today we will finish our first week of Spanish classes, this afternoon we will visit with Mario about various lodging arrangements that could be possibilities for future visits, and we will go back to the Mercadito and visit with Gloria, and with Ricardo. We will not be able to meet with Esteban until Saturday morning, when Jan and I will meet Esteban and Faustina for breakfast, and then visit their tienda (store) in the big market (El Mercado).
The opportunity to encourage the church was special, and we look forward to spending more time with some of the brothers and sisters in personal settings. It is difficult to advance the gospel in a strongly Catholic area, and especially in the region of Antigua where there is so much activity, so many jobs that revolve around the presence of tourists and thus require long hours of work that conflict with typical church activities. The brothers and sisters here work hard, and need our prayers as they strive to live out the gospel of Jesus Christ.