Saturday

Another full day was before us when we left our host families and headed for Mass at the Cathedral in Antigua this morning . The Mass was beautiful and peaceful without the happy chaos of the Project kids.

After Mass, we hopped onto a massive charter bus . It quickly became apparent our driver was not skilled in operating the manual transmission. He killed the engine several times and got us into many tight spots throughout the day, even damaging a store canopy as we forced our way into Panajachel on the shore of Lake Atitlán.

The bus ride to Panajachel was nauseating because of the twists and turns, but it was always scenic. The mountains along the way were filled with Mayans tending crops on insanely steep slopes . Cooking fires smoked up from the small concrete shacks, and fresh produce was for sale at many roadside stands. The corn growing in the fields was probably 14 feet tall. This is truly another world!

Once in Panajachel, we got into boats and rode across Lake Atitlán . The huge lake was formed after the nearby volcanoes erupted and the underground magma chambers collapsed. The resulting water-filled hole is 300 meters deep. The volcanoes and ever-present changing clouds made our lake crossing gorgeous.

We landed in Santiago Atitlan, the 2nd most touristy city on the lakeshore, after Panajachel. The town is full of markets, restaurants, etc. But Fr. Shea brought us there to visit a shrine to Fr. Stan Rother. He was an American priest how worked at a mission in Santiago Atitlan, bringing the Church to the Mayan people that lived there. He was murdered by the Guatemalan army during the civil wars because they believed him to be a guerilla sympathizer. Fr. Shea read an account of his life and martyrdom as we stood on the steps of the church where it all occurred. Fr. Stan's story is a powerful one. The locals and the members of his home diocese in Oklahoma are working for his canonization.

It is unsettling to think of such crimes occurring right where we stood. But our police escort drives home the point that this place is not all peaceful Mayans growing crops and selling goods in the markets.

After praying at the shrine and doing a little shopping, we rode in the boats back across the lake to Panajachel and our bus. Tonight we are staying in a nice motel, Casa del Rey. We had a wonderful meal at the hotel's restaurant, and I have a feeling I will sleep well here in my own private room .

Tomorrow we will attend a Mayan Mass, shop in the famous Chicicastanengo markets, and head back to Antigua.