Off to Guatemala!

Yesterday was our final day of orientation, and this morning we packed and left for Guatemala City. We’re in Mexico City right now with a brief layover, so I’m attempting to get this posted before our next plane heads out.

Yesterday was full with a campus tour to the Sauder Music Hall, where we sang on the Sauder stage (be sure to view the videos to see the exceptional piano playing by Seth, and wonderful singing with Dion and Zana and others), to the Mennonite Historical Library, to the Rec-Fitness Center and to College Mennonite Church. We also took a photo by the Broken Shield sculpture. The purpose of the trip was to see parts of campus we hadn’t witnessed, and to think about the importance of pilgrimage, and what these various “sites” meant, or why they were important to the college or the college’s tradition.

In the afternoon we did more work with journaling, took care of logistics related to our travel, and experienced a theological continuum. Gwen continues to lead us in Centering Prayer each morning, and Gwen, Brook and Joel lead us in worship each day.

Last evening we all went downtown to experience First Fridays in downtown Goshen. Students were free to wander around town in small groups to witness this monthly event on the first Friday of every month throughout the year. We had a great evening, and got back on campus to finish laundry and get a good night’s rest.

Some of our local families and friends came for our morning send-off outside the Connector, including a large group from Hively Avenue Mennonite Church, which has three students in the group. Traveling has been efficient and painless thus far, and we’re looking forward to our midnight arrival at CASAS in Guatemala City. Thanks for joining us on the journey.