Bittersweet

Arrival into the Guatemala airport at 1:20 PM was somewhat bittersweet, but I was sure glad to end that trip that had begun at 3AM.  We collected our luggage and Oscar was waiting for us to drive us to Antigua.  We left the airport, the traffic was bumper to bumper, so we took a shortcut.  We pulled up to a red light and the truck in front of us had a license plate that had the number 143 on it. That was the number that Joe often used for his passwords...interesting, right.

 We made it to Antigua and we stopped at the office. There was a black bow made from a black garbage bag on the front window. Something they do here when someone dies.  Inside the office there were candles lit and a picture of Joe.  Everyone here is very sad at the loss of Joe, as evidenced by the fact that many of our workers came to me in tears saying they were sorry.  A mass was scheduled at the San Francisco Church for 5PM, so I was glad that I made it so that I cold attend the mass.

Oscar took to me to the house I am staying at with my friends , The Viola Family.  We met at an adoption function for families with children from Guatemala a number of years ago. The house is lovely, very warm and comfortable. I had planned on staying with a host family for the time I was here, however after the last 2 weeks I just could not immerse myself.

We all went to the mass and there were many people there to acknowledge the passing of Joe, who is clearly a hero to many in Guatemala.  The mass was beautiful, and at the end Oscar spoke from the pulpit. What happened next moved me deeply.  The people lined up to pay their respects to Oscar. The line was very long and it took a good hour or more. The church was actually closing and the line was still going. It was quite a testament, many people from Santa Maria had taken a bus with some of their children to attend. I met many people that Joe knew, who came to tell us that he would be truly missed and they were so grateful that they knew him. If you were here to witness the work that Joe has been doing you knew he touched many lives, but since his passing it has amazed me at the number of people that have somehow made it known that their life is better because they came in touch with this "gentle giant" as one person wrote to me.  It was a beautiful testament to a life well lived.  As I have come to know the Guatemalan people more and more I realize they are a people of deep feelings, when they love, they love deeply. It has been beautiful to witness their expression of love towards Joe.

I went out to dinner after the mass with my neighbors who are here volunteering for the third time. I was so exhausted that I fell asleep while one of them was talking with me...lolol. It sure was time to go home, so Marissa and I jumped in a cab and came home.....I slept like a baby I was so exhausted. Marissa is in all her glory as Kate and Dave have a daughter her age, Natalie. Those two have become as thick as thieves already. It felt good to put my head on the pillow, filled with gratitude that I have been witness to such love, respect and gratitude.