ShareHim Guatemala Update:
Happiness is a Sabbath Siesta in a Hammock

The head elder took me to his home for Sabbath lunch.  Even though I speak only a little Spanish and he and his family spoke even less English, thanks to all of us having smart phones with translator apps we were able to have a grand time.  The highlight of the afternoon was relaxing in hammocks on his back porch. 

As I write this the students are in their hotel rooms cooling off, resting, and preparing for tonight's sermon.  The temperature is presently 39, and considering that some of the students will this evening preach for the third time in 24 hours, cooling off, rest and preparation are all needed!

Things went quite well at my church.  There were about 150 in attendance, many of them young adults.  The church is in San Benito, next to the offices of the Northern Guatemala Mission of Seventh-day Adventists.  The Mission covers the northern half of Guatemala and has just over 34,000 members, 93 churches, and only 16 full-time pastors.

The treasurer of the Mission, Enrique Umanzor, served as my translator.  He said that since he is a conference employee he is expected to wear a suit when up front on Sabbath.  I quite literally had to follow suit.  Fortunately, there were overhead fans throughout the church, including one strategically positioned right over the pulpit!

I was pleased to see how seriously they take the children's story during the church service.  All of the children came forward for a full-length Bible lesson.  At the end of the presentation the children were quizzed, having to answer questions in front of the congregation!

The head elder, Cecilio Gizon, with his wife and granddaughters.