Cultural
appreciation is an important element of every Caroline's Promise
mission trip. We want our team members to not only grow to love the
people we are serving, but also the country where they live. Our team
from Wilson Community Church were given a taste of Guatemala's beauty
on a day trip to Panajachel located on the shores of stunning Lake
Atitlan.
The
3-hour trip from Guatemala City to Panajachel is an adventure in
itself. On the winding mountain roads travelers see farmers working
land terraced along mountainsides, rural villages and amazing views
of mountains and valleys.
Lake
Atitlan is one of the worlds deepest and most beautiful lakes. It is
surrounded by several volcanoes. There are thousands of indigenous
Mayan people living among the 12 villages around the lake. A trip to
the area provides the rare opportunity to meet and interact with
people from an age old culture. The villagers still wear traditional
Mayan dress and speak in ancient languages.
Several
of our team members opted to see Panajachel from above...on a
zipline! The hike through the jungle to ride the zipline was a tough
one but seeing monkeys and coatis in their natural habitat along the
way was a treat. Once they were strapped to cables 200 feet above
ground they enjoyed a thrilling ride above the lake, mountainside,
waterfalls and trees.
Our
trip to Pana also included some shopping at open-air markets and
lunch. We had a wonderful time and everyone now has a new layer of
appreciation for Guatemala.