From Carla Cottrell:
This morning we woke up to confused dogs (it was 3:45 am, after all, and anyone who knows us knows that is not our normal wake-up time) and the news that a gunman had opened fire in Pulse nightclub in Orlando.
At first, details were unclear, but by the time we made it to the airport at 6:15 am, we heard a report that 20 people had been killed and 43 had been hospitalized. A pall hung over us as we struggled to make sense of the bits and pieces that were emerging as facts. By the time we arrived in Houston for our brief layover, the events at Pulse were being called “the worst mass shooting on American soil in American history” and 50 were dead, including the gunman, Omar Mateen, and 53 more were hospitalized. We wondered if we would know the reasons behind the attack, we listened as we heard it labelled “domestic terrorism”, and we prayed for the victims, the families, the community of LGBT individuals who lost friends and loved ones, the greater Orlando community, and, yes, even the shooter and his family and community.
We planned to leave America behind this week, to immerse ourselves in the Mayan culture, to be present with all of those we would be blessed to be with, and to serve with love and gratitude for the richness of the blessings we have received. Now, we admit, our hearts grieve for America, for the rhetoric and hate that gen up horrible events like Pulse, for despair and pain that cause mental breaks and lashing out, for our own American people who cannot seem to find a way to let go of the “right” to bear an assault rifle or even to embrace a way to modify it so that it, and other weapons, cannot be deployed on accident….even when failure to do so results in tragedies and countless,senseless violent deaths every year.
In My Life on the Road, Gloria Steinham laments, “human beings have an infinite capacity for adapting to the expectations in the environment- that is both the good news and the bad news.” For me, this political season has been one of observing the worst part of what this statement really means. I pray that Orlando, our state and our country now rise up and embody the beautiful possibility for peace that this tragedy could inspire.
I would be remiss if I had not offered some commentary on how we feel entering this week. We pray for right hearts as we prepare to land in Guatemala City.
The other events of the day were rather mundane at first, though our niece, Molly, ran a bit behind and we nervously pondered what would happen if she were too late to board. No need to worry…she made it with two minutes to spare!
Both flights were good, though it should be noted that no meals are served on flights shorter than 3 1/2 hours on United. Those of you who will join us on the next trip should plan to get a sandwich to go in your stopover destination. That is what we did, and it worked out fine.
The ride to Panajachel, where our hotel is located, took about 3 1/2 hours. We talked and got to know each other,and we had updates from Anne on several families connected with the project. One technico, Carlos, was injured in a motorcycle accident a year ago, and we should stay in prayer for his recovery. We also learned that a new technico, Juan, is engaged to be married! Very exciting news!
As we drove throughout the beautiful mountains, we marveled at the men in native dress, the sheep grazing in odd places, the magnificent waterfalls, and the stunning volcanoes that rose to the clouds on the shore of Lake Atitlan. We will try to include photos as the week progresses.
Tonight we will meet for dinner Parkside, and perhaps we will play cards under the stars. A lovely way to build our team and prepare for the work ahead!
God bless you all!
Carla