Road trip to Baja Verapaz

Our day started at 0500 yesterday as we headed north to Santa Cruz del Quiche, met up with the rest of our friends from Paxot and Mactzul and headed east to Zacualpa about an hour away. There we met with families from 4 small churches (about 50 people in total) and all caravaned out another 2 1/2 hours to the town of Pachajop in Baja Verapaz for a worship service and baptism of two people. The scenery was beautiful as we climbed mountain after mountain. The interesting thing is people there speak the Achi language and Spanish. So the sermon was done in a mix of Spanish and Quiche so everyone could understand. We had worship in the morning, baptism service at the river, lunch and another service of singing and teaching. It was a great day and we "sold" (below cost) 60 Bibles. It is encouraging to know that the Word of God will be more available to Christians in the area. We headed home at 4:30 and made it back at 9:00.

Tomas (he usually smiles but he forgot his teeth yesterday!), Kemmel, Ana Elizabeth, Lindy, Sebastian and Micaela, and Manuel tucked in behind.
Church services at the home of the family baptized. The pink cast is from the tarp made of pink grain bags.

Everyone hiking down to the river.

Manuel (left) and Tomas waiting to make their public confession of faith.

The two elders praying before they get started.

Manuel

Tomas

1Peter 3:20-22 ...In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God's right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.

Abelino and Victoria with Kemmel (they wanted a picture with Kemmel the tall guy).
Brothers Agustin, Andres, Tomas (our new brother) and Victor. Great work!