#Visiting Lake Atitlan

[americanteacherinqatar]

5 Days in Guatemala, is it Enough Time… Part 2: Lake Atitlan

[aventurasdeunatortuga]

Guatemala Day 14-17

Flores / Tikal

The past few days were spent in the town of Flores in northeastern Guatemala, in the state of Petén. The climate is very different from Antigua and Atitlan, as we are no longer in the mountains. It is very hot and humid here. Flores is on an island in the middle of a lake and it takes about 20 minutes to walk around the entire island.

I stayed in a backpacker hostel and while it was a very nice backpacker hostel I think I’m at a point where I’ve had enough of them. The constant drunk people, dirty laundry everywhere, and no personal space plus the extreme heat got to me. The drunk girl peeing all over her bunkbed in the dorm I was in was the final straw and I switched to a private room for my last night.

While I am technically backpacking myself I’ve gotten really sick of being around backpackers the last few days. They’re not all bad, but so many of them are really entitled and disrespectful to locals. They spend a lot of time loudly speaking English or German or Dutch and leaving garbage everywhere in various states of undress and their main concern being where the next party is and where the alcohol is. A lot of restaurants cater their menu to these crowds and to be honest I found myself hearing more Dutch than Spanish the last few days and going to two different restaurants to find only American and Dutch food on the menu. It seems like another form of colonialism where white people come in expecting locals to cater to them and their culture. I know I’m part of that just being a white American traveling and I try really hard to be respectful and not expect people to cater to me but it’s a much larger, more complex issue than that.

Sorry for the cranky old rant but I was so honestly embarrassed to be around fellow tourists the past few days. The multiple people putting their bare feet by my head while taking transportation and witnessing people wandering into restaurants shirtless, barefoot, and yelling in English made me so grumpy. Like do you behave like that in your home country?

Anyway the reason most people come to Flores is to visit the Mayan ruins of Tikal. Tikal was built by the Itzá Maya (the same who built Chichén Itzá) and was at one point the capital of the Mayan civilization. They were also related to the group that built Palenque in Mexico. It consists of 5 main pyramids which were all used to bury royalty. There were countless other structures as well which have yet to be excavated as well as multiple manmade lakebeds which have since dried up.

We climbed 2 of the 5 pyramids and watched the sunset from the top of another structure. Tikal is in the middle of very dense rainforest. We saw lots of coatis, spider monkeys, wild turkeys, and toucans and heard lots of roaring howler monkeys. I swear they sound just like jaguars.

We were lucky with the weather because it had rained earlier in the day and cooled things off significantly and while we kept hearing thunder it didn’t actually rain while we were there. Tropical thunderstorms can be very intense.

It was dark when we climbed down from the last structure and our guide was able to get the site police to come pick us up in his pickup truck and we rode in the back out of the jungle instead of walking 40 minutes in the dark.

My last day in Flores I didn’t do much due to how sick of being around people I was. I did spontaneously go on a boat ride around the lake which was pretty but also weird because I was the only one there and then it started downpouring.

Currently I am in the town of Lívingston on the Belizean border. It took over 12 hours to get here because of how isolated of a community it is. First I took a four hour bus to the head of Rio Dulce, a large river that reminds me a lot of the Amazon. Then I waited 4.5 hours for a boat since Lívingston is surrounded by dense jungle and is only accessible by boat. Then I road in a boat for 2 hours and finally arrived just before the thunderstorm hit.

On the boat I met an older Mayan man named Gabriel and we talked for a while. He asked how he could visit the US and I didn’t even know where to begin with how complicated that would be. Rich white countries are allowed to visit wherever they want at any time and have the economic privilege to do so due to imperialism but it is next to impossible for folks from countries that have been taken advantage of to do the same. Gabriel and I talked for a while, he sells handcrafts and gives tours of the area. He also shared his coconut bread with me. He offered to take me on a tour tomorrow and while he seemed really nice my stranger danger radar was going off at the thought of going on a boat by myself as a solo traveler with someone I met in passing.

I always doubt myself with decisions like that. I want to be spontaneous and not be distrustful of others or hiding in my room all the time but I also feel very hyperaware all the time of how I’m a young woman travelling by herself in a place I don’t know and I never know when I’m just being paranoid or being smart. It’s exhausting.

Anyway right now I’m staring into a bowl of pasta I don’t if I’ll be able to eat because of a stomachache and watching the lightning storm on the river. I’ll be sleeping in a hut the next few days but it’s a pretty nice hut.

Overall I think I’m getting close to wanting to go home. I’m noticing myself getting easily exhausted and frustrated and not looking forward to things, which usually tends to happen at the end of a long trip. I’m hoping I can enjoy the next few days here regardless because I really am grateful for the opportunity to be here and to travel.

[chaletnz]

Lake Atitlan: San Pedro & Santiago

In San Pedro the tuk tuks were even crazier than elsewhere in Guatemala that I’d seen so far - or maybe there was more traffic and narrower streets so it just seemed like there were more close calls! This town was very dirty, with a huge amount of stray dogs running around in the streets, it also seemed to be interestingly targeted towards Israelis with a lot of signs and menus in Hebrew. My overall impression of San Pedro was that it's there for partying and/or doing a Spanish school! We didn't spend too much time here and moved on to our final stop around Lake Atitlan which was the village of Santiago. It’s home to 60,000 people, one of them being a friend of our guide Elena who would be showing us around. Her demeanour during the tour was disinterested and bored but her friend was great, I wished the entire tour could’ve been with him! Our next part of the tour was in tuk tuks so the French couple rode with Elena, and myself and Toyoda-san rode in the other. Our first stop was at a local home where some old Guatemalan ladies were selling their traditional garments, one of the ladies put on the Guatemalan headdress as featured on the back of one of the quetzales coins. We hopped back in the tuk tuk with the Star of David displayed proudly on the back and the name Bethlehem emblazoned on the front (all tuk tuks have a name on the front). The next destination was a visit to the shaman’s house to see how people worship in an ancient Mayan ceremony, though it seemed more like a chance to get money from tourists for the right to take a photo. None of us opted to pay for this ticket. Our guide also told us that the Mayan history is very important in this area of Guatemala, there are 22 different Mayan languages spoken around Lake Atitlan. Elena speaks one and her friend spoke two, of course both also speak Spanish as the lingua franca of the country as well as English for guiding. We returned to the Colonial church again to go inside and see how it's a mix of Christian portraits and Mayan motifs. We were then taken to an art gallery which had a running theme of painting local scenes from the view of a bird, or the opposite view like a loaf of bread at the market. Our final stop was atop a hill with a view out into the inner bay. Our group had lunch at Cafe Arte near the marina, our meals came out as we had ordered. I had a chicken burrito and a mocha latte which was decent considering it definitely was not a specialty coffeeshop! The four of us chatted over our lunch about our travels and backgrounds and plans for the rest of our trip after today. We sat in this restaurant waiting for Elena to eventually get the group together and take us back to the boat to ride back to Panajachel. Once we returned she rushed us back to the tour office but our transport was still half an hour away. She wanted to have us sit on the curb and wait for it but I insisted on being allowed to go browse the market stalls down the street. I took it upon myself to inform the others of the departure time for the bus and then headed off in search of a bracelet and a hoodie. I didn't find a suitable bracelet but I found a nice zip up jacket that I had been looking to get to have at work in the office. It was only 50 quetzales ($8) which was fantastic because the first stall where I saw a similar one was 150. I snapped it up and wore it on the long windy bus ride back to Antigua. Part way through the journey we seemed to turn a corner and the rain suddenly came lashing down for a while but then it was gone and dry by the time we were in Antigua. The driver dropped me right at the door so I could ditch my bag and then go for a walk around the city. I headed out to the market but it was closing so I picked up a big bottle of water and grabbed a quesadilla from Taco Bell before turning in for the night since tomorrow would be my one day in Antigua alone before joining the Intrepid Travel tour group in the evening.

[journeyindexsblog]

TOP 5 BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN GUATEMALA

If you’re looking for great places to visit in Guatemala, then keep reading. The Republic of Guatemala is a large, Central American country with much to offer its visitors. Guatemala has abundant natural attractions, including volcanoes, the Peten jungle, coffee farms, and waterfalls. Some of the most popular places in Guatemala include Chichicastenango, Antigua, Tikal, and Lake Atitlan.

Haven’t you always wanted to travel to Guatemala? There’s the Tikal National Park which features over 1,000 buildings and pyramids. Travelers can take a boat ride on Lake Petén Itza and visit the local Mayan village of San Juan La Laguna. The Yaxha archaeological site houses some of the oldest Mayan ruins found so far–dating back to 1,400 BC.

HERE IS THE LIST OF BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN GUATEMALA

At first, Guatemala is not the most appealing tourist destination, and however, this country has a lot to offer. If you are looking for an adventure vacation, head to Lake Atitlan. This volcanic lake surrounded by volcanoes offers world-class paddling and canyoning. For those interested in history. The Tikal ruins are also worth visiting.

CHICHICASTENANGO

ANTIGUA

TIKAL

LAKE ATITLAN

QUETZALTENANGO

There are many beautiful places in Guatemala. There are more than 20 different national parks. These areas provide a variety of habitats. There are various wildlife and plants and nature hikes for those who enjoy the outdoors.

[teamchamtravels]

Day 181-187 Lake Atitlan, Guatemala 

Jan 30 - Feb 5 2022

After Antigua, we took a shared van 3 hours west to San Marcos La Laguna, a small town on the edge of the famous Lake Atitlan. We treated ourselves with some credit card points to stay at Lush, which was a really dreamy spot on the lake. We intended to get some much needed R&R in after our volcano hike. Our hotel had really delicious breakfasts that had a Vegan/Vegetarian theme which we both enjoyed, especially after being in a few meat-centric countries beforehand.

Right next door to Lush was the Cerro Tzankujil Nature Reserve, which had an awesome platform setup to jump into the lake at just about 12 meters high! We had lots of fun jumping into the lake here.

On our to do list here at the lake were two things: Do a Guatemalan cooking class, and dive in the lake! We found a class in the next town over, Santa Cruz, so we hopped on a lancha and enjoyed a several hour cooking class where we made tortillas from scratch with Mole, and several really delicious tamale-style entrees! Our teacher was a local from the town, and the funds for the class directly benefited the community there, which was a huge plus for us.

The next day, we hopped on the Lancha again back to Santa Cruz where the Ati Divers dive shop was located. We did two dives in the lake which was super interesting for us, since we had never dove at altitude before, and never in fresh water! We went to two different dive sites, one of which had thermal vents where you could put your hands in the mud and feel the warmth! The second spot had a bunch of really cool volcanic rock formations which we also enjoyed.

Our last adventures in the lake involved visiting San Pedro across the water, and doing a yoga class, which is a popular thing to do in our town of San Marcos. We enjoyed an afternoon in San Pedro which was a slightly bigger town than we were staying in, and had a cool vibe. For the yoga class, we woke up early the next day and hiked up to the Yoga Forrest which had a class with a wonderful view of the lake. 

On our last day in Atitlan, we had some visitors from our Acatenango Volcano hike! Their plans had changed and it was really great to see them again, it seems we have made some new friends! We’re gonna have to visit them in the UK soon. 

[travelreviewsguide]

Exploring the Top 10 Countries to Visit in North America

Exploring the Top 10 Countries to Visit in North America

North America, a land rich in various cultures and stunning scenery, draws visitors to discover its treasures. It's a treasure mine of experiences, from the bustling streets of American cities to the peaceful serenity of Canada's mountains. This blog will lead you through the top 10 countries to visit in North America, each with its distinct charm and attractions.

United States The United States ranks first among the top ten nations to visit in North America. It's a cultural melting pot with sights like the Statue of Liberty and natural wonders like Yellowstone National Park. Whether it's the urban allure of New York or the peaceful landscapes of national parks, the United States is among the top ten countries to visit in North America.

Canada Canada's natural beauty is unrivalled among the top 10 countries to visit in North America. Explore the Rocky Mountains or take in the breathtaking Niagara Falls. Cities such as Toronto and Vancouver are also must-sees in our list of the top 10 countries to visit in North America.

Mexico Mexico, with its rich history and beautiful beaches, is another jewel among the top ten North American nations to visit. Mexico is one of the top 10 countries to visit in North America, thanks to its Mayan ruins and dynamic cities like Cancun.

Costa Rica's Costa Rica is a nature lover's delight and one of the top 10 countries to visit in North America. Its various ecosystems and national parks, such as Manuel Antonio, place it in the top ten North American countries to visit.

Cuba Cuba's vibrant streets and historical significance place it among the top 10 countries to visit in North America. Cuba is a must-see in the top ten nations to visit in North America, with everything from Havana's lively nightlife to tranquil national parks.

Jamaica Jamaica, noted for its rich culture and magnificent beaches, is one of North America's top ten nations to visit. Its cities and national parks provide a variety of experiences, making it one of the top 10 countries to visit in North America.

Bahamas With its beautiful beaches and active city life, the Bahamas is a tropical paradise that ranks among the top ten nations to visit in North America. Its national parks are one of the reasons it is ranked as one of the top 10 countries to visit in North America.

Belize Belize, famed for its diverse marine life and lush landscapes, is one of the top ten nations to visit in North America. Its animal sanctuaries and towns are among the reasons it is ranked as one of the top 10 countries to visit in North America.

Guatemala Guatemala's rich cultural heritage and natural beauty distinguish it as one of the top ten North American nations to visit. It is among the top ten nations to visit in North America, thanks to towns like Antigua and natural treasures like Lake Atitlan.

Honduras Honduras, with its dynamic towns and magnificent beaches, rounds out the top 10 countries to visit in North America. It is a hidden treasure among the top ten nations to visit in North America.

Conclusion:

The top ten North American nations to visit provide a diverse range of activities, from urban adventure to nature wonders. Each of the top 10 countries to visit in North America has its own set of activities and memories. So pack your bags and go out to discover these great North American places!

[tripsmantra]

Explore the serene beauty of Lake Atitlan with Trips Mantra. Plan your perfect getaway to this Guatemalan gem, book accommodations, and immerse yourself in breathtaking landscapes. Your adventure starts at Trips Mantra.com!

Visit site: https://tripsmantra.com/lake-atitlan/

[normal-people-travel]

Visiting Lake Atitlan in Guatemala

[secrettyrant]

Name: Carlo Ramos

Age & Birthday: 44 years old, March 9th 1979

Gender/Pronouns: Cis Man He/Him

Birthplace: Lake Atitlán, Guatemala

Time in Hollow Cove: 2 years January 2021

Species: Werewolf - Cross Pack

Role: Runner / Armory

Positive personality traits: Responsive, Thorough, Hardworking

Negative personality traits: Inflexible, Guarded, Stern

ABOUT

Carlo was twenty-three years old when life as he knew it was required to change. He was born and raised as part of the Atitlan wolf pack in Guatemala but then was among the wolves that left for the United States in order to keep the pack numbers smaller and manageable. Carlo, along with his brother and sister and their parents, then split again once Stateside and settled in Colorado. They stayed in contact with their cousins that settled in the South and with occasional visits over the years, remained connected and close.

Adjusting to a new way of life wasn't easy but the Colorado settlement was large and welcoming. Eventually, it resembled something of a home to Carlo even more so when he was married by the time he was thirty years old. Saskia and Carlo then became proud parents to a son they called Joaquin and together, their small family unit became their entire world.

When the war began in 2019, their settlement was self-sufficient and resourceful enough to remain steadfast during the turmoil. The Cross pack arrived among them in the October with the news that Isla, Amaris and baby were Cece missing. Carlo pledged that he would help find them with his brother Gabriel and while the brothers didn't follow the Cross pack to Hollow Cove, they promised that they'd search for their cousins and cover more ground separately.

In the December of 2020, the Colorado settlement was discovered by human military. Christmas Day turned into a massacre of Carlo's loved ones. The day is still carved into his memory, the chaos, the pain and the death. Saskia and his son were killed in front of him and then, while fleeing, his sister was captured. Gabriel and Carlos escaped together, deciding to head for Hollow Cove to see if the Cross pack ever made it to Canada. Against the odds, they survived the wilderness together making plenty of detours while searching for their sister and also staying true to their word in searching for their cousins.

They arrived in Hollow Cove in the January of 2021 and have since settled there. Carlo is a barely recognizable man, suddenly more ruthless and restless in comparison to his laid back nature that he used to be known for. He's joined the Cross pack willingly and loyally with his brother Gabriel, vowing to do all it takes to find his cousins and also his sister. Finding them is all that he has left and even though he knows he will never be able to see Saskia or his son again, he knows he doesn't want others to feel the same pain that he does.

[kayakmorrisseo]

Top Kayak Tours Provider

We have top kayak tour services also our kayak tours both depart from Chicago land metropolitan area and you'll study some primary kayaking and turning expertise earlier than setting off on your kayak journey.  We use double sit-on-top sea kayaks which might be extraordinarily secure and allow you to paddle efficiently as a pair to find a way to spend your time focused on enjoying the kayak tour experience. Kayaking in Maui is a novel and unforgettable experience. This is a very common indication of areas you could wish to discover during your journey, primarily based on an-day tour. You will talk about choices with the kayak service intimately earlier than beginning your tour to make certain you have the absolute best experience - kayaking chicago

This is among the extra touristy towns around Chicago and part of the reason for that is its location in one of the many native volcanoes, shockingly. Lake Atitlan is also easily the preferred spot in all for kayakers. Some of the towns surrounding the lake are not even reachable by road, but rather solely by plane or water. The sea is out on the open ocean however, kayaking is mainly browsing however with a kayak.

We have quite a lot of kayaks for hire including sit-on-top kayaks, paddleboards, rowing kayaks, and day kayaks. This is a quiet half of The community and is a perfect place for novices in addition to seasoned kayaks all water sport activity is managed.  They boast some of the most beautiful surroundings, with large Chicago areas - kayak near me

Kayak tours and boat tours often inform visitors through the rocky limestone tunnels, highlighting. Some of the outfitters provide guided excursions in clear kayaks, the place you'll be able to see underneath the water by way of the hull of your need. For more information, please visit our website https://www.kayakmorris.com/

[ghjngj]

Casa Xelaju is offering hiking trips to volcanoes and mountains in San Marcos, Quetzaltenango, Xela and Lake Atitlan in Guatemala. For more info, please visit

[americanteacherinqatar]

5 Days in Guatemala, is it Enough Time... Part 1: Guatemala City

*This is Part 1 of 4 posts of my trip to Guatemala. You can find links to the additional posts at the end of this one. When I moved to Costa Rica, I knew that visiting all of the Central American countries would become a travel priority. What I didn’t know was that it is not always cheap or fast flying to other Central American countries from SJO- the primary international airport of Costa Rica.…

[aventurasdeunatortuga]

Guatemala Days 7-11

Lake Atitlan

The last 4 days have been spent at Lake Atitlan in the town of Panajachel. On Saturday Emily arrived to Antigua and to our surprise we got upgraded to a deluxe suite which was very fancy.

The next morning we took a shuttle to Panajachel, one of at least 11 towns on the shore of Lake Atitlan. Lake Atitlan is an enormous lake formed from a volcanic crater that is thousands of meters deep. There are at least 3 separate languages spoken by the indigenous people in the surrounding area, that’s how big around the lake is.

On Monday we explored the Atitlan Nature Reserve which was really cool. We hiked to the lakeshore, went across suspension bridges through the jungle, and saw spider monkeys and coatís (a central american variety of raccoons which only live in high altitude jungles).

On Tuesday we did a tour of three different towns along the lake. We got to the different towns by boat. First we went to San Juan La Laguna which had a lot of fair trade textile co-ops. This has helped combat a lot of social problems such as poverty and lack of education access, and has helped elevate indigenous women of the area. Several families team together to weave and form the co-op and whatever the co-op sells the profits are divided equally amongst themselves. A requirement for entering the co-op is enrolling children in school. We visited one of these co-ops and learned more about the weaving process which is incredibly complex. It take between 3 weeks to 3 months to weave a single garment. Unfortunately a lot of factory made copycat products are sold on the street for less than a 10th of what it costs to produce handmade products.

After San Juan La Laguna we stopped in San Pedro La Laguna for a drink. This town has a lot of expats and unfortunately has lost a lot of its ties to their indigenous culture. It’s now known as a party town (San Pedro La Locura is the nickname).

Finally we went to Santiago Atitlan, the largest of the lakeside towns. Even though it was only 15 minutes away by boat from San Pedro they spoke a completely different Mayan language (there are 22 Mayan languages spoken in Guatemala and most are completely unrelated to each other linguistically).

In Santigao Atitlan we visited some religious sites. They practice synchronism between Catholicism and traditional Mayan practices. We visited a church where both Mayan ceremonies and Catholic Mass are practiced, often at the same time. It was very similar to a church I visited in Chiapas, Mexico in the town of San Juan Chamula which also practiced Mayan-Catholic synchronism.

We also visited the shrine to the local deity Maximón. The deity is believed to inhabit a wooden statue and the shrine location rotates to different homes every year. It is tended to by the family living in the home and a shaman. The statue is over 500 years old.

On Wednesday we got a day pass to a local resort for $20 and we got to use their pool, beach, and got lunch. It was very luxurious. We walked back to our hotel from the resort and barely missed a huge thunderstorm. It started maybe 10 minutes after we got back. The lightning caused a power outage in Panajachel which lasted nearly 30 hours. We had to navigate by flashlight and eventually candlelight once the flashlight died. It was very spooky but also kind of nice to be disconnected from everything.

I’ll post again tomorrow to tell about today’s trip to Chichicastenango. Until then,

[chaletnz]

Lake Atitlan: Panajachel & San Juan

My alarm woke me up at 4.45 for a shower, I didn’t know if I just couldn’t figure it out but it seemed like there was only cold water so it was a quick one! As I was getting ready there was a knock at my door at 5.20am. Apparently the car was already here for me, which I wasn’t expecting until at least 5.30! A few minutes later I was ready to go, the man from the front desk ushered me down the stairs to the awaiting driver who was cleaning off the windows. I sat in the back for the delightful ride across the cobblestones of central Antigua and then moved to the front seat when we picked up a French couple along the way. You’d think that we were on a tight deadline the way this guy drove us so fast, weaving in between the lanes and slowing down only when there was an unavoidable speed bump or pothole - although many times he’d just drive on the other side of the road to bypass it altogether. We passed through some rural areas and larger cities waking up for the day with the driver blasting mostly good beats but a few Christian songs that proclaimed everyone in the world needs Jesus. We were randomly stopped on a roadside checkpoint and the driver and French lady that could speak Spanish explained that we are tourists going to Lake Atitlan for the day. He dropped us off at the tour office with about an hour and a half of free time. The restaurant across the street was recommended for breakfast and the French couple went there but I wanted to go for a walk to explore Panachajel. There wasn’t much open yet so I wandered down the main street seeing what was on offer and it was pretty chaotic already. There were loads of stray dogs and some goats being walked, other ones tied up in front of a shop. I ordered a breakfast of French toast and coffee in one of the many restaurants. It wasn’t a normal French toast it was something similar I suppose, but deep fried and with jam in the middle. It wasn’t bad, just very unhealthy and way too much, it would’ve been 4 slices of bread with each piece double stacked. There was also some melon on the side which was so welcome from the overall oiliness of the toast. At 9am we met up with our tour guide Elena and another tour member from Tokyo, Toyoda-san. We began at the viewpoint of Panajachel where the three volcanoes are visible and we could all get a nice photo to start the day. There were stray dogs everywhere as we walked down to the pier to get in our boat and cross the lake. It was a cold ride of about 25 minutes and I was so glad to have my hoodie as I watched the others shivering and our guide wrapped in a borrowed raincoat from the boaties. Our first stop was at San Juan La Laguna, the pier had hanging lights and decorations so I already liked the atmosphere in this lakeside town. From the pier it was a steep uphill walk into the main village where we sat down for a demonstration of chocolate making from Karla at Xocolat. She explained the entire process from growing the cacao to grinding it down into powder and then took us through some samples of the edible chocolate as well as hand creams. Next we visited a textile workshop for a demonstration of how traditional Guatemalan textiles are made from picking cotton, dying it and then the weaving process. With the guide’s help I was able to spin a little stick in a bowl and make a cotton thread which she gave me as a bracelet. Our last visit in San Juan was a tour of a honey farm, it definitely felt more like a sales opportunity than a tour and he pushed us all to buy something made of honey. Elena got a free lollipop for bringing in the tour I suppose even though no one bought anything there. We walked back down the steep street and got onto the boat to head to our next lakeside village.

[andybondurant]

New Post has been published on Andy Bondurant

New Post has been published on https://andybondurant.com/2022/11/15/submission-im-not-ready-for-jesus/

Submission: I’m Not Ready for Jesus.

Submission to Jesus is core to the Christian faith. Interestingly, while Jesus is all powerful, he doesn’t demand you to submit to him. He understands you may not be ready to submit. Jesus will give you space, but it doesn’t mean he will abandon you either.

A long time ago in a country far, far away…

The summer before Kia and I married, we spent three weeks in Guatemala attending language school (Kia was a Spanish major). We would spend every weekday morning in class, each afternoon hanging out in the city of Antigua and the weekends on excursions around the country.

One of those weekend excursions included traveling to Lake Atitlan and several of the small villages surrounding it. According to legend, each of the twelve villages dotting the lake have a spiritual connection to one of the twelve disciples. One of these villages was Santiago Atitlan known for it’s mostly Mayan inhabitants and their indigenous weaving. The name Santiago means James, but legend has it that the spirit of the village is connected to Judas Iscariot – the disciple who betrayed Jesus. 

Let me explain why.

Mischievous Maximon

Santiago Atitlan is also famous for housing Maximon, a Mayan god. This wooden idol carved and dressed to look like a modern day cowboy is visited by thousands and thousands of both pilgrims and tourists every year. In our 21st-century Western world, we typically dismiss the power of an idol carved from a block of wood. But make no mistake, wrapped within ancient wood statue are a spiritual strongholds. 

The idol is hosted by a different family every year who are required to make him available to the pilgrims and tourists daily. There is no official pay for hosting Maximon, but there is a kickback in the form of offerings presented to Maximon. Each visitor is expected to give a small gift to pray to, photograph or simply see the idol. This gift comes in the form money, flowers or alcohol. You’ll find these gifts laid around the idol (and the bodyguards employed to protect it). 

The hosts of Maximon aren’t paid, but a requirement of hosting is to use the offerings within their host year. The money is used to build a shelter to house Maximon and hire help to watch over him. The flowers are used to adorn the home. The alcohol is consumed by the hosts and their friends. 

Wood Block or Spiritual Stronghold?

This is where the spiritual stronghold in the village of Santiago Atitlan rears it’s ugly head. It’s as if the host family must live in submission to Maximon. Since the alcohol must be consumed by the end of the year, many hosts end the year as alcoholics. What is hailed as a blessing at the beginning of the year, becomes a curse by the end of the year. Then one family passes the curse onto the next. And the cycle continues.

The village of Santiago Atitlan hates the curse this idol brings, but it is their curse.

Spiritual strongholds are real, and spiritual power isn’t limited to small villages in third world countries. Today, throughout the world, in our homes, businesses, schools, we battle powers we cannot see. It has been this way since the beginning of time.

Another Lake. Another Village.

Is was reminded of Santiago Atitlan when reading a story of Jesus in the book of Mark.

The story begins with Jesus crossing the Lake of Galilee to escape the crowds pressing him throughout the Jewish villages and countryside. It is this crossing when Jesus famously calms the wind and the waves for both himself and those following him. Waiting on the eastern side of the lake were 10 Hellenistic villages – the Decapolis, which were inhabited by people of Jewish descent who followed Roman custom. It was a form of syncretism – mixing Jewish tradition with Roman worship practice (just as the people of Santiago Atitlan mix their Mayan customs with Catholic tradition). 

The village Jesus landed near had a spiritual stronghold overshadowing their community, just like the village of Santiago Atitlan. It wasn’t an idol, but a man. This man was being controlled by demonic strongholds. When possessed by these demons, the man terrorized their village. The people responded by chaining him over and again only to see him supernaturally break the binds. So he was relegated to a life in and among the tombs outside the village.

The village hated this demoniac, but he was their demoniac.

Submission = Freedom

Mark 5 describes what happens next. Jesus steps out of the boat, and the man runs, falls and submits at the feet of Jesus. No introduction was needed. The man knew. Jesus had the power to free him from the unseen power controlling him. Jesus commanded the demons inhabiting the man to leave, and cursing Jesus, they leapt from the man into a herd of a couple thousand pigs who threw themselves over a cliff. 

Do the math. The man was filled with hundreds, if not thousands of demons. They controlled his life. Just like Jesus has power to control the winds and waves, Jesus also has power over unseen powers who, at times, control us.

Jesus has the power to command the spiritual powers attacking your heart, mind, life to flee. It begins with submission to Jesus. The man knew who Jesus was, so he ran and fell at the feet of Jesus. He submitted to Jesus.

But I’m not ready to submit!

But not everyone is ready to submit to Jesus. And Jesus is okay with that.

The village heard about the arrival of Jesus, and the freedom the man experienced. They went out to meet Jesus, and they saw the man fully clothed and in his right mind. However they weren’t ready for Jesus.

“A crowd soon gathered around Jesus, and they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons. He was sitting there fully clothed and perfectly sane, and they were all afraid. Then those who had seen what happened told the others about the demon-possessed man and the pigs. And the crowd began pleading with Jesus to go away and leave them alone.” -Mark‬ ‭5:15-17‬ ‭NLT‬

In an amazing turn of events, they beg Jesus to leave. No reason is given. Maybe it was fear – of Jesus’ power, of Roman repercussions, of the unknown. Maybe it was spiritual strongholds in their own lives. No reason was given, but they begged Jesus to leave.

Jesus respected their request. And without further discussion, Jesus proceeded to leave.

Submission: Not ready. Not abandoned.

Submission to Jesus is best for you. Jesus has the power to set you free. But if you’re not ready that’s okay – no reason needed. If Jesus was comfortable with leaving that village, then he’s comfortable with giving you space too. But, let me warn you, it doesn’t mean you’ll stop hearing about Jesus and his power.

In one final twist to this story, the man asks to go with Jesus. It’s the kind of request you’d expect Jesus to respond to favorably. The man is in his right mind, and he’s fully submitted to Jesus, yet Jesus tells him to stay. He tells the man to go home, and tell his friends and family of what God had done for him. Jesus left the village, but his story stayed with them; the evidence of Jesus’ authority over the spirit world remained.

You may not be ready for Jesus, and he’ll respect your wish. Jesus will leave you alone, but he will not abandon you. The evidence of his power will remain around you. It is the goodness of God chasing you.

[ethicalfashionguatemala]

My Saturday Lake Atitlan Experience

My Saturday Lake Atitlan Experience

Rosie Pearson is one of the exceptional individuals who, in addition to having the ability of writing, is a compassionate person. Over the years, she has provided Ethical Fashion Guatemala with words of encouragement as well as support. Rosie recently wrote to me about her visit to a small Vermont shop where she stumbled upon an intriguing collection of Lake Atitlan art. Her tale is told here. I…