Hasta Luego!

This morning while I played the prelude for church, two young boys stood on tiptoes to peer into the piano to watch the hammers. I'm getting more confident about opening the book to the posted page and starting to play, not at all certain if the hymn is one I've played before until I start playing. Today when I opened the hymnal, I realized the opening hymn was Divina luz, the same hymn Adaly performed for the recital yesterday. Adaly is the young mother who memorized the hymn from the regular hymnal, and added the left hand. I motioned to her to look at the hymn number, and then waved my hand in an invitation for her to come play the piano for the opening song. She smiled, and stood up, and walked across the front of the room towards me as the bishop was announcing I would be playing the piano. I shook my head and pointed at Adaly. He looked surprised, smiled broadly, and announced that Adaly would play.

Just as she prepared to play, I realized she didn't have a hymn book. She shook her head that she didn't need it, but then willingly accepted mine. She played the introduction and all four verses boldly and right on the beat. A couple of times she missed notes, but came right back in again. I was so pleased! I never imagined that in five weeks someone who had never played a piano before could play so well in church for congregational singing! Sitting there, watching and hearing her play was one of the greatest thrills of my life! And to think the first day she left and was walking home when John Mann picked her up and brought her back to the church. I'm grateful that many mornings Megan entertained her little girl so that Adaly could participate in the class.

Now I predict that by Thanksgiving, Adaly will be able to play for the full service every week - if not before. Maybe, now that she has a keyboard to practice on at home, it may happen next week. However, knowing her willingness to help the students, she'll probably encourage the bishop to give the other students opportunities to play, too. Hallelujah! I honestly expected it would be at least three years before anyone would be ready to play for church. I'm also quite certain that Adaly will learn to play hymns with the bass, tenor, and alto notes. I never, ever, expected this to happen! And to think all she had to practice on at home was the two-octave cardboard keyboard we passed out the first week of classes!

It was a Sunday meeting today where individuals in the congregation may go to the podium and share their feelings about God and church. Several of our students, including Adaly; Susi, the bishop's wife; and Yanira, the president of the children's organization spoke about the blessing the piano lessons have been for them. I wish I could have understood everything they said; I was so grateful for their appreciation.

At 2 p.m. today, John Mann drove his van to deliver the keyboards. I never did see any of the homes since John carried the keyboards to the doors. However, I'm guessing it may be a challenge for each family to find a place for "their" keyboard. Adaly informed each family that the keyboards are not to be sold, not to be lent to anyone, are not to leave the houses, are not to be "abused," and are to be returned to me for teaching when I return.

So my bags are packed, and I am ready to come home. But now I feel like Ciudad Vieja is home, too, and I'm certain enough that I will return that I am leaving boxes of teaching supplies and a small bag of clothing and two pairs of shoes so that when I come again I can use the suitcase space for more teaching supplies.

If anyone wants to join me the next time, I have three guarantees:

1. Teaching piano in Ciudad Vieja will be challenging - very challenging. It's the most challenging project I've done in my life.

2. You will love the people. It is impossible not to love them.

3. You will learn something about your strengths and weaknesses.

And fourth, it isn't a guarantee, but I'm guessing once you come you'll want to return.

Have I mentioned that Flores, Guatemala, which is close to Tikal, has a group of teenagers who are hopeful someone will teach there? Flores, by the way, is a beautiful island on a lake with restaurants, shops, hotels with swimming pools and lakeside views . . .