Semana Santa (Holy Week)

The Celebration

Semana Santa is celebrated in Guatemala much like it is celebrated throughout all Latin American countries. This week, the kids are out of school and many parents take their vacations and they head to the beach, to the water park resorts, to the Peten to see the ruins at Tikal or they go visit family. The Government, tiendas (stores), fabricas (manufacturing plants), banks and various other business close at mid-day on Wednesday and remain closed until the following Monday.

So, it is very quiet in the city except for the parades that move from one Catholic church to another with floats that bear Christ on them and Mother Mary. The floats are very heavy and are all carried by men, sometimes for several miles. There is much color and pageantry in these parades. A lot of bright white, brilliant reds and lustrous royal purples are used in the clothing that is worn by the participants. These parades are held all over the country from the beginning of Lent through Easter Sunday. The biggest and most important one is in Antigua on Good Friday.

Part of the splendor of these parades are the alfombras or carpets. These carpets are made in the streets by different groups or families, using colored sawdust and vegetable parts. They are very colorful and very well done.The carpets are open for public viewing early on Good Friday morning just before the parade. Then the parade passes over them and they are destroyed. The processions end on Sunday with services celebrating the resurrection of Christ.

Other News
As most of you know, we have moved from Quetzaltenango to San Jose Pinula which is near the capitol city of Guatemala. This was a much needed move because it put us much closer to more ministries. Almost everyone needs to come to Guatemala City for something. So, while they are here they can come to the bodega (warehouse) and pick up the things that they need. We believe this will give us a tremendous boost in the ministries that we can serve.

Since the first of January, we have added five new accounts. We would like to welcome Medical Missions Ministries, Director Dr. Hermann Alb and his staff; Los Gozos, a home for handicapped children, Director Maureen Casey and staff; Clinica America Latino, Director Dr. Tito Palacios and staff; Clinica ALELSI, RN Virginia Birss; and Clinica Luz y Verdad of AMG International, Director Emelia Camacho de Chaguaj and Dr. Mario Guzman. Welcome to the Vine International family!

There is an interesting article published by Dave Russell that provides a little bit of the history of Vine International. Your heart string might be "twanged" also. You'll find it at the Vine Friends blog. Click Here or on the link at the right of this page to access the article. The article is called "Pallet Racks". That's the end of the pipeline.

Questions and comments are always welcome.

Mr 14:7 For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you will, you can do good to them.......RSV