Rainbow World Fund 2009 Guatemala Tour-Day 10

This was the final day of the tour. Some tour members were heading home, but a significant portion of us was flying out to Tikal to visit the Mayan ruins there. These ruins had been discovered about a century and a half ago, and some of the bigger buildings had been excavated. There are still many jungle-covered hills in Tikal, under which there are even more stone buildings. According to the guide, most of these buildings will be left unexcavated.

One of the smaller pyramids, with steles (stone ceremonial markers) in front

A view from one of the pyramids looking out at other pyramids poking through the jungle canopy. Very haunting.

The climb to the top of one of the pyramid was quite a workout.

The remainder of our group at Tikal

The tallest and most dramatic of the pyramids, occupying one side of the “Acropolis”, an open area surrounded by pyramids. You have to actually be there to take this in. Another amazing experience.

This was the final day of this incredible tour. Most of us flew back to Antigua (some stayed overnight at Tikal), to catch our early morning planes back home. All of us were deeply affected by this experience, and by the end of the Rainbow World Fund Guatemala journey, we had formed a tight, loving community, a community that I hope will continue to stay intact now that we are back home. I want to give special thanks to Jeff Cotter for creating RWF and this powerful moment in our lives. And I also want to give great thanks to Sisters Jan and Marie, the two nuns that, with Jeff, headed our journey, both incredible women with huge hearts and spirits. As I finish this diary, I am still “processing” everything that happened on the trip. I feel restless, hopeful and inspired.

Clint Seiter