Hi All!

Hi- we just wanted to give you a quick update! We are currently in Antigua (Old City). We definitely needed to be here today. We had along journey and were in the van for at least 30 hours! Or at least it felt like it! Seriously though we were in the car for at least 4 hours today. We visited a Mayan Community Radio Station (think NPR in the middle of the Guatemalan Mountains). Don Felipe started the radio station eleven years ago. They transmit from the pueblo of Xajaxac. It is a tiny community of Mayans. They rely on the community radio station for all of their information yet the Ministerio Publico (the public defenders office) wants to outlaw them! That seems a little ridiculous considering that out of all the crime in Guatemala only 2% of criminals are convicted YET the Public defenders office wants to spend time and money (60 Million which are U.S. funds----- yeah- your tax dollars) on restricting Community radio stations whose programming includes talking about health issues in the communities, Mayan history, and music. Think about that! Goodnight it is way past my bedtime and we have a meeting with the US Embassy tomorrow! I will continue the rest of my week's story soon!