Day 1: Spring Break Begins: ABST Travel Day!
Our ABST journey started at midnight on March 1, with everyone arriving early—a great sign of the group’s commitment and respect for time. After a prayer led by Father Michael Kesicki, we loaded into the van shared with the Guatemala ABST team. A smooth check-in and short flight brought us to Dallas for a quick five-hour layover, where we grabbed some coffee, others ate, and a few caught up on sleep.  
After a night of travel, we arrived in Mérida in the afternoon, greeted warmly by Azucena, José, and Liz (a mission volunteer). Despite our limited Spanish and heavy American accents, our efforts to communicate brought laughter and camaraderie. We settled into Casa Blanca, our home for the week, and after a brief orientation, we stocked up on essentials at Walmart, carefully considering everyone’s preferences.  To cap off the day, we enjoyed authentic Mayan dishes like panuchos and empanadas at a local restaurant. Exhausted after nearly 48 hours of travel, we headed to bed, ready to recharge for the exciting days ahead.  

Kaif + Mia