The Foreign Service Journal, June 2015

LOCAL LENS BY BRANDON L. WEST n CHICHICASTENANGO, GUATEMALA Please submit your favorite, recent photograph to be considered for Local Lens. Images must be high resolution (at least 300 dpi at 8 x 10”) and must not be in print elsewhere. Please submit a short description of the scene/event, as well as your name, brief biodata and the type of camera used, to locallens@afsa.org. T he steps to the church of Santo Tomás in Chichi- castenango, located in the western highlands of Guatemala, are a focal point of the weekly Sunday market where local women sell flowers and incense. Originally built on top of a Mayan altar in 1540, the church reflects the syncretism that has occurred between Mayan and Catholic worship. n Brandon West and his family are currently serving on their first tour in Guatemala City. His wife, Christina, joined the Foreign Service in the spring of 2013 and has an onward assignment to Guadalajara. Brandon works remotely from their home for a U.S.- based software company and enjoys documenting their Foreign Service experiences at diplodad.com . This photo was taken with a Canon 6D and EF 17-40mm lens.