Wednesday, February 29, 2012

flowers and children

When we taught at the school today, Elder Spradlin came in late and brought me a flower.  I thanked him and put it in my hair.  Later during the pause a little girl brought us a few flowers and presented them to him, we thanked her and told her how pretty they were.  Then the snowball affect and children started bringing us sweet flowers.  We got two cups of water and saved them all to carry them home.  The children are so very very sweet.

Monday, February 27, 2012

Sad and joyful

A couple of weeks of many emotions.  Joyful first,  We were at the Sajonté chapel dedication in Chulak Sunday where we had an attendence of 309 members!  Filled the beautiful new building.  I am looking forward to watching it grow even more.  During the meeting two members, who had been baptized on Saturday, received the gift of the Holy Ghost and after the meeting Pres. Watts had his interview with one of our Future Missionaries.  They reorganized also the Chulak District Presidency and Elder Spradlin was asked to stand in.  I played the organ for the dedication, the brother who was supposed to play got a little nervous... right before the meeting.  The district made an amazing Turkey Caldo for a meal for all of the leaders and missionaries after the dedication.  Turkey Caldo is a sign of the highest celebration and respect - this meeting was worthy of their efforts.  Coming home from the meeting we were able to ride most of the way with one of the leaders from Coban, but then we got a ride up the Senahu hill with a LARGE truck transport.  Gratefully they let us in the cab, instead of on back and while riding up there was an inactive brother there who started talking with us.  We invited him to return to activity, because he needs the church, and we need him.  The road up here is very crooked and steep, the driver didnt have power steering so he was having to work very hard on the corners.  I explained to the brother that life is like that road and driver.  The curves take a lot of effort to get around correctly - but definately worth the effort.  Another example I used is that there had been a bad mudslide on the road last year and they are still working a lot to clear the road.  Sometimes in this life we have problems and our road gets blocked, it takes effort to clear up all of the mud and damage so that we can again progress. 
The sad part of this post, is very difficult for me.  While we were in Guatemala City last weekend to do government paperwork early Monday morning we were able to visit with a lot of members, do our shopping and get some organizational things taken care of.  Friday afternoon while we were there though we received a phone call from one of the members here in Seamay to tell us his baby had just died.  The baby was only about 3 weeks old and had been very sick.  They had taken it to Doctors here and it seemed to be getting better at times, appeard like it might have been reflux.  It had begun  vomiting again though, without ceasing, then quit eating and passed away while we were gone.  It was extremely difficult.  The young couple had lost their first baby just a year ago, and now for the second time the mother´s arms are empty.  Our hearts ache for her.  We have been to visit her throughout the week now that we are back. 
The funny.  Getting to Chulak last weekend we had to take a transport, ie back of the truck standing, to get up the hill.  As I got off the truck when we got there my skirt ripped all the way up - of course I didnt take a spare skirt with me!!!  Luckily my black slip covered quite well and I tied my sweater around my waist while we walked back to a member´s home that had a treadle sewing machine (no electricity there) She was so kind and did not laugh very hard at all while fixing my great difficulty!  Of course while walking to her house the strap on my shoe also broke...  It is now at the shoe repair shop and will be fine in about another hour.
Raining a lot today, this is still the dry season ( :  So if you come to Senahu - please bring a good umbrella or rain poncho!

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Coral Pek...almost

On Monday we were in Chulak, and it was very cloudy but we decided to try and hike up to Coral Pek anyway, since it was for our anniversary.  The higher we got the more rain we hit.   Needless to say we still have the goal of hiking to Coral Pek!  Sunday in Sajunte we were able to help a future missionary fill out his paperwork.  The Branch there is waiting for the dedication of their amazing new building, during the meantime there are meeting in a long wooden building with two doors on each end, dirt floors, no windows and a tin overhang in back where Relief Society and Primary meet.  It was packed though with about 200 saints!  During Primary we met outside with the future missionary under the overhang to do his paperwork.  Now this was the first time for me to see a pig and duck walk through the meetings - before that only had dogs try to walk in....  We were able to attend a baptism in Panzos on Saturday afternoon, then made it up the hill just in time to see another baptism in Chulak.  Spent Saturday night in the Choice Foundation house in Sajonte and Sunday and Monday night in the church at Chulak. Sunday afternoon we needed to go visit a Sister in Chulak that lives down a very steep muddy trail.  I was so scared!  Started singing Teach me to WALK.  Was very grateful when we made it to her home.  Elder Spradlin cut me two walking sticks that I was able to use to get back out and I was very very grateful!!!
 When we got back to Senahu, Tuesday, we recieved word that we needed to come down to the capitol and were able to get a ride down with a brother from Welfare Services, instead of having to take the bus. It has been great being here, doing shopping, visiting friends, eating out and going to the temple.  We will be heading back home on Tuesday.  Other news - they wired our house for 220 for the Dryer and Stove, although we still need the electric company to do the wiring from the pole to the house.  Eventually it shall happen.  Patience in Spanish - paciencia, in q'eqchi - Kuyum.  So many wonderful adventures and lovely people.  Just keep smiling.

Thursday, February 2, 2012

imagine no library

We stopped by an internet place walking home Tuesday night because our landlords young daughter was there, asked what she was doing and she said that she was having them do a research paper for her for school.  The kids pay the Internet people, they do the research and copy it off, then the student copies it off by hand into their notebooks.  So the question was: Why don´t they do their own research?  The answer took me back a bit, because There are NO Libraries, not in the schools, not in the homes.  Only a few church books and school books are ussually available.  Can´t imagine growing up not reading just for fun!  Wednesday night when we had piano lessons and English at the Seamay Chapel the gate was locked, but there were already a lot of kids inside.  Found out the seminary teacher had broken her key when she went to open the gate, so everyone was coming in an alternate route - through the little outlet building halfway up the side of the fence where they put the trash out.  Here we go!  Should have had a camera - but it was raining so much we had left it at the house.  Climbed into the little ¨bldg¨ after putting our plastic down from the organs and tried to go through.  I couldn`t figure out how to get through the opening on the other side, so backed back out and Elder Spradlin went through, a very strong young boy helped pull him out on the other side.  Next, my turn - and yes in a dress modesty was important!  when I got through the building Elder Spradlin on one side and the young man on the other grabbed my arms and out I come, reminded me of a 3 stooges movie!  Oh the adventures.  It was worth it though with 12 kids showing up for piano and English!