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.

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!

Oranges in Sajunte

Sajunte!  The most beautiful place!  Sitting in front of a family´s home working with a future missionary while eating oranges the family just picked off the tree.  Then walking through the mandarin orchard on trails while visiting members of the Branch.   We stopped at one place later on the way back down the hill to Chulac and greeted a family who runs a tienda.  There was a young man there and so I asked his age, he said he had just turned 18,  I asked when did we need to start working on his paperwork so he could serve a mission.  Just to find out he isn´t a member.  Told him he needed to learn more so he could get ready.  He gave us his name, wrote it down and his parents names, his mom was there also - so we gave it to the missionaries.  Directions to home.  From the church up around two curves, blue tienda on left behind big sign.  What a wonderful way to spend an afternoon!  Saturday morning in Chulac taught 2 sisters how make rag dolls and chocolate no bake cookies, so we can do an activity there with the sisters.  On the way back up, we stopped outside a little tienda and had this following of children, I started making a rag doll and the crowd grew...I told them whoever could sing for me the best a Guatemalan song would get the doll.  The children are very very shy ussually, and none wanted to sing, So Elder Spradlin and I sang a children´s song and again I said öh what a pretty doll, I wonder if I shall have to keep it¨  A couple more times of repeating this comment and singing for them, one little girl barely whispered a few words, then I said, oh what was that...with quite a bit of coaxing all of them finally sang for me and taught me a song.  We then did a contest with them, 4 parents had now shown up, and I had the children stand against the store and sing to me, then I narrowed it down to about 4 girls and held the doll over each head and the one with the most appluase won.  At each fase of the contest they had to sing to us again.  It was soo much fun! We ended up riding down from Senahu and down from Chulac also both on what in the states you would call a cattle truck. We got to Panzos at 7am, Church building was opened at 8:55,  they had 32 members in attendance when it started and we were so grateful to be there with them. I never imagined how much fun it could be riding in cattle trucks with Elder Spradlin!  It was a blast!