Dentists and lessons learned

We had a clinic of 4 dentists from the city here this week.  Wonderful volunteers from the community and hundreds of opeople who needed help to relieve pain.  The dentists helped 240 people.  It was amazing!  Lesson learned, if you never brush your teethe - they will fall out.  Some people only had the roots of their teethe still on many teethe and needed them pulled still.  One girl of 13 needed all 4 of her front teethe pulled,  One elderly gentleman had never used a toothebrush.  Hopefully we can help educate people and stop some of this pain in the future.  It was very hard for me to see the pain and suffering that goes on, and to know that this was just the tip of the iceburg for people who have the same sort of problems here.   The members made QaQiq (spelling)  a turkey soup that is served only at weddings, graudations and large celebrations, to serve to the Dentists on the last day as a wonderful surprise, and one sister brought them in a Tres Leches Cake to show the gratitude of the people.  Such a giving loving people we work with here.  The funny things though that happen - One young brother called me on Monday night wanting to know if he needed to bring in his 40 day old baby to see the dentist, because it has 2 teethes and that just isnt normal.  I told him it was fine, just make sure he keeps those two teethe clean.  
We hiked up on the mountain behind the house last Friday and stopped in a sweet home - shy little boy who completely came alive when he found out he was going to get his picture taken.  The mother asked if we could, she had seen the camera.  When I said yes, everyon e went running to get dressed up for the picture taking!   Afterwards they walked partway back down the hill to make sure we didnt get lost on the paths!  They also gave us bananas from the tree in their yard.  We felt so loved!  We are heading back up to deliver the picture to them, and really looking forward to it. 
The other lesson learned, again, this past week is one I have to make sure I always remember, We can never judge where someone else is, or what they are going through,   we are all here as servants and that, thankfully is the only job we have to fulfill.

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.

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!