Learning

We were able to meet with a Brother in Guatemala City last week when we dropped off David and Michelle, he explained the program for helping people here in the Polochik start their genealogy.  It is a little more difficult here than we can imagine in the states - when a person is illiterate and quite often doesn't know their own birthdate.  We are very excited about starting to help them make and prepare their family history records.  Saturday we went to a branch activity in Telemann.  The activities and games for the children were supposed to start at 10am, many children were there but the leaders weren't quite ready yet, we have a hard time sometimes when things start an hour later than announced... so Elder Spradlin and I played jump rope, limbo and Simon says with them.  We then started teaching them how to play Red Rover, after starting it we walked off to check on how the real games were coming.  About 2 minutes later the kids all came after us and said that one young girl had said a bad word.  I walked over to her, you could tell she was frustrated and upset. I turned to everyone else and asked "Do you know that she is a princess?"  All of you are princesses and princes also.  I put my arm around her then and said very softly that she is a princess and that it is because of our Heavenly Father.  Then I said, "maybe you forgot for a minute who you really are, that happens to all of us sometimes."   Wish I had been wise enough to respond to such circumstances equally well when my own children were struggling.  We are children of a King, a loving Heavenly Father who cares about us, the problem is that sometimes we forget for a moment who we really are.

Work, Play and Family!

David and Michelle have come to play with us so we are having a wonderful week. Learned our way around Guatemala a little when we went down to get them, and had a great time visiting with the other Senior missionaries there and having an amazing dinner with Pres. and Sister Watts. We have been to waterfalls, hot springs, mountain tops and visited some of our amazing friends.  Took them on one trip on the back of a truck up through the mountains so they can see some of the unbelievable beauty.  I think they have fallen a little bit in love with some of the families here, for good reason.  We were able to prove to them that some of our visits are straight up, and that yes this is living out in the boonies.  David now believes in time machines and we were even able to throw in running out of water one day and no electricity the next.  Makes you appreciate warm showers when they are available.  We did learn though that if we run the dryer, and the hot water heater on the shower at the same time, plus throw in one light... it can cause a power outage! We have done a little bit of work while they are here, but honestly not a lot.  Helping get the dates and places set up for the Kekchi choir tour coming in late July (that is a very exciting event)  Love our new daughter Michelle!!!!  and so happy to have them both here.

castles and waterfalls

Last Thursday we were able to work in El Estor with the Branch President, Primary President and the Relief Society President.  Some problems they have here we don´t even think about before we get to work with the members.  The Primary president wanted help with her music, she had the CD with music and the book but couldnt figure out how the songs worked.  Once I listened to it once I realized why, how does a person know what the intro music is and where it starts if no one has ever shown you!  The Branch had recieved the book for George Albert Smith and the one about being a Daughter of God in the same box, so many of the branches thought the Relief Society lessons all came from the Daughter of God book, not the lesson manual on George Albert Smith, makes sense.  Plus then you have the problem that the books are all written in Spanish, but many of the sisters only speak Kekchi.  Thursday night we spent at a hotel across from the church in El Estor and then took Friday to play a little.  We saw the Castle at Rio Dulce, and went to a swimming area that had a waterfall that was beautiful off of a hot sulphur spring coming down into a cold creek.  The water alternated between cold and hot.  Getting ready to show David and MIchelle around when they get here next week!  We just hope the rain doesnt close our road.  On Saturday we were at the District Conference in Chulak and had a few minutes to speak with Elder Martino from the Area Presidency, we talked about how it is hard to measure success here, and whether we are accomplishing anything that will make a lasting difference for the saints.  He told us what we count is in the hearts we touch each day.  I really liked and treasured his comment and support.  We have started to try and work with the leaders here in Senahu on geneology also, so that is a new exciting addition to the things we enjoy.  We will be going back up to Chulac this Wednesday to work more on some future Missionary files.