Some weeks seem like you are flying at full speed...This week was one of them! We went down to Guatemala City to have the Dentists check on Elder Spradlin's tooth, he had lost part of a filling. We were able to have them fix it on our way into the Capitol. They then told us about the Central Market and we went there and played for about two hours. It was so much fun! Three stories tall, you park on top, and inside each level has different things, handcrafts, ceramics, food, traditional clothing. We were able to buy some Christmas presents for some of our Elders, and a Christmas Nativity for the house, now we know where to go for cute souvenirs if we decide to get some before we go back stateside!
The neat thing while in the capitol was all of the things we were able to accomplish that weren't planned. A refrigerator for one set of Elders up here in the Polochic had gone out and Sister Watts called us while we were there, and we were able to pick it up for them and bring it back up (amazing that the little fridges fit in the back of our vehicle). We went early in the morning to the Temple and the Temple President was minding the Desk. We spoke with him and found out they need some Temple workers who speak Kekchi and Spanish from our Districts up here. We were able to get the specifics and the paperwork so we can give them to our three Districts that speak Kekchi. On the way home we stopped in Coban and had a meeting with our missionaries from the Zone there on the importance of learning English. Challenged them, so hopefully it will help them with setting and reaching new goals.
This morning we met with two different sets of Spanish Elders in Seamay and worked with them on their English. Then this afternoon we met with 9 of the Young Women from one of our Branches here in Senahu and started the Personal Progress program with them. I am so excited! We had picked up the materials for it when we were in the capitol. I think we will probably have between 16-20 doing it with us eventually. One of the Branches here had never started it, so I am working with their Branch President to help them get it going. Working with the Future Missionaries also and have an appointment down in the Valley tomorrow to work with one Sister's file. Tomorrow afternoon District Conference starts here in Senahu - it is going to be a busy weekend and we are grateful! .
Friday, November 30, 2012
Sunday, November 25, 2012
realities
Picture tin hut, dirt floor, little fire in the middle of the one room surrounded by a few dishes - one with tortillas, a bucket of water. A 97 year old lady huddled on a rock next to the fire in her sweater with her hands over her face. She was cold, had a light cough and the chills. I rubbed her back, rubbed her chest with oils, then rubbed her hands to get warmth back in them. There was nothing more I could do for her. Hard to walk away again. We shall visit her again on Monday.
We had just been visiting her grandchildren and great grandchildren next door where the Mother has a new seven day old baby. I worked some with the mom who was hurting all over from the labor and laying on the hard bed where she stays with the baby, the majority of the day. The ten year old daughter has asked us to sing and read with them so that has been promised for when we go back on Monday afternoon.
Went to make Lebkuchen and saw a recipe calling for Cardamom seeds. It is one of the major exports from here, although the price has sunk very low for them. I went to the market to find some and no one sells it here in the market. Someone then pointed me over to one of the drying sheds and when I went there they were very kind and gave me a small bag full. Cookies will be great.
Saw for the first time on the market a Cocoa. it looks like a squash almost, cut it open and the seeds are covered in this sweet/sour membrane that I liked, Elder Spradlin didn't. The seeds are now in the drying process if we ever get any sun.
Went on a visit last night to teach a couple, the Dad wasn't home, but we were able to sing a couple of Christmas songs to the lady using our flashlights as she held her candle.
Our little 4 month old will be having her eye surgery on Monday! Praying all goes well and they will be back to Senahu by Friday.
No plans to go back to the capitol probably until May, then Elder Spradlin lost part of a filling so we get to make a fast run down this week, coming back through Coban to work with Elders on their English there, then stopping in Tuccuru to help teach a Brother how to use the Missionary program online.
Learned this week how to layer my clothes better, double shirting is helping keep me a lot warmer, and I have switched to wearing my rubber boots when we are out, not just for the mud but they are much warmer. A lot of the people kind of laugh when they see it, I'm setting a new fashion trend, where the ladies here wear little sandels and only the men wear boots. Definitely not complaining, I have blankets and clothes to keep me warm and am very very grateful.
We had just been visiting her grandchildren and great grandchildren next door where the Mother has a new seven day old baby. I worked some with the mom who was hurting all over from the labor and laying on the hard bed where she stays with the baby, the majority of the day. The ten year old daughter has asked us to sing and read with them so that has been promised for when we go back on Monday afternoon.
Went to make Lebkuchen and saw a recipe calling for Cardamom seeds. It is one of the major exports from here, although the price has sunk very low for them. I went to the market to find some and no one sells it here in the market. Someone then pointed me over to one of the drying sheds and when I went there they were very kind and gave me a small bag full. Cookies will be great.
Saw for the first time on the market a Cocoa. it looks like a squash almost, cut it open and the seeds are covered in this sweet/sour membrane that I liked, Elder Spradlin didn't. The seeds are now in the drying process if we ever get any sun.
Went on a visit last night to teach a couple, the Dad wasn't home, but we were able to sing a couple of Christmas songs to the lady using our flashlights as she held her candle.
Our little 4 month old will be having her eye surgery on Monday! Praying all goes well and they will be back to Senahu by Friday.
No plans to go back to the capitol probably until May, then Elder Spradlin lost part of a filling so we get to make a fast run down this week, coming back through Coban to work with Elders on their English there, then stopping in Tuccuru to help teach a Brother how to use the Missionary program online.
Learned this week how to layer my clothes better, double shirting is helping keep me a lot warmer, and I have switched to wearing my rubber boots when we are out, not just for the mud but they are much warmer. A lot of the people kind of laugh when they see it, I'm setting a new fashion trend, where the ladies here wear little sandels and only the men wear boots. Definitely not complaining, I have blankets and clothes to keep me warm and am very very grateful.
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
little things
It is cold here. Not bad cold, but at night you definitely want an extra blanket on and makes you wish sometimes for a heater. Heater wouldn't really do any good, since there is no insulation. Then we think of our brothers and sisters here in the community who live in the stick houses with mud floors and laminate ceilings, it is a different perspective. We walk through the market or go into homes where we hear the children coughing and see the beginning of much sickness. Right now there is sunshine in the mornings, so that helps. Some of our weeks will be worse, when it is misty rainy during the days and the cold seeps in.
Yesterday we went to one appointment, but the family wasn't home yet. The family next door came out to greet us and we went and sang and visited with them, by the time we finished the first family had come back home. On our way back to their house another family from down below us called out and asked us to come and give his Sister's baby a blessing, because it was sick. That was fun because the way down was by a ladder! We only had one appointment scheduled yesterday, but as we walked through the area the day filled with opportunities to serve. We stopped by the family's home with the sick child and had a prayer with them, telling them we would return when we could find the Elder's to help us give the blessing. The Elders we needed don't have a phone, but when we went to eat, there they were and were able to go back with us. Coming back out, another family called out to us and we stopped. They have now scheduled a cottage meeting for this Saturday to invite in their neighbors and have the Elders come teach. We offered to help make the refreshments, so hopefully there will be several families that attend.
Yesterday we were able to buy ground beef at the market, and we had bought Pumpkin in the capitol. We currently have six Elders here close and all of us will eat lunch together tomorrow of Spaghetti with meat sauce and pumpkin pie. We then have a few appointments scheduled to work in the afternoon so it will definitely be a great Thanksgiving.
Yesterday we went to one appointment, but the family wasn't home yet. The family next door came out to greet us and we went and sang and visited with them, by the time we finished the first family had come back home. On our way back to their house another family from down below us called out and asked us to come and give his Sister's baby a blessing, because it was sick. That was fun because the way down was by a ladder! We only had one appointment scheduled yesterday, but as we walked through the area the day filled with opportunities to serve. We stopped by the family's home with the sick child and had a prayer with them, telling them we would return when we could find the Elder's to help us give the blessing. The Elders we needed don't have a phone, but when we went to eat, there they were and were able to go back with us. Coming back out, another family called out to us and we stopped. They have now scheduled a cottage meeting for this Saturday to invite in their neighbors and have the Elders come teach. We offered to help make the refreshments, so hopefully there will be several families that attend.
Yesterday we were able to buy ground beef at the market, and we had bought Pumpkin in the capitol. We currently have six Elders here close and all of us will eat lunch together tomorrow of Spaghetti with meat sauce and pumpkin pie. We then have a few appointments scheduled to work in the afternoon so it will definitely be a great Thanksgiving.
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