The harder moment

Tears of sorrow we know will someday be replaced by tears of joy. Last Thursday we met a family who had a 5 year old daughter that was suffering from malnutrition, not sure why she was malnourished, had been suffering from some illness that the Doctors could not place. Charity Anywhere was here and helped get the family the vitamins the Doctor had prescribed, plus Incaparina (a protein drink) and powdered milk to help the little one. We went to check on how the family was doing this afternoon only to find out the little girl died Sunday morning. Our heart breaks for this sweet family and the mother's arms who are empty. Our hearts break for all of the other mothers here whose children are sick or die and they do not know how to help them.  This is one of the harder parts of our mission.

Anyone want a baby?

On our way back from Poptun Sunday we were able to stop and see some waterfalls called los Conchos de Chahal and they were amazing! I love the beautiful little breaks we get - and the inspiring view right out the window of our house.

There was a group of Americans here this week doing service work that we got to work with. It was very hectic, but amazing seeing all that was accomplished. We were able to work quite a bit with the Physical Therapist and Rosie gained some much needed tools from her – she should be crawling soon. We are still hoping and praying that her eye surgery goes through the end of this month when they are supposed to be putting in lens implants.

A very funny conversation happened in the market, the Sister we were working with from the US was looking for a toy to take back to her one year old, I asked one of our K'eqchi' sisters where she should look, she understood me to be saying the sister was looking for a baby – and told me her cousin had one! Nothing like giving away your relatives!

 This was a week so busy it is hard to even cut it down to report size! Walking through the market one afternoon Elder Spradlin saw one of our brothers with a cut finger and brought my attention to it. I called to him and took him over to the side and started pulling out my med kit- then we realized how bad it really was and convinced him to go to the medical clinic! Was NOT a minor cut, but his finger split open from a chair falling and mashing it! We went to take our little neighbor to the dental /vision clinic the Americans were doing- flouride treatments and handing out glasses, Planning on helping but we were running late and when we got there and walked in they had only one Flouride Treatment left -and were able to use it on her. While there for the clinic the Branch Pres. Asked me about an undernourished little girl in his branch, so we were able to help get her in contact with the leader of the group who also sponsors a program here for malnourished children here in Senahu.

We hit our 19 month mark today, means we head stateside in only 4 months. Time goes so fast sometimes!

Challenges and Blessings

I shall list the blessings first so you know that I am not complaining, because the challenges this past week were definitely at times challenging!

1. We were able to hand out ties to many brethren at District conference in Chulac and visit also with President and Sister Watts and Elder Lopez and his wife from the Seventy. Just so happens that the Lopez's daughter will be going to the same mission as Amber this fall!
2. When I entered the Sister's meeting of District conference, I was surprised, by the District President, to be given the opportunity to do a Primary for all of the children -while the adult Priesthood and Relief Society meetings went on. We had about 50 children with me and all in K'ekchi'. Elder Spradlin was busy working crowd control in the hallways!
3. Helped a family fill out their paperwork to go and be sealed together in the temple this week.
4. Helped two future missionaries with their mission files.
5. Played with amazing children as we walked through a very poor neighborhood, sang a song and played a game at each home, the children there then followed us on to the next home … By the end we had 20 children with us singing I am a Child of God in Kekchi, and their parents participating and encouraging them on.
6. Had visits from leaders from two different Branches in our home and gave them ties and shirts
7. The Senahu District missionaries all came to lunch yesterday, there were 8 of them, plus two little neighborhood girls helped me fix the meal and they enjoyed the spaghetti also. One of the Elder's family had sent a cake mix and a brownie mix for his birthday – so strawberry cake was the dessert!
8. We are still healthy and fine and grateful to be a part of Heavenly Father's work here in the Polochic!

Now for the challenges...

We came home from the states to a huge bug invasion. But we have battled ferociously, took everything out of the cabinets in the kitchen and sprayed down every feasible piece of furniture. Washed everything in the kitchen down with disinfectant. Again our new neighborhood girlfriend came to help us in the battle! We also made cookies to share .

Rainy season has started and when we got home from the church finally on Sunday evening our house was flooded. Water standing in the majority of the rooms, some places about 3 inches deep. Again our sweet neighborhood girl and her cousin showed up right as we started with our brooms. They ran for more brooms and helped us sweep out all the water. We finally reached our Landlord and he came as we were finishing, looks like there is a drain system around the house, the tubes though that take the water away had been clogged with leaves- so the only place the water had to go was over and into the house. Funny blessings in it though, we had the computer with us so it was dry. The desk was soaked – everything on it EXCEPT my journal. The spare bed that belongs to our landlord was soaked, but the bed we sleep on was dry. Sure glad we don't have carpet.

Last night after a super busy day with the missionaries we were able to eat a romantic dinner – cheese, crackers and apple slices, by candlelight, even watched a movie on the compute using the batteries. Oh yes, the electricity did finally come back on about the end of supper. Glad I bought cheese and apples in the capitol!

There was no ground beef available in the market, but I still had three pounds saved in the freezer so the spaghetti for the Elders was a big hit. Food storage is always important!

After being almost convinced that we had conquered the bugs I reached in my bag yesterday morning to bring out the present we were taking to Rosie for her One Year birthday, pulling it out, there was a huge spider on it! I jumped. Last night though as we were in the front room having scripture study Elder Spradlin noticed a few bugs on the wall near the ceiling, next to the front door. Went for the bug spray and sprayed them. This morning we discovered more than a hundred dead and dying wasps and bugs on the floor inside and outside the front door. Apparently he hit an unseen nest. Sure glad he did!

We are still laughing at the challenges, grateful for the adventure. Blessed to be Here, Now and feeling the protection and guidance of our loving Heavenly Father.