Sacaj Waterfall, San Francisco Caldo, La Tinta,

It was one very busy week!  We got to see the giant waterfall at Sacaj, the roads had been worked on a lot, but were still on the just passable side.  Dont want to imagine doing that one in the rainy season!  Took the missionaries up with us to their aea, then we also worked in San Francisco and met the group leader, they are not yet a Branch.  We were at a family´s home where we had made an appointment to go out making visits with their son.  He had gone out to help with the planting though.  Ended up eating Caldo with them and all of the planters, and visiting - gratefully one of the Planters was their group leader.  Came back by Seramac and met with the Branch President there.  He had been out in the fields up on the mountain working, so we helped his wife shuck corn while waiting for him to get back.  Have meetings to go back and work again with both groups.  We were able to go to La Tinta also last week and worked with the missionaries there. 
Dr. Drake is doing a wonderful job helping the hospital in La Tinta getting some much needed equipment.  The hospital had a flood in 2010 and in 2011 and even though it is till in operation, a lot of their basic equipmet isnt functioning.  They service the whole Polochic valley, so it is a little scary.  The kitchen for the hospital - only had one stove functioning and the oven on it didn´t work.  The Laundry was having to hand wash their clothes because the washer took too much water, the dryer wasnt working right so they were drying them on the clotheslines.  That is not counting stuff like hospital equipment.  Dr. Drake got them first a computer system, a huge fridge, a microwave, a washer and dryer.  Next month they are receiving things for the Lab, like a new microscope.  Then the best is in three months when they will be getting a state of the art x-ray machine.  Still the need is unbelievable in tht hospital.  There was a sister there in the maternity ward who has some sort of a problem, she had come in from Chulac which was about a 3hour drive.  The Doctor said she needed an ultrasound, and she was having to wait 2 days just to get the ultrasound so they can diagnose the problem. 
Sunday we worked in Canlun where they just got a new branch president.  But they dont have presidencies yet for the different organizations - so we worked with Primary, Young Womens, and luckily brought material they were able to used for Priesthood.  Crazy wonderful day!
It gets really hot here in the daytime now, very grateful when the breeze starts and the evenings cool off, at leat up here in Senahu!

Weddings and dedications

We went to a wedding for a couple here last week.  AFterwards was a wedding feast of Caldo in the home of the husband.  About 150 people were there, and each had a bowl.  It was amazing!  The wedding lasted most of the morning, walking up from the home, then at the Municipal, then a service at the church, then a procession down to their home again, then the dinner.  That night we had a District Choir practice, afterwards I saw the new bridal couple sitting at the back of the chapel.  Asked them why they were there andthey said they were told they had to clean the church.  Now that is what I call faithful.  We convinced them to let us do it for them.
Sunday were two Church dedications, one in Seritquiche, up the mountain, the other in Canlun.  Canlun had so many people that the chapel was full and there was a row of children sitting on the floor in front.  People outside looking in through the windows.  Its a small village, but we counted about 225 people there.  It was amazing.  The Seritquiche Branch had a culture night on Saturday and Elder Spradlin and I sang for it. The District President had asked us to do an act for it.  We did: Froggy went a courtin, Johnson had an ole gray mule, Mammys little baby, and You are my sunshine.  They were all very short and very cute - or at least we thought so!!!  Sunday I got to play for both the dedications and Elder Spradlin helped attend the back door.  Good thing he did when the people just kept on coming in Canlun.

Miracles and Construction

Saturday morning we went and helped a brother deconstruct his home, so that he could put one up in the same place, but out of cement blocks.  Their little 3 year old girl sat there in the middle of chaos quite calmly eating her cookie. We had the walls all down and they were taking apart the roof, I was snapping a foto when all of a sudden Elder Spradlin said, ¨Sister Spradlin, I don´t think you are safe right there.  I took about 4 steps back and all of a sudden the board they were working on flew off and landed right where I had been standing.  I was very grateful that Harold had been listening, and that I listened and responded to him quickly.
  This morning when we were working I was carrying dirt from the hill behind their house to fill in for the cement floor in front.  Their little one took her mothers clean strainer off the Pila and started helping me carry dirt.  We discussed together how very heavy our loads were.  Another young girl showed up, obviously not in her school today,  and she helped me fill and carry the dirt buckets.  Amazing all of the types of service we get the opportunity to do here. 
After the service project Saturday morning we arrived in time to attend some baptisms at the church. Saturday evening we went out and made visits with the Elders in Seamay. I love busy weeks.  This week we are helping get ready for the Church dedications at Canlun and Seritquiche this Sunday.  I get to play the piano for both of them.  Help build that new house, attend a wedding, make a few more necklaces, work in Canlun and Seritquiche.  And of course teach Piano and English in Seamay.
Oh, for those of my children who will remember well, we taught our neighbor family how to play 4 square, as usual Dad is the best at it!