Safe Passage

Hope everyone had a nice time for Thanksgiving, we had oodles of food and lots of people to share it with, so it was a really nice day.  Of course, it isn't a holiday they celebrate here in Guatemala but that didn't stop us.

We have four dentists in the Clinic now. Dr. Bob and Julie Allred have been here for three weeks.  I have included a picture of the group now.  We started with two dentists, then went to three, then two, then three and now four.  I think that is the max for us.  He reminds me of my Uncle Raymond and my Grandmother Benta.  A little in the way he looks and then some mannerisms also.  Small World!

Some of us went to the Safe Passage site again this weekend.  I know I have told you about it before but they are so appreciative of the support they get from all the Senior missionaries and others of our church leaders that they offered to show us around and have a few of the women that make the jewelry show us how they do it and tell us a little of their stories.  They are situated right next to the large city dump.  This is the place where they have classes for the older kids and the mom's that want to be involved.  

Several years ago, about 15, this program was started. The word went out to the women in that area of Zone 3 that this new program was beginning and if any of them wanted to join in they could.  They would need to take some classes toward getting an education and then they would be chosen to be a part of the Creemos group.  There they would be taught how to make the paper jewelry and could earn money.  I am sure there was a little more than that involved, but that is close.  This was offered to the women who worked at the dump.  In the dump they work many hours a day sorting through the garbage for things that can be sold. They make generally 50 quets a day, which is about $6.75, and it is not easy work. Surprisingly only 5 women took them up on their offer.  There were several reasons why they couldn't join in.  Their husbands were not supportive, they thought that the women were past the age of learning and what good would it do them now.  It would be better for them to just keep working to earn some money.  Some husbands were jealous of the opportunity and would not allow it.  Some women thought they didn't have the time and it wasn't worth it.

The three women that shared their story with us Saturday were so amazing.  What brave women they are and what amazing good they have done for themselves and their families. They have had all sorts of problems in their lives, health, family etc.  Probably the same problems we all have but to a larger degree it seems.  The program has grown and there are now 28 women making jewelry, bags and pillows to sell and over 100 coming to classes. They have a limit on how many can be involved in making things but everyone that wants to come to classes are welcome.

The jewelry is made from colorful pages from magazines.  They really like the Liahona magazine and the church leaders donate a lot of old ones to them.  

They showed us how it is made and we even made a few beads ourselves.  I think when I get home it would be a fun project to do with the girls.  

I bought a necklace that I found out was made by Rosa so I had my picture taken with her.  

Pretty brave and amazing women.  They told us that there is a lot of prejudice against people from Zone 3.   It is very hard to get a job in other zones if you are from here.  

We are off for Belize on Friday and will be returning home on the 11th, Monday.  So, I am not sure how communication will be while we are away.  If I am not able to send while I am away, no worries, I will catch up when we get home.  I am sure there is no wifi on the sailboat.  We are looking forward to seeing Fred and the Roghaars.  Our year mark is Tuesday, what a way to celebrate!!

Love to you all!   MOM, Grammy

Guatemala Conference

It was a pretty usual week here in Guatemala so I didn't get many pictures.  We did see about 62 new Latino missionaries for dental screening at the CCM.  That is always a highlight except our computers gave us problems and we lost about half the x-rays we took.  That makes the next couple of weeks pretty interesting when the Elders and Sisters come in for their work.  

I was at the local grocery store the other day and saw this green thing walking around. It took me a minute to figure out it was a young boy on stilts and holding onto two long poles and everything was covered in greenery.  I asked to take a picture and this ballerina joined in.

I have been trying to get a picture of this green structure while it was in use for a while.  It is on the last corner that we turn before reaching the clinic, so just a block away.  I was very surprised to see it when we were first here, but now I am quite happy it is there.  Every day as we drive I see some man who could use it, but instead just stops where he is.  It doesn't matter if it is on a busy street or not, or if there are lots of people around or not.  Amazing.

I have probably mentioned the flowers at the CCM, but every time I go there, which is every week, they are in bloom!  I don't know how they do that but they are beautiful!

We had a Guatemala Country Conference today that originated in SLC.  Our former Area President conducted the meeting and then spoke to us along with two other Spanish speaking people.  One was Sister Aburto, the second counselor in the General RS Presidency and Elder Ulisses Soares, a Seventies President.  Elder Ballard was the last speaker.  We didn't think we would be able to see it in the CCM, but to our pleasant surprise they cancelled our other meetings and we enjoyed this meeting.  Luckily they translated it into English which I really enjoyed.  Elder Ballard said that this life is a test.  Whose invitation will we except, Jesus's or Satan's.  Do we choose peace and happiness or the opposite?  We need to keep focused on the simple doctrine of Christ by doing those things we are always taught and reminded of: personal prayer, time in the scriptures, attending the temple, fasting, etc.  It was a pretty basic talk but given so well and with so much love we could feel of his spirit. I so appreciate all of these good men and women who spend much of their lives encouraging us and sharing their love and testimonies with us of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  I am looking forward to Christmas this year and the simpleness of it down here for us.  I am so thankful for the gospel and the guidance it gives us. My life would be so very much different without it that I don't want to even imagine it.  I am so grateful for the opportunity to be here and help these people and for future opportunities that I don't even know about yet!  I am so thankful there is a plan and that Heavenly Father knows the beginning from the end.  The gospel is true!  

Love you all!!   Have a great week!     MOM, Grammy

Kite Festival

  Hope everyone had a fun and safe Halloween.  I have to tell you about Dad and his costume. Last Monday afternoon the water went off in the Clinic, (not unusual) so Dad told Ellen, the front desk lady, that he was going to check on it and see how long it would be off.  But really he went outside and put on his costume, teeth and all.  He had a Future Missionary form with him and a card saying that he couldn't speak much.  He went to the front door and rang the bell.  Ellen greeted him and found that he had the correct paperwork for a pre-mission exam even though he was much older than any other future missionaries we have ever seen before.  She came in the back and found me and told me she had no idea what to do with this old guy that had just come in.  He was too old for a mission, wasn't he? And what was he going to do...use sign language on his mission? She said she didn't know how she was going to communicate with him so I gave her my phone to use as a translator.  There was a full time missionary waiting in the waiting room that Dad sat next to, who Dad took into his confidence.  He offered to help Ellen communicate with Dad.  I had to go back into the Lab because I couldn't keep a straight face.

  Ellen left Dad out there for a while trying to figure out what to do with him.  Dad would keep looking through the glass window at her and she would smile then slide over so the computer screen was between them.  Finally, she went out and communicated to Dad that because he came without an appointment he would have to wait perhaps a couple of hours, but she could make an appointment for a later date.  Dad agreed to that and took the appointment card and left.  Ellen never had a clue it was Dad.  Later that night we had our Halloween party on the roof.  When Ellen first saw him he wasn't with me and she thought she was being stalked.  Then Dad took his teeth out and she about died, but after she got use to the idea she laughed and said they would be talking about that one for a long time.

   We went to the Kite Festival on Wednesday and were gone from 7-6.  There were a lot of people there, but not a lot of wind so the large kites were never flown.  There were several small ones up, but we were a little disappointed to not see any of the larger ones in the air.  They were fun to see but I think I enjoyed the cemetery a little more.  

This is the day they go to the cemeteries and clean everything up, paint the mausoleums or graves and bring music and food to share with their deceased relatives.  So, there was a lot going on there. There were flowers everywhere and all the weeds had been chopped down.

 We saw a little Mariachi Band that played for quite a while at one mausoleum, and someone playing a small harp at another.  

   Our group did have a negative experience there. Three of the men were pic pocketed.  One man lost his wallet with drivers license and credit card in it and that was a little surprising because it was in a zippered pocket.  The thief was able to unzip the pocket and lift the wallet without Mark knowing until he looked down and saw the zipper open.  The second man lost a phone and some money out of a buttoned pocket.  The third man had put a wad of Kleenex in his back pocket as bait.  It worked and he felt someone in his pocket, so reached around to grab his arm.  He got the person and it was just a young boy.  I think the thieves did pretty well that day.

   There were lots of people selling their wares on the street on the way to and from the kite area, so we took our time making our way up and down. The meat market and marimba pictures are from there.   All in all it was a fun day.  

   At the CCM today we said goodbye to our District Pablo. They have been with us six weeks and head out in the morning for their individual missions. We are so excited for them, but will certainly miss them.   

I just had to throw the sunset picture in at the last moment.  It is out our window looking at one of the volcanos.  Beautiful colors.

   It was Uncle Steven's birthday last Wednesday and Wesley's today.    Happy Birthday!!     We love you all!   MOM, Grammy