Clinic Volunteers, Trip to Iztapa, Hue Hue Tenango with the Johnsons-Todos Santos Cuchumatan, Chichicastenango Restaurant, Alfombras, and the Munster Car

  And . . . Happy Birthday to my wonderful, amazing, handsome husband! 

Who brings me flowers every week

Who wants to help Dad build this in Pine??

 We went to Iztapa to see the mi casa boys at a resort Mi Casa owns.  Dad loved this Ramada and thought it would be a great addition in Pine

 We went to Hue Hue Tenango with the Johnsons during Semana Santa Week.  It is a holiday for the kids and they leave to visit their families. We close the clinic down that week because it is a holiday and because it is impossible to get around near the clinic because of the colorful Alfombras (carpets) in the streets.  We also wanted to deliver the ostomy bags to the little 6-year old boy that Parker found in Hue Hue.  As Dad said in his letter, it was a little touch and go before we figured out how to make the adult, obsolete bags work for a 6 year old child.  But you know Dad.  He figured it out and luckily the mother had a treadle sewing machine and made the necessary changes to the belt we found to make it work.  Next week a group is coming in to knock down their house and rebuild it.  I hope I get to see it when it is rebuilt to see what improvements they make.

 Doctor Dad!

 Grateful family
and then on to HueHueTenango

 These children recited a very long narrative poem for us at this place in the Cuchumatanes Mountains and were subsequently rewarded!  They started reciting as soon as they saw us. They must have received a similar reward before.

 Sheepherders in Todos Santos,
a village we visited high in the Cuchumatan Mountains. 
They are a very industrious people and the village was spotless--no trash-- which is very unusual!

We ate wonderful food at places the Johnson's knew about all along the way.  We stayed here in HueHue Tenango and they had done a great job, painting and fixing up for Semana Santa since were were there a month ago with Parker and Brian.

 Alfombras
Colorful carpets of sawdust and sand that the people make in the streets for the processions of the Holy Week take place.  They spend so much time making them and then they are walked on and quickly swept up.  It is a tradition from the Spanish that is unique to Guatemala.

 City Square

Colorful  Procession

 Along the Way

 Chichicastenango, 
 where we stopped for lunch!  Great place!

 Our Munster Car.  The Guatemalans have a propensity for making right hand and left hand turns without warning right in front of you regardless of the lane they are in.  Paul pulled up to an intersection and suddenly someone turned in front of him and ripped his entire bumper off and kept going, leaving the bumper in a crumpled heap in the street.  Paul scooped it up, threw it in the back seat, and took it to our good friend Jorge Barrera.  The next day, Jorge had it back to us in Munster style stitches.  They literally sewed it back together!  We don't know whether to call it the Munster or Frankenstein!  Any votes kids?

 One of our picnics on our roof with the senior missionaries.  It was a beautiful day!

 One of our very little ones.  As it turned out, he wouldn't let us do any work.  After Paul talked to him about what we needed to do, he simply got down and walked away.  He wouldn't open his mouth and he certainly wasn't having anything to do with the plan.  This was actually our 2nd try with him.  He really does need help.

 Our great visitors, Wendy and Gary Lawson at what we call the wood factory.  We suddenly had our schedule changed for us by the orphanage and had a free afternoon. 

This lady is painting the cute napkin rings that we bought.  They bought some too.  Now is the time girls to tell me if you want anything from the wood shop for your dining room or kitchen tables.  Of all the things we have thought of bring home, the wooden fruit, peppers, eggs, etc. are our favorites and about all we are bringing home.

So we  have been busy as usual since my last blog.  After Parker and Brian came to visit, we have had some great visitors in the clinic.  First The Holbrooks came with their two daughters and then the Stephenson's came with their daughter and son.  There were all great workers and a lot of fun.  I have been working hard on my young women's job, and was grateful to be able to bear my testimony on Easter Sunday in Spanish to them about some things I had been wanting to tell them. They are sweet girls.   Then we had a great Easter Feast with the Senior Missionaries, Embassy people, our new volunteers, Gary and Wendy  Lawson and the area authorities, President Clark and Elder Martino.  President Clark and Elder Martino both gave us a brief message and some of our senior men sang a hymn and Bruno Harris from the Embassy sang a beautiful solo.

We continue to be grateful for the opportunity to serve in Guatemala with these wonderful loving people.  They truly embody the spirit of Christ with the love they continually extend to us.  We are forever grateful for the gift of the Savior in our lives and hope we can continue to serve His children and show them His love through our Service.