September 25 - October 2, 2015
The GIRLS Are Here!
September 25 through October 2 we had VISITORS! Stacie, Susannah, Saunie, and Karen (Spence's sister) came for a week. We wore them out with all the wonderful places, people and things in Guatemala. They arrived early in the morning Friday, September 25th and after a brief stop at the apartment for breakfast we were OFF!
DAY 1: ANTIGUA
First on the agenda was Brother Miza who makes wonderful bags and scripture covers. The girls ordered enough to keep him so busy that he had to make a late evening delivery of all they ordered just before their department for home. After placing their orders, we headed for Antigua, the ancient Catholic capital of Guatemala. We have gone there many times but it is still unique and a must see for visitors.
DAY 2: TIKAL
We left our apartment at 5:30 in the morning to make a 7:30 am flight to Tikal. Thank goodness the airport going to Tikal is practically across the street! What an amazing place! Tikal is the largest excavated site in the American continent and contains hundreds of fascinating archaeological sites of the ancient Mayan civilization covering over 222 sq. miles of jungle and ruins. It is Guatemala's most famous tourist destination. Archaeologists estimate that the Mayan settled in the area known as Tikal about 900 B.C.
As we were sitting at the top of the temple, we could see a storm coming from the left moving across the sky. We worried that rain would come while we were exploring but the rain gods were on our side. We had a down pour as we were walking through the jungle to our lunch and trip back home. There is nothing quite as wonderful as walking through a tropical rain forest during a torrential rain storm. It ROCKED!
We stopped in the little town of Flores to walk around and explore before heading for the airport and our return to Guatemala City.
What a great day!
DAY 3: CCM
Rest day spent at the Guatemala City Missionary Training Center (CCM) where we serve in the Rama B Branch. Elder Lloyd is a counselor in the branch presidency and I teach the North America sister missionaries gospel doctrine in their native language (English) a few times a month. Almost adjacent to the CCM is the Guatemala City Temple. It was wonderful to walk over there and feel the quiet peacefulness of sacred ground.
DAY 4: Dental Clinic, Relief Map, and Central Market
Spence took the ladies around in the morning while I worked at recovering from some "bug" I had acquired.They went to the Dental Clinic where I have volunteered. We have a few dental missionaries that service future missionaries, CCM missionaries, missionaries here in the city, Senior Missionaries, and orphans. They work so hard and we appreciate them so much!
After their morning activities, I joined them along with our dear friend, Mayra Abularach (Seth's former mission president's wife), for the unique Central Market experience located in the middle of the city. Unfortunately, it is not safe to get out a camera or phone to take pictures so we have only a few that do not capture the full essence of this place! The first level is all 'typica' items like textiles and souvenir items. Going down to the second level is quite the experience...flowers, fresh produce, and meat...meat hanging raw from the ceiling and pretty amazing and disgusting all at the same time. The third level down is the craft center where you can find fabrics, clay pots, and general craft supplies. Although 'gringos' love to shop there, it is definitely a main shopping 'center' for locals.The ladies loved the shopping! Spence tolerated the shopping but was a good sport because he saw how much fun we were all having with the shopping.
DAY 5 & 6: Lake Atitlan and Quetzaltenango (XELA)
Lake Atitlan: We had so many wonderful experiences but this was definitely one of the special ones...wait...they were all special. We left early in the morning and drove to Panajachel located on the banks of Lake Atitlan. Lake Atitlan is suggested by many LDS scholars to be the Waters of Mormon referred to in the Book of Mormon. There are twelve villages surrounding the lake that are named after each one of the twelve apostles. We took a boat ride over to Santiago Atitlan for a tour, fashion show, and shopping. I know...we are always shopping!
Quetaltenango (Xela): By evening, we had arrived in Xela via Totonicapan...both towns where Spence served as a young missionary. Xela has a special place in his heart and he always loves to go back to this town even though it has changed a lot in 50 years! We stayed in our favorite hotel on the square, Pension Bonifaz, and had dinner with President and Sister Galvez who serves as the temple president there. (He was Seth's other mission president while serving in Panama.) We feel so blessed to have them as dear friends. We visited the temple and went to what is now one of our favorite places...the UTZIL DOLL FACTORY!
Quetaltenango (Xela): By evening, we had arrived in Xela via Totonicapan...both towns where Spence served as a young missionary. Xela has a special place in his heart and he always loves to go back to this town even though it has changed a lot in 50 years! We stayed in our favorite hotel on the square, Pension Bonifaz, and had dinner with President and Sister Galvez who serves as the temple president there. (He was Seth's other mission president while serving in Panama.) We feel so blessed to have them as dear friends. We visited the temple and went to what is now one of our favorite places...the UTZIL DOLL FACTORY!
These dolls take 10 days to make and are all hand painted in the native design of each town.
We had to get a picture of this woman carrying her flowers to sell for the day with our own resident florist, Stacie!
DAY 7: Roosevelt Hospital Baby Kit Delivery
and
Last Minute Shopping...always last minute shopping!
Stacie, Susannah, Saunie, and Karen helped with a wonderful service project. They collected an amazing amount of 'baby kit' items to be given to newborn babies at Roosevelt Hospital which is a free hospital here in the city. More than 100 babies are born each day and most of them have nothing. In fact, some go home wrapped in paper. There has been a long going service project that is continued by each new group of senior missionaries collecting a onsie, blanket, diaper, wash cloth, hat, socks, and soap all put into a ziplock bag and distributed to the new mothers and their babies. Saunie was our spokesperson because she could speak Spanish. (Elder Lloyd drove but stayed outside the rooms because the mothers are usually nursing.) Saunie was wonderful smiling, teasing, and talking with them. They were more responsive than I have ever seen when I have been visiting. We gave out 99 kits that day.
A LABOR OF LOVE...
DAY 8: Tearful Goodbye! What an amazing time we had! We had a trip of a lifetime with these amazing ladies. Thank you for coming to Guatemala and letting us share this amazing country and its amazing people with you!
THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES!
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