Road to Antigua

Interesting week and weekend. Saturday we decided to venture out on our own. There are addresses here but the street names are not very prominent, in fact most streets don’t have street signs, you have to look at the house numbers to try to figure out where you are. We do have a pretty good map but it is still difficult to figure out where you are. To add to the confusion there are about 20 different zones in town and you have to know which zone you are in. We decided to go to Walmart and get some things we have been missing. I was quite sure I knew where to go because we had driven past there last Monday with Pitchers on our way to Antigua. So away we went. After about 30 minutes it became obvious that we didn’t know where we were. After two stops to talk to some security guards and at a gas station we finally figured out where we were on the map and got back on the right road. We finally got to Walmart and found most of what we needed. Still no miracle whip, cool whip, or shout. As I said on Monday we went to Antigua. It is a real tourist place. Lots of Americans. I worked there early in my mission. We went to Chimaltenango first and then cut over to Antigua. I worked in Chimaltenango after Antigua. On the road to Antigua...

Right after we got on the road I started to feel a little stomach discomfort which ended up being the first bout with gamboo. Fortunately we were able to find bathrooms, Pepsi and eventually Immodium. By early afternoon I was feeling better and by the time we got home all was fine. I’m the one that is not eating fresh vegetables and I’m the one that got sick. Yesterday was the first official day at the CMM (MTC). Mom and I spent most of the time with the “Norte’s”. however the president asked me to conduct sacrament meeting which turned out to be a little stressful. Everyone has to come to Sacrament meeting with a 5 minute talk prepared but not knowing if they will have to speak or not, so the agenda was being finished on the fly. I would announce part of the program and then sit down and the President would put down the next items. The missionaries fill out the agenda except for the speakers and I didn’t notice that the opening song and the sacrament song were the same until after I announced the sacrament song so it was an interesting day. By the time we got to the end of the meeting I was starting to feel more comfortable. Looking forward to the week. Saturday is the day of the dead in Guatemala so we are going to Sumpango to the kite festival. Last year I sent you some pictures from there that Don Searle took. It is supposed to be a lot of fun. Here is an interesting Rosary we found hanging from a Cathedral

Goodbye, our dear friends, Elaine and Paul Pitcher! We have very big shoes to fill as we try to continue their good work here in Guatemala.