Cultural Difficulties

Last week, Glenn and I stopped at the New McDonalds in San Lucas, Guatemala.  San Lucas is between Guatemala City and Antigua.  The Gates, a new mall being built in San Lucas, just opened recently.  This mall looks very nice.

As I sat there, looking at the many Guatemalans who were eating their McNuggets or Big Macs, I looked off to the side and noticed that this particular restaurant has the Coke Machine set up where folks would serve themselves.  I immediately thought, "I think that is a new concept for some of the Guatemalans".

Sure enough, my theory was proven correct.  Here was a lady with her tray of food and empty paper coke cup in her hand.  She was puzzled.  She was pulling on the nozzle like milking a cow and no drink came out.  She pushed the nozzle up. She twisted it. No luck.  Finally an employee came to her rescue and showed her how to push on the silver stick behind.  Waaaa Laaa.  Coke!

Crowded Beach or Stay Home?

photo by:  Estuard

Puerto San José, Guatemala

on the Pacific Ocean

I am sure glad we stayed home this week.  Many people make their way to the beaches on the Pacific side, the Caribbean coast or even the mountains and lakes such like Lake Atitlán.  We decided to stay home.

This has been Holy Week.  Things start shutting down on Wednesday and virtually everything is closed by Friday, with just gasoline stations and a few fast food restaurants open for part of the day, closing by 3pm.  The streets are virtually empty.

Glenn and I always try to take the opportunity to "explore" our city and learn new locations that we would normally not go to.  Thursday, we decided to drive to the end of San Juan Ave.  Just before the end of the road, we made a sharp turn to the left that took us up and up over the mountain on a small winding road.  We noticed there were lots of furniture stores along the way.  (We learned later, this is the Guatemala Furniture capital).  

We made our way up to San Pedro Sacatepequez.  Instead of driving back the same way, we learned there was a road that was supposed to connect to San Lucas, Sacatepequez.  We were told it was only 5 kms away.  Hello - as the crow flies!  So, continuing along the ridge on the mountain road, we headed northwest.  Just 1 hour later, we were finally back on CA-1, the Panamerican Highway.  Along the winding road, we came across several other small Indian villages which were also celebrating the Easter Holiday.  There were a few small processions.

Friday, Glenn and I discovered some other communities.  Because of the holiday, many of the "communities" guard houses were unattended, so we were able to make our way into some nice areas.

~J

Antigua Visit

Last week Glenn and I made a quick visit to Antigua to visit some friends from John Brown University.  Christy and her husband, Darryl, served on the Parent Association Council with us for several years.  Now, Christy was back in Guatemala with her son for a youth ministry project.

You just never know who you are going to run into.

Our Neighborhood Volcano

Agua

Beauty of the Earth

For the beauty of the earth

For the glory of the skies,

For the love which from our birth

Over and around us lies:

Refrain:

Lord of all, to Thee we raise

this our joyful hymn of praise.

When I saw this flower, the old hymn "For the Beauty of the Earth" were the first thoughts in my mind.

~J

Saying Good-Bye

I just cried til my heart ached when I had to hug little David and Emily "good-bye" at the MGA airport on Tuesday.

 Last Hug and Kisses!

 Sleeping away!

 Oh I wish she had a passport and I could bring her home to Guatemala with me.  Oh well.  It has been fun to help Ellen and Luke out these past 2 weeks.

 I have been blessed by...

every little spit up I've mopped up
every poopie diaper I have changed
every nightly baths given 
every song sung
every little sweet hug that I have received
every little temper tanturum that I have witnessed
and every little sweet smile shed in my direction.

Grammie is going to miss these little grandchildren once again! 

Ellen's Growing Family

David holding little sister, Emily

Ellen, David, Emily and Luke

Emily - 2 weeks old

Did You Loose Sleep?

I didn't loose an hour of sleep last night. 
Guatemala and Nicaragua (where Ellen and family live) do not go on Day Light Savings Time.

I like the time change, because we receive East Coast News (aka Miami, Florida time) via the cable company in Guatemala,
so the 11pm Miami news will now come on here at 9pm Yea! :)

Dr. Howard G Hendricks - "Prof"

Last night, I finally got around to watching the 2.5 hour memorial service for Dr. Hendricks.   I remember taking a Christian Family Life course at Moody 35 years ago, and having to walk over to Fitzwater Hall, up to the 3rd floor, and checking out an Audio tape (cassette:) of a series that Howard Hendricks was speaking on.  Good stuff.  

I never knew the man well.  But I know he has been very influential in many many people's lives through the years.  Several years ago, he came to SETECA along with his wife for some lectures, and I went over to Jenny's house for a ladies tea/brunch for Jeanne Hendricks.  Nice.

Click here to view the 2.5 hour memorial service held last Saturday, March 2, at Stonebriar Church.  Memorial Service

I was also sent another link to a 30 minute spot about their marriage.  It is very God honoring.  It was produced by Day of Discovery.  Love's Lasting Call: The story of Howard and Jeanne Hendricks

Saying Goodbye to GrandDad

We had a few days together with little Emily and big brother David in Nicaragua.  Glenn flew back to Guatemala on Tuesday morning.

Just after we had a GrandDad and Grammie photo shot, little Emily decided to spit up.  

Spit up R-o-y-a-l-l-y. 

 I looked at Glenn and thought, "How can you leave Ellen and me here at the airport?"

On Tuesday, we did...

• 5 loads of wash
• hung out all 5 loads on the clothes line
• ate left-over pizza
• held little Emily on my lap for several hours
• gave David 2 baths
• cleaned up 2 big spit-ups from little Emily
• read David a bedtime story
• changed about 20 diapers 

 David just clung onto GrandDad before he went through security at the Managua Airport.

I'm here a few more days to help Ellen and Luke as they juggle the task of parenting two under two.  It can be a handful at times.

Villas at Apoyo

Over the weekend, we took a one hour drive to the laguna de Apoyo near Granada to the Villas at Apoyo.  It is a 5 star resort that we were able to enjoy with a 3 star price tag.  Not too bad.  There are these thatched roof units complete with AC.  The landscape is dotted with bugambilla plants, ferns and all kinds of tropical vegetation. It is a relaxing and refreshing place.

We enjoyed the beautiful view, infinity pool, relaxing, watching the sunrise

and the monkeys swinging through the trees.

Little Miss Emily

 9 day old Emily with Dad

19 month old David with Mom
~J

Meeting Miss Emily for the First Time

 GrandDad holds Baby Emily

David meets 5 day old Emily for the first time.

David was in Guatemala with us for 10 days, so missed all of the unexpected early arrival excitement.  When you ask him, "Where is Baby sister?" he first pointed to his mother's stomach, then we had to redirect his little finger to little Miss Emily.

Grammie and baby Emily

Sweetness!

David and Basketball

Ok, this little boy is obsessed with Basketball.

Step 1:

Find a basketball game at the local Eskala Mall

Step 2:

Sneak the Grandson inside the cage

{with permission from the attendant close by}

Step 3:

Swish

Way to go David