Overview of Randomness

The first month of 2014 has come and gone...which means we only have one more month in Guatemala. I know, I know, it's very 'cliche' BUT it is true - time flies when you're having fun! 

For this post, I've uploaded a bunch of pictures (I love having internet access!) that will fill you in on some of the random stuff that has filled our days here in Chichi. The ceiling in the house that Dad and Lewis were working on is finished and I've finally finished sewing all the curtains in our house, plus several other 'orders' that came in (my sewing machine has been kept busy!).

So, wihout further ado, I will release you to look at the pics to your hearts' content :D  

~a shot of Monte Flor taken from the road on the 'opposite mountain'~ The 'hill' behind the red, orange, and yellow buildings is the mountain I climb almost every day (it really is steeper than it looks!). The little white house next to the bright blue one on the far right is ours for the two months we're here.

~the rocks you see piled up mark the place where our bus used to be parked~ Down by the red-roofed building you can see our bus pulling out of the Monte Flor drive-way on it's way back to Canilla', where the Ficker family will be using it from now on. 

~Billy and Lewis rode along with Dad to drop off the bus~ 

~Duane Ficker gave them a ride back to Chichi in this cool-looking plane~ 

~they brought Eladia and her two boys, Larry and Andy, with them for a few days' visit~ She used to work at the compound in Chjoj years ago and also stayed with us in the states for several months in 2004. 

~around the middle of Jan. the first group of the year came down bringing with them Dr. Fred H. (his last name is too long to remember!), who ran a dental clinic for 4 days~

~Armando, Manuela, and Eddy, three of the Manos de Jesus workers~ Trish couldn't resist getting these goof-balls to pose for a picture and I couldn't resist stealing it to put on here :P 

~Trish Bindus, one of the Manos de Jesus ministry coordinators, is also a nurse~ Somehow, she knew what all those little poky things were for!  

~a shot of the crew at the clinic~ Armando - dental assistant and machine-fixer when there were problems, Me - language translator (mostly writing down patient info), Josefa - language translator (from Qiche to Spanish or English and vice-versa), Trish - dental assistant and pro-nurse, Dr. H. - the awesome dentist. 

~Linda Hime and Mom packaged a bunch of peanuts to give out to the kids who came to the shoe factory for school shoes one Tue.~ 

~during the school year, kids from different villages come on Tuesdays to get free shoes from the shoe factory at Monte Flor~ This is just one of the many different aspects of the Manos de Jesus ministry.  

~a classroom at one of the feeding programs~ 

~the Manos de Jesus ministry runs 3 feeding programs in 3 different villages~ The kids who come to these programs get a Bible lesson before eating the meal provided for them twice a week. 

~hanging out with the Bindus and Patterson kids~ Maddie and Abbey are 15 and 12 and Ella and Trey are 7 and 4. Since they've gotten over their shyness, my siblings and they have all been having a blast playing games together (especially when it's dark outside) and hanging out in each other's living rooms! 

~Ella and Trey - Lance and Lauren Patterson's two lil' cutie pies full of energy~ 

~Billy got all his curls cut off~ It's kinda hard to see the resemblance now, right??

~Julie and Linda picking berries at the top of the mountain~ 

~a hike and a picnic...

...friends and food~ How much better can it get? :D 

~sewing lessons~ I've had the opportunity to do a short devotional and give hand-sewing lessons every Mon. to three girls from Casa de Sarita - one of the homes on Monte Flor and another aspect of the Manos de Jesus ministry. (check out the ministry website for more info)   

~making cinnamon-sugar pretzels with Maddie and Abbey~ 

~my flowers from Trish and Lauren~ I had to go in for surgery yesterday to get a cyst removed. It was market day and Jeff and Linda Hime and Trish and Lauren were in town, so they stopped in at the hospital to visit while I was waiting for the anesthesia to wear off before I could walk again. They're so sweet and I'm so excited to be working with such wonderful ppl!