More Competitions and Marching Band

The girls did very well in a city wide competition of an event they call gymnastics. It is very different from the gymnastics in the states. It is more like synchronized choreography while doing calisthenics. They won both the local competition and I guess you might say the district competition. We will be traveling to the Capital next week where they will present thier routine. It was really fun seeing them do this so well as a group. I actually taught them a line dance they incorporated into the end of their routine. I was very proud. :o)

They also had the chance to be one of the marching bands in the parade on Guatemala’s Independence Day. They actually marched two days and the teachers marched with them. I was very tired after two days of marching through the city. Most everything is closed and all you see is people everywhere. Everyone joins in to participate or watch the parade. It is a big event.

Making Tamales

Vanessa and I had the experience of making tamales with some widows who were making tamales for a fund raiser for thier church. It was fun seeing the process. Vanessa was stirring, wrapping and laughing as she spoke to the ladies in Spanish. I smiled and tied the tamales and placed them into the container ready to be placed in the cookers. I didn't speak much Spanish, but they interacted with me as if I did. It was an all day project. The cookers were set on concrete blocks and then wood was placed under it. The not so good part was they used plastic to start the fires. If you think about it, plastic is a great starter, but of course it is a bit toxic and not so good for our environment, but their concern is using the resources they had. After a long day of stirring, folding, tying, and cooking, the tamales were ready to be sold. We jumped in the van and drove around the streets asking people to buy tamales. It was an interesting experience. The funny part was we sold some tamales to a lady that we knew that owned a business and she was having a big sale with cameras. Inadvertantly we ended up on T.V. two gringos (me looking like a tourist with my camera around my neck because I didn't want to leave it in the car) carrying a tub of tamales down the street. What a fun day.

Talents for God

The girls were in a city competition reciting poetry, singing, drawing, and public speaking. They competeted against other schools. Many of our students won awards. For many of them it was an emotional event. They were so proud to have done so well and they gave the Lord the glory for it all. The gentleman playing the guitar is one of the house parents. It was a fun event watching all these girls pour their hearts into their presentation and displaying such wonderful talents. The photo of the group of students were from another school, but it was cute to see how they were all dressed for their dance presentation.

New Home Part 1

I am really enjoying my new home. I finally have my room together with the essential items. I furnished my room with a bed, nightstand, and a wardrobe closet. The room just had bare walls-no closets. I found the bed skirt and pillow cases at the dispensa. That is where we go to shop for groceries in Jalapa. Vanessa my roommate did not think I would find one there, but the Lord knew what I needed. It was great. I found it but at the time I thought it was something else and then when I got it home it was the bedskirt I was wanting and the colors matched the curtains that were already there. God is so good. I found the rug I placed in front of the bed and the cover at a store that is like a thrift store when I went with the teachers to buy a new shirt for our uniforms. Our kitchen has a bar where Vanessa and I usually sit and work on the computers. As you can see we have our water bottle for our drinking water. The livingroom is were we do our devotions and prayer with the team. It's like our quiet room, although I find I spend most of my time in my room. We did set up my computer once in the middle of the room and watched a movie.

New Home Part 2

I am going to do this in two parts since it is difficult to load pictures. I am settled and content in my new home. I am getting used to the new sounds and sleepy through the night. The surroundings are very beautiful, but everything is locked. The gate up front is locked with a padlock and we have a giant metal door that is locked at all times and all the windows have bars on them. I feel like I am in a fortress sometimes. :o) The entry way as you come in the door is very pretty. The stairs go to the roof where the water tank is. That also has a metal door that is locked. Every room inside the house has a window and doors that lock. I found that very interesting. I don't find I spend much time outside partly because of the rain and partly because there is so much to do when we get home and it gets dark at 7pm. Although Vanessa and I have decided to get some chairs so that we can sit in the front yard and enjoy the plants when we eat. God has been so good to provide just the right things at just the right time. Blessings...