Birthday Hike to the Mayan Ruins

Part of our group that climbed to the Ruins.

 The foothills

 On the top, overlooking Rabinal and Pacux, pronounced Pa-coosh.

 One of the biggest ruins.

 Alan on top of the ruin.

 Coming down off the ruin.

 5 month old Carlito made us homesick for our grandkids!

The whole group of 13.

Late Valentine Party for the branch and group

 We had between 75-80 people at our apartment for the fiesta. I made lasagne, brownies, cookies, cut watermelon, bought 200 tortillas, and Silvia made fried chicken, rice, and cole slaw. Everyone was well fed.

 We had a pinata and let all the kids hit it, they went wild when the candy came out.

They demolished the poor minion!

Temple Missionary P-day Fun

Went to Guatemala City to get our immigration visa taken care of and went with the temple missionaries on a hike at some church owned property. It was in Chemaltenango, an hour west of the city. It was a bit hard for some because of the incline up and down.

Alan with the medical Dr for the missionaries, Elder Frampton.

They had a fun obstacle course.

Of course we had to try it out!

They had a pinata!

Sister Norman batting, all the locals dived for the candy each time it came out, without a care for the bat.

We had lunch of either beef or chicken, beans, tortillas, and salsa.

                        The whole group, except President Norman who was taking the picture!

When we got back to the city, Elder Price showed us some of his sculptures he's doing. It's amazing what he can do with a little clay and home-made molds from gauze and other items he finds to help him create!

Hermanamiento in Cubulco, Pulling a tree down, and chilate with Augie Jeronimo

 We went to Cubulco for Noche de Hermanamiento at Paulina's house, it was her 15th birthday so they sang happy birthday and we all hugged her and gave her money. We had yummy chicken, pasta salad, and rice. The dogs and pups really went after the leftovers!

 Went to visit an 85 year old member with health problems and the neighbor was pulling a tree down. Alan helped.

 The men thought it was fun to have a big gringo in a white dress shirt helping them! Timber!

Drinking chocolate chilate at Carmen and Augusto's house. Alan met him 45 years ago when he came to his jr high in Victorville to visit his spanish teacher, Louis Johnson and play his marimba. They are very sweet and friendly and we stop by at least once a week to say hi and buy a drink that is part of Rabinal culture.

Cubulco Baptism

 Took this group down to the river in Cubulco for a baptism.

 On the side of the river.

 Elder Moreno and Lopez with Carlos Teletor Gomez.

Baptism.

Lunch for a poor family in the hills

 Making chicken soup in the outdoor kitchen. Ofelia made tortillas to go with it, MMM!

 Taking lunch into the hills to a woman and her son who have nothing.

 This is their house of mud and sticks.

 The woman outside lives here with her grown son. We all ate tortillas and soup.

 Nice and cozy from the rain.

 Walking back down the path towards Rabinal.

Rabinal from the hill. Our apartment is a few blocks this side of the big white Catholic church.

The beginning of February

 The mayor of Rabinal was a good guy but 2 weeks ago he was ambushed in his car with other city leaders. 4 were killed and 1 was in the hospital with a broken back. They were shot by 6 men and the car crashed. The whole town was in mouring for 3 days and thousands walked the streets with his coffin. They think the previous mayor had him killed because he was looking into his past to look for corruption.

 This micro-van is FULL of people, so much so that many have to ride on the outside. Trucks with people standing in the back drive people from town to town. They don't have any city or state bus transportation but you can get anywhere you want for cheap in these vans and trucks.

 Our neighbors alarm clock happens to be ours too. He loves getting on the roof so more of the city can hear him crow!

Family home evening at our patio. We had more attend than came to church last Sunday and had to borrow all the chairs and stools our neighbor had to seat everyone.