ICING ON THE CAKE

Our last Saturday in Guatemala was busy but PERFECT!! We had a lot to do that day to get ready to leave....going to the bank, making sure everything was taken care of...etc. But we had a great surprise that happened to be the icing on the cake for us.

About a week ago I noticed on facebook that one of "our missionaries" from Honduras was getting married and would be here June 5th for his sealing. We immediately let "Elder" Cristian Orellana know that we would be there for him. Elder Orellana joined the Church by himself basically being cut off from his family. He worked for many years to go on his mission....and was one of the older missionaries. He was a consciencious missionary and didn't get into mischief. He just had a different perspective.

Our office Elders at Halloween
Elder Payne, Elder Eiteneier, Elder Perez and Elder Orellana

We met him and his bride at the temple and were able to witness their sealing. In fact we were surprised and humbled to learn that Cristian had asked for Wayne to be his witness. What an honor and a blessing for us to be there. As I gave him a great hug (which was okay now) I told him that he would always be a son to us. This couple will be a great asset to the Church in Salvador. They are both returned missionaries.

Hermano y Hermana Orellana

Her dress was gorgeous!!

Just a note.....in order to be sealed in the temple the couple is married civilly in their own country. This group then got on a bus and traveled all night to get to the temple in Guatemala from Salvador. They then had the sealing.....got on the bus and went back home. There were actually two couples from their Stake that were sealed. There were over 30 people at the sealings. No small sacrifice.

With our adopted missionary son

The other great thing Saturday was that Flor (the director of the girl's clinic) called us and told us that the girls had prepared a card for us. We went out to the clinic and all the girls gathered (as well as the dogs) to present their remembrance for us. They were so cute and it was hard for me not to cry. The only thing that helped me to keep my cool was the fact that I knew that the next girls to hug me would be my own.

Wayne with his friend the dog.....and all the girls

Flor had made a box.....all the girls had signed it. They gave me a beautiful scarf to remember them by. What a great day!!

Muchos embrassos

JUST GIVE THEM A PAINTBRUSH!!

The other day we were at the dental clinic and realized that the girls were painting the fence around the orphanage. It had been painted about a year ago by the missionaries for a Christmas service project....but the bright yellow paint that was used just needed to go. The girls that hadn't gone home for Christmas..... (most of the children go home for the holidays to family or extended family. Most of them are not "official" orphans, but are in the home because they cannot be taken care of or for their education).......were given paintbrushes, cans of paint and a scaffold.


As we worked in the clinic that afternoon, we were amazed to see the progress of the girls. They made great time and did a great job with the painting. When we talked to them as we were leaving at the end of the day, they were just about finished with the entire fence. We then found out that they had been promised POLLO CAMPERO (Guatemala KFC) the following afternoon as their reward. Good to see that bribery is alive and well even here in Guatemala!

This follows last weeks project of painting the soccer court green, adding a net and now having a tennis court!! These girls know the value of hard work.

MAKING TORTILLAS

Helping me learn the art of tortilla making
The girls make it look so easy!!!

One of the things that I want to learn to do while we are here in Central America is to make tortillas. The other day two of the girls who I have made friends with at the Orphanage pulled me into the kitchen where they were helping to prepare lunch. They told me that it was really easy...and that I could do it!!! They were really patient with me, and after only about 3 tries (starting over 3 times), I was able to add my tortilla to the grill to cook. I didn't stick around to see who had to eat it!!

The tortilla crew
The woman next to me cooks for the orphanage

Finally able to have a "finished" product