Saturday, October 31, 2009

Stitches for Nick

This afternoon Nick sustained an injury while playing soccer on the street in front of our house. He mashed his face into the blacktop and received a nasty gash above his left eye.


Thankfully, Denny Freed, our faithful nurse practitioner, was on hand to administer first-aid. As you can see, there were also plenty of spectators.




The "emergency room" was the Freed's dining room. Nick simply lay on the table.


Denny gave Nick four stitches.


Gabby (Randy and Tina's daughter) and Maria were playing dress-up this afternoon.


One morning during school Tony was "reading" to his dinosaurs. He does love dinosaurs!

Monday, October 26, 2009

United Nations National Park

Sunday afternoon, Oct. 25, our family visited Parque Nacional Naciones Unidas, or United Nations National Park, on the shores of nearby Lake Amatitlan.



We ate our picnic lunch near this overlook of Lake Amatitlan.


We visited the petting zoo in the park. Tony enjoyed holding the bunnies.


Maria feeding the burro.



Emily, Tony, and Maria even got to go on a short horse ride.



There were also walking paths. Here Charlie, Maria, and Tony are standing in front of a replica of Tikal, famous Mayan ruins in northern Guatemala.




Wednesday, October 21, 2009

New Shoes for Rosa

Yesterday afternoon, Oct. 20, Nick, Alisha, Emily, and I - along with several other ORI staff members - visited the Rosa de Amor orphanage. We delivered their monthly food supply and also fitted each of the children with new shoes.


Alisha helped to unload the truck.


Sheryl and I fitted all of the girls with new shoes while Denny took care of the boys. They were so happy and proud of their new footware.


Yolanda was especially tickled with her new pink hightops!


Elsa got new shoes for her two-month-old son, Luis.


The older girls proudly displaying their new shoes.




Maria and Tony

I thought I'd post a few photos of Maria and Tony - just because they're so cute!


Tony taking Bebecita (little baby) and Connor for a stroller ride. Notice Connor has got his binoculars for spotting dinosaurs.


Tony and Maria playing with their dolls. Tony was wearing a Burger King crown upside down and pretending he was a knight. As you might imagine, Tony is not really very gentle with his baby.


Their stroller broke so they got Daddy's tools and tried to repair it.


Tony wanted to help sweep our concrete walkway this morning. He loves sweeping, but it is best for him to do it outdoors as he can get very "wild" with his broom.



Tony and Shalissa (Harvey & Rosa's daughter) sitting on the curb in front of our house.




Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Visiting Rosa de Amor

Our family visited the Rosa de Amor orphanage yesterday, Oct. 14. This orphanage is on the other side of the city, about an hour's drive from our house. This home has around 40 children.


Charlie and the boys assembled several sets of bunk beds donated by ORI, as they'd been sleeping several kids to a bed.


Maria and this little fellow had fun with sidewalk chalk.


Friends! Abby, Risa, and Emily with Jacki, Carlos, and Kati.



I took along some children's books in Spanish and they were a big hit. These children loved the extra attention. This is a poorer orphanage without any extras. I also took along paper, markers, and stickers. For each little pack of stickers I handed out to the children I received a hug and a "Dios le bendiga" (God bless you). They are so grateful for so little!



Alisha with little Miriam.




Cenma

Last Thursday afternoon, October 8th, the girls and I, along with the Freeds and Sheryl Leaman, visited a huge fruit and vegetable market in Guatemala City called Cenma (Central Market).


There were approximately six huge, open-sided warehouses, each filled with different kinds of fruits or vegetables.


This was the "tomato building." The tomato vendors would only sell their produce by the box.


There was one warehouse filled with onions. Folks were outside sorting the drying onions.


This little girl was resting in a basket near her mother.



Thankfully, most of the vendors allowed us to buy smaller quantities. I came home with lots: carrots, broccoli, lettuce, celery, green beans, potatoes, apples, strawberries, and pineapples - all for around 100 Q ($12).




Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Visiting Fundaninos

Here are some photos from our visit to the Fundaninos orphanage this afternoon, October 7.



Maria reading to two-year-old Angel.




Luci



Cuddling eight-day-old Jose Alejandro.



Emily with Angel.



Alfredo




Friday, October 2, 2009

ORI Staff Retreat

The weekend of September 25 - 27, the ORI board held a retreat for the Guatemalan staff. It was held at a guest house called Casa de mi Padre (My Father's House) in the town of San Lucas. It was a very nice time of relaxation and fellowship.


Here's the whole gang. There are five families living here in Guatemala, all of us originally from Lancaster County. Also in the photo are several board members and the founders, Rod and Sarah Martin.


Each of the children received a gift. Tony thought it was Christmas. Of course, he was very pleased with the dinosaurs he received!


Sarah Martin painting Maria's toenails. Carlin was begging to have his nails done too, but the girls finally discouraged him.



There were activities for the children while the adults had discussions, meetings, and prayer times. One of the kid's favorites with painting t-shirts. Here Emily is helping Maria Weaver, Randy and Tina's daughter.



ORI recently purchased land in the town of San Lucas. We visited the spot on Sunday and had a prayer of dedication.