Reading books to Melanie.
Tony pushing Emna, who has Down's Syndrome.
Emily holding Heidi.
Alisha cuddling the youngest baby, Andres Pablo.
Nick and Ben washing the ORI bus at the warehouse one afternoon.Saturday, April 18, 2009
Fundaninos Photos
We visit the Fundaninos orphanage at least once a week. This orphanage was Tony's home for the first year of his life.
Reading books to Melanie.
Tony pushing Emna, who has Down's Syndrome.
Emily holding Heidi.
Alisha cuddling the youngest baby, Andres Pablo.
Nick and Ben washing the ORI bus at the warehouse one afternoon.
Reading books to Melanie. Tony pushing Emna, who has Down's Syndrome. Emily holding Heidi. Alisha cuddling the youngest baby, Andres Pablo. Nick and Ben washing the ORI bus at the warehouse one afternoon.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Easter Fun
The children did some Easter activities on Good Friday.
The children colored eggs in the Freed's carport using some kits that Denny bought in the States. People don't color Easter eggs in Guatemala. And we saw no Easter candy for sale in the stores. It is a completely religious holiday.
Tony had fun putting little stickers on the eggs. The next day, at our ORI Easter dinner, the children had an egg hunt at the playground.
The kids made their own alfombra. Nick drew the ORI symbol on a piece of cardboard, and the girls glued on sawdust we bought at the market.
From L to R: Abby, Maredith, Emily, Risa, and Alisha.
Their completed alfombra. We did NOT walk on it!
The children colored eggs in the Freed's carport using some kits that Denny bought in the States. People don't color Easter eggs in Guatemala. And we saw no Easter candy for sale in the stores. It is a completely religious holiday.
Tony had fun putting little stickers on the eggs. The next day, at our ORI Easter dinner, the children had an egg hunt at the playground.
The kids made their own alfombra. Nick drew the ORI symbol on a piece of cardboard, and the girls glued on sawdust we bought at the market.
From L to R: Abby, Maredith, Emily, Risa, and Alisha.
Their completed alfombra. We did NOT walk on it!Saturday, April 11, 2009
Alfombras
On April 10, which was Good Friday, we drove to the nearby town of San Jose to see the alfombras - pictures made from colored sawdust that people create on the road.
This very long alfombra stretched for half a mile down the main street of the town.
There was a holiday atmosphere in the town. These two girls offered us fruit drinks and tortillas.
The people work for hours creating these alfombras, which only last a short while. Later that evening a Catholic procession walked on all of them. Before we left, we walked to the Catholic church and saw people gathering for the procession which was to last from 6:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. The men were dressed in black robes and the ladies in black dresses with black mantillas (lace veils); black because it was Good Friday.
We say many alfombras on street after street. Most were made from colored sawdust, but we saw a few made from pine needles, fruits, vegetables, and flowers.
This alfombra had the most vibrant colors. I'm not sure what the turkey is supposed to symbolize.
This very long alfombra stretched for half a mile down the main street of the town.
There was a holiday atmosphere in the town. These two girls offered us fruit drinks and tortillas.
The people work for hours creating these alfombras, which only last a short while. Later that evening a Catholic procession walked on all of them. Before we left, we walked to the Catholic church and saw people gathering for the procession which was to last from 6:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. The men were dressed in black robes and the ladies in black dresses with black mantillas (lace veils); black because it was Good Friday. 
We say many alfombras on street after street. Most were made from colored sawdust, but we saw a few made from pine needles, fruits, vegetables, and flowers.
This alfombra had the most vibrant colors. I'm not sure what the turkey is supposed to symbolize.Sunday, April 5, 2009
Easter Procession
On Sunday, March 29, we went to the town of Antigua to observe an Easter Procession. Guatemala is predominately Roman Catholic, and Easter is a major holiday.
This man is making an 'alfombra', a carpet of colored sawdust, on the pavement.
This alfombra was made of pine needles and fresh flowers. These beautiful carpets only last a short time, until the people in the procession walk over them.
Some of the men in the procession wore red peaked hats and carried signs with religious scenes. Men in purple robes carried burning incense.
Approximately 100 men in purple robes carried this huge float depicting Jesus carrying his cross.
Maria and Tony enjoyed playing with the little puppets I bought from a street vendor.
This man is making an 'alfombra', a carpet of colored sawdust, on the pavement.
This alfombra was made of pine needles and fresh flowers. These beautiful carpets only last a short time, until the people in the procession walk over them.
Some of the men in the procession wore red peaked hats and carried signs with religious scenes. Men in purple robes carried burning incense.
Approximately 100 men in purple robes carried this huge float depicting Jesus carrying his cross.
Maria and Tony enjoyed playing with the little puppets I bought from a street vendor.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Working at Fundaninos
I thought I'd include a few photos from yesterday, March 25. Charlie and Nick spent the day working at Fundaninos. The rest of us went over to the orphanage in the afternoon to help care for the sick babies.
Charlie spent the day installing a new water pump.
Nick helped Buddy (John Esh) lay brick on the front of the baby house.
The babies and toddlers moved into this new house in January, but the brick front is only now being completed.
These two weren't working at the moment (although Ben did spend the afternoon helping Charlie with the pump), but I wanted to include this photo of Tony and Ben modeling their shades.
Charlie spent the day installing a new water pump.
Nick helped Buddy (John Esh) lay brick on the front of the baby house.
The babies and toddlers moved into this new house in January, but the brick front is only now being completed.
These two weren't working at the moment (although Ben did spend the afternoon helping Charlie with the pump), but I wanted to include this photo of Tony and Ben modeling their shades.Itchy Itchy Chicken Pox
Chicken pox are making the rounds at Fundaninos, the orphanage that we visit several times a week.
Eight of the eleven in the baby/toddler house have chicken pox. These three little boys are Javier, Christian, and Chino.
Poor Marta! She was feeling so miserable! Tony asked me what was on her face, and I replied, "Chicken pox". Tony asked, "Did a chicken bite her?"
Nick is holding little Andres.
Javier was feeling well enough to walk around and play with his balloon.
Sandra seemed happy despite the pox on her face and belly.
Eight of the eleven in the baby/toddler house have chicken pox. These three little boys are Javier, Christian, and Chino.
Poor Marta! She was feeling so miserable! Tony asked me what was on her face, and I replied, "Chicken pox". Tony asked, "Did a chicken bite her?"
Nick is holding little Andres.
Javier was feeling well enough to walk around and play with his balloon.
Sandra seemed happy despite the pox on her face and belly.Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Lake Atitlan
While our guests were here we visited Lake Atitlan, a two hour drive west of Guatemala City.
Lake Atitlan is said to be one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. It has clear blue water and is surrounded by three volcanoes.
We hired a boatman to take us across the lake to visit two Mayan villages. Our boat, Isabel, is the one on the left. There are 12 towns nestled around Lake Atitlan. Each one is named for one of the 12 disciples.
One of the towns we visited was Santiago (James). I was amazed by the beautiful native costumes worn by the women. The ladies wore purple striped shirts decorated with intricately embroidered flowers.
This is one of the few places in Guatemala where many of the men still wear native costumes. In the town of Santiago the men wore white and red striped shorts, some with beautiful embroidery.
There were no McDonalds or Burger Kings in town! We ate lunch in a very small "open-air" restaurant. It took a long time (approx. an hour) for our burgers and fries to arrive. At one point we saw the owner hop on his motorcycle, later returning with food, probably bought at the market.
Lake Atitlan is said to be one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. It has clear blue water and is surrounded by three volcanoes.
We hired a boatman to take us across the lake to visit two Mayan villages. Our boat, Isabel, is the one on the left. There are 12 towns nestled around Lake Atitlan. Each one is named for one of the 12 disciples.
One of the towns we visited was Santiago (James). I was amazed by the beautiful native costumes worn by the women. The ladies wore purple striped shirts decorated with intricately embroidered flowers.
This is one of the few places in Guatemala where many of the men still wear native costumes. In the town of Santiago the men wore white and red striped shorts, some with beautiful embroidery.
There were no McDonalds or Burger Kings in town! We ate lunch in a very small "open-air" restaurant. It took a long time (approx. an hour) for our burgers and fries to arrive. At one point we saw the owner hop on his motorcycle, later returning with food, probably bought at the market.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
