7 de enero de 2009

Reporting in for 2009,
I just realized that I haven't written a report since Christmas. We are wa-a-a-y past due. We have talked to most of you, but that doesn't give us any kind of a permanent record. I am trying to prime Spencer that he should write a letter once a quarterthat would only be six during our entire mission and he thinks since he talks to kids he shouldn't have to write anything. Sigh. What am I to do? He always reads my reports and enjoys them, but it would be fun to get his perspective on our crazy adventures.


New Year's Eve was great. We went to dinner at Dr. Perez's house. We met some other doctors and medical support people. He is a convert to the church, a doctor and head of the medical association in this departmento (state). It was a good experience. They only live a little over a block away. We walked home and were here by 10:30. So far so good. We got ready for bed and then the fireworks started! The sky was lit up, the streets were noisy and it was impossible to sleep. Spencer fell asleep about 2 AM. I finally fell asleep about 5:30 AM. The next day I had such a headache. I was nonfunctional with a migrainehung over from the noise and over stimulation. So even though the eve of New Year's was great, the night was "not so good!"

The morning of New Year's I laid on the couch and found a TV channel that was broadcasting the Rose Bowl Parade. You could hear the announcer's in English and the Spanish translator lagged just behind. It was neat to see it and hear it in both languages. Spencer was working on some projects, but came in for about 15 minutes. As one entry finished, I spotted Marjon. I was so excited I could almost forget the headache! I also recognized Julie (her mom). I have watched other years, but never got to really see them in the parade. The announcer mentioned how they are very community oriented and provide a great service and mentioned, by name, "Marjon Brady Brown" (you should have heard that with a Spanish accent) J. Had to come to Guatemala to see Marjon in the Rose Bowl Parade.

We have really been "pounding the pavement" in finding the menos activos. We had estimated we were walking 3 miles and for Christmas we got pedometersso now we have proof that sometimes we walk almost 4 miles. It has been really rewarding. Sunday was definitely a payday when there were 28 menos activos from seven different families at church. Many people have been reaching out, so it wasn't just our labors, but it was nice to be a part of the harvest.

We took a few more pictures while we were out and about. I will post them so you can see the area. Some of them tell a story without any narrative.

Tonight we were coming back from shopping and we filled up the back seat with our bodies and our bags, but as usual, the driver kept picking up more people. Finally, one really cute, little, emaciated, older lady got in and sat on the wheel well in front of Spencer. She had to lean onto to his leg to support herself and keep from falling over as the bus swerved thru the streets. At first she apologized briefly to him, but then she caught my eye and said "Disculpeme!" (Forgive me) like I was going to be offended because she was grabbing my man's leg. It was cute. I told her "No problema!"

The people are generally so amazingly friendly. They make eye contact and greet you with an abrazo and a kiss on the cheek or by your ear. Sometimes it is disruptive as they come into class late. They never slide into a seat inconspicuously like we would. They go around and greet every person in the room by name and with a hug and/or kiss. Then they do the same thing when they leaveeven if they have to leave early.

We started our new classes at the church last night. It is fun to get going again. We have been figuring out who is teaching from what books and I have spent hours going through all of the folders and files left here so that I am somewhat familiar with what our resources are. I don't want to spend money making copies of things that already exist.

This week we had some difficult news. One of our students from the CUNORI staff, who has been really, really friendly and had the most gorgeous smile, was killed while defending his taxi. He worked during the day at CUNORI and drove taxi at night and on the weekends. I dread going back to that class without Guillermo's smile to greet me. It was the first time I have really felt vulnerable since we arrivedI guess because the violence senselessly snuffed out the life of someone we know and care about.

Now, onto a completely different topic. The food and the people:

The food here is interesting. There are so many abundant fruits and vegetables. You can always eat things that are in season. Spencer doesn't like papaya. It isn't my favorite, but it is goodI tell him we should what is plentiful and available. Then the next day he cooked some Oatmeal that had been around awhile (before us) and it had weevils in it. He offered to save me some. I declined. The AP's had been here for the night and (knowing of our previous conversation), said, "Now come on Sister Brown. You should eat what is plentiful and available!" Busted!

Spencer usually goes to the Mercado to buy fresh produce. They often jack up prices for North Americans, but he can at least talk like a native. Actually, the Guatemalans that aren't purely Mayans often have very light complexions. But back to the food, when we bring home the produce we soak it is a solution of water, purified with chloro and a little dish soap. After it soaks we put it right into the fridge. There is no taste of the solution and it is the only way to know it is clean. Even with that process, I don't buy lettuce at the Mercado. In the stores I only buy lettuce that has been "triple washed." By following these instructions from the MTC, we have not worried at all about the food not being clean. Another new twist, I have to cook everything from scratch. There are no prepackaged flavorings for chili, tacos, spaghetti or anything else. Thank goodness for the internet. I look up recipes and have made the most yummy chili beans, refried beans, Spanish rice, banana bread, carrot cake, taco meat, etc. I don't used stewed tomatoes, since they aren't in the stores. I have to just chop up and cook my own. There are no canned green beans eitherone of the few canned vegetables I like. A different variety than we are accustomed to is grown natively, so I have "snap" my own and cook them from scratch also. It takes more time, but as long as it tastes good, it is OK with me. Food has cost more than we expected, but it's certainly affordable to us as North Americans. I don't know how the indigenous people survive. They have so little and we have so much.

There was a program on New Year's Eve where Dr. Perez spoke and it highlighted the plight of the indigenous peopleespecially in our area. A translation of the title would be "When I have no health, I am sad." There are so few resources or opportunities for improvement. The water in the villages isn't clean. Families live on what they can grow. Rice and beans are the staples in their diets. But in spite of the hardships, they are survivors and basically a happy people.

While the Limburg's were serving here, Dave wrote a lot of essays about a variety of topics. I have his permission to share them. I will occasionally send them as a separate attachment to my emails.

It is really, really hot these days. And it is January. Another big sigh. I am experiencing a lot of heat rash on my neck and on the inside of my elbows. Spencer covers his body with talc. Today, I started getting an eczema type of dermatitis on my hands. When I have had it before, one of the first things the doctor said was, "Don't get your hands wet anymore than absolutely necessary. Wash them less frequently." Well, here, we have been instructed to wash our hands all of the time! I am using my Rx Cortisone Ointment. Hope it clears up before it gets really bad. I will use gloves for doing dishes. Actually Spencer is awesome about pitching in with the dishes really often. We wash the dishes in the same chloro, soap solution. I'm sure that hasn't been particularly kind to my skin. I will make some adjustments in my routine and see how it goes.

I sent a FHE idea on Super Heroes that I think would be great for kids. Several of you work with Young Men and Blazers in church callings. It could be adapted there as well or even for a Primary Sharing Time. Enjoy it. It you didn't get it let me know.

I love you.Mom/Grandma/Jeanine