October 21, 2009
Hi family,
All is going well here in Chiquimula. We are counting our blessings. If you ever want to feel blessed, just go to a 3rd world country. Last week we went to visit Gladys Ramirez. They have been working on getting the framework built to make a palm frond roof so they can put up plastic walls and have a covered shelter of their own for their family to sleep in. Some problems have developed between cousins sleeping together in their inadequate, crowded conditions. They have the palm roof up over her raised cooking fire. And they have strung an extension cord to that area. The posts are up for the house roof, but they haven’t been able to afford the poles that go across yet. They have the palm fronds drying. But that is only one problem. Portfirio was working on building construction and while he was working in one area, all of his tools were stolen (about Q5000 or $650 worth) from a different area in the building. You have to have your own tools to work, or else rent them from other people. Then, Gladys and her 8 year old both got Malaria. So she can’t go to church, until the department of public health says her blood test is OK. We took them a few pounds of rice to help them out. The kids were disappointed that I didn’t bring sweets. One of the little toddler cousins has obvious signs of malnutrition. The kids were eating homemade corn tortillas while we were there and it appeared to be all that they would be having that night. Next problem: While she was taking care of her dying brother, her two youngest school children didn’t keep up with homework and didn’t pass this year (school year ends this week), so they have to repeat this year’s work. There is not social “passing” here. Kids take very hard tests at the end of the year. It is very common to be 20 years old before you get out of high school.
However, she had one wonderful thing to report. Her brother who recently died came to her in a dream and told her the path I taught about in FHE was the right path and she should follow it and stick with it. Months ago, when we were teaching the unbaptized children, I created a path on a long paper that started with birth and ended up returning to Heavenly Father. There was a gate (built with cardboard) that had scripture quotes teaching that baptism was the gate. It had steps that needed to be followed after baptism (sort of like holding to the rod). Her brother wasn’t there for the FHE, but he knew about it. She was very emotional when she talked about it. That was a tender mercy—both for her and for me.
We spent last weekend in Esquipulas. We had some nice visits. I was looking forward to going out to the family with the ducks (who are becoming active again). But the person who was going to drive us didn’t get back in time, so Spencer took one of the missionaries (they have a three some there now) with him and took the bus. When you get out to the little aldea, you have to hike about 1-2 miles to their house. That didn’t seem like something that I would be able to do. So I missed out once again.
Tuli has found a chiropractor for me that she trusts, in Guatemala City. There are very few in this country. I have an appointment for this Friday afternoon. It can’t come soon enough! I have had terrible back spasms and my ankles and feet aren’t a whole lot better. Oh woe is me!  But nothing is life threatening, so we just keep trudging along.
Spencer and I read up on “rebound headaches” and realized we were using way too many analgesics; so we have not been using them this month while we get them out of our systems and then we will be very prudent. We have definitely had lots of different pains, but the headaches seem to be lessening.  Boy do we sound like a couple of old fogies or what? Maybe it is all of the years we both had to burn the candle at both ends just to survive and it is now catching up with us. Oh to be 50 again!
We have finished our CUNORI classes with students. They are taking midterm and final exams. We still have our classes with faculty members. And the classes at the church are still gung-ho. It is amazing how many people come just from word of mouth advertising.
Each Sunday we attend in Esquipulas having read the Sunday School lesson in advance and RS/Priesthood one if we know what it is. Probably about once a month, Spencer ends up teaching Gospel Doctrine, because the teacher just doesn’t show up. It is crazy. How hard is it to call and say “I won’t be there”? It is usually part way thru Sacrament Meeting when we realize she isn’t there, that Spencer starts to panic and give the lesson more than a cursory once over. The branch is still struggling. Our attendance continues to be less than we had come to general conference. I’m so glad they were here for that Sunday.
We have a stake conference for all of Guatemala coming up on November 15th. It will be a satellite broadcast. I am looking forward to that. They included the districts and branches. But I doubt if the branch can afford to pay bus passage again, so it will probably be a very sparse attendance.
I’m going to cut this short and try to put a few pictures on the blog.
We love and miss you all!
Mom/Jeanine