We have been totally swamped with the start up of the new school year. We spent one week testing students for placement in classes and then we started shifting people around and adding new students on a daily basis (who hadn't come for the placement testing). We each teach three classes at CUNORI and two at the church--for a total of ten classes.
Recently a new family came from Mexico to Esquipulas. What a blessing. We are taking pictures of everyone in the branch to create a little booklet for the Anderson's. It will help them put names and faces together much faster. We are doing this for all ten of our English classes as well. It is a lot of work, but should be invaluable to them.
This was a cute family. The mom's basket was so heavy she had to have help to lift it to the top of her head, but then her neck was strong enough to just stride out walking. She didn't even use a cloth wound into a ring on top of her head like lots of women do. Her balance and strength were amazing. Her daughter is learning fast and only had to balance her basket with her hands on occasion. The little boy carried his basket on his shoulder. Only women and girls carry things on top of their heads. However, the men and boys strap loads on their backs with the strap around their forehead, so their necks have to be just as strong, if not stronger. Their loads sometimes probably weigh close to their own body weight. The sad part is that in these families the children work and do not attend school.
This time Spencer had the experience of riding in the back of the truck with some of the dental team. I rode shot gun with the driver -- thank goodness. These aren't the best roads for sore backs. Spencer had a sore back by the time we arrived in the aldea. People were ready to be seen. As soon as we could set up, they numbed some who were waiting so that the work could begin immediately. This was a good aldea. It was the cleanest one I have seen in Guatemala. Impressive and unusual!
