Our new view across the street

The run down house just across 5a Calle from us was recently refurbished. Spencer loved how it looked -- until the night it opened up as a bar and restaurant. The first night was awful - with very loud music, mariachis and firecrackers. We were thinking we'd have to find a new place for the Anderson's to live. But since then it has been very low-key and nice. I stopped by and met the owner today. The meals are economical (less than $2 for lunch or dinner), but the menu is determined by what day it is. They will be OK neighbors after all. (Thank goodness!)

Church classes continue

Rossana is one of my faithful students in my English class. She also gives us a ride home after classes. It is a real help, because Spencer often has both his briefcase and his overhead projector. I will miss Rossana and oh so many other very dear friends and students.

English Classes are back in full swing!

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.

A new family in the branch!

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.

Just cute little marshmellow animal brought to me by one of my students in the Kid's class for a Valentine present. These kids are so loving and so loyal. They warm my heart. I will miss all of them.

A family of vendors

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.

Our Last Trip Out with the Dentists from the USA

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!

Spencer's job was to keep the dentists chairs filled. A local dentist, Byron Diaz (just visible through the door in the scrubs in the picture below) did a pre- assessment and gave people numbers on little papers stating what work had to be done. Spencer had to keep track of who was for extractions and/or fillings and keep two seats inside filled with two patients "on deck".
We tried to not have a lag in the work. Only a few escaped before treatment. Once in while he was able to rest. How do you like his "missionary hat" to protect his balding head from the sun? We bought it at a huge thrift store called MegaPaca.

I was assigned to give out hygiene kits, dental kits, and blankets for babies. I did OK on explaining the instructions -- but of course they couldn't really ask many questions with cotton pads in their mouth after extractions!

Two "teams" went to two different aldeas. We had four dentists in our group. There were five in the other one. We were busy all day long. This was the first visit by dentists to this aldea. The kids were fascinated and had a morbid curiosity to watch the extractions and fillings--so you had to make it look OK if you wanted any of them to show up for dental care.