On coming back

Since I got married this summer I was on vacation and out of the village for about 5 weeks. Being back to wormk is great and I love seeing all the friendly faces and sharing pictures of the wedding. The most common comment is that I look like a princess in my wedding dress.

This past week was child sponsorship distribution. We also are gathering shoe sizes and clothing sizes for all of the sponsored kids. In November we will celebrate our annual Christmas Party and the kids will all receive new clothes, shoes and school supplies. Interested in coming down to celebrate Navidad with 260 guatemalan children? Head on over to our Trips page and get more information.

Guatemala has been going through many changes recently as a country. They have managed to peacefully fight corruption and impeach both their vice president and most recently their president. These leaders were supposedly (still under trial) involved in a scandal where government funds were stolen and put into their pockets. This lead to some really sad circumstances throughout the country - lack of medical supplies in the national hospitals where people would have to go out and buy needles and syringes for their own bloodwork, no gas money for the national police which lead to less police patrols and increased crime. 

I am proud that Guatemala has been able to reach this point through peaceful protesting and judges that are willing to fight for justice and not give in to corruption. I hope that Guatemala can serve as an example to other nearby countries that also suffer from Government corruption.

This Tuesday is independence day and I imagine there will be an even bigger celebration than usual.

Ricardo and his mother leave the clinic with their food wrapped up and carried on her head

Nayeli and Elida greet me with flowers they picked on the way to the clinic

Sunday Sept. 6th was the first round of elections. As a law there is no consumption or selling of alcohol from Friday until Monday. This is how the beer aisle looks at a local grocery store.