Back from Guatemala

I can't believe we are already back. Heather and and I traveled to Guatemala to visit my brother who was recently in a car accident. I am so glad Heather got to go along, it was quite an experience for her. Of course I enjoyed having her come with me and show her all I could about Guatemala.
It was so awesome to see my good old friends at the airport to pick us up in spite the 4:30am arrival. My sister and niece were there also whom I hadn't seen for at least 5 years. I won't wait that long ever again.
Driving to my brother's house for the first time in a long time was a bundle of mixed emotions. I was excited for being there, but at the same time scared for our safety. I knew and felt assured that God was with us and that we were there for a reason and I prayed that God would give me peace and assurance that He would take care of us, and with that in mind we would enjoy our time there.

I never thought that I would go to Guatemala and spend the whole time cooking, cleaning and doing laundry. But that was the whole purpose of the trip to go and take care of my brother for a week, and to tell you the truth it was well worth it. I will do it again if needed.
My niece took off from school to spend the whole 10 days with us (she did bring her school work though) and my sister pretty much based out of my brother's house also so that we could visit.
My brother went to have his stitches removed but came home with a cast from his chest all the way down to his toes. He was in so much pain that we decided to remove the complete cast. I know it sounds crazy but later we found out through another doctor that he should have never had the cast in the first place.

In the middle of the week we took a break and traveled to the coast to visit my aunt who recently lost her husband and son. It sure meant a lot to her that we made the trip to her house. Heather didn't have big enough eyes to take everything in, we traveled by bus for about 4 hours and she would ask questions non stop about everything she saw. One of her comments was: -Mom, I think Extreme Home Make Over needs to come to Guatemala. It was quite a contrast for her that some people would live in very fancy homes and some completely the opposite. Of course it started a long conversation about the difference between countries and although things looked or were rough in Guatemala, everyone is loved by God and that everyone needs to get know God no matter what country they lived on.
By this time her Spanish had grown on her and she was pretty much talking to people and making knew friends. I was so proud of her for trying really hard to speak the language. Although she understood a lot she had trouble speaking back but with my help she learned to let go of her tongue and not be afraid or embarrassed of her broken Spanish.
We only lasted two days at my aunt's house, Heather was ready to go back to Guatemala city specially after the mosquitoes had a feast of her. She would say, -Mom, these mosquitoes think I am a restaurant, Why are they not biting Daryn? and Daryn would say -they already know me, but they don't know you!! but with lots of antich cream we managed to go back to the city.
I got right back to my duties as soon as we got back and by this time I was kind of overwhelmed just because I knew it was almost time to go back to the USA and yet I had much to do and friends to see.
On Saturday we managed to go to my sister's new apartment, and while we were there I took Heather to the church were I grew up and showed her around. She was so thrilled that she got to see the house were I grew up as well, for some reason it was one of her goals which we accomplished well.
Sunday was a pretty full day, I prepared dinner for my brother's girlfriend's family just to say Thank you for being there for him and taking care of him. I don't know what we would done without them, they have pretty much taking the task of caring for him. I am sure Karen (Meme's girlfriend) had something to do with that. She is such a sweetheart, she is sure a keeper.
I also got to go to the central market to buy some souvenirs while the roast was in the oven and bread raising. This time I decided that I was going to bring things that remind me of who I am and where I came from.
As soon as I got back from the market I got dinner ready and as soon as Karen's family got there we sat down around Meme's bed and ate our dinner with him. We sure had a good time visiting with each other.
To my surprise my aunt Tifa called and said that she was on her way to Guatemala city because she had made my favorite tamales and wanted me to bring some to the US, boy did I feel I bit spoiled. We sent a taxi to pick her up from the bus station and as soon as she got to our house we ate some of those tamales.
I don't know exactly how long this day was, but I knew the clock was ticking and there were cookies and banana bread yet to be made. I had promised Meme that I would bake him chocolate chip cookies and banana bread and so I got to work and after a couple hours all the baking was done. Not to mentioned that packing needed to be done so that we could be ready to fly out in the morning, thankfully it didn't take long. Morning came and off to the airport we went, we said our good byes and off we went. I couldn't hold back my tears as we boarded the airplane, I was glad I was coming home to Kristen and my husband and yet sad that I was leaving behind people I dearly love. But God has been faithful and I praise Him every moment I can for his goodness.
I know I have written a lot, but this trip wouldn't not happened if it wouldn't been for the ladies that helped us take care of Kristen while we were gone. So a BIG THANK YOU to Dana, Sheila, Beth and Cher, and of course the grandmas that fed them dinners and helped on the weekends and overall for everyone that prayed for our safety while we were traveling. My brother is doing well, although it will be a long recovery he is optimistic and his spirits are up. He just started therapy, and it seems that one of the surgery's was not performed as expected and the bone is not healing properly. We are praying and trust that God would take care of this and that he won't need another surgery.

Heather and her Guatemalan doll

Meme enjoying the breeze!! hahaha!!








Heather and Daryn
doing art work !!