Trip to Nicaragua October 25th thru 27th

On October 25th we left Guatemala City to fly to Managua Nicaragua to trian Public Affairs councils.  On Saturday we were shown around the city and to a Volcano named Masaya.  The volcano is an active volcano and we could drive to the edge and see the vapor coming out.  It was very enjoyable.

On Saturday night we met with Gabriela Cañales who is the country´s Public Affairs Director and her husband for dinner.  We managed to have a great conversation with us all speaking some Spanish and a little English.

The next day the 26th we attended Church in the morning and then out to lunch and then to our training meeting at 3 pm.  There were Public Affairs people called but not trained.  The meeting was successful and those that attended were really interested in developing  good relationships with Public Opinion Leaders and the LDS church.  So worth while.  This morning....the 27th our trip home started at 3:30 am to catch a 5 am shuttle to the airport to only wait for three hours to finally board our plane at 8:00 for a 9:00 am flight.  We are pretty tired.....all that for a less than an hour flight.  It is quite tiring just to get through customs and immigration.  Our Passports are now stamped with a temporary residency stamp so we don´t have to get a temporary visa each time we travel.
Pictures as follows.

 Lake Masaya near the volcano

 Volcano Masaya....interesting crater

 At the edge of the volcano

 Looking straight into the crater.

At the edge of the volcano

 This church in the plaza in Managua survived a 6.4 earthquake in 1972.  It is in the process of renovation.  The clock on the tower says 12:35 pm. the time of the earthquake.

Museum in the plaza.  Many highlights of a revolution are featured and honored here and around the plaza.

Humanitarian project in Huahuatenango, Guatemala for new beds in hospital October 22, 2014

On October 22, 2014 we accompanied Elder and Sister Bingham, the Humanitarian Missionaries out to their project in Huahuatenango, Guatemala.  The hospital had a new wing donated to them and the LDS church was contacted for help with new beds, paint and sheets.  The hospital wing is finished and the beds have arrived and put together. A ceremony of thanks was held and many people from the press were there.  Al took many pictures and both he and Elder Bingham spoke about the projects that the church can help with.  These humanitarian projects are combined with Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) for the good and progress for very much needed issues like these hospitals.

While we were there we were shown the neonatal area where new babies are taken care of.  Also the new babies that are premature.  Some of the issues that the people face in this town is malnutrition, thus low birth weight and high mortalities.  Some of these people are impoverished and have limited information regarding nutrition.  Also no proper prenatal care.  Very concerning.  Hopefully this visit and the information we can provide on Sala De Prensa Mormona, Guatemala will help the comminity and church leaders take action on these issues.

 Elder B gowned to take pictures in neonatal unit

 This is a bed in a recovery room for women who have had cesearan sections

 Neonatal unit

Preemie born  at 7 months gestation

 Neonatal unit

 Al taking pictures

Young woman with her preemie......only 6 months gestation.

Weekend in Quetzaltenango for Training and Temple worship

We spent the weekend in Quetzaltenango Guatemala this weekend....October 11th thru the 13th.  On Saturday we chose to be in the Temple for Temple sealings and a session.  It is a beautiful temple and we had a wonderful experience.  One that we will treasure.

 Temple Patron Housing and Temple Missionary Housing

 Baby girl Dasha that was blessed today in church by her Dad. Mom smiling on.

 The mom is dressed in typical clothing and dad is holding his 6 week old daughter after he gave her a name and a blessing in Sacrament meeting today.

 Mother  with her child on her back in Sunday School today.

 Relief Society President giving out the announcements for the coming week.

Relief Society sister listening to the lesson.

Sunrises and Sunsets October 5, 2014

We are in the season to enjoy beautiful sunrises and sunsets. They are spectacular.  There is nothing like that sweet peaceful feeling of the sun coming up and going down.  When it rains, it rains hard but if feels like blessings coming down upon us.

This is Sunrise on October 5th.  About 5:30 am. Beautiful.

Sunset About 5:30 pm.

A few minutes later.

Senior Missionary Pot Luck after Conference at Victoria Suites.

We really feast when we get together.  Notice the rolls in a round plastic container?  I made those.

Chicken buses

I have heard that the red buses here are chicken buses but never saw one.  My amiga Hermana Hill snapped a couple of pictures of the chickens on a bus.  Proof positive that chickens ride the bus.

I don´t know how they stayed in the basket.

New things to look forward and General Conference this weekend.

This weekend is General Conference in Salt Lake City.  We will be able to watch it on our TV in our apartment.  We are looking forward to it.

The following weekend we will travel to Quetzaltenango to do a training and to attend the temple.  Come November we will travel to Belize for about 4 days and then our son Brad will come to visit for about 8 days.  We will see some more ruins in Tikal and to take him to places he served while on his mission here in Guatemala.