An assignment I won´t forget

About mid-day today a member of the IT department came into our office and asked if I would help them.  I said sure what do you need?  I was happy to help them as they successfully installed the Language Program called TALL onto my office computer and laptop so I could study Spanish more often than the one hour a day at the CCM or what is also known as The Missionary Training Center  her in Guatemala City.

He wanted to know if I would read a script that is a talk from Sister Mayavel Pineda Amado wife of our area president, Carlos Amado of the Quorum of the Seventy.   It is to be a voice over in English as she was filmed and recorded in Spanish.  I said sure why not.  I just needed to read it in English...no problema.  It last six minutes and Salt Lake will combine my voice over to her film and yes it will be seen all over.  Pretty exciting to my day I think. I tried to find a picture of her but could not find one on the internet.  Anyone that finds one please let me know.

May 14, 2014 Honoring citizens of Guatemala that made contributions to Family Values from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

This is the Week of the Family here in Guatemala.  Last night there was a wonderful presentation at the local Barceló Hotel in Guatemala City to two recipients that made wonderful contributions to the country and community for the good of families.  They are Esperanza Barba and Carlos Vargas.  Ms. Barba has a radio talk show, is an author and family therapist.  Carlos Vargas founded hospitals, orphanages and foundations to help people here that can't help themselves.  He rescued a baby several decades ago and adopted the child.  See the following pictures. More on Esperanza Barba see www.spokeo.com/Esperanza+Barba . More on Carlos Vargas see website www.hopeoflifeintl.org

Frame certificates and porcelain figurines on the table.  The figurines of a family is just beautiful.  Deseret Book Store sells them.

Framed certificates and porcelain figurines of a family as awards

This is Carlos Vargas Junior son accepting the award for his father.  His father is in his 80's and not in good health at this point.

Esperanza Bara receiving her award from President Amodo and Ochoa of the area Presidency

Esperanza Barba a charming person

 Area President Carlos Amado speaking on behalf of the Church

President Amado speaking with attendees. He is a most gracious man and has been an area 70 for 30 years.

Esperanza being interviewed for TV and Radio

Esperanza Barba with President Amado and other guests

 Julio Alvarado with attendee supporting Carlos Vargas with Committee Chairman Cesar Colon

Karen Rodas works in the office and was on the committee for this event.  We have become good friends.

Sunday May 11th Visit to a Primary here in Guatemala City

Primary Children singing Mothers day tribute in Sacrament Meeting

Each Sunday the Primary sings Happy Birthday to a child having a birthday and also to give the Birthday Child a remembrance.  In this case Esta Nina recibir un collar de cumpleaños.

She is beautiful

Primary sings Happy Birthday to her

When there are visitors the Primary sings Hello to them to welcome them.

Primary child helping with song practice

Primary child giving her talk

 Primary Prayer Time

Primary Singing time

Classroom Art to go along with lesson time

 Getting crayons from the teacher

He is looking at the camera

Primary Nursery for 18 months to 3 years old

 Bible Story Time

 In nursery they learn to pray

Lesson time

Classroom lesson for the 6 & 7 year olds

Primary President discussing The First Article of Faith 

You will be interested to know that she is an American from Texas with Hispanic heritage. She is married to an Anglo American who works for the American Embassy here in Guatemala City

5-10-14 Mothers Day in Guatemala City

Yesterday before we left the office our director invited us to accompany him to a Mother´s Day Celebration for which the church was being honored for donating some Mothers Day Kits to Zone 18, 7, and 5. It was a surprise to us but we accepted as we had no plans.  We had no idea what to expect.  One of the girls in the office said that there would be 6,000 people there.  Still we had no idea what to expect.  There were scores of people getting into a large coliseum with tented areas around.  We drove to a grassed parking spot and continued into the large building.  Loud music and loud announcers greeting the crowds and lots of entertainment.  The following pictures will show you what we experienced.  What a hoot....but it was a Mothers Day celebration or what they called Feliz dia de la Madres.  And it was a real big deal!!! THE BIGGEST ATTRACTION WAS THE FIRST FEMALE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNTRY TO COME MAKE AN APPEARANCE. Her name is Roxanna Baldetti.  She is beautiful, smart and gracious.  Beloved by all.  Her birthday is May 13 so they presented her with a birthday cake today.

This actor personified an icon of their entertainment history.  He was singing and prancing about the stage and really had the crowd going. He also put some glasses on and did a Michael Jackson Moonwalk.  I was laughing and clapping along with the rest of them. He was impersonating Vicente Fernandez.  Google shows his history and was most popular in Mexico and Central America for 40 years.

He is impersonating a national icon - Vicente Fernandez

He swaggers about the stage

Below is the crowd milling around outside.

The cheering crowds inside.  Pretty excited group

Balls of all kinds were thrown into the crowd

 This good looking boy got lost so while his mother was being located a mime entertained him and made him smile.  That wasn´t easy as he cried alot.

 Our Director Julio with the clown

Elder B took this picture and had the clown put my comb/brush in his hair.  I almost didn´t get it back

Huge crowd

This man dressed as a Mama´ was spoofing funny things about moms. 

Making his exit

 Mimes dancing with the crowd and entertainers on stage

Ladies in the crowd selected as the most enthusiastic women.

 Mimes and stilt clowns working the crowd

Julio and Mime

 Julio and me

Me shaking hands with the silver stilt man

Banner behind the stage.

 Brazilian dancers and music....what a spectacular scene

This is what the crowd has been waiting for. Roxanna Baldetti Vice President of Guatemala

 

Someone gave her a flower so she tucked it in her back pocket

She is speaking about how valuable Mothers are to the country of Guatemala.  She is the mother of three children herself and values the role of the Mother.

Julio is to the side in blue shirt

Roxanna giving a press conference

Boys in Awe

 We sat on the stage representing the Church for donating kits to Mothers

 This woman loved the entertainment and stood and sang and danced

 No smiling....just would not do it.

An enthusiastic crowd

 Thats all folks!!!
What an adventure!!!