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!!!