What it is like here.

I have been meaning to write this here in the blog....but found other things to share....today is the day.

Like everywhere else that is not your own country, it is different.  Is that bad? No of course not.  All people here on this earth are children of our Heavenly Father.  Sometimes thinking that or looking at other people might be frightening, it is none the same…..we are sons and daughters of a Heavenly Father.

We as His children speak other languages, have food that is our own, dress in different clothing and colors, cultural differences, but we all have something in common.  First of all we want our freedom to choose and second we have a desire to believe in God…..a true God and to know that there is life after death.

This is the second time in our lives that we have lived in a developing country.  First the Philippines and now.  There are many similarities and some differences.  In my last blog while in the Philippines I wrote about what it is like there and now I will write about what it is like here.

Here in Guatemala City it is quite modern.  Skyscrapers with businesses and with apartment dwellings. Automobiles that are for the most part rather new and maintained.  They are always washing their cars or having someone do it for them. There are a ton of motorcycles…motorcycles.  There is internet and televisions, big malls, many supermarkets and our favorite a fresh produce market.  Many wonderful modern restaurants and many familiar fast food restaurants.  Taco Bell, Burger King, Wendy´s, Subway (my favorite), and much more.  And the traffic is crazy but not as crazy as Manila. I don´t drive here….at least not yet.

The weather here in Guatemala City is wonderful.  They call it the Land of Eternal Spring and it is.  Temperatures range from mid-60´s to 70 something.  There is a rainy season which we are in the middle of.  When it rains it really pours.  And we love the lightning and thunder and watch the torrential rain that falls outside our picture windows in our apartment.  When we see this spectacular array of nature’s natural wonders we think, “What was it like three thousand years ago in the Book of Mormon Times?”  We imagine the ancient inhabitants hunting for food, building their dwellings, carving their “Stelas” which are the way they journalize and memorialize a famous person and his or life. Their arts and temples and traditions are so fascinating   Fills our hearts with the spirit knowing that the Book of Mormon is a history of them and their successes and failures with government and their freedoms to choose and to also follow Christ.

The colors of the artisans are not to be compared with anything else.  Central America has beautiful colors of everything they make.  Clothing, purses, tablecloths, toys and just everything.  It’s beautiful to look at but one must be careful not to buy a lot because it won´t go in your house in your own country.  Some things do….We bought a wood carving for the wall that I now we will enjoy.

In the outlying towns you see some poverty.  The homes are constructed with cement and wood and corrugated tin roofs.  Electricity strung all over the place.  Buses to bus people to work.  Motorcycles for others and many tumulos (speed bumps) to slowly go over or you will ruin your car.

We see school children going to school in uniforms and on regular yellow school buses.  The information on children being transported to the US unaccompanied we do not see.  There are 13 and a half million people that live in Guatemala alone.  50% of that are doing the best they can to improve their circumstances and those that are coming into the US or from what we understand have families already in the US or children that the government doesn´t know what to do with.  But it is a small minority compared the thriving population here.  The other 50% are top notch people and contribute so much to the growth of this country. Maybe its more like 75%.  Its what I see anyway.

When we go to church we see nicely dressed people that love being there and partaking of the Sacrament and hearing the talks and lessons given to them and their families.  We see the most beautiful temple where the church members come for temple worship.  It is all positive.  The local government recognizes the church in a positive way but as Public Affairs missionaries we keep that impression in the forefront. 

We concentrate on letting others know that the Church is there to help others in their needs….not to enable but to help them help themselves.

We work in an office where the employees are educated and know how to use computers to communicate and do their work.  Those in the outlying areas always seem to have a cell phone. Go figure.  

The country is beautiful and we are enjoying our stay and visiting many historical sites and ruins.

I have learned some Spanish and can understand a lot that is being said, but here in the office everyone speaks English to me.  I get along just fine especially when it comes to ordering my meal in a restaurant.

Oh, found another hairstylist that finally cuts my hair correctly... I am happy today.

Guatemala is Awesome!!!