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!!!

May 8, 2014 Birthday Flowers and Jade Necklace

There is a flower shop across the street so Elder B bought me flowers and the Jade necklace is from Antigua.  My age is now unknown.

In and around Antigua. Muy Amable

The quaint town has cobblestone streets so car riding is not all that comfortable.  To walk it you have to be careful....especially me ....I am not a sure foot so I am watching every step.  I stop every few steps to take a look at the people, their culture, their dress and the charm of the old buildings.

 Muchas Cosas brilliante

 Carrying things on the head is still a typical way to carry your load

 Love their typical dress

 Take a good look at the fountain.  I mean a close look at the fountain.

I had to take a picture of the this horse drawn carriage and the unique way they protect the streets from the by products of the horse.

Hotel we stayed in Antigua. So beautiful

This Hotel pictures defies all descriptions. And pictures are worth thousands of words on this post.

Our assignment in Antigua.

We were not only tourists in Antigua but we had an assignment at Antigua Stake for Public Affairs.  The presentation was to help the stake understand the importance of  putting together a committee for Public Affairs and  share the information with us (Senior Missionaries) in reporting it on Newsroom for the public to see.  To let others know of our good works...."letting the light so shine".

Members in the ward before Sacrament Meeting started

Notice the Sisters dress, she served in Peru as a missionary. She brought back ties in same fabric for members of her family.

This is the parking lot next to the chapel. Notice the decor.  It is actual ruins from a couple hundred years ago preserved on this property.

Preparing for the presentation

Chocolate Museo in Antigua.

Here is what we saw at the Choco Museo in Antigua.  Pablo is the instructor and boy was he good.  Very Antimated.! Just highlight the youtube address and right click and click the "Go to the You Tube"   Very entertaining.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Awg3VzcV3sA

Drying of cocoa beans

Al grinding the chocolate beans to a paste

 Different steps to the chocolate

 Pablo explaining about the chocolate tree

Chocolate Pod and beans

 Chocolate to be put into forms

 Chocolate tea made from husks....very very good.

steps to processing chocolate

Pablo our instructor

 Roasting of the Cocoa Beans

 Pablo explaining about the cocoa bean tree

Pablo explaining how to cut the Cacoa pod

Pablo explaining the steps of making Cocoa tea