A quick trip to Antigua with Kathia Bair and her mother Martha Rivera

After we passed out the Maternity kits we went into Antigua for lunch, site seeing and some lunch.

We found this beautiful little girl dressed in typical dress ready to pose for us in Antigua

 Martha Rivera

The grounds around the Hotel and restaurant called El Tinador where we had lunch in Antigua Guatemala

More pictures of the beautiful grounds.

This location is on a hill overlooking Antigua

The restaurant El Tinador - The Fork

El Tinador

View from the Restaurant

Kathia Bair from our table for lunch.

view of Antigua

View from the restaurant El Tinador

Elder Al and Hermana Kathy Burningham with the Volcano in the background at the restaurant at the top of the hill in Antigua.

Getting closer to getting home. Maternity packets and sending things home.

Kathia Rivera Bair is a ward member of our daughter Julie´s ward and is an employee of United Airlines.  This past March Kathia helped the ward with their maternity donations here to Guatemala for the free hospital for mothers who cannot afford healthcare during their pregnancy.   Kathia has standby flight privileges and she graciously volunteered to bring them this past March. Again she graciously came last Thursday August 12th and brought her mother Martha Rivera. They brought with them 4 full sized suitcases full of donations for the Maternity Hospital and other supplies for the Dental Clinic, CCM (MTC) and schools and orphanages.  Geneva Stringham and her ward put together beautiful hand made receiving blankets. Geneva also hand made some little baby hats, donated toys, books, and handmade bags that will be so welcomed by all who receive them.  Also that were donated were onsies, socks, and some hygiene kits of soaps, shampoos and deodorant from Kathia´s ward that will also be distributed to the most needed areas. 

In turn, Kathia and her mother took back with them to the states the same four suitcases filled with our belongings and decorations that we had collected while here.  It will lighten our load when we return to the states on September 1st.  Just two weeks from tomorrow.  Can hardly believe how fast this has gone.

Unloading the suitcases into a cart that will go to Elder and Sister Dones apartment.

Elder Burningham, Sister Done, Kathia Bair and Martha Rivera

 Getting them ready to place into kits

Sister Lloyd and myself in Sister Done´s apartment putting things together.

 An assembly line to put together kits.

Onsies in a basket as part of our assembly line.

This is how small some of the babies are.  The hat barely fits on this baby´s head.

Tiny baby being fed by syringe

Mother with her maternity kit.  Hat made by Geneva Stringham.  

Tiny little one

Have you ever seen such colors. Weaving in Guatemala

It is amazing how colorful these fabrics are and hand woven also.  The weaving is very tight that you think a machine did it.

LDS Volunteer on board the USNS Comfort receives an award for outstanding service.

On the left is Lt. Commander Sears.  She is the Commander of the Hospital aboard the USNS Comfort.  On the right is Jacque Weech who has been on board the ship for most of the Central American tour.  She will be leaving the ship in Barbados here shortly.  She is receiving an Exceptional Service award from Lt. Commander Sears.  We appreciate her example and willness to serve with her medical talents.

Baking bread with office employee Karen Rodas August 5th, 2015

Karen Rodas expressed an interest in my stand mixer that we bought when we first arrived here.  The Hamilton Beach mixer has been a blessing to us the whole time we have been here.  But we will not need it in the US as I have a Bosche mixer there and it has multi uses which I very much enjoy. Karen is a contract employee here in our Area Office and we came to an agreement for her to acquire the mixer for a reasonable amount.  She came to our apartment last night and I taught her how to bake bread.  Won´t be long and she will be baking with the best of them.  Best Wishes on your future baking Karen. 

Hamilton Beach Mixer

 Traditional White Bread 

Karen Rodas

Last Month here. Leaving on September 1, 2015. Having lunch with the Travel employees that work here in the office.

Well, its getting to the last four weeks.  Just want to say that we have so enjoyed our time with the office people.  They are so nice to us and we just have learned to love them so much.  The following are pictures of us with them and Mayra, the secretary at our floor office and Diana who works in mailing.  They are so special to us.

For lunch we went to a place where they served Pupusas.  Tortillas filled with cheese, meat of your choice and other things.  We like them here.  Our first experience in San Salvador was not quite so good. But here? Muy Saboroso!!!!!

Yarima Florian

 Alma

Sindy Mendez

 Diana and Mayra

Julio Alvarado and friends.

Trip to the Dentist July 21st 2015. URGENT, NEW SENIOR MISSIONARY DENTAL COUPLES NEEDED. SISTERS LEARN TO BE ASSISTANTS ON THE JOB

There are presently two missionary couples who serve in the Dental Clinic here in Guatemala.  They give dental service to  the orphans, elementary school children, missionaries , members of the LDS Church and those who have needs that are impossible here in Guatemala.  Who ever reads this please pass along to retired dentists that wish to serve.  We found out that Spanish is not necessarily needed.  We have a 75 year old retired dentist that did not speak Spanish at all but learned some to communicate to patients. His wife who is 73 learned some Spanish also enough to communicate and she learned to be his assistant.  We are very grateful for the service of Elder and Sister Jim and Carol Curtis.  When the Milne´s leave on July 31st, there will be only one couple left. We need at least three more couples.

We made an appointment to have our teeth cleaned before leaving Guatemala here in 6 weeks and we were priviliged to see some elementary school children ages 5 and 6 receive some dental examinations and floride treatments.  The kids were pretty excited to be there.  Photos as follows.

 Children waiting to be seen

 Elder Milne (Spanish speaking) demonstrates what they can expect when being examined

 Sister Milne holding two of the children on her lap so they could see the demonstration.

 Elder Milne explaining what will happen.

 Elder Milne counting the teeth

 Smiling children wait for their turn

 Open wide

 Sonrisa (smile)

Smiles as they wait.  Written on their stars is their name.