Querida Familia y Amigos: We got your mail!!! Christmas cards arrived from Jed and Steve, the Dunfords, and Elizabeth Robinson. Wonder of wonders, a package came from Joe and Kim. We now have lots of outdoor reading! We also continued our flag tradition by hanging the Guatemalan flag we bought last week. |
Then...
On Wednesday and Thursday we had a delightful excursion to Chichicastenango, a hill city west and north of us. Visiting the renowned market there has been on President Burk's "bucket list." We were invited to join the Burks and the Thompsons for the two-day trip. The Thompsons are also in the temple presidency.
On Wednesday and Thursday we had a delightful excursion to Chichicastenango, a hill city west and north of us. Visiting the renowned market there has been on President Burk's "bucket list." We were invited to join the Burks and the Thompsons for the two-day trip. The Thompsons are also in the temple presidency.
(Dad, me, Hermana Thompson, Hermana Burk, Presidente Burk. Presidente Thompson is taking the photo at the Lake Atitlan overlook.) We left mid-morning on Wednesday and arrived mid-afternoon via windy roads in this town of narrow streets and steep hills. We had a most unusual hotel called The Chalet, which was similar to the town in its construction. Our room's window opened right onto the street. Through it we were treated to motorcycle noise, passing wheelbarrows, wood smoke from cooking fires, howling dogs and early morning roosters. Somehow we slept through the firecrackers. Oh, and it was cold, at least for what we are accustomed to in the city. It was also great fun. The chairs in the breakfast nook had huipils, or native blouses, on their backs. The several floors had three or four rooms apiece, each with carvings on the doors and native blankets. A surgeon and general practitioner, the wife of the owner, had her office on the second floor. More fun and oddities: the bathrooms had wooden slats in the high parts of the walls that vented directly onto the main corridors, so little privacy. The walls had many embroidered pieces of cloth tacked up and some were even wrapped around the electrical cords. The roof held clothes lines and plants. There was Loganberry jam and fresh bread for breakfast. The evening we arrived, we walked part of the town to see where the market would be set up the next day. When we had walked just a few blocks, three young girls attached themselves to us, trying to see us pencils, bookmarks and journals. We walked to a large Catholic cathedral on the main square, which was open and darkly lit by candles. As we made our way to the church on the other side, we saw two missionaries and stopped to visit. The entire area was already set up with stalls for the market. We thought it would be an open-air market, and the next day much of it was, but there were many stalls and areas that looked permanent. The next morning, after our 100-times-up night, and our homemade bread and jam breakfast, we went to market. The most fun we had was with a short older native saleswoman, who told us her name was Juana and of course we would want to buy from her. She followed us through the streets and once came back with aprons. Sister Thompson bought the color I wanted, so I asked if there was another available. Eventually all three of us women bought aprons. Notice the baskets of chickens and the man playing a marimba, all done is cross stitch. I also bought necklaces for our granddaughters. Remember the girls who found us yesterday? Today they had the right items and the price kept coming down as we wandered the market. Then home again, via skirt buying at the overlook to Lake Atitlan, lunch and strawberry-purchasing at Tecpan. Friday I got my computer back, minus lots of files and the old hard drive. It works again and sometime I will get it all set up. Saturday we had great fun at a giant warehouse store called Megapaca. It's an enormous DI-type store with clothes shipped in from the US. You should have seen how excited Dad as to find a new-looking winter sports coat for $2.60!!!!!!!! plus a BYU tie, a belt and some pants. Total price? $13. I had equal fun buying two pairs of sandals, two pairs of pants, a hoodie, a blouse for the temple, and a gorgeous scarf, all for $20. Look out Kristi! I'm catching on to the buy-it-right method. Our break is over and tomorrow we will be back in the temple. We have an unusual Monday session for missionaries to be endowed in the afternoon. (Normally the temple is closed on Mondays). In the evening we have a special FHE to welcome a new missionary couple. |
I'm tempted to say "over and out" after this whirlwind two weeks of trips and adventures. However I'll just say hasta pronto. See you very soon via Skype.
Love to all,
Missionary Mom
Love to all,
Missionary Mom