WB's Milestone

Today was a milestone in WB's life. She paid off her car that she had pawned to pay for her sister to be buried. Faye died unexpectedly and there was not enough money to pay for burial. She has worked so hard to pay off her debt. As a celebration, we all ate at Zaxby's!
WB met Marc Phillips, the singer, at Zaxby's today - WB loves his song - "Through the Fire". We sang it probably 50 plus times on our way to Monroeville almost a year ago.

PASS - Scatter Seed

Pastor Jim and Danna, Rick and Lisa............
God bless my dear family in Brook hills Church, greetings, blessings, hugs from Guatemala.
All my family say WE LOVE YOU............
This is the Church (poor area). But Praise The Lord, they are happy, becauce God bless them trough you. They don´t have water, they need to buy everyday water, but again They are happy. I am teaching THE PASTOR CONFERENCE MANUAL with the pastors, latter I am going to finish, I am going to send more pictures, Their names are Eduardo Gudiel and Bernice Gudiel.I am going to share something about my work here in Guatemala, Praise God four souls came to The Lord in this January, their names are: David Gonzalez, Mynor Mendez, Carlos Peralta, Hellman Duarte, please pray for them.Now I am working in evangelism in my Church, because we need to start the smalls groups for to share the Good News in our neighborhood, (Please pray for me)My wife is working with the ladies, my daugthers with the Children in Sunday School.

God bless you,Immer Mitchel Houston...

Braxton Desires to Live!

‘He has a desire to live’
Jennifer Williams Eagle Reporter

Daily Mountain Eagle Newspaper - Jasper, Alabama
Januray 29, 2009

Two-year-old Braxton Foy is so active that the washcloth tied around his neck is the only sign of how sick he is. Braxton was born with tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF). "His esophagus grew so far down and then it grew into his windpipe, his trachea," said his mother, Darlene Foy. Doctors had to put Braxton on life support as soon as he was born because he could not breath on his own without choking. As an infant, he gagged each time he swallowed because the fluids were entering his airways instead of his stomach. Braxton has had many surgeries in his short life to fix the problem.

In the first surgery, doctors unhooked his esophagus from his trachea. However, the two organs were so close together in Braxton's small body that a fistula, or abnormal connection, formed. Food continued to leak into Braxton's airway through the tube. After two more surgeries, doctors tried to wrap the esophagus in glue. They did multiple surgeries using the glue before a major complication arose. "In the fifth surgery, when they went in to use a synthetic glue, they shot too much of it and it dried down his trachea. They had to scrape all of that off," said Larry Foy, Braxton's father. Braxton had so many surgeries that his esophagus eventually began to deteriorate. Doctors went in again to cut out the dead part of the esophagus and reconstruct it. However, the stitching left a small hole. Braxton began to get recurring infections because what he swallowed still leaked into his chest. Doctors then stapled the esophagus shut and rerouted the rest of it to the side of his neck. "It's called a spit fistula. Everything that goes in his mouth comes out his neck onto a rag," Larry Foy said. Braxton is now fed through a feeding bag. A tube in his neck connects to a Mic-Key button on his stomach. He can only digest liquid milk. He can also have ice and water by mouth. Solid foods are forbidden for Braxton because of the dangers they pose. Larry Foy gave him a piece of an orange slice recently. Since Braxton didn't know how to chew it, the food stuck in his throat and he had to be rushed to the emergency room to have it removed. He has now learned to lick foods such as fries and chips and then give the solid portion back to his parents.

In all, Braxton has had 27 surgeries to correct his TEF. In addition to enduring all the work on his esophagus, he has also had part of his lung removed. "All of the saliva that was building up in his chest caused pressure in his cavity. So the upper right lobe of his lung had to be removed," Darlene Foy said. He is still in need of at least one more surgery. Doctors plan to take six inches of his small intestines to build him a new esophagus. However, Braxton's father is concerned that one more won't be enough. "He's coughing now. When he coughed before, it meant he had a fistula formed. So he may have one up higher now," Larry Foy said. The trials Braxton has faced in the past two years have had no affect on his attitude. He is a happy, energetic little boy most of the time. Darlene Foy said her young son is an inspiration to her, and she hopes other parents find hope in his story as well.

"He has a desire to live because he has been through so much," she said.

Sherri Meets Anita Salome

On Jan 23, 2009, at 5:40 PM, Bullen Timo wrote to Mark Whitehead

We are doing i hope you all doing good since when you come back (SUDAN) and we are hopping to come to see you soon but not yet knowing the becouse we wanted to talk with Tripp about

i talked with my uncle who is the secratary of our Commissinor he said the LRA is not showing up but people do not know where are they so becouse of the killing which happened 2 weeks ago many people come from the village to mundri and people are staving becouse they left thir food back and alot of sickness going on there which needs our prayers becouse Lui Hopital have no madecine and no Doctor to help so there is need of prayers

i hard that you when to teach in Lui i do not know wheather you Anita Salome my fiance she was there in Lui when you went there i hope you know this before you go there but it is ok

thank you i will talk to you soon
Bullen

Moody to SF

Today - America gets a new leader! The three of us watched from our hotel room as B.O. became the 44th President of the United States.

Our only schedule for today was to be at Sutter Street for dorm check-in between 2 - 5pm, so we took a cab to 79 New Montgomery for a tour of the school. Our cab driver was from Bangladesh and he was using very foul language about President Bush. The Art Academy front desk was very nice and sent us upstairs for a tour - Very informative staff, great school, very organized, mucho equipment for film and directing, huge library and students from many different cultures. We had to wait approx 30 minutes for the tour to start and I was taking pictures - C was a little cranky [nervous I think] and as I snapped a picture of him - STOP that Nancy! Who is Nancy? - My Aunt Nancy takes pictures of every move and it irritates me to no end - OK - I will not take anymore of you without permission. My take on this is: C was nervous, getting his bearings, searching for his element, mind racing, figuring it all out, etc. etc. He was short tempered with his mom and snapped at her to act human. Yikes! J was so nice and patient - she just pinched him on the arm in the elevator - I would have ......let's not go there. Thank you Jesus for being with us as we walked this journey.

Then to Pier 39, Bubba Gumps for lunch, I had mahi mahi sandwich, C wanted to expand his palate and ordered [shrimp heaven sampler with boiled, coconut, fried and stick shrimp]. Both of my friends have very picky taste buds and there were times that I was appalled by what I learned. C decided to eat a boiled shrimp first [he had never had one before], I watched with anticipation showing him the cocktail sauce for dipping [nope - picky taste bud came into play]. I glanced down at my food and when I looked back at C - he had the whole shrimp - shell, tail and all in his mouth with this nose scrunched up and eyes wide. Spit it out - He did - You have to take the shell off - I don't like it - Well I am sure you don't I wouldn't either - J and I showed him how to peel and eat the shrimp, but I don't think he will be ordering anymore of those while in SF. We walked around Pier 39 and into some shops, then off to see the dorm.

Cab back to hotel for luggage and C's belongings, a small crying scene as J was preparing for the departure. C was so sweet, while J was in the bathroom, he asked me to please take care of her and I promised I would, then to 860 Sutter Street for dorm check-in. We arrived at the house - very nice and clean - pool table in a large rec room looking onto Sutter - vending machine - sofa lounge for studying or visiting - nice cafeteria for meals - RA office for information. C's room, 310, student names on each door, metal bunk beds, Jack and Jill bath with claw foot tub and circular shower curtain, desk, portable closet and wire baskets for storage. C's roommate had already come, moved in and gone so all we knew was his name, Alexander. The view from C's third floor room is of fire escape exits backing up to each other as you see between two vintage concrete buildings - it is amazing and feels so much like an Art Academy scene. J and I left for BBB while C unpacked and got acclimated.

Taxi to BBB was insane - cabby looked like John Lennon with music blasting, little round glasses, long unkempt hair and a foot that was either pushing the petal to the metal or off the petal - the car was jumping and spurting through intersections out of control. The BBB in SF was not like ours - it was several floors and we could not find a thing. We purchased coat hangers, pillows, black pillowcases and a blanket. Leaving South of Market [BBB], we crazy - no cab to be found. As we walked through this parking deck, we asked a security guard where to catch a cab - they don't come down here, you have to call them - Really - onto the street we went with giant BBB bags and our purses. We looked to the left underneath an expressway - scary - to the right looked very industrial - we walked to the right barren corner - waiving at cabs that we saw blocks away. Two security guards came walking from the industrial park and advised us to call a cab. As they [security] dialed the cab company number - a yellow cab drove up on the other side of the street - There you go - We ran across a four-lane road to get to the cab and as we approached - HE DROVE OFF! J wheeled around to ask security to complete that call - GONE - they were no where in site. I began praying for a ride out of this danger - a cab came from around this bend in the road to pick us up. Thank you Jesus!

Back to the dorm - C has met his roommate from London and they connected immediately with many things in common. We simply dropped off the BBB bags at the door and were off to Hotel Whitcomb. We ate dinner at the Market Street Grill in the hotel for the 2nd time tonight. We had this waiter named Sol.

NOTE: I have this yellow micro bead mushy pillows that I take everywhere. I rub it on my face, lay on it, shake it, toss it, swing it in the air, etc. etc. C asked J - what's up with the yellow pillow! This is hilarious.

At our home, we watch sports, history channel or news. C and J watch movies, movies and movies. I was so lost with their conversations and quotes. I am so amazed at people who can remember this sort of thing!

GC Church

This is your Church here in Guatemala city, Do you know somebody in the pictures? I am working in my Church, I am Pastor Asistent. In the building we have in the first floor: SANCTUARY, second floor, DAY CARE (Lord willing) and the third floor SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASSES. Latter I am going to send more pictures, if you want.

God bless you, we love you, hugs, blessings, greetings from my family to all your family and Brook Hills members.

Immer Ramirez

Nit Picking

8 team members now have lice. This bug spreads and multiplies so quickly and without notice. I wonder why God created lice? It is a brown bug that lays white eggs (nits) in your hair. After nit picking for several days and lots of lice shampoo - only time will tell if it's gone.

Sharing ABIDE

GOD BLESS YOU IN YOUR MINISTERS,HOW ARE YOU?
PRAISE GOD MY FAMILY IS OK, MY CHILDREN STARTED THEIR SCHOOL, AND THEY ARE HAPPY,

I WAS WORKING WITH ANOTHER PASTORS HIS NAME IS HERNAN SOSA AND ROSA DE SOSA, I SHARED THE PASTOR CONFERENCE [ABIDE] WITH THEM, AND THEY ARE HAPPY WITH THE MATERIAL, AND CONCORDANCE, THEY SAY THANKYOU VERY MUCH.

LORD WILLING, THE NEXT I AM GOING TO SHARE THE PASTOR CONFERENCE WITH ANOTHERS PASTORS, THEIR NAMES EDUARDO GUDIEL AND BERNICE DE GUDIEL, PLEASE PRAY FOR ME.

YOU GAVE THE MATERIAL (CRAFTS, BALOONS, TOYS.......) I GAVE TO THE PASTORS AND SUNDAY SCHO0L TEACHERS, AND THEY ARE HAPPY WITH THIS MATERIAL. Immer Ramirez

Walk by Faith

Cherokee Legend -
Do you know the legend of the Cherokee Indian youth's rite of Passage?

His father takes him into the forest, blindfolds him and leaves him alone. He is required to sit on a stump the whole night and not remove the blindfold until the rays of the morning sun shine through it. He cannot cry out for help to anyone. Once he survives the night, he is a MAN.

He cannot tell the other boys of this experience, because each lad must come into manhood on his own. The boy is naturally terrified. He can hear all kinds of noises. Wild beasts must surely be all around him. Maybe even some human might do him harm. The wind blew the grass and earth, and shook his stump, but he sat stoically, never removing the blindfold. It would be the only way he could become a man! Finally, after a horrific night the sun appeared and he removed his blindfold. It was then that he discovered his father sitting on the stump next to him. He had been at watch the entire night, protecting his son from harm.

We, too, are never alone. Even when we don't know it, God is watching over us, sitting on the stump beside us. When trouble comes, all we have to do is reach out to Him.

Moral of the story: Just because you can't see God, Doesn't mean He is not there. 'For we walk by faith, not by sight.

Brother in Christ

From Immer Saul Ramirez.....

Is wonderful to talk by e-mail also, Lord willing I am going to teach to anothers pastors in this year, the beautiful thing is I have my material, and I am going to make more and more copies.

The picture was when my oldest daugther finished her High School, Praise God.

My Rick and Lisa, thankyou verymuch for the money, thankyou, thankyou.............................I am going to use for the School supplies for my Children (Jeherzely, Andrea, Vicente and Pedro). With all my heart again God bless you in your lives, you are God´s Instruments for to bless many people around the world.

God bless you,

Immer

Scattering Seeds

From Immer Ramirez - One of our Translators in Guatemala.....

Helo Brothers and Sisters

Pastor Jim, Rick and Lisa

How are you? God bless you in your lives and ministers in your Church. We miss you, and Lord willing we are going to meet again for to work in His Kingdom,
last week I was teaching ABIDE (PASTOR CONFERENCE) with one Pastor here in Guatemala City and He said was a huge blessing the material, and thankyou very much for the concordance, and thankyou very much Pastor Jim, Rick and Lisa. His name is Rolando Leiva, here I am going to send some pictures....

Greetings and blessings to all your Church, in special your 2008 Guatemala Team,

Immer and family (Guatemala Brook Hills member)

NOTE
This week I am teaching the conference with another Pastor, his name is Hernan Sosa, I am going to send pictures.

Balance the Account

Today was balance the Guatemala Mission Account! Thank you Jesus that you provided so much for our trip to Solola, Guatemala. A team of 22 people left on Christmas morning at 5am. Jesus provided 7 days and nights room and board for 22 people, a school carnival for over 300 children with 100's of balloon animals, pizza and orange drinks, 800 small toys for all the children, 150 stuffed animals, 100 washcloths filled with shampoo, soap and lotion for the hospital patients, 500 toothbrushes and toothpaste, thousands of pieces of candy, baby clothes, 25 spanish concordance's, 43 pastors and families for a Bible conference, 80 Abide tshirts, 80 Abide backpacks, 12 stoves, 150 concrete blocks, a chicken bus to and from Guatemala City, clean bottles of water, mega peanut butter and bread, 4 great translators to help us communicate and many many seeds planted along the way. Our airline flights were discounted over 300.00 each, which was refunded to each team member and the team still returned with almost 4000.00.

The team had already assigned projects to be completed and what a start! We will begin a chicken project for the children at the local school of 300 and purchase books for each student as well as medicine for the local national hospital.

Father, Thank you so much for giving us the opportunity to be Your hands and feet in Solola, Guatemala. You are our Creator and You provide every breathe.

Scatter Christ

NOLA - New Orleans LA

The Sugar Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game played in the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Sugar Bowl has been played annually since December 2, 1934, and celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2009.

Wesley and Spencer went to the Sugar Bowl to see Alabama vs Utah. Wesley and Spencer both had many friends in New Orleans. This email below was sent to Wesley from a great friend, Ron Patterson.

Wesley,
Thank you for everything you did to make the trip enjoyable for all of us. The hotel was great. The rooms were nice and comfortable. The beds were really nice – too bad Spencer would not know much about that. We were in a good location and very convenient to everything. You picked some good places to eat. Desire’s was one of the better places in NO. I also think the Bourbon Street Oyster Bar had outstanding food – once we got it. You took care of everybody, even little brother and juggled being with us and your friends and work buddies. I appreciate all you did. I hope you had a good time and had enough time for you to enjoy yourself. The game could have been much better for us, but it still was a good trip. Being able to spend time with you made it a good memory for me. Pam and Stuart and I all had a great time.

I believe that I remember your Mom saying that your name meant “gift from God”. It is clear that is how she sees you. I am sure you have heard that from her many times. You are a special gift from God to me also. I am grateful God has let you be a part of my life. I never tire of just being with you. I pray for you that you will be pleasing to God all of your days. I ask for you to have a desire for holiness, even at the sacrifice of happiness. I ask God to not let you settle for anything less than His best and that He will give you relationships with people who will challenge you to be a man of God that honors Him in everything you do. I ask God to make your heart crave the things of His heart and that you will not settle for or choose first the lures of this world. I ask for His truth to have a firm root in your soul and grow to produce eternal fruit. You are a special gift from God and I hope He will make you special for His purpose and His kingdom.

Chicken Request

While in Guatemala last week, our team did a Celebration Party at the local school, Escuela Rafael Tellez. Pizza and Koolaid was served to over 300 children. Bean bag toss, Go Fishing, Spin Art, Balloon Animals and Face Paint were the booths we set up to entertain the children. The children on our team performed the Christmas Story with costumes for all the Guatemalan children and we danced to the ChaCha Slide. What a fun time for everyone.

Our team this year was comprized of several school teachers. Our teachers and the Guatemalan teachers had a question and answer time together. Our teachers gave them tips on how situations and lessons are handled in America. Toward the end of the meeting - one last question to Guatemala: If you could have one thing, what would that be?
Kindergarten: Reading Books
1st Grade: Reading and Math Books
2nd Grade: A Chicken for each Child!

My children in second grade have to work the fields beginning at 5:30am every morning, then be at school by 7:30. When they arrive they are hungry, dirty and tired. This teacher wants to make a difference in their ability to learn by giving them an egg to eat. Wow - He requested one chicken per child and a coop to house them.
This is an exciting project! - Chickens for Jesus! $7.00 per chicken.
Scatter Christ (Seed)
Lisa

Fundaninos

A little about the Orphanage visited on NYE.

Written by Vilma Beneveldt:
Fundaninos is an Christian non-profit organization and we have been working with children since the 1991. In the beginning we were as a volunteer group of the wife of the vise President Espina in 1991.We were going to the minor jail to preach and give to the children
who are there a message of hope in Jesus Christ. When the Government change we
could keep helping the new first lady because our desire was to give the a message Of
hope in Jesus Christ, He is the only one who can change one life and she was like new
age, we can´t work with that ideas. So we decide to do a preventive program that avoid the
children to go there so we began by our self in 1993 our first little….little program with
12 children. These children come from the court of minors, they are not delinquents, they
are children in high risk because the Abandoned, abuse or maltreatment that had receive
from their families, you will not believe the stories of these children. Sometimes we
think that we already see all the bad things that parents, or relatives has done to the children
until one other worse case comes. In this moment we have 55 children in the orphanages,
but we have place for around 70, we have been blessed with the help of many
Christians brothers and sisters in the construction, but our main problem is the maintenance,
people loves to build things but after this you have to feed a child and support the
children.You will love Fundaniños, children are happy……. One day I dream with a place
that the children could run, laugh and Be secure...........Vilma

Written by Andy Davies – Feb 2 ,2005

Some background on the home - its just outside Guatemala City, run by a group of women, the home is called Fundaninos. It is for orphaned street children, who are given somewhere to stay until they placed within a foster placement with a family. Some are there for a while, others not. Its hard to imagine what these kids have gone through, they are aged 0-15. There can be anything from 35 - 60 children there. And only 5 staff members, i think there will be 4 other volunteers when i am there, we share a dormitory.

2-14-05 Arrived now in San Jose, will be here for 11 weeks. Small, dusty noisy town on the outskirts of Guatemala City. Arrived at Fundaninos last night, to chaos! 35 kids here, most are young and require much attention. Last night changed my first nappy, many more to come! Kids so far are great, full of beans (literally judging from the nappy change!) and energy. As most of the kids attend school the busy times to work are 4.30am - 8am and 3.30 - 8 (they go to bed at 8). Day is only a few kids who don´t go to School to look after and loads and loads of washing! There are 7 of us at the moment so should be manageable. Most of young ones require one to one attention. so this morning played frisbee and went on the trampoline and just hugged lots of kids. Some deaf kids and learning disabled too and they are all mischievous! Nearly all have been abused and abadoned, my fave so far is a partly deaf kid, about 3, i can´t remember his name. He got boiling water poured all over him by his mum 4 days ago, but he still smiles, even though it must hurt, a lesson for us all. Am using my spanish, but it is mostly orders - don´t do that! being the one most used. Have to go now, will write more soon, Take care everyone.
General routine of a day is (when the kids are at School): Up at 4.15, throw some clothes on, get the children up, changed, showered, have breakfast, they set off to School about 6ish. Then clean the house and get the washing on, everything has to be washed every day, there is so much of it! This is my least favourite part of the day! This morning i spent an hour unblocking two toilets! I also find it tough forcing a child into the shower, when they are crying their eyes out, its not something that would be all that accepatable in the u.k., but here its fine. And i kind of agree, the children need showering every day. Then get the other children up, changed and showered. Then sleep for a bit if you get chance, and chill out for the day. At 3.30 it goes a bit manic again, when the children come back from School and need help with homework and supervising during play, this part of the day is great! Dinner at 6 and then the little ones get taken to bed, usually by about 7.30 they are all in bed. Standards of hygeine are completely different to home, i can´t say more in this journal though! Our house is o.k. but no doors inside, even on the toilet! Which takes time to get used to! There is a curtain there though. But we really have evrything we need, three meals a day, a bed, a roof, clean water. You just become accustomed to it. Write more next week, Take care everyone.
Sat 19.02.05 The orphange is very isolated. Its 30 min walk from the town, and is set in a valley. It has a dusty track which links it to the town. No neighbours to speak off and there is a wall to stop people getting in or out. In the day the orphanage has no car or money, we often get asked to pay for things the home needs. The boss won´t let us use the tumble dryer to dry the kids uniform, because he says it costs too much money!! So when there is no sun the kids will have a wet uniform to put on. We are now down to 5 of us, two more to come on Monday. The constant changing in group dynamics is interesting and i think we all find it difficult. So today we decided to take the kids (who are responsible enough) up the nearest mountain. The weekends i prefer because its a later start and then all the kids are there not just the non school ones. We bought cookies and water and had a picnic with them at the top of the mountain. You could look down and see Fundaninos, San Jose and mountains and volcanoes in the background, awesome view and hopefully some good photos. They absolutely loved climbing the mountain, being so isolated and not going out i think they all appreciated it. It took an hour to climb, so more of a hill, not a mountain. It was great to see the kids looking out for each other, working as a group and the big kids helping the little ones. At the top we saw a cow and the kids just loved seeing it. To be so close to an animal is something they just dont experience. They all tried to touch it, it was just interested in the food. Then it gave a really loud moo, and an eruption of laughter followed! The descent was also a bit hary (though not in comparison to Pacaya!). One of the other volunteers slipped and slid on her bum for about 5 metres and ripped a large hole in her trousers. The kids took great delight in telling the story when we returned! Sun 20.02.05 Movie day. We all chipped in a and got some movies for the kids - Shrek 2, in Spanish, so hard to understand it! And Lord of the Rings, which i didn´t watch. The kids liked both. And popcorn (poporopa in Spanish). I had the fun of supervising the little ones while the rest watched LOR. It was o.k. just lots of tantrems that i didn´t understand. My Spanish is not really improving, its probably got worse since Antigua, i mainly talk in English to the other volunteers and just use Spanish for commands with the children. Its not possible to have a conversation with the kids, because they talk to fast and i don´t understand what they are saying! We have a multi lingual volunteer here, which really helps, so he often translates. He has a much better relationship with the older kids because he can converse. I find it frustrating that i cannot do the same. Thats all for now, Take care.
Every day at 3.30 we need to wash the school clothes and get them dry for the next day. We have been using the tumble dryer as they are never dry in time. The boss here does not like us using the tumble dryer as it costs too much money to use. At the weekend he removed it, i thought to his house. On Monday at 7, we asked initially to use the tumble dryer, he told us that this was not possible and we needed to iron the clothes dry! He said that it was Claudia{s responsibility, not ours, but she already works every day all day and only has Saturday off to study. To me this was unreasonable so i went and showed him how wet a shirt was. He was not happy with this at all! He then went and spoke to Claudia, the end result being a very upset Claudia and no solution to the problem, as he had sold the dryer! I asked him what he is going to do when thw winter comes and it rains, he is going to look for another one. Its hard to understand the logic, because we now use three irons to dry the clothes and it takes an hour, which surely uses more electricity. I don't understand his logic. For me running a place like this should be simple , you put the kids needs first. How does it ever get more complicated than that? Somewhere along the line it has. At first i thought i had made a hugh error of judgement because i had caused more trouble. But actually i am glad i said something. Our current thinking of a solution is to buy 20 new school shirts then we won't have to dry them. Also today - helped with homework. One kid had to draw his family. He had to make it up, it was a reminder how tough it is for them. Imagine having to do that? Making up parents, brothers, sisters and grandparents. He didn't seem to think it was odd though. Most kids have potential adoption parents here, its just that the adoption process takes so long. I think 3-4 years to adopt, so i have been told. Most understand that they are going to be going somewhere to get the attention and care they need. Its funny because some of the kids speak good english. If you ask them a question in Spanish, they answer in English. If you ask them why they want to learn English, they tell you because they want to get adopted! They are only young, 4-15, but they understand the way the world works and adults already. One girl of 4 asked one of the volunteers to adopt her! How many 4 year old kids in the world know the verb for to adopt!

Scatter Christ
Lisa

New Years in Guatemala!

Rick and I rang in 2009 ASLEEP! We were in the Holiday Inn Guatemala City after a week in the Mayan Villages of Solola Guatemala. We had a Big Mac, Diet Coke with ICE, French Fries and a McFlurry for lunch -- Our stomachs were not prepared -which sent us to the banos many times. Clean sheets, air conditioning, hot showers and no spiders or scorpions just called for sleep. Happy New Year everyone!