Went to the biiiiiggg market today. How do I describe all the fresh produce?! We went to get stuff to make pizza sauce on Friday. There are lines of bulk produce vendors and then there are the 'small amount' vendors. It is a most interesting experience! Fresh asparagus, peaches, lemons(limes), pears, pineapple, avocado, star fruit, cilantro, watermelon, to name only a few. We bought 100 lb. of nice potatoes for Q100. which translates into about $13.00. It feels so healthy to have fresh produce year round. There is a small market we walk to a twice a week and sometimes people bring food to our door to sell as well. One morning a woman brought bananas,  delicious bananas, and I bought some from her.Then she asked me to help her put the basket back on her head and we both heaved it up on her head. It was very heavy!
Tonight there was a knock on the door and when I opened it, there was a man telling me he was 'mucho hombre' and needed 'comida'. He drinks a lot and when I looked in his face, I had such a feeling of sadness for him and had to think of the deep need in his life!
Today Elba made a special meal called pepian. It has this well seasoned rice and chicken and wasquil and a chili sauce full of fresh cilantro! What an enjoyable meal! I was again surrounded by total Spanish since all the other gringos were not in for lunch. I may learn it yet!

Six weeks in our glass house! Words can't describe the feeling I had when we drove into the compound and saw the big black doors closing behind us, cutting us off from the rest of the world! I looked around and thought, "what kind of frying pan have we jumped into"?  That first day was a day of  reminding myself that the same God who led us here would be with us all the way.
Now, six weeks later, I have the proof that God has been with us. It is only by His grace and help that I can feel as comfortable and calm as I do. I love the people here. They are  normal,  dedicated people who are very friendly and welcoming.
Sunday evening I heard lots of  shouting and laughter coming from the kitchen. Marta was doing Spanish flash cards and Jody and Jeana were competing with the answer. We were entertained! .......lunch bell just went.....
My warm thoughts had a dose of reality as I sat through a 'toto espaniol  el almuerzo'. It can be isolating, yet I tell the girls, total Spanish! I hope I will pick some up.
 Vernon, Jody and Jeana left the house this morning in a happy mood. They walked to the bus stop to catch a chicken bus to Antigua for their second day of Spanish School. The school only had room for three, so I may get to go yet.

Help me fix these beans!

A few days ago I decided to make a Guatemalan meal of black beans, Guatemalan rice, tortillas and watermelon. Yum! I could just taste it! Then................. we all, 13 of us , sat down to eat. There was silence and there were small helpings and there were no second helpings. I sensed there may be a problem! The beans were gritty, the rice didn't have flavor, I was bitterly disappointed. After lunch I told Priscila, "please help me fix these beans", and she did. After some frying onions in oil, blending them with the beans and cooking them a bit more, we had some wonderful beans! Then for the evening meal, Priscila and Marta 'helped' me make supper while I watched! We made refried beans, and fried platenos. Was that meal ever good!
I am determined to learn how to cook Guatemalan and do it right! When we go back to the states my grocery budget may be smaller :). 
Today, I must confess, we had an all American lunch - meatloaf, baked potatoes, salad and pumpkin pie and apple pie. Our group added up to 18 people and we had a great time eating and figuring out brain teaser puzzles! Adios............

Be flexible!

This morning I planned the traditional Saturday morning prayer breakfast of pancakes. Expected 30 people and so made lots of pancakes and sausage gravy to go with it. (try that combo before you gag, it's real good). As the pancake level went down, I went into my traditional panic mode and quickly stirred up some more pancakes. Good thing I did!
Today I was able to communicate with Elba, a lady who comes and works here a few days a week. We can love each other through the language barrier! I know she has grandchildren and that we a just a year apart in age. My life has been easier than hers has!
Since we have been here, God has shown He can speak to us in spite of the language. Our souls can be fed, by His mercy. The second Sunday we were trying to find Spanish numbers to sing Spanish songs and I felt very dry and I just told God, "I need help, please feed my soul". He answered in such a beautiful way! The song we sang was 'Day by Day' and I felt so loved by His response. That song had been one of our family theme songs before we came to Guatemala. Then the pastor preached in Spanish but gave us the scripture and a few sentences of what he was speaking on. It was about laying our all on the alter and surrendering. Our souls were fed!"

For five weeks Mission Headquarters has been my glass house. There is a sense of privacy but the open windows and the walls that sound bounces over, shatter the illusion. God has been very real as we adjust to life in a glass house. I have decided that I am who I am and God sees and hears all, so no hiding my grouchiness here! Today I felt homesick and wanted to have a good cry. Just writing it makes me feel more like laughing at myself.  This week has been a very busy one with missionaries from all the outposts coming in for a 2 day 'workers meeting'. This meeting is a time of fun, laughing, talking, eating and being encouraged- all in the English language! We had a wonderful time. Our motivational speaker gave us a lot of food for thought and kept hitting on the thought that it is Gods spirit within us that touches hearts and draws others to Him.
We love it here in Guatemala and the people are so sweet! There are 2 girls, Priscila and Marta that live here at the mission. They have been wonderful and patient and keep pronouncing spanish words over and over and over!