January 23rd through January 29th

January 23^rd through January 29^th:  Monday, after shopping, we took the Hurst’s, Winkfield’s and the Price’s to see the ruins at Kaminaljuyu.  These ruins date from 800 BC to 900 AD and are some of the oldest in Guatemala. Kaminaljuyu was at the center of a trade network between the Pacific Coast, the highlands and the Maya lowlands.  There is evidence of enormous irrigation canals.  There is not much left because most of the ancient city has been built over by the expansion of modern-day Guatemala City.  The archaeological park has a small museum and the most interesting thing I learned was that the early ball game used a goal in the center of the playing field that was stuck in the ground, not on the side of the court like in Chichen Itza.  

Diorama of Kaminaljuyu.

Pottery from Kaminaljuyu.

Pottery from Kaminaljuyu.

Pottery from Kaminaljuyu.

Pottery from Kaminaljuyu.

Excavations at Kaminaljuyu.

Excavations at Kaminaljuyu.

Excavations at Kaminaljuyu.

Replica of the stone goal used for the ball game.

Goal at Chichen Itza.

We had a family home evening for everyone in the evening.  We switched presidency meeting to Tuesdays because Jill Smith, our art teacher, changed the class from Friday to Wednesday.  So Wednesday morning we went to our art class and then did the afternoon shift.  

My new attempt at a portrait. 

Mom's is really coming along.

Thursday, mom drove Sister Price to the area offices so they could car pool to the children’s cancer hospital, where they spent the morning helping children make bracelets and play with play dough. 

At the children's cancer hospital.

Children and their parents are waiting
 to receive treatment.

In the afternoon, we worked the night shift again because we had to switch with the Funes’ so we could have Friday to attend the senior missionary zone conference.  

Mom with Sister Chew from Patzicia.

Friday we went to the zone conference and then had a nice lunch afterwards.  Elder Ochoa and his wife spoke to us along with 3 senior couples that will be leaving before the next zone conference in April.  Sister Smith told a touching story about leaving her family at the airport and walking away from them and with tears in her eyes saying to her husband “We are doing this mission for our grandchildren.  How can we expect them to serve missions if we are not willing to serve?” We, like all senior missionaries, feel exactly like Sister Smith. Elder Smith, who is one of the dentists at the dental clinic, told a story about a Bishop who brought 8 future missionaries from 12 hours away. He said, “We know when they come from so far away that they will need a lot of work and that many of them will have never seen a dentist before.  Such was the case with this group.  We could not get all the work done in one day and they had to stay over two nights in order to be get all the work finished.  We found out that the Bishop had arrived with 800 Quetzales or about $100 dollars.   By the second day they had run out of money and so we made lunch for them at the clinic.  They said they were fine but they devoured everything in sight. Their sacrifices bore a powerful testimony to us of their desire to serve a mission.”  All three of these soon to return missionaries’ testimonies were a spiritual feast and we all came away uplifted and edified.   

Zone Conference.  I am sitting next to Elder Ochoa.

Sunday we went to the Las Victorias zone conference.  Elder Valladares was presiding.  He is from Honduras.  I spoke, mom got the day off.  It was a nice meeting and we enjoy so much being with the saints.  

These are not fake flowers.  So colorful.

Mom with one of our ordinance workers' Sister Garcia.

After stake conference.

We hurried home and got a bite to eat and then went to the temple and had a planning and goal setting meeting with the presidency and Brother Abadillo, our recorder.   We Facetimed our kids in Utah for their monthly dinner together.  Dinner was over and they were playing a game.  We laughed right along with them.  Technology is such a blessing.  We had a great week and we count our many blessings often.  We still have to pinch ourselves every now and then to see if all these wonderful things are really happening to us.