Getting worms...

The guys went up to Efa (agricultural farm in Solola) to get worms for the Jensen's and Denning's gardening project.

Dennings and Jensens are raising rabbits to sell for food.  

Primary Activity!

Calvin and Devon, getting their station ready for the primary activity.

Rachel at the bowling station (using plastic water bottles and hackey sacks)

"Name the prophet and general authorities" game

Greg Jensen heading up the scripture stories game 

Colin wanted to play too:)

Lucy- the awesomest Primary President ever! 

Emily was right out there with all the boys, doing great at soccer!   

It was raining pretty good, so all the little kids took shelter under (and around) the umbrellas! 

Another garden project

Devon, Colin, and Greg spent lots and lots of hours shoveling dirt into the truck, in preparation to put in another garden.  Calvin woke up not feeling so hot, so I gave him an aroma touch massage with the oils, he went back to sleep, and woke up later feeling fully recovered!  Soooo grateful for the power of the oils- especially while we're traveling.  Calvin was able to join in the project later on. 

This cinderblock box is this family's home.  

The young man in red was very excited to help plant this garden for his family.

The "bathroom"

Outside water supply used for washing dishes and clothes.

This is the "pila" where all the dish washing,  clothes washing, and personal grooming/bathing takes place.  Very typical in most Guatemalan homes in poverty areas. 

Calvin and Devon were pretty excited to use this machette to cut up wood scraps for more garden dividers! 

Tiffany was thrilled to put different vegetable seeds into the ground!  Can't wait to plant our own garden eventually!

Back to the orphanage...

It was so fun seeing this little sweetie's progress!  We were just leaving the orphanage the day this little girl arrived, along with a few others, including the girl below who is holing on to Calvin.  She had a pretty severe skin condition, and each time we have come back, it has improved.  Fun to see her smiling, responsive, and pulling on my necklace!  Because Guatemala is closed for adoption, the chances of this little girl, or any of these children, growing up with a mommy and a daddy is very slim, and pretty much just won't happen.  However, it is a comfort to see the kids laughing, playing, and being cared for.  At least they have a roof over their heads, food, and grown ups who take care of them.

The girl to my right, Jennifer, is deaf, but she does have a little hearing.  She's a great lip-reader.  Such an enthusiastic sweet little gal!

Colin took videos of the kids playing, and they absolutely loved watching the play-backs of themselves on his camera!  He pretty much sat on the couch with a crowd of kids, for about an hour!

Isla Verde

The headband girls!  We love these Guatemalan head bands we bought on the street.  So comfy and colorful!  We had such a fun day today.  This morning, we crammed our whole family into a tuk-tuk, and drove to a boat dock.  Got on a boat and headed over to Santa Cruiz.  Then we took a beautiful hike over to Isla Verde.  Greg, Colin, and I had gone to check out Isla Verde yesterday, and talked essential oils with a few of the ladies who work there.  Their place is similar to Mystical Yoga Farm, and they are very interested in the oils as well.  We got a tour of Isla Verde and it's like a tropical paradise!  Cozy yoga room, and "hotel" rooms that resemble tree houses.  We ate "real" food at a nice restaurant.  The smoothies were so good, I was craving one today and we wanted the kids to see this place, so we came back!     

Yoga room.  Ty loved all the cozy bean bags everywhere!

Canoe swing

The girls had fun on this silk swing!

After lunch, we hiked through beautiful terrain to Jaibalito. 

Very cool wall surrounding a very nice home.

This is us contemplating how amazingly beautiful it is here!  

As we passed by this "home" the kids and I commented how the family who lives here would greatly benefit from an Onil stove.  Can you imagine living in this smoke-trap and growing up with smoke-filled lungs?  It's really difficult to think that this kind of a life is a reality for so many families.  

This sweet little child called out, "hola!" as we passed by, with a wave and a smile.  I felt a part of my heart stayed in this tiny little village as we passed through.  Destitute and poor, but still so much hope and happy hearts exist here.

Enjoying the fast boat ride home.  We've gone on several boats that are pretty slow, but this driver knew how to crank the speed!  I don't know if I'll ever tire of these boat rides.  It's a great way to travel!

After we got back from our adventure this morning, Emily, the T's and I went to the biblioteca (library), while Colin took the older boys shopping. They bought exactly what you see here!  Calvin and Devon are already becoming pretty good on their flutes.  Colin got some of these wild pants too.  They crack me up!  They look so comfy.  The guys pulled off some pretty sweet bargains on their little shopping expedition.