Mayan Treasure

Measuring string for necklaces and bracelets.  This is my San Jose Chakaya group:) 

Maria (aka "Grandma"), preparing corn to make tortillas

Meet Marta and her husband.  She gets paid next to nothing to make these beaded earrings.  Marta's husband was blinded in a work related accident 6 years ago.  Now he shines shoes and washes cars (his son is his "eyes") when he can.  He made the crude shoe-shining stand shown in this picture.  Marta and her family live in a deserted baseball dugout.

This is all the food they have in their home (no fridge).  Several packages of rice, beans, and pasta.  We gave them some watermelon and tangerines when we left (Lucy and I had just been to the market), and they were thrilled!

This is their very skinny "hallway." Even though their "home" is very small, Marta has made it pretty with some pieces of fabric for curtains and table covers.  

This is their "bedroom" where all 5 family members cram in to sleep.  This is a rug on the floor- there's no room for an actual mattress. 

Marta's children were very happy to show us their two pet birds! Looks like the cage is made from chicken wire.

Delia's daughter Emma and her brother Walter have become expert jewelry makers! Delia is so busy working in the river, and doesn't have much time to make jewelry.  So, her kids do it after school.

Marta and her wood and nails invention for tying knots.  Works great!

Ingrid and her daughter in their humble home.

This is the "pila" or kitchen sink (also where teeth are brushed, clothes are washed, and sponge baths are taken)

Carolina, her daughter, and parents.

Making tortillas on their outside stove.  This is the type of stove Calvin installed for his Eagle Project. 

This is where Delia washes the clothes. 

Delia's kitchen

Our first mailing of Mayan Treasure jewelry orders!

Sometimes it takes two people to tie knots "muy apretado!"

Josefina and Estela

Josefina's son, entertaining me by putting this flower on his head!

Juana's kitchen.  We all love cute baby Astrid!

1 Bedroom, 6 people.

Grandma Maria- she loves to joke around and has a great sense of humor! 

Zeke and Juana's new home, made of cob

Marta's daughters enjoying jumping on our donated trampoline while their mom Marta works on jewelry (this is at the Jensen's house)

Ana and her two active boys!

Aura showing off the Young Women's value bracelet beads.

Sister Watts has been so supportive of Mayan Treasure! Her husband is mission president in Guatemala City.

Mailing more jewelry to the states!!

Aura got a bracelet order from my friend in Australia! She and her mom didn't know where AU was, so I drew this very detailed map:)

Marta and Ingrid showing off some beautiful bracelets they made.

Marina, learning the basket style necklace.

This is how the tienda worker charges for the beads I bought...by weight.  Kind of felt like I was in an old movie or something:) 

Young Women's New Beginnings

We didn't plan the creamsickle color coordination....it just happened:)

Street vender

I bought a few purses from this lady, and she totally kept going for the upsell! I ended up buying 4 or 5 things instead of the one purse I was going to get.  When I asked if I could take a picture with her, she got really grumpy and said it would cost me 10 quetzales! I laughed and said, "no, gratis!" She relented (though I wondered if she would slap me....I really didn't know what to expect from this character), and agreed to a photo shoot:)

Projects at the Jensen's Homestead

Building the tool shed.

Morning hike which I named "walking into the light." Made me think of heaven!

Nicolas, using his carpentry skills.

Em, working just as hard as the guys:)

Youth activity, helping at the Jensen's.  Juanito doing amazing fork tricks!

Juanito and Angel

Zeke the animal, chowing down on some sandia.  This guy really is amazing and has super-human working powers (which is typical among the Guatemalan people)

Digging holes for posts with the Taylor and Lake boys.

Lettuce from the Jensen's garden!

Morning hike with Lucy, to the amazing volcano and Lake Atitlan lookout! Wish the view behind us was visible....it's incredible!

Em, Dev, and Josh, putting together a worm box.

Calvin and Josh putting the last touches on the tool shed.

2 Kellys, 4 Jensens, thinking about the future of the planet earth (or maybe they were seeing how many of them could fit on the bed!)

Homemade raspberry roles!

Rainee Lake and Em talking about their favorite books, while washing dishes!

Calvin reading "Jesus the Christ" in a comfy tree.

Home school, Charolette Mason style in the great outdoors!  Reading math stories from "The Life of Fred."

Removing a tree stump!

Wisdom Teeth, gone!

Swishing with oregano, On Guard, and another (I forgot) with coconut oil...pre-op procedure. 

Not so easy to smile just yet....  All in all, the boys recovered great and used the oils aggressively to prevent infection and promote healing (instead of taking the anti biotic the dentist wanted them to). They were champion at healing

Mission application

Calvin had a great interview with our Mission President Brough 

Completing the application and....sent! Later we found out that since Calvin is 18, he needs to take the GED test since he's homeschooled.  So that will happen in May.  Then he'll send in the app again!

Primary Activity!

The day started off great with me getting bit by a dog! My friend had asked if we could use this area (we've used it for church activities before).  The owner had said no, but as we drove past, we saw the gate was open.  I thought there's no harm in asking the owner myself.  Luckily I told all the kids to stay at the car with the other adult leader. As I walked, I began to hear dogs barking, but that was no big deal because you always hear that here.  Then I saw 3 or 4 of them chasing me!  I turned around and started walking back.  But one got me! He bit into the back of my ankle and I screamed and fell to the ground (those porro primary children!  I screamed something at the dogs probably like, "go away you stupid things!!" I put lots of oils on the bite. Later the owner came out after hearing what had happened and apologized profusely.  Then he left and came back with current shot records of his dog, and alcohol with cotton swaps to disinfect.  After that he let us use his field, and we can a great time playing "hold to the rod" and duck duck goose! 

The Seed

Colin, Mom, and Dad skyped me from The Seed! Sure miss that food a lot....can't wait to go there when we get back! That will be one of my first stops, and I'll probably order one of everything on the menu!

Raw tostadas

Some kind of raw soup I think.

Raw coconut banana cream pie!

Valentine's Day

Colin was in the U.S. for doTERRA meetings during Valentine's Day. So, we treated ourselves to a boat ride over to Casa del Mundo, and a little hike to Isla Verde, where the kids had fun playing in the hammocks!

Happy Birthday, Candy!

I don't know how we'd manage without Candy! She might be small, but she works so hard and is always so appreciate of the littlest things.  The kids chose these beautiful flowers for her birthday.