Update from Guatemala

We are glad to hear that Madeline`s surgery went well and everything seems to be right on track. Wednesday we did a village tour including a tour of the coffee plant, a tour of a jade factory, and a tour of a monestary. We also went to Ruth & Paul`s, the place where Brian rented an apartment while he was here. It is amazing at what stands behind the doors and walls here in the city. Thursday we went to Mayra`s school and walked with the kids to a place with a large yard and a pool (which is very unusual for them). We only thought that kids in the US liked swimming! We served them a Thanksgiving dinner and then the principal and teachers performed a play about Thanksgiving. Friday Molly, Jeff, & I went to the market with Mayra`s secretary Yolanda and bought all of the orphan kids baseball caps. Then we took Yolanda out to eat at whatever restaurant of her choice...she chose McDonalds because that is considered a special occasion meal. Then we went to another village where the orphanage was at and gave them a pizza party with ice cream...another special occasion meal for them down here. We were greeted with all smiles and hugs over and over again by the 6 girls and 14 boys ages 3-18. They could not get enough hugging in! They are all sooo sweet and loving. There is a 3 year old boy who came about a year ago who was completely bruised head to toe, as if he was thrown against the wall, who giggled with strangers for the first time yesterday. We are going back again today to paint the girls home in the morning and then play with the kids in the afternoon. We are also going to give them the gifts we have for them. Tomorrow we will be going to Victor`s church (the guy who owns the orphanage) and then hiking up an active volcano. We are going to the volcano in the afternoon in hopes to see the lava flowing when it gets dark. On Monday Molly, Pat, Jeff, & I will be going to Lake Atitlan for a tour of the 5 villages around it. That´s all for now...hope everything is going well back home! Oh yeah...no worries about supporting Michigan football down here...we just decided to order in tonight so we can watch it tonight :)...talk about dedication from Brian & Jeff!