Buenes Noches, Amigos! See we have already started sounding like the Guatemalans. We had another great day here visiting orphanages. We were all a little apprehensive to visit the first one on our list. It was a Hospice for Aids orphans. When we think Hospice we were thinking babies that were living their last days, this however was not what we found. I don't know if I would have been able to handle that. These kids are HIV positive and since they have no family they go to this orphanage. They all looked healthy and were full of energy. Some of the older girls have been there 12 plus years and they will most likely be there until they die. Guatemala as a country does not understand the whole Aids epidemic and so they are pretty much shunned. The small kids gave Matt and Lane a workout. One kid wanted to get up on Lane's shoulders and pretty soon they had a whole line of kids who wanted rides. They would take them and run around the playground as the kids yelled rapido, rapido! The guys soon learned that they aren't as in shape as they think they are. When we were ready to leave Ashley asked the director if we could take 5 on the teenage girls along for lunch and she said yes. That was fun to be able to do that. They rarely get opportunities like that. We had Ashley to interpret for us. We had lots of questions for them and they had a lot for us. They thought for sure we lived in Miami because that is the only American city they really are familiar with.
This afternoon we visited an orphanage in the city. The conditions were not that great. The sad part about it is that we met the owners and they were very well to do. Ashley said that alot of owners will keep the money when it is donated to them instead of giving it to the kids.
One of the funniest things we have noticed is how many layers they put on the babies at nighttime. It is getting down into the fifties at night but they put on socks, undershirts, heavy fleece jammies plus turn on heaters in the rooms. Last night when we were helping to dress the babies by the time we were done they were already sweating. I guess this is their winter season and so they are dressing accordingly.
Speaking of winter another thing that has amazed me is how decorated for Christmas they are down here. Ashley says that it is a big deal here and on Christmas day they do fireworks and all. Tonight we were out for dinner and we heard fireworks and the waiters said they were pre Christmas fireworks.
Tonight we had the pleasure of dining with Charlie and Karen Weaver. Anyone reading this jealous? They are friends of Karen's from where she used to go to church. They are down here serving for one year. They were very excited to get all the packages from home.
Once again we are all exhausted and ready for bed. I think we are a little more acclimated and not quite so shocked by everything as we were yesterday. Tomorrow is a little less busy of a day which I think is good for all of us. So goodnight and Happy Thanksgiving!
Karen, for the gang