One week in and we have caught the cultural bug…that is the technical name for indeterminable stomach sickness 
Thus we have been faced with the question: to kneel or sit before the porcelain throne?? Thankfully it seems to be a one-day deal, and we are doing better today. Please pray that Luke does not get “it.”
In nicer news, Mere took Luke to Sunday school today.
Sunday School
Play time
We had a fun trip to the old capital of Guatemala, although it rained the whole afternoon! But we scored in the craft market because one of our new friends who is a national was able to do the bartering for us, probably knocking half the price off for the gringos! It was good to spend some time with new friends!
¿Café?
For all you coffee-lovers out there:
1 café mocha…~$1.25 (and this is at the “fancy” restaurant!)
Now that we are settled in a bit, we are beginning to take more pictures. Flexibility is still key: I have “lost” another class hour for teaching because final exams are the second half of next week, so instead of 3 class sessions next week, I only have 2. At least I found out now so I can re-work the material in hopes of cramming it all in there!
This afternoon we are heading to the old capital of Guatemala, named Antigua. We are going with the Panamanian couple mentioned previously.
Cultural Lesson #3: check the weather before taking a long, adventurous walk. We decided to walk to the mall/walmart-ish store here, which is probably somewhere between 1-2 miles away. While there, an afternoon rainstorm moved through and we were stranded for a bit. We had to make our way back in a light drizzle
On Sunday we went to church with the missionaries here who have helped us get situated here. It is beautiful to worship with brothers and sisters from around the world. It may be in a different culture, a different language, a different style, but it is by the SAME SPIRIT!! Of course in true latin style, we were there about 9:20 for a 9:15 service and only the pastor was there before us. Others steadily came in about 9:30. The service lasted till 20 after 11 or so…the pastor was in no hurry to end by a certain time. He preached until he had communicated his message
At the church we met a Panamanian couple who are students here at the seminary. In fact, they are both in the class that I am teaching! We invited them over last night to play Phase 10. They are about our age…well, really, they are Mere’s age…I am ooooollllddddeeeerrrr
They speak some English and we had a fun time.
Cultural Lesson (Reminder) #1: Punctuality is not a priority in this culture.
Cultural Lesson #2: (note: we are not sure we have learned the lesson, so we will probably “learn” this one again) Communication was not clear in our invitation, and Danny & Cindy (Panamanian couple) thought we were coming to their apartment on campus, and we thought they were coming to ours. The time was set at 7, so we thought this would be after dinner. (we need to ask what time the dinner hour usually is) They brought dinner…but maybe because they would be hosting they were providing dinner? If this is the case, since we thought we were hosting, should we have provided dinner? Or, was it just a kind gesture of having some food for us? We don’t know, but it was gooooood! They bought some barbecue chicken and spicy chicken from Pollo Campero…better than KFC, but basically the same thing. They also fried plantain…mmmmm, me likes! Luke did too as he kept reaching for more off of our plates. Well, we will have to figure out the food/dinner/hosting thing because we are planning to play Uno sometime soon!
Luke is learning all sorts of things here in Guatemala…some that his parents aren’t sure they are that excited about:
It is finally here…I can’t say there has been months and months of preparations, and yet there has been a good amount of time spent corresponding with various people over the past year to solidify our trip to Guatemala. We are pumped!! Yet for us who lean more towards OCD, there is so much to do!! In a little more than 36 hours…
Aha! Look what I’ve created. I have made fire.
– Tom Hanks, Castaway
Okay, so I didn’t “create” fire, but I feel the same beat-on-my-chest-stand-tall-I-am-man pride that Hanks exhibited for us. There is something about doing something yourself…fixing something that took a lot of work and you had to figure out on your own…it makes you feel important, proud.
The check engine light has been on in the car and the diagnostic codes said “Fuel too lean.” So, other than knowing a sensor thought the fuel and oxygen mixture was not correct, the possibilities of causes were quite broad. Is the sensor bad, or is there in fact an issue with the oxgyen to fuel ratio? Well, I figured it out! (Okay, I snooped around the web for the same diagnostic codes, asked the friendly neighborhood autozone a couple of questions, and read about the workings of a combustion engine.) After poking around the engine, found a melted hose…
PCV System
…you know, it is hard to have the necessary vacuum with a melted elbow joint!
Aha! Look what I’ve fixed. I have fixed the PCV system!
Well, we will see if this was the only cause for the check engine light, but this needed to be fixed regardless…kind of an important part of the emissions system. Of course, I couldn’t simply replace the elbow joint, or the tubing for that matter. These are Ford exclusive parts…and it is one of those “kit” deals; nothing sold separately.
…God blessed us with a precious baby boy. One year ago today we held him for the very first time! (and we thought he was big then!) We praise God for a happy, healthy, smiley lil’ boy, and we give Him thanks for friends and family who are a part of raising and caring for him.
“Hello?”
“9-1-1…Are you having an emergency?”
(Oh my goodness!!) No, I am soooo sorry! My son had the phone…”
“Okay. Goodbye” (click)
What are the odds that Luke, playing with my cell phone, would press and hold the keypad unlock long enough and then dial 911?? Well, apparently pretty good odds!
