Week one in Guatemala...

Hey everybody! So, I've been in Guatemala for a whole week now!! I have so very much enjoyed loving on the kids and getting to know them all. I now know the names of all of the Canaries, Dolphins, and Bunnies and most of the names of the Chicks, Ducks, and Squirrels. (I haven't spent as much time with those groups so I don't have them all down yet.)

Sadly, I do not have much to post about the children as both Cierra and I have been sick and unable to be with the children for a few days. Don't worry, we are not extremely ill and we have been well taken care of by everyone here. Mr. Art and Mrs. Ilvie (the wonderful couple who voluntarily live at the center for long periods of time to cook all of the meals for the interns and teams) have been very attentive to us. The nurses are all very sweet and will make sure we get any medicines we need, not that there is anything we are lacking in our medicine cabinet in the dorms. And, should we need him, the doctor is always available to check on us (and he speaks English, making it much easier to tell him our symptoms).

And then there is Odilia (the assistant director of the center) who is like our Guatemalan mother. She checks on us constantly and has had a few home remedies for us which have helped tremendously. The very first "medicine" she made for us on the first evening we were sick consisted of alka seltzer, sparkling mineral water, lime juice, and salt. It was absolutely disgusting and she sat in our room until we finished it all, as any mother would do when giving her child medicine. BUT, once we were able to choke the concoction down, we were both feeling much, much better. Later that evening, Odilia again came in to give us another drink. This time we were pleasantly surprised by the delicious taste of the beverage. It was Manzanilla tea, which is made with chamomile tea, honey, sugar, and, in true Guatemalan fashion, lime should you have a sore throat. The next day both of our tummies were feeling much better, thanks to Odilia's treatment.

We have been able to see the children a little, but not very much because when we think we are better and then exert ourselves too much we begin to feel sick again, resulting in us being confined to our beds for another day. Today we have decided that we will remain in our dorms in hopes of being fully recovered by tomorrow, or maybe Tuesday.

One good thing about being stuck in bed, I have had ample time to read! I finished Sense and Sensibility in 2 days and am now halfway through Pride and Prejudice (can you tell I love Jane Austen?). Also, Mrs. Ilve has been giving us crocheting lessons!! Yesterday, Cierra made an adorable hat and today we will work on scarves!

Although we haven't seen much of the children in the last few days, here are a few pictures from earlier in the week that are sure to make you smile:

We visited the market square in San Juan on Monday

Beautiful fresh veggies, fruits, and flowers!

Piñata day!!

Sweet Andres sharing his candy with Cierra

Even some of the Dolphins got to join in on the fun!

Sleepy Marvin...

Happy Lesly!

Sweet Yessica :)

Happy, happy Irma :)

Enjoying some play time with my sweet Irma!

Thank you all so much for your prayers, love, and support. Cierra and I are trusting that God will take care of us and we will be able to return to our sweet babies soon.

Love Always,
~Rachel~