The Road Ahead....: Happy 2012!

Happy New Year to all our family and dear friends! Grab a coffee! It's been awhile! We are thrilled to be starting this new year here in Guatemala. And what an experience it was. The display of fireworks and firecrackers was unimaginable. It puts any "Victoria Day" or "Canada Day" to shame. It all started on Christmas eve. We had the privilede of joining the girls of Casa Hogar at the Hermana's Casa (nuns house) for a night of celebration. As midnight struck, the nuns and girls cheerfully grasped each other and wished a Feliz Navidad. There was a lot of commotion and through all the laughter and joy, there were some tears. I crept up the stairs toward the rooftop, in hopes to find Matt. I passed a little 9 year old girl named Fernanda. She was in the corner softly crying. I noticed the tears and knelt in front of her. She shamefully whisked the tears off her face in embarrassment. I held her face in my hands and asked her why she was crying. She looked around and didn't want to tell me. I proceeded to hug her and as she buried her face in my shoulders, she sobbed tears for her mommy. I cried with her.... and as I held her, I quietly thanked God for this privilege.
On Christmas day, we were invited by our friends "the Ortiz" family to serve a special meal to the girls. It was a good opportunity to hand out some gifts that people back home had generously donated. One family put together little gift bags full of candies, stickers, socks and other treats. Another three families got together and hand made beautiful bracelets for christmas gifts. The girls were so grateful! We had permission to have "our" four girls over for christmas on boxing day. We had a really special day filled with playing games, watching movies and a meal.
We kicked off the new year with a meeting planned with the head nun of Casa Hogar. We discussed health and hygiene issues as well as the launching of a "new" english program. I will be undertaking the kitchen project later this week and next. My goal is to thoroughly clean, repaint and provide a hygienic protocol. I am hoping to train the nuns and let them try out new methods for a month. Matt has been busily helping Walter (the english teacher) establish a new and improved program that will be both interactive and innovative.
It has been three months here, and we are learning new things everyday. We are cautious not to push our agenda but adapt to the cultural and social differences. God is teaching us patience! We are learning to live fully in His presence each new day. It is a walk of faith, one step, one day at a time, depending on our Lord.