Sfter thoughts...

I came back from this trip feeling different from any other trips before...almost having a closure on feeling lead to go to Guatemala every single year. My heart is still there and I love the country, the kids, all of it but something changed while on this trip. I missed my boys at home more than ever which made it very hard. Also, the good thing was that all of the kids that I go see every year, were doing great! The orphanage looked great and the kids all seemed well taken care of and loved actually. I don't know if I will ever stop completely but at least for a couple years, I think we will be sending funds to people we know who are doing work there and of course letters and emails with pictures but not actually traveling. We found things out on this trip about how dangerous Guatemala really is and that I have been blinded all these years. With all of that said...the trip was wonderful and we did get to do many things and love on a ton of kids which is why we went! Shawn did great and I think feels that he would like to return sooner than I so we'll see. We did both connect with one little girl named Margarita....so sweet and would come up and give us both huge hugs with her beautiful smile! Saying good bye to the kids in the orphanage wasn't that hard either because they had visitors there who brought about 6 pinatas for them!
The last two days, we were able to spend getting to know a family who ownes a coffee farm near Lake Atitlan. That was a blessing because their 13-year-old son is coming this Saturday to stay with our family until December! The family was so sweet to us and it was good to see a different side of Guatemala...not the poverty but people who have alot and also give alot back to their community.
I am going to post a few more pics but next week I will make a slide show and post that with more pics.
Thank you everyone for praying for us and writing encouraging words...it was a blessing to read the comments on here and facebook.
I feel like I am leaving so much out but there is too much to write!

Our First Day In Xela

Today was awesome...and exhausting! We first woke up and went to find another hotel. Then we drug our heavy suitcases up a tall hill to the other hotel. After getting settled, we first went to visit Jeffery and Jenny who are two sibling that used to live in the orphanage and now live with a pastor and his wife and kids along with a few other kids as well. Those two kids are so special and it is so good to see them in such an amazing situation. On Monday, the pastor and his wife will go to court with the two to have them declared legally abandoned so that they can legally be their parents! We spent about and hour there and then took them with us to eat lunch. After lunch we walked a long ways to the SOS home hoping to see two boys Juan and Esvin. Juan was at school but we did get to see Esvin and a few other we knew which was great! Tomorrow we will go back in the morning and spend more time there with >Juan and Esvin. We had just enough tooth brushed to pass out to each child in their little home. After that, we took the two for ice cream and then their dad came to get them. We rested for about 10 minutes and then were off to the orphanage. The director wasn{t there so at first we weren{t going to be able to come in but then one of the care takers I know came and said we could for a while. We got to go love on the babies and some of the girls and then the boys hortly also before it was bedtime. It was so funny because all of the boys just want to see my pictures of diego and then also of some of the kids we saw when we first got here. There was a mob around the caretaker when he was looking at all of the pictures! Tomrrow, we go to the SOS home first and then the orphanage for the enitre day. The pastor that Jeffery lives with is going to pick us up at 6pm and take us to their house...the church...for service and then back to our hotel after. Jeffery told us today that he wants to be a pstor when he grows up and Jenny wants to be a teacher. These kids had no chance before and now they do...God is so good!