Saturday in Panajachel

We woke up bright and early Saturday morning and were down waiting for our van at 8am. By 8:15am I called to find out why they hadn't come yet only to learn the night before they had only made a reservation and since we hadn't confirmed it (in our spare time) they had canceled it. Ahhh! However, for an extra chunk of change, they would come at 9am for a private shuttle! Whew! Bring it on!


So, we were off at 9am for the 2 hour, very bumpy, very mountainous trip to Panajachel. There are few ventures that turn me green around the gills, and that is one of them. We arrived pretty tired (there's a lot of hanging on to do around the corners, too) but thrilled to see Reyna, Fidel, Carlos (12 years old), Vilma (10 years old) and Nancy (8 years old)! We settled into our room and headed off for lunch. We learned this was the first time Reyna and Fidel had ever stayed in a hotel, so they had taken oodles of pictures of their family around the gardens. They were beautiful and they looked like they had just been on their honeymoon! It was VERY sweet!


We had a great lunch together. The 5 kids together are truly amazing! Caleb and Carlos ordered a HUGE lunch for 2 for the both of them (that they could never possibly finish) and by the time we were done the food had been passed back and forth down the table and things had been pretty well cleaned up.


After lunch we all took a walk to visit Fidel's Aunt Teresa, who works at a little restaurant just up from our hotel. There we also met one of his neices who was visiting from Tajulmulco, where they live. We visited for just a short while as Teresa was sick and not feeling well.


Next we decided to go swimming in the lake (which is immense!). Everyone changed into their bathing suits except for Tim and I. Although the view is prestine, the water isn't necessarily and we were a little leary. We headed down the hill to the water, laughing and giggling all the way. We found a spot and they all went in--although not too far. We discovered quickly their fear of water and so they sat on the edge, waiting for the foot sized waves to come in, screaming wildly with each one. It was a hot sunny day and it was delightful!


After swimming for quite a while, we headed back up to our hotel. The kids managed to get a few Queztales from each set of parents, so each little candy shop we passed was a new delight. It was fun to watch them buy candy and share it with each other, trying different varieties. As we neared the hotel, Tim and Martita snuck off alone. In Antigua, we had started planning a "fiesta" for her foster family (Tim's ingenious idea), to celebrate Vilma's and Fidel's birthdays, but mostly to say "Thank you!". It was to be a surprise, so Tim and Martita stole away several times to order a "postel" (cake) and to buy a pinata, candy and balloons. The others caught on that something was amiss, which made it all the more fun.


Back at the hotel we discovered two hot tubs, a sauna and refreshing waterfall. We all changed back into bathing suits and went to try it out. By this time we were already completely exhausted, hot and tired, so slipping into a perfectly tempered hot tub was heavenly! As we started relaxing in the water, I noticed Carlos, Vilma and Nancy hovering around the edges and clinging to the stairs. They were truly afraid. Caleb and Martita were in the water playing and having a great time. Before long, Martita started showing off her newly acquired skills (from swimming in Antigua) of jumping into the water, going under the water, floating on her back, etc. Her foster family was amazed! Their expressions only gave her more fuel to show off and try more, which fueled their curiousity. Slowly but surely, starting with Reyna, they all started trying to put their faces in the water, then to try to practice kicking, then to try to swim under the water, then to try to float on their backs. In time, all three children let me hold them, jump three times and then go under the water with them! "Otra vez, Otra vez!" they would cry (one more time, one more time!) It was truly the most amazing transformation watching little Martita lift her foster family out of fear into new-found joy! It was an incredible privilege for me to watch and one I won't soon forget.


As we were finishing up in the hot tub Tim went and ordered pizza for dinner. Between the two buildings where our rooms were there were three charming tables with chairs outside where we set up for dinner. After the pizza, the party began. First, Marta brought out the cake with a "10" candle on it for Vilma with the balloons. We all sang. Next she brought out the pinata, which she and Tim had stuffed with candy. It was hard to find a place to hang it properly, but eventually with Fidel holding it and one of Tim's shoes they managed to crack it open. After that we brought out the suitcase of gifts for them. I gave Reyna the album filled with pictures of Marta Alicia from the last 15 months. She went through each one and was so pleased. Then Marta Alicia gave Reyna the picture I had brought of her in a frame and the dam broke. The tears flowed hard and for a very long time with the whole family. It was very good.



As the emotions began to subside, Marta Alicia gave Reyna a necklace I had put together with the same picture in it. Reyna pressed to to her heart and kept saying, "Thank you, thank you," and cried some more. Then we started giving the kids their clothes, which they ran off with to change and model. I am always grateful how well they all fit each time (lots of prayers go up when I'm shopping!). Then Marta Alicia ran in the room to get her special gift for Reyna--a new blender! Marta had asked us to bring one for Reyna "because she doesn't have one" and so it was a special moment as Reyna relished in Marta Alicia's thoughtfulness. For Fidel we gave a gift of money. He is currently farming and the harvest won't be ready until late fall. Reyna was working as a foster mom, but with adoptions now shut down there is no more work for her. It will be a difficult year for them. Lastly, we had given them a camera but developing pictures is quite expensive in Guatemala. Last summer we had bought a picture printer, but hadn't really used it much, so we passed it along to them so they can print out all the pictures from the trip without it costing them a fortune. Carlos is their "technical guy" and with a few pointers had it going beautifully. :)



Finally, we got to eating the cake. Marta Alicia wasn't all that hungry after all the candy and emotions, so she passed on it. As things were winding down, she came and asked me if she could spend the night with Reyna. Fortunately, I had anticipated this question and was happy to go get her toothbrush and pajamas for her. After they all left and we were settling in for the night, Reyna came back to ask if Carlos could sleep with Caleb! So, within a short time the boys were settled in and we were settled in for a very good nights sleep!