Back into the routine . . . sorta

Our family left Guatemala last Wednesday.  I don't think any of us were really ready to leave.  The trip went so fast this year.  (Plus it was cold at home.)  Our travel to Guatemala City and then the flight to Houston went well.  We had a 3-hour layover in Houston so we anticipated time to eat and relax before we boarded our tiny plane home to Omaha.  Let's just say that it didn't go exactly as we had hoped!

It took us almost 2 hours to get through customs.  All of these people are actually in a 'pre-customs' line.  After we got all of our luggage we stood here for a very long time!  

We found another long line in customs and then a 3rd line to go back through security.  Our 3-hour layover turned into about 50 minutes of jumping on the train and heading to the gate. We did stop at Panda Express on our way and pushed some food down while we waited to board.  Oh well, we made it home to Omaha and were welcomed by some sweet faces.  It is so fun to be greeted at the airport!

We jumped right back into life with Samuel's birthday on Thursday as well as a couple activities for Bethany and Caleb.  Don had to go back to work on Friday and everyone needed underwear so the washer began it's marathon run.  My mom came for a couple days and we took care of a couple cute foster girls for the weekend.  And now it is Monday - we are supposed to be doing school, but it is a holiday, right??

The reality of coming back to the States is always a little harder than we remember.  The cultures are so different not to mention the weather and the food.  Let's just say that the pizza for Samuel's birthday didn't agree with all of us!  

Caleb and I ran errands on Friday.  We stopped at the grocery store really quick to get just a few things (we were pretty well stocked - thanks to my sister and my friend, Julie!).  A mom and her 3 daughters came in behind us and were speaking Spanish.  I turned to Caleb and asked him to remind what country we were in again.  He said that hearing the Spanish actually made him feel a little bit better.  It is hard to explain the culture shock that you experience when you come back from a trip like this one.  It just takes a little bit of time to adjust.  In our case, we always leave a little bit of our hearts behind us!

Thank you for your prayers and support.  We really appreciate all of you!

  

A Couple Photos

Here are a couple pictures from our time at the children's home.  Hannah has Robert on her shoulders.  He was one of our five in diapers! 

 

 

These are the 2 youngest at the home.  Julie and I each had one every night.  Our girls pretty much had them during the day.  They are so sweet!

 

We arrived back at the Fickers in Canilla on Thursday night.  Friday night, we had a bonfire with some worship time.  Caleb and Peter played their guitars and Thomas was their 'lamp'! 

 

We will have a couple days of clinic today and tomorrow.  I am trying to finish up financial stuff as well.  The Knutsons will leave on Monday and we will depart on Wednesday.  The time has flown by! 

Movie Night!!

It has been too busy for a blog post lately!!  The Knutsons arrived on Saturday and then all 17 of us headed to the children's home.  We have been running ever since!

 

We had Sunday to get settled, meet the kids and go to market.  The workers left Monday morning for their time away.  The younger kids have not had school all week which means more activities to keep them occupied!  The AR team was up for the challenge.  They brought so many great games and activities for the kids plus loads of candy!!  Our days have been busy but good.  We are on the last night which is our triple-feature movie night!

 

The youngest kids started at about 4:30 pm with UP.  We are currently on our second movie - Despicable Me 2.  Here is a picture of the large scene - notice we are outdoors!  The temperature is about 68 (estimated by Brother Stephen!!) and the kids are a little chilly! 

 

 

The team is cleaning up the 'concession stand' and getting a chance to hop on the internet.  The AR team leaves tomorrow so they wanted to know the temperature at home.  It will be a little bit of an adjustment for them!

 

We served the kids grilled cheese, salami sticks, popcorn, candy and pop!!

 

This is our last night at the children's home.  The AR team will leave here at about 11:30 am so they can fly down to Guatemala City to catch their flight home.  The workers should return sometime in the afternoon/evening and then the rest of us will return to Canilla.  It has been a great trip.  Thanks for all of your prayers and support. Please continue to pray as we step into our final days here! 

Working Hard!

The Arkansas team has been learning and serving in so many different ways.  Yesterday they received a tour at the Nursing School and got to do some shopping at Market.  They have also been doing lots of dishes!  Today is clinic so Megan has been serving there. 

 

 

We will all be heading to the children's home this afternoon so we have been packing up, changing sheets, mopping floors etc.  We have also been getting ready for lunch - there will be 40 of us! 

 

Since we had some extra time, Rosemary and Bonnie are helping out by counting and bagging pills to give out in the clinics.  

 

David was showing Rosemary how to do it!!  He is also helping in the clinic and even came out with a in his arms! 

 

While all that medical stuff is going on, Stephen and Jerry are helping with the new house. 

 

Please pray for us as we 'move' today.  We await the arrival of the Knutson family and then we head to San Andres.  We will have Sunday to get settled, meet the kids and go to market.  Monday morning the workers will leave on their retreat until Thursday.  We are going to have some very busy days.  Please pray for peace and favor over the Home while we are in charge.