Staff Retreat

We had an absolutely fabulous weekend on our staff retreat. It started Friday morning in Parque Central where all the teachers loaded into trucks and vans to head to Xocomil. This is the best water park in Central America. It was amazing, I would say it was an average water park for the states, but the second we were in the park in felt like we had stepped out of Guatemala, which was a good thing:) Everything was so clean and neatly kept. It was cloudy most of the day, but still hot and the rides were great. I tried to be really daring and risky on one ride and go "no hands" well it didn't work out so well and I ended up banging my nose on some one's knee. So the side of my nose with the nose ring was a little swollen for a few days, but it is good again. The one picture of me that we have from the water park, I am holding my nose, because it was taken right after I slammed my nose:( We also were able to play sand volleyball with some Guatemalan men, I am pretty sure they just enjoyed watching Gringas run around in their swimming suits, but we really had a good time:)

Although we were quite sad to have to leave the water park by 3:00, our sadness quickly disappeared when we entered the hotel/resort we were staying at for the night. Our first site of this place was beautiful peacocks walking around. Peacocks were everywhere, while laying by the pool, I had one with in a few feet of me, but they are completely comfortable around humans, it's great. The resort had multiple pools, 4 restaurants, 4 different hotels, bowling, tennis courts, mini golf!, and many other fun things that we did not have time to take in. This resort, Irtra is payed for by Guatemalan 'social security.' So if you are a Guatemalan who works for a company who actually pays those fees, you have one month every year that you get in for free. It is really quite a nice system and give many Guatemalans a vacation they could otherwise never afford. The school of course had to pay for all the teachers to get in, but it was great. Pictures are posted of both the water park and resort.

As I write this I am busy cooking a three course meal. Tomorrow night at school the PTA is hosting a themed dinner with every table representing a different country. Another teacher and I volunteered to make the meal for the US table. It is turning out to be a little more work and money that I had planned, but I love cooking. Simple things like graham cracker crumbs, not possible, broccoli from a bag, can't find it and poppy seeds seem to be impossible, but we will manage and hopefully those at are table will enjoy:)

This weekend we are going to Antigua for a missions conference. We have heard there are great speakers, powerful praise and worship in English (which we have not had for months) and meaning fellowship, so we are really looking forward to this!

One prayer request, Tony has a pretty bad cold and is somewhat miserable. Please pray that this would soon pass so he can get back to his silly self.

Sorry this one got so long, but I know at least some of you will enjoy every word (Grandma!!!)Once again we will post more when we return from Antigua.