Guate(POP), days 14-20

¡WOW!  I can't believe that I have been in Guatemala for 3 weeks!  -and I have to leave Prince of Peace in two weeks:(

This last week has been really fun and busy I have:
-scared some Americans with the fact that I can drive a 15-passenger van through Guatemala city (and in the country side)
-visited another church with the psychologist.  And, ate lunch with her and her extended family- I broke the ice quickly at this gathering...  I put some hot chili in my soup.  They all warned me to use just a little, so I did.  BUT, I put it all on top of my spoon and ate it ALL IN ONE BITE!!!  So needless to say I was bright red, we were all laughing and the rest of my soup was not spicy because there was not any chili left in my bowl.
-I continue to help with office work and updating the website       http://www.princeofpeacegt.com/





And, I have gone on SOCIAL WORK ADVENTURES!!!!!

Last Thursday, I went with the social worker and some girls to a court hearing.  All 3 girls came back to the orphanage with us (I hope that some day in the future, they will be able to go back home, when their dad is ready) and we also gave their dad a ride to his work.  It was really nice that he came back with us, because we got to talk and get to know him and his mom (the girls grandma) lives in Wisconsin!
This was a really good "field trip" because I got to experience the stress of court. learn the process that is used,  and it really opened my eyes to the possibility, the pros/cons and the steps that need to be taken to ensure the children a safe return to their home.
Basically, I LOVED THIS EXPERIENCE!


On Friday, the plan was to go and do a home study in the morning.  After going on an airport run, shopping and one of the cars in our "car pool line" getting lost, it was evident that I was not going to make it back in time to leave in the morning.
By the time I made it home and ate lunch, the social worker informed me that I had to go change into medium-fancy, dark clothing because we had to stop at a funeral of the grandma of one of the girls on the way.

After the funeral/wake we went ¡searching! for the house of some of the girls who are new at the orphanage.  We stopped and asked directions from everyone we saw.  And after turning around down the mountain, we decided to park the car and walk to find the house.  We found it and we also found grandma.  After climbing through the back window to open the door, we were welcomed into a one room home.  There was no electricity, no water and absolutely no food.  We talked with grandma for a while took notes on the conditions of the home and then we left.

Our next stop was another girl's home.  We went to visit the mom and siblings to see how they are doing.  The biggest adventure with this home were the roads.  They were made of dirt and had huge potholes and ruts from the rain, so once again it was much easier to get out and walk.

I learned A TON about some of the living conditions in Guatemala and I was also able to observe the social worker doing her work and how she talked to and cares about the parents of the children.  It was a REALLY VALUABLE EXPERIENCE!


Tomorrow I am going on another social work adventure.  I am not sure exactly where we are going or what we are doing, but I am positive that it will be fun, exciting, educational and I will be able to experience something new :)