Veronica reading

Veronica has joined the ranks of homeschoolers by learning how to read this year with Michael.

Boundary markers

On the title to our land, the layout is described as going from this rock to that rock, then turning the corner to the next rock, and so forth.  The lawyer suggested we follow the more recent practice of inserting 3-inch diameter pipes about a meter long into the corner, filling them with concrete and a piece of rebar in the center.  We decided to leave some of the bigger, more long-standing rocks in place, since the neighbors are happy with their location.  But we replaced other rocks that have been more recently placed or were problematic.

Heather is trying to find a boundary stone
after a machine came by to level the dirt
road.  This boundary stone in our entryway
was always getting pushed aside by trucks,
so we replaced it first. 

Diego and Yano are putting in a new
concrete boundary tube on the last
piece of land we purchased.
(Check out what huge load is being
carried down the street!)

Here is a closer view.

Procession

We were surprised one evening by loud firecracker pops and music outside our house just after dinnertime.

We could see the statue and lots of people
with candles, singing loudly.

It turned out to be a Catholic procession that had stopped to serenade our neighbors as they carried a statue around the neighborhood, most likely transferring it from one house to another.  They made several similar stops at other houses.  There are so many loud happenings with music and firecrackers in Chichicastenango that we didn't even pay attention until it was right outside our house!

Smoking away bugs

There are biting flies on our property which are a nuisance.  Every time we go out, we spray with bug repellent which we brought from the United States.  One time when we went out to check on progress, we found brush burning near the workers.  They were trying to smoke out the bugs.  I don't think it worked very well, though, because they stopped doing it.

We are hoping this bug problem will be reduced when our fence is finished, providing a barrier between us and the neighboring corn fields.

Lemon trees

When we invited our pastor and his wife to come pray for the land, they gave us two lemon trees as a gift for our new land.  I bought some big pots, and we transferred dirt from our land to the pots.  Now the lemon trees are healthy and growing, awaiting their new home.

The pots are heavy!

Veronica makes sure the trees
are well-watered.

Cistern

We now have a cistern that will hold about 5280 gallons of water (about a mile's worth)!  This is important because there are times when the water lines break far away in the mountains somewhere, and it takes the community leaders a while to find and repair the break.

Installing the rebar grid for the
concrete sides and bottom.

Checking the rebar measurements for the lid.

Putting on the finishing coat of smooth concrete.
The cistern will rest and dry for a couple of months
before painting with sealant.

Helping at clinic

Carrie was blessed to be given the opportunity to assist the medical workers at ASELSI's free pregnancy clinic one morning a week for several months.  She called patients' names, poked fingers and drew blood for testing iron levels, tested urine samples, measured tummies, and sat in on many doctor visits. 

Many of the ladies attending the clinic only speak K'iche', so Carrie has become even more interested in learning the local language.  She is hoping to study nursing in a couple of years after graduating from high school.