Ramiro took us to a school on the top of a mountain to show us another place that St. Mark's could get involved with.  It is on the outskirts of town and there isn't a  road that we could drive on to get to it.  We had to hike up a steep path.

We passed a lot of homes along the way where many very poor people live.

it wasn't easy for our girls to get up this hill!

These are some of the children inside of the school.

This little girl wanted her picture taken.

These kids were playing outside of the building.

The view from the school.

The kids all want a lot of attention - the boys were performing for us.

There was chaos outside of the school where the kids were playing.  158 children attend the school.  It has 2 rooms and 4 teachers.  

A home close by.

The school.  They would love for us to get involved there - they have many needs.

The government supplies their books and school supplies but they don't arrive until half way through the school year - or near the end of the year.  And there are never enough.

Heading back down the mountain.

A little boy by his home.

More homes along the path.

Children in front of their home.

The irrigation ditch where the women do their laundry, take baths, and this is also the water they drink. We are praying about how we can get involved in this area, too.

Video of the School Programing

Here is a sample of what the ladies are doing in the school.  The narration is in Spanish and the kids loved it!   Enjoy!

We wake to a beautiful morning. 72 degrees and blooming trees…

Mark installing the ceiling fans in the La Fragua church with Oscar, a local man who is always so helpful for us.  We love Oscar!

When we arrived at the house this morning there was already a lot of activity.  The roof was going on, the windows and doors were being installed and the concrete work was almost ready.  We had to level the floors and then carry in the concrete in five gallon buckets.  I personnaly believe that the gravity in Guatemala is gradually intensifying.  The only other explanation is that I am getting older.  This wore me out.  (It was still great!)

At VBS today, the children loved the parachute games.  They really would have played them all day!

The VBS was wonderful.  We did not get as many children as we are used to, but we were able to get to know the ones that came.  They are delightful, and our young ladies were very loved by the kids.  :)

During the day we did have a medical emergengy.  Hailee Becker scuffed her toe, but do not fear, Kayla Ridenhour, our team nurse came to the rescue! 

Dinner was amazing!  Seafood with baby potatoes, with a tart for desert.  We suffered through it.  :)

Here is the team with family for whom we are building. They are great, but better, they have a one-year-old boy. Sheri and the girls are going to spoil him terribly.  

For those of you who are interested, this is lunch. Grilled steak with veggies. The trick is not to overeat because dinner will be awesome too. (We do not suffer hunger on mission trips.) 

Here is the house as we found it.  We have three days to finish it.  Let's do this!

Amazing thin about the family we are building for… they have a one-year-old son.  He will be spoiled rotten after this week!

This is the church service in La Fragua. Great people, great day.

Celebrating Communion at the La Fragua Church with Deacon Oliverio.

The teammates from the first house we built 2 years ago and Amanda, the lady we built it for.

The cast of the latest La Fragua Elementary School Drama "The Lost Lamb"  Should get rave reviews.

Tomorrow the work begins.  We will be working in the school in the morning, working at the VBS at church in the afternoon and working on the house all day.  Pray it all goes according to God's plan.  (His is better)