Some artistic shots taken in Antigua (some in the Spanish Embassy; others just along the sidewalks or in courtyards)

My other sweeties

This is Cesar (pronounced "say-zar"). I met him in the courtyard on our first day of the VBS during his recess/playtime. Our group was just mingling with the kids, getting to know them as they were playing. They had music blaring from the second floor and Cesar was dancing to himself, having a good ole time. I decided to join him and he thought I was hilarious, so we danced together, both of us giggling. After awhile he ran away and I started playing with more children. Then Cesar came running back, carrying the pop that you can see on the chair to my right. I didn't realize for a minute that he was offering it to me, and I thanked him for it. Then someone whispered in my ear that Cesar had bought me that pop with his only money...probably his allowance for the day or even the whole week. I wanted to bawl on the spot but caught myself, knowing that that would just confuse him, so I smiled broadly and gave him a big hug, and then picked him up and smooched him and told him, "Gracias Cesar, mi bambino!" And he got embarrassed in such a cute way because the other fellas his age were pointing at us and laughing, so he ran away again. However, throughout the rest of the week, he would find me and we would dance and he would want his hug and to be called "mi bambino."

This is Alex. This little guy was a pretty emotional little man. He was just as quick with tears as he was with a smile. But, since I'm a pretty emotional girl, he got the sympathy vote with me and I stuck to him pretty closely throughout the week. At one point on Thursday I found him crying in a corner and it turns out another boy had accidentally kicked him and he was just heartbroken about it! I don't think the teachers wanted me coddling him as much as I did, but I honestly couldn't help it. He had tears the size of his eyeballs and I just really wanted him to smile his adorable smile instead. Here's us, just hanging out, and I have him grinning in this picture, yay!

This is a darling little 5-month-old named Gabriella Nicole (her mama and granddaddy called her "Nicole"). I met her mama, who was recovering from surgery, just before this picture was taken, and she was so kind to let me (and several of us) hold and love on her beautiful little baby. You can't see it in this picture, but Nicole has gold hoop earrings in her teeny-tiny little ears, and she was wearing this soft green crocheted sweater. She had the most expressive eyes and I just couldn't get enough of her. I kept thinking, "Man, do I ever want to adopt from this country!" Every time I look at this picture, I have the same thoughts. Guatemala has the most gorgeous children in the world!

My Shadae
(pronounced "shuh-dye")
I can barely look at this picture without tears streaming down my face. Of all the "ninos preciosos" (precious children) that I had the privilege of meeting in Guatemala, this was the one I would have packed in a suitcase and carried home without batting an eyelash. This little sweet pea is only 6 years old, but there is already a lot of knowledge in her eyes. And by "knowledge" I don't mean intellectual...there was something deeply troubling this little girl. I have no idea what it was, but I do know that most of the kids we ministered to came from broken homes, and that abuse (of all kinds) is common. I wish I'd had more language so that I could have communicated better, but I gave her the language that is universal...I held her hand, sat with her on my lap, carried her around like a baby, kissed her cheeks, and said "Te amo" (I love you) to her every single day I had the opportunity to spend with her. Of course, I had a jillion other little ones who wanted (and craved) my attention, so I couldn't spend as much time with her as I would have liked. In any case, I will be looking for my sweet Shadae the next time I am in Guatemala, and I hope to have more Spanish by that time so that I can tell her that I will always be available for her, and that I will help her in any way I can. Please, please say a prayer for her, that she will be delivered from whatever is hurting her, that angels will watch over her, and that most importantly, that she will come to know Jesus, who will be her Rescuer and Savior if she will ask Him.

The first of many pictures, but so aptly self-titled...(taken at the aeropuerto in Guatemala City upon arrival)

I haven't been blessed this much by an article in a VERY long time...

http://girltalk.blogs.com/girltalk/2006/03/q_a_a_holy_long.html

I read this blog (a mom and her 3 grown, married daughters write this website together) whenever I can. As you can imagine, I really relate to a family that includes 3 grown, married daughters and an amazing mom who continues to teach and guide and love her adult kids!

12 more days...