ComputerCrash in Guatemal

We arrived in Guatemala late Friday night. The Wilkens picked us up and took us to the Marriot where we lived in luxury for two days. We rented a small apartment on Sunday night and moved in on Monday. We are renting it by the day and trying to decide whether to rent it permanently or lease another apartment next door. The one next door is way too big and the one we are in is sort of small, but they don't have anything in-between. For the time-being we will stay put. Gail and Larry Wilkins, the AMA until we leave, have been absolutely gracious and informative and they have tried to train us. We're a bit slow in all areas, particularly Spanish, but the Wilkens are patience personified. We went to church on Sunday and didn't understand a word. Ditto the temple when we went on Tuesday. All the textbook Spanish we took really hasn't helped. Carolyn is going to take two Spanish classes when we return from Panama. The driving is scary and Kim will have his first shakedown drive on Thursday (tomorrow). The streets seem to make no sense to us at the moment, and this is after four days of driving. We are writing this in the area office where we have a large office and small examination room. All buildings are protected by fences and security guards and the area office is no exception. There are many people working here, and all have been so kind to us. We had a family home evening on Monday night and they have a Break the Fast dinner on Fast Day. The senior missionaries are a close-knit group and we are glad to be a part of it. We will have Family Home Evening on the 18th either in our little apt. or our bigger one. We are bewildered by all these new things, but we have faith that we will be able to help. Larry is mentoring Kim as they have seen missionaries and spent time on the phone. The telephone is that main resource for local missionaries. The Mission President's wife and the mission nurse are the first line of defense and then Kim is called as a last resort. However, the compiling of mission incidents is the AMA's job. Even that contact is often tenuous. We're on the way back to our apartment in a minute, so 'till the next blog...Carolyn