Our weekend adventures and more pics!

We had quite a weekend. We left on Sunday to go spend one night with Nathan's friend from his mission in EsQuintla (just past the capital, a 4 hour drive). We were only going to be able to spend one night and head back on Monday. Thankfully Nathan told me to pack for two days just in case.

Our car started having troubles an hour or so down the road. Every 20 minutes or so it would just shut off and after a brief rest start right up and off we went. It was slow and painful and the car was slow going up hills and we couldn't pass all the trucks on the road in front of us driving slow because we couln't eccelerate. After 5 hours we pulled into our 3rd mechanics house, but he wasn't home. We waited a while hoping he would come home. Luckily his brother dropped by the house to do something and was a mechanic also in another town. He drove us back to his town and helped us find a hotel because he wouldn't be able to work on the car until the next day. We were happy though because Manuel said he and his family would meet us in that town the next day and we could all go to the water park nearby. We went over to the water park the next morning and it was closed. They only open Wednesday - Sunday. The hotel had a little pool with a big slide so the kids and Nathan still had some fun swimming.

Manuel and his wife and two kids Deanna (12) and Derek (8) and his cousin Eric, who is a mechanic arrived and we visited for a little while and then went to check on the car. The mechanic had fixed a part but it didn't solve the problem, so we decided to have Eric drive the car to his shop and work on it and we would go to Manuel's house until it was fixed.

We had a great time visiting with this family. Manuel has been a US citizen for 8 years and has been working in the US separted from his wife and kids. He was able to come visit them every 6 months. Finally their papers went through and they are able to go to the states with him. They leave June 4th.

They rent a very nice 3 bedroom town house for only $150 a month! This will answer Jennifer's question to the last post. It does not cost much to live here. We do spend $500 a month on food because I still make a lot of American meals. Our electricity bill was high, $200, but I think this was due to the fact that the first month our water pump was working nonstop because there was no tank -- a very long story. As far as jobs go I am not sure about how you get one because we have not looked for jobs. Nathan just started his car importing business, but I know you could google it and find job opps. I see job advertisements on my face book page but they are in Spanish and I can't read them! Sorry. There is a school near here owned by Del Monte that teaches English and Spanish so I'm sure they need English speaking teachers. The homes near the school are in a gated community with a pool, tennis courts, golf course and pond and rent for only $200-$300 a month.

We did have a very nice weekend after all. On Tuesday we went to Lake Amatitlan near Guatemala City. It has a cable car that runs over the lake and up the mountain, but it was closed also on Mondays and Tuesdays. We will have to do that sometime and take pics for you. They also have a Mayan Castle we tried to visit but it was also closed.

We did however luck out and find the prettiest park. It is a national park and we had so much fun walking through it. There are tons of pics of this on the post. Then we went and picked up the car and went to the city to the mall and ate at pizza hut! UMMMMMM! McDonald's and Pizza Hut taste so good when you only have them once a month.

Wednesday we said goodbye to Manuel and his family and headed home. His wife cooks very very good! If any of my Utah friends want to try some good cooking I will hook you up! They will be living in Orem.

We hit the Hyper Piaz (which is like walmart) on the way home and ate Taco Bell for lunch! Yummmmy!

We did however start having car problems again on the way home. If any one has any idea what may be the problem please let us know. The computer test says something with emmisions? Eric is coming out at the end of the week to help us fix it. He is super nice and so serving. I love the people in Guatemala!

Then when we got home our boat motor starting acting up. They said it was the same type of problem. We are still smiling though. I think the boat is fixed.

Last night we had the biggest earthquake I have ever felt. Our house is an old boat house that was put on land on a foundation. Our bedrooms are in the top floor. I seriously thought our house was going to fall down. I said Nathan go get the kids! Then I said "No actually come say a prayer." Then I stopped him half way through and said "Nathan you need to go get the kids!" When he headed out I changed my mind and had him finish the prayer. It ended soon after. Xela, Brigham and Gabby slept through the whole thing! I have no idea how anyone could sleep thorugh that! We are safe though and all is good. I heard that it started on one of the islands in Honduras and was measured at 7.2. Only one death occurred but lots of damage near the fault.

We love all of our friends and family so much and appreciate your dilligence in keeping in touch with us while we are here! WE MISS YOU!

MEL