Easter preparations begin......

Easter is one of the biggest celebrations in Guatemala and especially Antigua, so work has kept me really busy. In preparation the wards are being cleaned and some areas painted, as well as that we have been tackling jobs which normally would not be done…eg. cleaning the bins, cleaning out the stores and re organising some of the toy boxes…not an easy task. Lesley has been away translating and I am the only extra pair of hands they have had this week, so I have been rushing around quite a bit, as the nurses ask me to do anything that needs doing! Nappy changing is now also on my list of jobs of the day!! As I said I am now one of the team!!

Tuesday was carnival, so some of the children were taken to a fiesta in the hospital, where they were all dressed up in various clowns and angels and princess’s costumes and there was a party for them. Sadly I could not attend as had too much work to do!
Ash Wednesday was really strange for me when I walked into the hospital as all the people waiting for appointments as well as the staff had a grey-black cross marked across their foreheads, from the ashes. Most had been to church before starting the day. Most of the people in Guatemala are Catholics and very religious. In the ward the children were all dressed in their best before we wheeled them into the church for Mass. Later, they all returned with similar crosses on their foreheads.
One of the children returned this week from his home and again it was very sad as he was just crying all the time. It took him a couple of days to settle. We are still awaiting the return of two more.
Some of the more able boys have now started school; four of them have one teacher who takes them for a couple of hours a day. The teacher is sponsored by ex volunteers and coordinated via a local group of Christian missionaries. In other wards some children go to a local school for a couple of afternoons a week. I was really surprised as yesterday the teacher(Guatemaltecan) asked me to translate for her as she needs a special wheelchair for one of the girls from another ward so she can go off -site to school. So off I went to the guy who organises wheelchairs and surprised
myself by being able to do it!!!
The swimming pool is being cleaned so am hoping to help out in the next two weeks..

Needless to say that I have been absolutely exhausted this week and have had little time to enjoy my little Perla… who has spent half the week away at either church or a fiesta…maybe next week….I miss her ‘vampira’ smile!!

ANTIGUA....

Lent started on Ash Wednesday and from now until Easter Sunday, there will be a vast bustle of activity as Antigua hosts the biggest Easter attraction in Latin America, so preparations are already under way for the climax of Semana Santa (Holy Week). This week-long event is a spectacular display of religious ritual and floral design, (rivalled only by a similar event that takes place in Seville, Spain). The cobbled stones and church altars are covered in carpets of flowers known as alfombras, made up of coloured sawdust, flowers, petals, corozo, berries, fruits and vegetables, with elaborate designs made using stencils.


In the three main churches in Antigua every Friday during Lent, they prepare a scene related to Christ’s death and resurrection..called a Velacion with a unique carpet design within the church. Every church is responsible for arranging and organising its own floats and carpets so preparations for Holy Week have already started.
Town has been busier than ever as more people visit the city to shop and also catch a glimpse of the preparations…..even Volcan Fuego has been busier than ever, puffing out grey blue smoke on a daily basis!
Last Sunday I once again visited the Mayan market held every weekend in Antigua and Lesley showed me a lovely new café hidden on the way out of town. Perfect for a cup of tea and scone with lemon cream!!!!

This weekend my friend Bob arrives from England and I am really looking forward to a familiar face and long chats in the many cafes and restaurants around town.

Enjoy

Adios amigos

Goodnight

Xxx