7 November 2012
Have you ever wondered how LUFFA is grown? Luffa is in the cucumber family only the grow on a vine. On the road to Monterrico there were fields & fields full of luffa vines. They hang them to dry - fascinating sight.
Monterrico is a quiet isolated beach just outside of Iztapa.
R&R before our 4 day remote site in Cuilapa.
Hotel Atelie (meaning studio)
The owner is from Finland and his wife is Guatemalan and an artist. She paints on silk. Her paintings are amazing.
The hotel was across the street from the ocean, clean rooms, no bugs, refreshing water (meaning no hot water) large, beautiful pool and mosquito netting for ambiance. Spent time in the pool listening to the crashing waves from across the street. No ocean time but lots of pool time.
Pacific Ocean - because of the recent earthquake, the waves have become harder. Crashing waves prevented everyone from enjoying the water. Delightful walk along the shoreline.
Sea turtle nests in Guatemala are poached and the eggs sold. The Hatchery buys the eggs, incubates them for 45-60 days depending on the species then release them the day they are hatched. Below is a where they are hatched. The PVC pipe allows ventilation for the eggs.
A few of these baby turtles will make their maiden voyage to a new home this evening.
Call's, Johnson's and James' enjoying the beautiful sunset...
For $Q10 ($1.25) you adopt a turtle. Elder J.s' adopted two turtles. He accidentally dropped one of them. It stunned him just a little because he had a hard time getting his barrings strait.
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| The little one on the right is struggling having been dropped. It took him a few minutes to get turned around and heading the right direction. |
The race is on - waiting for the tide to sweep them away. It takes 8 years to mature and the ones that survive will return to the same beach and begin their nesting patterns. The Olive Ridley turtles grow to about 100 lbs., while the leather backs reach about 1000 lbs.
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All aboard... 5:30 a.m on Saturday
There are two note worthy things to do in Monterrico and this is second- floating the water ways, seeing different species of birds, wandering through the mangroves and seeing termite nests.
You've heard of a one butt kitchen; well this was a two butt wide boat with 8 people on board. Any movement rocked the boat.
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| Beautiful morning sunrise ... |
When the rainy season starts June & July, the water level goes up and the lagoons become fresh water. When the fresh water recedes it deposits salt & sand on the island. People living along the banks leave their homes and return when it recedes. They harvest the salt from their property and sell it. You could see the water line on their homes.
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| Egress in flight... |
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| Captured bees pollinating the water lily... coolest sight.. |
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| Termite nest - it takes 10-15 years for termite to destroy a tree. |
Another adventure taking a short cut across the waters since there was no road going our direction. Took us 20 minutes to reach the harbor.
Our destination Cuilapa church located on main street - busiest street in town.
Arrived Sunday around 11:00 a.m. thinking we made it just in time for church but church started at 9:00 a.m. - attended Relief Society & Priesthood. After church the same routine, get the young men to help unload our equipment & supplies; set up our clinic so we can start at 8:00 a.m. on Monday and then check into the hotel.
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| Crystal 5 years old - best patient ever. |
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| Crystal and her mother Lucy... Lucy help with sterilization.. |
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| Elder Trace Kirk extending some TLC & reassuring the patient. |
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| Elder Bear is always a hit with futures, missionaries & children. |
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| Sisters from the District volunteered to help with sterilization. Best Ever!! |
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| Julio & ? - translators and other assigned duties. Julio on the left is waiting to be baptized in a couple of weeks. He had to give up his coffee first before baptism. Enthusiastic young man. He helped with translation too. |
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| Apprehension requires extra hands & reassurance. |
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| Elder & Sister Kirk - dental education trainers. |
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| Burritos babies are a hit with the girls. |
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| Twin brothers - Omar & Nephi wanted a burrito baby too. |
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| First family we've seen in a year that all have perfect teeth. Now the Dad, on the other hand, had a mouth full of cavities. |
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| He did not want his teeth checked but his parents did... |
This young family waited all day long to see the dentist knowing they may or may not get a slot. They could not return the following day because they did not have enough money for another bus ticket and it was a 2 hour ride. Finally at 5:00 p.m. and they being the last patients, there was no way we would turn them away without being seen. We extracted three of the husband's teeth, the wife had lots of work too.
Another successful, rewarding trip completed - a total of 139 patients treated and 20 of those were future missionaries.
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