Guatemala - day seven

Friday was our last full day in Guatemala; we've got an early early wake up call for the trip into Guatemala City tomorrow morning and our flights to get home.  After the exhausting day yesterday traveling and visiting the Auto Safari, we were happy that Friday was going to just be hangout time for us.

There were actually quite a number of things that went on that last day.  Deborah and Dave had taken Lucia to Coccia to testify against her father in his trial, Micah had taxied a couple of the kids into Santiago to see the doctor, and everyone was excited about the local wedding that was planned for the evening.  I helped Lizzie prepare lunch, and everyone kind of showed up and ate in shifts as they returned to the home.

I spent most of the afternoon taking pictures of the kids and the grounds.  Many of these children have already been profiled on the orphanage website, so if you are interested in their stories, you can read about them either on their facebook page, or on their website.   I should warn you, though, that many of their stories are not for the faint of heart, and some are extremely disturbing.

Mercedes

Rosa

Josue, Isaac, and Jacob

Mercedes

Micah

Katherine, Rosa, and Mike

Vidalia, Angelito, and Maria

Lizzie and Deborah in the playpen

Mynor in the playpen

Martina and Yelsi

Katherine "working"

Katherine tormenting Cody and Chispa

Nate making plans for world domination

Nate practicing with Mercedes

Late in the afternoon, Dave and some of the kids prepared to attend a wedding in Tzanchaj that they'd been invited to.  The bride was 14, which is a little young for the village, and the groom was between 16 and 18.  The bride wore her traditional corte and embroidered huipil with a short bridal veil.  

Jhostin with a tamale from the wedding

Isai with a tamale

The evening was spent relaxing and watching a movie all together on the television that had finally gotten repaired downtown!  We said goodnight and goodbye to all the kids, and I cried a bit at the thought that it was all over.  Such a fast week.

Nate and Lizzie with Katherine

Deborah and Dave with Davey

Copyright 2011 Cyndi Lavin. Not to be reprinted, resold, or redistributed for profit. May be printed out for personal use or distributed electronically provided that entire file, including this notice, remains intact.

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