Hey everyone!
Sorry it’s been awhile since an update! As you already know, we have been traveling with Sophie’s parents since May 24th. We wanted to give you an update on what we did and give you some pictures.
On the 24th, we got a ride to Guatemala City and waited for the family to arrive. Jeff, Krisanne, Tully, Abe, and Levi all got there fine and had a wonderful flight. The two youngest girls stayed home with Meme. We spent 3 nights in Guatemala City. What made it so neat was that it was the same hotel that Jeff and Krisanne stayed in when they adopted Levi and nothing had changed. We saw the seat that they sat in when they saw him for the first time. We spent 3 days touring Levi’s birth city getting to see the things that Sophie and I had not yet been able to see. We saw Maya ruins on a Maya holy day with 3 different groups of worshippers doing their ceremonial celebrations. What an experience! We took tours of the city which included the presidential palace, national cathedral, and the central market. Another interesting place was a 3D relief map of the entire country which was so neat. One of our drivers took us right into “the dump” an area of the city totally controlled by gangs where kids fight each other and dogs for their food scraps. It burned images into our minds that won’t soon be forgotten. If you know us, you know we ate A LOT! We got to eat at some really great traditional restaurants and sample true Guatemalan fare.
Probably the most exciting thing that happened in the city was driving past the hospital where Levi was born and being able to meet the attorney who did Levi’s adoption 11 years ago. For Jeff and Krisanne, they all laughed that they all looked the same, just that there was more of them! Oscar, the attorney, recognized Levi immediately and said he still looked the same as he did as a baby and resembles his birth mother. For us who hadn’t met Oscar, we saw what Jeff and Krisanne loved about him and fell in love with him ourselves. We hope to meet with him again before we leave. One of his new projects is to start a home similar to Agua Viva now that the US is not open to Guatemalan adoptions.
From the city, we drove to Antigua and spent 2 nights in the colonial city. In Antigua, the family got their first taste of Pollo Campero, a Guatemalan favorite. Its like KFC, but 1000 times better. In Antigua, we SHOPPED SHOPPED SHOPPED and took a carriage ride through the city. It was a more relaxed place than the city and we enjoyed the laid back, international atmosphere.
On Thursday morning, we headed from Antigua to Agua Viva. It was so great to be able to show the home to the family and have them see where we are working. The boys and I played soccer with the kids and the others settled into our house. Jeff and Krisanne brought a lot of donations for the home, so we spent some time sorting them.
Friday morning, Evy invited us to see Lake Atitlan, a beautiful lake surrounded by 3 different volcanoes. There, we took a boat ride across the lake and did some more sightseeing and shopping in one of the most beautiful parts of this country. That night we celebrated the May birthdays here at the home and the kids got to watch a movie.
The last two days at Agua Viva, we did different activities with the kids. They included mask making, pinwheels, painting nails, temporary tattoos, and beach ball fights. It was a great night with the kids. On Saturday, Jeff wanted to learn the art of making tortillas, so we went to the kitchen. The oldest cook on staff, maybe the more “old school” one, promptly told him sorry, but men are not allowed to make tortillas. Oh well! What a hoot! Sunday was visitation day, so some of the kid’s parents came to church and got to spend a few hours with the kids. We had a guest preacher and a group of kids who sang for us.
Monday morning, we sat around, drank coffee, and finished packing. We took them to the airport and sent them on their way. We had such a great time getting to show them around and sharing our love of this country.
Thursday, our first group arrives. Keep us in your prayers as we prepare for their arrival!
Check out the pictures from our travels on our photopage! (http://photos.scottandsophie.com)
Love,
Scott and Sophie
Sorry it’s been awhile since an update! As you already know, we have been traveling with Sophie’s parents since May 24th. We wanted to give you an update on what we did and give you some pictures.
On the 24th, we got a ride to Guatemala City and waited for the family to arrive. Jeff, Krisanne, Tully, Abe, and Levi all got there fine and had a wonderful flight. The two youngest girls stayed home with Meme. We spent 3 nights in Guatemala City. What made it so neat was that it was the same hotel that Jeff and Krisanne stayed in when they adopted Levi and nothing had changed. We saw the seat that they sat in when they saw him for the first time. We spent 3 days touring Levi’s birth city getting to see the things that Sophie and I had not yet been able to see. We saw Maya ruins on a Maya holy day with 3 different groups of worshippers doing their ceremonial celebrations. What an experience! We took tours of the city which included the presidential palace, national cathedral, and the central market. Another interesting place was a 3D relief map of the entire country which was so neat. One of our drivers took us right into “the dump” an area of the city totally controlled by gangs where kids fight each other and dogs for their food scraps. It burned images into our minds that won’t soon be forgotten. If you know us, you know we ate A LOT! We got to eat at some really great traditional restaurants and sample true Guatemalan fare.
Probably the most exciting thing that happened in the city was driving past the hospital where Levi was born and being able to meet the attorney who did Levi’s adoption 11 years ago. For Jeff and Krisanne, they all laughed that they all looked the same, just that there was more of them! Oscar, the attorney, recognized Levi immediately and said he still looked the same as he did as a baby and resembles his birth mother. For us who hadn’t met Oscar, we saw what Jeff and Krisanne loved about him and fell in love with him ourselves. We hope to meet with him again before we leave. One of his new projects is to start a home similar to Agua Viva now that the US is not open to Guatemalan adoptions.
From the city, we drove to Antigua and spent 2 nights in the colonial city. In Antigua, the family got their first taste of Pollo Campero, a Guatemalan favorite. Its like KFC, but 1000 times better. In Antigua, we SHOPPED SHOPPED SHOPPED and took a carriage ride through the city. It was a more relaxed place than the city and we enjoyed the laid back, international atmosphere.
On Thursday morning, we headed from Antigua to Agua Viva. It was so great to be able to show the home to the family and have them see where we are working. The boys and I played soccer with the kids and the others settled into our house. Jeff and Krisanne brought a lot of donations for the home, so we spent some time sorting them.
Friday morning, Evy invited us to see Lake Atitlan, a beautiful lake surrounded by 3 different volcanoes. There, we took a boat ride across the lake and did some more sightseeing and shopping in one of the most beautiful parts of this country. That night we celebrated the May birthdays here at the home and the kids got to watch a movie.
The last two days at Agua Viva, we did different activities with the kids. They included mask making, pinwheels, painting nails, temporary tattoos, and beach ball fights. It was a great night with the kids. On Saturday, Jeff wanted to learn the art of making tortillas, so we went to the kitchen. The oldest cook on staff, maybe the more “old school” one, promptly told him sorry, but men are not allowed to make tortillas. Oh well! What a hoot! Sunday was visitation day, so some of the kid’s parents came to church and got to spend a few hours with the kids. We had a guest preacher and a group of kids who sang for us.
Monday morning, we sat around, drank coffee, and finished packing. We took them to the airport and sent them on their way. We had such a great time getting to show them around and sharing our love of this country.
Thursday, our first group arrives. Keep us in your prayers as we prepare for their arrival!
Check out the pictures from our travels on our photopage! (http://photos.scottandsophie.com)
Love,
Scott and Sophie
