The Minneapolis Team...

Well, the last week of my 11 week stay the Minneapolis team was at the Hogar...

It was wonderful having them around for support during the final days...

They arrived on Friday the 1st and I surprised them by coming to the airport with Jorge and that was nice. They, (I think) were happy to see me, and I was happy to see all of them!

Friday and Saturday the team was getting acquainted with the Hogar, checking out the grounds and of course, enjoying time with the children. Sunday, we celebrated a beautiful Divine Liturgy with Father Nathan Kroll from St. Cloud, MN and then had an "introductory" meeting with Madre Ivonne (because she was sick the first few days the team was there). It was nice to have her around since she is so close with Doria!

Monday, classes resumed for the children and we (the team) headed to Antigua for some tourism... of course going to Queso y Vino for lunch and shopping but this time we also did a coffee tour. It was AWESOME! We had a coffee tour and lessons on how coffee is made and produced (Guatemala is 3rd largest coffee producers in the WORLD!) and then to a musical instrument tour. The history of all of the musical instruments in Guatemala. Very fun... here are a few pictures from our day in Antigua...

This first picture if how coffee grows. Inside each of the red berries are 2 coffee beans and they have to be hand picked, EACH BERRY. Then, they are de-skinned, put through a washing procedure, then dried in the sun, rewashed and then roasted. So delicious and veery interesting!

Here is George Patronas (friend from Duluth, MN that came on the trip) and I at lunch in Antigua!

My Auntie Patty and I right after the coffee tour. It was so beautiful to share with her at the Hogar! What a blessed week.

This is a picture of some of the boys the day after celebrating Christ's baptism in the Jordan... We were heading out to bless EVERY inch of the Hogar with Holy Water. It was beautiful.

A few of my boys and I playing within my last days at the Hogar. What a joy to share with the boys!

Well I suppose that is it for the trip to the Hogar.

Thank you EVERYONE for the support, love and most importantly; prayers. I would not have been able to do this without each of you reading my blog, and praying for me.

Please continue to Shine Your Light through your actions and words and pray for the Hogar.

They are praying for all of you.

With Love, in Christ,

Jody