We are now spending the last night in Guatemala at the Crowne Plaza in Guatemala City.  We will be meeting at 5:45 in the lobby to begin our trek home.  Tomorrow I sleep in my own bed.

God is good.  Thank you all for your prayers.  We have been blessed at least as much as we have been used by God to bless.

The Lord bless and keep you all.  Amen.

The rest of the day Thursday, we traveled to Antigua.  On Friday morning, these pictures were taken from the roof of our hotel.  It is one of my favorite places on earth.

After breakfast, we traveled up to the cross above Antigua for our morning devotion.  The view from here is awesome!

We then visited a church and the ruins of a convent in the town.  Did I mention things here are old?  This building was built in 1548!

This arch is one of the most recognized monuments in Antigua.  It is all that is left of another convent compound.  This arch allowed the sisters to walk across the street to the church for worship without having to go outside.  Now neither the convent nor the church exist, but we still have the bridge.

Before leaving Antigua we had lunch at this pizza place.  The brick oven is huge and let me say, it makes really great pizza.

It is Thursday, the last day in La Fragua.  First thing in the morning we stopped at the public elementary school to talk to the principal again about working in the school this March.  While we were there, we were able to watch the children playing football.  

Next was the dedication of the new house.  In addition to the family, a couple very adorable friends attended.

Before the dedication, we spent the time getting to know people.

Finally, after three pastors said a few words, it was time to cut the ribbon and enter the house and make it a home.

We gave them each a cross to wear and Pastor Brian shared the gospel.

Then I presented them with a St. Mark's cross and a Bible for their new home.

Dawn gave them a picture frame.

The boys were quite excited about their new bed, and the family was quite happy with their new home.

Team picture time!

The man in the center is Deacon Oliverio.  He is studying to be a pastor while at the same time working at the Lutheran School and pastoring the church in La Fragua.  When I talked to him last time we were here he said the only books he had to prepare sermons was his Bible and the Portals of Prayer.  Brian bought him four books to help him in his ministry.

Today we began by finishing the bunk bed.  The ladies were busy with other things so we managed to figure out how to finish it.  :)

By the end of this effort I was exhausted, so I decided to try out the new bed.  It worked. 

While we finished the bed the ladies spent time building relationships with the neighbors.  There was one in particular they took a liking to.  We think she knew just how cute she was as she wrapped Dawn around her tiny finger.

The boys really liked video games.  Whoda thought?

Then the ladies went for a walk in the neighborhood and ran into our old friend Oscar.  I think he was being protective and walked with them.

Connie got a chance to use her electrical knowledge wiring the new house.  Larry, did you know she could do this?

Later the real electrician took over.  :)  By the way, for those who do not know, this is Niles, one of our translators.

Sheri's grandma gene was coming out strong by the end of the day.  :)

But, really, who could blame her.

Then it was time to build the stove.  The wrinkle is these come with no directions, but do not fear.  Alex, our other translator, is a stove master.  With a little help he had it assembled in 31 minutes.  (Yes, I timed him.  This was a better time than 3 months ago.)

Jairo, the man of the new house, started the first fire.  He was so excited.  I understand how fun it is, getting a new gadget.  :)

I think Ruth was happy too.

It is a little hard to see, but the family is already planting around the new house.  Look for the small plant bottom-left/center and the skinny tree, right center.  I can tell Ruth in eager to make her home beautiful.  

Then, in the afternoon, we did the Bible school for the last time.  I'm sure we said it before, but these children are absolutely precious.  I want to keep them all.  I'm not sure if their parents would be OK with that though.  :(

They work so hard and carefully on their projects.  Then they want their picture taken with all of them. Count three projects from today.

Brian's love for the kids is so wonderful to see.  What a great guy, and a GREAT pastor.

Every member of our team fell in love many times with these children.  We have developed no immunity to them.

By the end of the afternoon, all the adults were making the crafts as well.  I think they liked them as much as the kids.