This is a continuation of the last entry.  We had the opportunity to go back to the place that Jason and I visited several years ago with his pre-med club.  We have some very dear friends there that we lived with during that visit.  We called to let them know that we would be in the area and they told us to please come by.
While the APs visited an apartment in the area, we had time to sit in their home and visit for about an hour.  They live about 3 1/2 hours from the capital in Chiquimula.  When we got there, it was so good to see them.  Their daughter had been in medical school when we were there.  She has since graduated and is awaiting work here in Guatemala City next January after finishing a couple of tests.  When I hugged her mom, she didn't want to let go and neither did I.  We had spent lots of time together and I met many of her siblings there.  We both said that we didn't think we would ever see each other in this life again.  The men of the family came home from work and we got to see everyone.  The neat part was that Mary speaks English so even though the rest of her family doesn't, she could interpret for them and I could interpret for Dale, so we were able to have a wonderful visit!  They kept saying how much Jason looks like Dale.  Isn't it wonderful that we can know that if we live the gospel we can continue those relationships for always.
      They invited us to come back and investigate some ruins by them named Cirigua.  We will probably take them up on that, along with another couple who would like to go back to Chiquimula where he served about 40 years ago.  The thing that impressed me about Chiquimula the first time was how happy the people were.  I saw the same smiles there this time.
     Monday we spent in Zacapa at Zone Conference.  This was our first experience with that and it was great.  We got to hear Elder Amado of the 70 talk to the elders and tell them how to teach the gospel to their investigators and some tips for their lives.  He is the longest serving 70 at this time and was the first Guatemalan missionary to serve out of his country.  His mission was to Canada.   He was a mission president at the age of 33 here in Guatemala City.   He has much experience in the gospel and much knowledge to share.
     We were able to spend the next three days with him and with the mission pres. and his wife in meetings with every missionary in the mission.  After each conference, we met with those who needed some encouragement or a little bit of help with their health.  The missionaries have such enthusiasm and when they sing in a group it almost takes your breath away.
      Despite the fact that we (APs were driving) got lost on our trip from Zacapa to Jalapa (an hour 1/2 drive) and ended up almost in Escipulas, five hours later we did arrive at our hotel 5 minutes prior to mission curfew.  There were a few times we doubted that we would ever get there.  The APs had taught me earlier that day how to use the location finder on the phone and we just happened to check that and notice that we were quite a ways from where we were hoping to be.  There was one road where I felt very uneasy.  There were no other cars on the road and it was very dark.  Thankfully, we didn't have to backtrack on that road to get going in the right direction.  After a prayer and several stops to ask directions, we made it safe and sound.
     The last 2 days we have spent at the Brigada.  Dale has put some pictures on the blog to give you a visual idea of what it is all about.  Elder Martino who is the Area President gave the opening prayer and made us all aware of the Lord's hand in helping this to happen.  There were several points when they felt like they would never be able to pull it off but things worked out and there will be many missionaries come from their work.
     Future missionaries come to the Stake center where a portable dental lab is set up with about 25 dentists and several oral surgeons, along with doctors and many support people.  They get a hair cut, labs drawn, physical from a doctor, dental check up-work, and have their wisdom teeth pulled. Many of them have come from other countries.  Some came from about 7 hours away.  The premise is that they are able to get the medical work up which they can't afford to put their papers in.
     I was working in the recovery room where they bring the youth who have had their wisdom teeth out to make sure they stop bleeding and give them instructions.  One of the youth came up to me and asked if I remembered him.  We had met him as we were inspecting missionary apartments in the Cuilapa area.  He was working with the missionaries.  He had been a member for about 9 months and was so excited to be able to go on a mission.  He ended up coming through the Brigada and will make a most excellent missionary.  I have not heard one complaint among all of those youth.
     We met the mission secretary of health for the north mission?.  She is an older sister (27) who is not a nurse but they have called her to that position.  The mission nurse has the opportunity to go out of the city and do some proselyting for a time.  This sister has taken her place and is doing a great job along with her companion.  Her Spanish was most excellent and she has a way about her of explaining to the missionaries so they know that she means what she says.  Her mother is a nurse and her father taught her a lot about chemistry and why things work the way they do.  She and her companion were very impressive.
     I can't say enough about the Brigada and the work that they are accomplishing.  Along with most things of this sort, there are several opinions about it and people can see pros and cons.  The people who have come have spent much time and effort in preparing and donating their time and money to the cause.  
     On our plane flight here, I may have commented on how many people there were on the plane who were donating their time and efforts for the people of Guatemala.  The Lord has blessed them in many ways with outside help to make their lives better.
     The first night as I was waiting for Dale to come back and pick me up (He had gone with the elders in the area to inspect their apartments) I walked up to a group of youth and told them I was a missionary.  They proceeded to tell me that they had always wanted to know more about the Church.  I assumed that this was a young womens group because they were waiting outside the chapel, talking quietly.  Several times, I joked with them that they were just teasing me.  In reality, they were not.  They were interpreters that had been taking an English class from a member and had come to practice their English at the Brigada.  I was able to answer some of their questions and give them a Book of Mormon.  There are people here who are just thirsting to know more about the gospel.  I guess that is why we are here.
     Dale has been busy finding things to repair and being a chauffeur for some of the Brigada people.  We love what we are doing.  It is definitely work but it is the Lord's work and we are grateful to be a part of it.