Good evening everyone. We are here at the lake still, enjoying a little R&R. Today we went to visit some of Karen's friends who run a foster home/adoption service here in Guatemala. They are originally from Green Bay, and have been working and living in Guatemala for a number of years. Currently the government in Guatemala is revising the adoption laws and there is a moratorium on adoptions, so they are only fostering kids. They have had as many as 34 kids at one time in their house to care for, many are orphans or come from abusive homes through the court system. They do not charge anything for placing kids in adoptive homes, a rarity here where adoption had been a money making program and the system was corrupt and abused by some, hence the changes being made in the laws. They have a beautiful home and the surrounding countryside is amazing.

It seems I have been saying (or at least thinking) that the countryside is amazing here. All of Guatemala is amazing. They say that Guatemala is the land of permanent spring. I have no reason to doubt it. The countryside is amazing, and the people we have met have been very friendly.

Most of us spent the afternoon at the market. I know this comes as a shock, but it is the last chance for a market for us, so we had to take advantage of it. A little shopping, a little bartering, a lot of looking, and back for a little afternoon siesta. Don't tell Nancy, but my sisters have worked up a little dance routine. Very professional looking. It's a good thing we are studying to be nurses, though.

Gotta go. Dinner awaits. Off to Guatemala City tomorrow, and home in just a few days.