The last time we wrote we were awaiting the arrival of Lee's mom and cousin. The did indeed arrive, we had a great time with them, and they have made it home safely.

We spent frist day and a half of their visit at the children's home. We wanted them to see where we will spend our next year and a half. Then on Sunday we left Villa Nueva for Antigua. Lee and I started classes on Wednesday so that we could spend Monday and Tuesday with Lee's mom and cousin, Cheri & Johny. On Monday we hiked Volcano Pacaya - this is an active volcano that we can see smoke during the day and the glow of red lava at night from the children's home. It was such a neat experience - one that we'd like to repeat someday. Tuesday we spent the morning at a coffee farm - Lee and I have been there before, however, it is coffee harvesting season - so it was a treat to get to see the havest in full swing. During the afternoons we walked around the city, looked at ruins, shopped a bit, a talked a lot. We were so thankful to see faces that we knew.

Wednesday we began our classes again - we're more than halfway through our projected time in language studies, and much more than halfway through the grammar. We'd ask for your prayers for our last stretch of school that will last until mid-March.

Here are a few pics from our time with Cheri & Johny:


This is Lee on the side of Volcano Pacaya - this is the highest point they'd let us go because of the volcanos activity. If you look closely you can see the glow of lava behind his left shoulder and above his head.


Just behind us and to the left looks like there is a ledge of sorts on the volcano - this is the highest point they let us go, and this is a vent that we can see glow red from the children's home each night.


All harvesting is done by hand at the coffee farm that we visited. Cheri, Johny and Lee pitched in and helped a bit with the harvesting.