We left home on Saturday morning making our annual Christmas trip into Guatemala City. This trip always coincides with our mission Christmas party. We have a few traditions that we like to do there and we always look forward to it each year.
This year's trip did not start out as I had planned. Our normal 3.5 hour trip turned into an 8 hour fiasco. Along the way we encountered three separate accidents and an 18 wheeler broke down in our lane. I thought we would never get there and we were all very irritated by the time we did.
another wreck
We had planned to be in the City by lunch time but that did not happen. We ended up stopping in Guastatoya to grab a bite to eat at Pollo Campero. It was about 1:30 in the afternoon when we finally reached there. They were packed out! We ordered to-go and ate outside on the sidewalk before getting back in the slow moving traffic and creeping our way on in to Guatemala City. We left home at 8:00 that morning and finally arrived at our mission house around 4:00 that afternoon. grrrrrr........
In spite of being completely stressed out and aggravated we grabbed a quick cup of coffee at our mission house, caught our breath, and headed out again to visit the Miraflores Mall- a Christmas tradition for us.
we began with supper at Chili's
I always order fajitas. This year I tried their sizzling mushroom and chicken fajitas. They were heavenly! Merry Christmas to me, ha.
me and my precious boys at Chili's in Guatemala City
After supper we always make a stop by the DQ for ice cream. Our favorite is the Reese's Peanut Butter Cup blizzard.
We didn't watch the movie but we couldn't resist a photo outside the mall theater.
Another tradition is for the boys to ride the mall carousel.
David and Ben at Miraflores Mall in Guatemala City
This year we added a visit to this mall playland/ ball pit that my boys just love! It costs about $1.25 to play for an hour. While they played we sat back and watched while drinking a cup of coffee.
having fun in Guatemala City
a photo before bedtime of my little elves
brothers
Sunday morning began with a box of these Christmas Dunkin Donuts- another tradition.
they loved them!
This year we were excited to get to attend Sunday worship at Union Church in Guatemala City. It is an English speaking church. Oh how our hearts were blessed to sing and hear a message in English. It was refreshing.
my guys at Union Church in Guatemala City
The sanctuary was beautifully decorated for Christmas.
Cruz loved getting to be a part of the children's group. Here they are down front with the pastor before heading to Children's church. Ben spent about 30 minutes in his nursery class until the announcement flashed across the screen that "Benjamin's mother is needed in the nursery". He was done and there was no calming him down. He spent the rest of the service with us in my lap. Cruz, on the other hand, was mad when I picked him up because he was not ready to leave.
On Sunday evening we attended our annual IMB mission family Christmas party. Here is our group at the party. We had a wonderful time and I'll post about it tomorrow.
We made the return drive home to Chiquimula on Monday morning. Before getting on the road we made a stop by Starbucks for coffee.
And just like our trip into the City we encountered accidents on our way home. Thankfully we were not delayed much like on our drive in.
I have never seen so many wrecks in my life! Thankfully we were not involved in any of them.
I was glad to get back home. We had a wonderful time in the City but I can honestly say that I am in no hurry to go there again any time soon. I am looking forward to a little peace and quiet over the next few days as we get ready to celebrate the birth of Jesus and make a few new Christmas memories at home. It's our first Christmas in this house and I am very excited about it.
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