"There's no place like home!" But if you can't be home, the next best thing is a visit from your family!  Fridays are set aside for family visitation at the Malnutrition Center. This Friday is especially unique. By 10:00am there is a line outside of the Center full of moms, dads, grandparents and siblings,waiting in anticipation to see their precious children. Once the doors open, benches are brought in to create a space for family gatherings. Many families like to go outside and enjoy the playground and the Guatemalan sunshine. Smiles are beaming and laughter is heard as children lock eyes with their loved ones. It's enough to make your heart melt.
On this particular Friday, photographers were brought in (Cynthia, translators, and interns) to take family portraits! The line to get a photo taken stretched from the playground all the way into the foyer. People were excited! The plan is to have these photos printed and available for families to take home next week, so that children and families won't seem so far apart. I'm sure moms and dads can't wait to have this small token to hold to until their babies come home.
TELMA, MARIA DEL CARMEN

DOMINGO, SANTOS, SANDRA

JULIO

WILLIAM

VILMA LETICIA

WENDY

ROSA GUISEL

ERWIN

ELIAS

BILLY

One special visitor came with his parents: JAIRO!  (He's Erwin's half-brother and was at the center about a year ago.) We were so glad to see him again! Jairo received new shoes, some crackers, and even a haircut from Samuel! It's always a treat when children come back for a visit. He is currently working in the corn fields, but we would sure like to have him back at the Center to put some meat on those bones.

SENO CYNTHIA SURE WAS GLAD TO SEE JAIRO!
MARIANNA MET JAIRO ON HER FIRST TRIP TO GUATEMALA.

JAIRO'S FAMILY

SAMUEL GIVES JAIRO A HAIRCUT

SO HANDSOME AND GROWN UP
A priority of this past week's team was to reach out to the families of the children here and provide bags overflowing with food staples they could take home. Included in the bags were coffee, rice, beans, oil, raisins, spaghetti, and Gospel tracts in Espanol.

THE "HANDING OUT CREW"

"QUE DIOS TE BENDIGA!"

Many of the ladies put the bags into their own baskets and toted them down the mountain in typical Guatemalan fashion--on their head.

Also visiting were some of the women who were ministered to last week at the pila (the local washateria).  They came to see the Center, in order to allay any fears they may have about leaving their children with us. Odilia, the assistant administrator, gave them a tour, and many of them seem more eager to bring their children and spread the word about the positive happenings at the Center. These families also received bags full of food. God smiled on us, as there were EXACTLY enough bags to go to everyone!
To top things off, just before leaving, Cynthia brought out a special treat: peanut butter in the Jif-to-go packs. We had to model just how to eat it...with your finger! We couldn't hand them out fast enough, and word spread through the Center to come get your special treat! Peanut butter was on everyone's face and "que rico!" (yummy!) was heard by everyone!
KEVIN AND ERASMO

MADELIN

SERGIO

Vilma especially enjoyed the treat as she might have had more peanut butter on her face and clothes than in her mouth!

What a great end to an excellent day at the Center!