Our Deluxe Lodging

John Mann is the man in our lives here, and a foundation for any success we may have with our piano classes.

John and his house manager, Esperanza, picked us up at the Guatemala City airport on Saturday, June 29, drove us immediately to a Walmart just before closing time for teaching supplies, a drive-through stop at Taco Bell, and then to his spacious home in Ciudad Viaja.

John Mann's home - our home away from home.

John has made his beautiful house our home. We have the guest room on the main floor. The bedroom screened windows providing a view of the backyard and a frequently smoking volcano within hiking distance. On the same floor is a living room and the kitchen and dining area where we eat breakfast and dinner with John. Meals are served by Esperanza, and her 17-year-old daughter Karla, 15-year-old daughter Mayra, and 10-year-old son Byron. Esperanza and her children eat in the kitchen. We hear them laughing and talking. If John wants something, he calls a name, and that person immediately appears.

John worked with the LDS bishop of Ciudad Viaja and the LDS stake president to get the students registered. He set up a meeting Sunday, June 30 to meet with the local leaders to finalize arrangements for our use of the church for the classes.

He drives us to the church each day, though it is only a couple of blocks away. Right now it would be a challenge to haul our teaching supplies back and forth walking.

He has planned activities for this weekend - Friday and Saturday. We are looking forward to a macadamia nut breakfast at the Macadamia Nut Farm Friday morning, a tour of the silver factory where  I will get my wedding rings (actually my mother's rings) soldered, and shopping in Antigua. Saturday we will go to a fireworks show.

Our dinner conversations are never dull as John has traveled the world and had many adventures. We are all impressed with his vast resumé of "jobs."

John also makes sure we have a lunch prepared by Esperanza delivered to the church each day.

We are only one of a number of "projects" he currently is overseeing, yet he has made us feel that we are his top priority. May God bless him for his many acts of charity!