Rand, Patrice and Jenna served a mission in Guatemala for three years.  We were lucky to visit them before they returned home.  They lived  Guatemala City on the twelfth floor of a high rise.  Yep, those are volcanoes in the background.  Would you call this a room (apartment) with a view!!?  The problem they have is they're rarely home from their crazy schedule to enjoy it.

First things first.  Patrice gave Sara some quick shopping lessons.  There were some great deals to be had at local shops which my sister had long ago scouted out. 

Sara was a quick study and soon went solo.

We also had to see where Jenna went to school.  She attends a private school that sets very high standards.  When they're not busy with their studies, they're saving baby turtles on the Pacific Coast, building homes with Habitat for Humanity International or touring as a volleyball team to Panama.

We toured various areas near Guatemala city, seeing the locals.....some well off....but some coming to public areas in order to do their wash.

It's common in Guatemala to shop daily (or hourly) for little food item and other tid bits.  Purchased items are often put in plastic bags to accommodate small sizes or to prevent the owner from losing the bottle deposit.  Sara demonstrates a soda in a bag.

As a special treat, Patrice and Rand arranged for us to fly to Northern Guatemala to see the incredible, ancient Mayan ruins of Tikal.

The stairs on the temple's face were too dangerous to climb, so wooden 'ladders' were constructed to allow access.

After much huffing and puffing, we were rewarded with incredible views.