Matthews Mission in Guatemala: First week and the work begins

It's hard to believe that we've been in Guatemala now for a little over a week. The time has gone by so fast! We are quickly adjusting to life here with the help of the Curtises. Many things are different than I'm used to like not being able to get a drink out of the faucet. We have a 5-gallon purified water bottle that is delivered to us each week. We also soak our fresh fruits and vegetables in clorox water for several minutes before eating them. I'm learning and also becoming very creative in solving problems that are not an issue back home.
Morris and I have a big office at the Central America Area Headquarters with individual well-supplied desks and new computers. We feel very spoiled! It has taken us some time to sort through old files, do some shredding of past medical files, and get organized, but we are finally getting settled in our office. Morris has been receiving many medical calls during this past week and has been advising nurses and mission presidents' wives on many medical problems - gall bladder issues, kidney problems, ankle, knee and back problems, seizures, Dengue fever, Chikungua, a lump under an elder's armpit, a missionary hit by a motorcycle, high fevers, a tumor discovered in a sister who is still in the CCM (MTC), P Day broken arm, and various anxiety and mental health issues.
Last week, Honduras had a presidential election and the losing candidate alledged wide-spread voter fraud. There were riots in the country, shots fired, and 14 people have been killed so far (and we all thought the US elections were scary!) The missionaries in the CCM who were supposed to go to Honduras last week were delayed until things settled down.
While Morris is working, I have tried to be his support system and listening ear. I have also used my free time to start learning Spanish which I can see is a necessity! We have a cute cleaning lady who comes into our office every day while we are working and even though she knows I don't speak Spanish, she tries to carry on a conversation with me. I told her she should be my teacher and she was quite pleased! I'm finding that I can understand more than I can speak, but hopefully I can pick up enough Spanish to get by. At the first of the year, the mental health adviser wants me to help her with some of her clerical duties which will also keep me busy. There are many opportunities for service here which I hope to become involved.
We have our own car now and have been brave in driving to the office and to different stores. I always say a little prayer before we leave because the drivers here are CRAZY!!! There are many motorcycles on the road which dart in and out of traffic. There are colorful chicken buses that are crammed with people and have all the peoples' stuff piled on top of the bus. These buses and motorcycles pretty much rule the road. There are traffic rules but few of them are followed. Morris thinks the only real rule is to not hit another vehicle, or anyone, or anything! The food chain on the street is as follows:
1. buses rule!
2. trucks
3. motorcycles
4. cars
5. dogs
6. cats
7. goats
8. pedestrians (an endangered species)
9. rats (Morris wanted to add this)
Overall, we feel very safe and are enjoying our time here so far! We are enjoying our assignment to help keep the missionaries well and able to work, and we're excited for any other opportunities we may have to serve. Comments are welcome!