CNN iReport

My son and I were teaching painting techniques to children at an orphanage in Quetzaltenango (Xela), Guatemala. All proceeds from sale of the artwork goes directly to the orphanage.

After three weeks we started driving to Maia's home in Oakland, California. Our car broke down north of Acapulco. We were stuck in the hot sun for three hours but were finally rescued by the White (sometimes called Green) Angels. It is a group of officials in a white pickup with emergency lights on top. They towed us to a mechanic shop in the small town of Coyuca.

Though Maia spoke Spanish quite well, there was no way to interpret a car part. Fortunately it was small enough to scan. After we scanned the part & had the works in place for having it shipped from the U.S. (thanks to his father) we had such a wonderful time.

It was so hot but for $1 we could take a shuttle bus every day to the ocean. We could play in the surf but it was too strong for swimming. There was a lagoon across the road, with thatched roofed, inexpensive restaurants hanging over the water. An added attraction was a rope set up for swinging into the water.

We were obviously a curiosity, the only Americans in town as well as being a mother and son. We were treated very well by the local residents. Delicious mangoes cost 10 cents and avocados were 15 cents. We had cable TV in our room and were able to practice our Spanish with the subtitles. We were awakened early on Cinco de Mayo when the parade started right below our window. It seems that a brass band and sleep don't mix well.

It took two weeks to receive the parts. I had to leave via bus (40 hours to Phoenix) after the first week but my son was there for another week. There were no addresses in Coyuca so Maia had to take a shuttle bus to a postal service in Acapulco. They returned the part twice before he could convince them to hold it for him. It was also returned once to the U.S. for taxes, which had been paid.

This is one of many examples in my life that lead me to believe that nothing in life goes wrong. A new opportunity is just opened.