Businessman Alvaro Colom led the elections yesterday with 28% of the votes, winning majorities in 16% of Guatemala’s departments (states). Retired general Otto Perez Molina received 24% of the votes, with a strong showing of support from Guatemala City. Rigoberta Menchu the only woman and indigenous candidate, finished sixth with 3% of the vote. I commend her for running and hope she has opened the door for more women and indigenous candidates in the future. There are still some votes not in, but a runoff election on November 4th is inevitable.

There was an increase of 20% in registered voters since the 2003 elections due to voting centers being erected in rural centers. Previously villagers had to make long trips to vote. In addition, Mayan villagers could attend classes before the elections and learn how to vote. Many do not speak Spanish, and so are allowed to put an X on the candidate’s symbol. These changes were a huge improvement over the last elections.

So far reports say that election day was rather peaceful with only a couple exceptions. In one village, the voting center was burned down by an angry mob after it appeared that the mayor had brought in Salvadorans to vote. In another village the mayor was blocked from voting by angry voters who claimed he was trying to vote twice.



And on the home front we had a huge breakthrough yesterday. For the first time, twenty-two month old Ella nodded “yes” in agreement. I almost fainted! We have been working on this for months unsuccessfully, and as she gets cheekier and more defiant I thought we’d never get a vertical nod from this little girl. Last night as she began to unravel yet another roll of toilet paper, I stopped her and said: ”You are going to stop right now,” and she nodded yes and actually stopped!

Just in case you’re thinking that I was imagining this or it was a freak accident, she did it again this morning. I’m on cloud number nine.

Yet another miracle transpired this morning. When I let my three dogs out, it was actually chilly outside. I could not believe it. I ran to check my thermometer and it read sixty degrees. This has been the hottest and most humid summer since we moved here seventeen years ago with almost no breaks from the unbearable heat the whole summer long. Ella and I are actually going to put on long pants and long sleeved shirts to go out this morning. Hurrah!

Here’s hoping my readers have some miracles in their lives as well today.