So we are still alive. Since we have been back in the states we have been going, going, and going some more. We have had a wonderful time catching up with family and friends while enjoying the last bits of summer. We absolutely love summer in Washington. The view of the mountains in every direction, the trees and water have such an amazing glow, and the temperatures are so comfortable. What a beautiful place we live.
Our transition home has been smooth as we moved into my (jennifer) parents home temporarily. This has been a wonderful blessing for us as we get our feet firmly planted here again. Craig has resumed working at his old job doing tree work part time and projects/side jobs for family and friends to fill in the gaps. Once again we are reminded of the many blessings God has given us. God has been so faithful to us. This is our third time coming off the mission field and the third time we have to testify of Gods goodness and provision. He is so faithful!
So I do plan on keeping up with this blog but I will give you a warning that I probably won't be quite as regular as before. Thank you to all who follow our blog, we will be in touch.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
An update
Isaac con su amigo Alcides (Isaac with his friend Alcides)
el jefe con su cafe (The boss with his coffee)
Well it has been a while since I have written. Part of this is because we have been busy and part of this is because I am full of mixed emotions and I am not sure how to express what I am feeling. We are excited to be going home but sad because we are going to miss it here. We are really going to miss our friends and the boys at the school.
Last week there was a group of 18 people here from Wisconsin with many different skills and all kinds of work and activities were accomplished. They had counselors who met with many individuals needing help, and who also presented a 3 day marriage conference for the people of Guatemala. We had a couple of med students who worked at the clinic teaching about diabetes and gave many people in the community glasses. A few members of the group were teachers and worked at a local school teaching math and music together through fractions. There was an electrician who came and helped at the vocational school. And several young men in the group who are in school preparing to become pastors were able to come and preach at churches as well as give classes on techniques for studying the Bible.
This is just a summary of what happened and there was much more that I can not even begin to write all down. We were blessed to be a part of this and our kids were blessed as they showered them with love and attention. It is always amazing to meet and work alongside other brothers and sisters in Christ!
We are now beginning to start wrapping up our time here in Guatemala. I am sorry if this post has lacked emotion but I am still in the processing mode. But I didn't want you all to think we were lost somewhere. We are doing well and making the most of our last 8 days here!
I hope to be able to post more soon!
el jefe con su cafe (The boss with his coffee)
Well it has been a while since I have written. Part of this is because we have been busy and part of this is because I am full of mixed emotions and I am not sure how to express what I am feeling. We are excited to be going home but sad because we are going to miss it here. We are really going to miss our friends and the boys at the school.
Last week there was a group of 18 people here from Wisconsin with many different skills and all kinds of work and activities were accomplished. They had counselors who met with many individuals needing help, and who also presented a 3 day marriage conference for the people of Guatemala. We had a couple of med students who worked at the clinic teaching about diabetes and gave many people in the community glasses. A few members of the group were teachers and worked at a local school teaching math and music together through fractions. There was an electrician who came and helped at the vocational school. And several young men in the group who are in school preparing to become pastors were able to come and preach at churches as well as give classes on techniques for studying the Bible.
This is just a summary of what happened and there was much more that I can not even begin to write all down. We were blessed to be a part of this and our kids were blessed as they showered them with love and attention. It is always amazing to meet and work alongside other brothers and sisters in Christ!
We are now beginning to start wrapping up our time here in Guatemala. I am sorry if this post has lacked emotion but I am still in the processing mode. But I didn't want you all to think we were lost somewhere. We are doing well and making the most of our last 8 days here!
I hope to be able to post more soon!
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Friday, July 16, 2010
Blessed!
Craig has officially survived his time time running the school by himself. Our friends have returned from the states and he can take a deep breath. I have to say that things went amazingly smoothly. He did a great job and had bit of fun with it to.
On Wednesdays they only have school for a half day and they have the afternoon off. So this last Wednesday Craig decided to take the students out to lunch to bless them and thank them for helping him through these few weeks. He had them pile in the back of the truck and took them out to Burger King (not a favorite of Craig's but a special treat for the boys that they LOVE!). After that he decided that they should have some fun and go down to the lake for a swim. He brought them all to our house to get shorts for them to wear because they were all in their work clothes and then of they went. They had so much fun. They swam for several hours. What a blessing it was to see them so happy and having som much fun just being teenage boys!
Well the next day Craig went to work and a couple of the boys asked Craig if he wanted a chicken. They wanted to give him a chicken to say thank you. So Craig said sure and off they went. One of the boys ran back to his house and came back carrying a live chicken. Craig was surprised because this was not exactly what he was expecting. Then they asked if he wanted it alive or dead. Thankfully Craig said dead (probably because he knew what kind of response he would have gotten from me had he brought home a live chicken). So they killed it and cleaned it up to send it home with him. They were so proud of this nice big chicken that they were giving us (probably the skinniest chicken I had ever seen but big for them). We both felt so blessed that they wanted to bless and share what they had with us. They had a chicken so that is what they gave, and it sounds like it was one of their bigger chickens which touches my heart even more. Part of me wanted to give the chicken back because I know they need it more than we do but I knew that this was something that they wanted to do, and it made them happy. Through giving everyone is blessed, the giver and the receiver!
On Wednesdays they only have school for a half day and they have the afternoon off. So this last Wednesday Craig decided to take the students out to lunch to bless them and thank them for helping him through these few weeks. He had them pile in the back of the truck and took them out to Burger King (not a favorite of Craig's but a special treat for the boys that they LOVE!). After that he decided that they should have some fun and go down to the lake for a swim. He brought them all to our house to get shorts for them to wear because they were all in their work clothes and then of they went. They had so much fun. They swam for several hours. What a blessing it was to see them so happy and having som much fun just being teenage boys!
Well the next day Craig went to work and a couple of the boys asked Craig if he wanted a chicken. They wanted to give him a chicken to say thank you. So Craig said sure and off they went. One of the boys ran back to his house and came back carrying a live chicken. Craig was surprised because this was not exactly what he was expecting. Then they asked if he wanted it alive or dead. Thankfully Craig said dead (probably because he knew what kind of response he would have gotten from me had he brought home a live chicken). So they killed it and cleaned it up to send it home with him. They were so proud of this nice big chicken that they were giving us (probably the skinniest chicken I had ever seen but big for them). We both felt so blessed that they wanted to bless and share what they had with us. They had a chicken so that is what they gave, and it sounds like it was one of their bigger chickens which touches my heart even more. Part of me wanted to give the chicken back because I know they need it more than we do but I knew that this was something that they wanted to do, and it made them happy. Through giving everyone is blessed, the giver and the receiver!
Sunday, July 04, 2010
Common Sights
"Tuk Tuks" - they are 3 wheeled taxis. There are probably more of them then there are cars. They are everywhere.
It is very common to see families with little kids, even infants riding motorcyles. It is very rare to see them wearing helmets.
Little stands like this are everywhere in the afternoon and evening. This one is selling tostadas and juice.
Everybody has clothes hanging up to dry. Dryers are rare because it costs a lot for electricity here.
Launcha-these are water taxis. We have ridden them several times to get to different parts of the lake. The kids love riding them.
Tamales- They are wrapped and then cooked in these huge banana leaves. There are several different dishes that they prepare and cook like this. Craig and I haven't been able to figure out the difference between them though. They walk the streets with 5 gallon buckets full of these to sell to people.
Fried Plantains-many people eat these every day. They are very sweet.
A boy and his dad out fishing in their boat.
Bike Cart- this one is selling chips and other snacks
Bike Cart - this one is selling something similar to snow cones
It is very common to see families with little kids, even infants riding motorcyles. It is very rare to see them wearing helmets.
Little stands like this are everywhere in the afternoon and evening. This one is selling tostadas and juice.
Everybody has clothes hanging up to dry. Dryers are rare because it costs a lot for electricity here.
Launcha-these are water taxis. We have ridden them several times to get to different parts of the lake. The kids love riding them.
Tamales- They are wrapped and then cooked in these huge banana leaves. There are several different dishes that they prepare and cook like this. Craig and I haven't been able to figure out the difference between them though. They walk the streets with 5 gallon buckets full of these to sell to people.
Fried Plantains-many people eat these every day. They are very sweet.
A boy and his dad out fishing in their boat.
Bike Cart- this one is selling chips and other snacks
Bike Cart - this one is selling something similar to snow cones
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
I love the Market!
I love going to the market. We buy most of our produce there because they have such great deals. We bought all of this food in the picture for 137 Quetzals or about $15. So here is a list of what we got: a bag of 100 tostadas, 2 pineapples, 1 watermelon, 1 papaya, 12 oranges, 10 tomatoes, cilantro, 6 mangoes, 4 green bell peppers and 2 red bell peppers, 2 cucumbers, 2 onions, and 2 carrots. Man I love a good deal. When we go home we are going to miss being able to eat pineapple, watermelon and mangoes every week.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
School Project Continued
Here are some new pictures of the school Craig has been working on. They have put in new decking, hand rails, and some stairs. They are also having to replace some of the roof. It is going well and everyone is learning as they go. Craig has been challenged but is doing well being there by himself. So far so good!
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