Gringos in Guatemala

Nothing like heading out to explore a country you have been living in for three whole months! Tuesday we went to the Pacific coast. We tried to do our homework and used google map to get directions, but it couldn't give us any. Vernon asked people, but the ones who knew spoke Spanish and the ones who knew and could talk English, were about 13 hours away and no cell service. So we looked at the map and headed out early Tues. morning. We hoped to miss the rush hour in Guatemala City, but ended up caught in the crowd. We drove part way with Ross and Donita Good who were headed home to Pasaco after taking care of some business in the city. We arrived at Puerto Quetza by 9 am! I told you we left early!! We headed left along the coast, close enough to see a bit of water but unable to get to it! We drove in a few places but they always ended up along a canal and people watched us and of course, I got ready to get back onto the main road! Then we pulled into this fancy gated place and tried to get some information. The man knew only Spanish and the fact that his front teeth were missing made it impossible to understand any thing. Vernon kept waving his arms and talking about muchas agua and other words that only left us all more confused than ever. The man then took Vernon's license and opened the big gate. We drove through and drove around the place. It was a housing development for very rich Guatemalans. We circled back to the gate and were happy to get the license back in our possession and then headed on. Sometime during the search, Jared was talking in the back seat, "I guess this won't be a very good day after all", he was quite concerned we wouldn't find the beach!  We kept driving and finally did find a beach that was very empty and quiet. It looked like the area would come alive later in the week, but we were very happy with the atmosphere. It was a hot, muggy, overcast day. The sand was black and very hot. The water was warm and the waves were pretty high. We had been warned to be careful about the water, it has a strong undertow, so we were careful but we had so much fun. Sometimes the waves came in with enough force to send some of us flying onto the shore. We headed home sticky, sunburned and full of sand but full of that wonderful feeling of contentment and well being after spending a bonding time together. What was most enjoyable? Just being together, laughing at each other,  relaxing and realizing that we can get around and find our way, sort of! Jared ended up having lots of fun, I couldn't keep him out of the waves!

An Answer!

Today I was sitting in church and a thought came to me! How surprising is that:) No, really, it was about my ho hum feeling. I had to ask myself the question, "is God enough?" Is He enough that I can be content with my circumstances and that I can do my work with joy? I know how to do work with a grim determination, but I don't want to be satisfied with that! I want look beyond myself, and do what I do with a joy to be able to serve others.
Once again I sat under a solo Espaniol message, but I was able to catch most of the Bible references and it seems like the words leap off the page. We discussed this at lunch and the girls notice the same thing. When we can read the verses in English, and those are the only words we understand, Gods Word becomes alive and powerful! Like the verse that mentions that Jesus was the Son, yet he learned obedience through the things he suffered! How can I refuse to learn obedience when I have that verse staring me in the face?

We are having areal thunderstorm and enjoying it very much! Feels like popcorn and relaxing time. Oh for a bowl of ladyfinger popcorn with brewers yeast....... What was my profound thought about contentment?!
Dios le bendiga

Ho Hum.......

How do I handle routine, every day same, same? This place can have that feeling at times. Yes, new people come through and the pace can be rushed or slower, but there is a sense of 'sameness' that is present. So,....
I need to remember that the things I do are not for myself or my benefit, but they are things that need to be done and feelings are unreliable!
Today we went to the market and I was awed by the variety of fresh produce once again. The watermelon hasn't been so good lately, but the strawberries are big and sweet.  There were the vendors with their foods that smelled delicious and looked wonderful! I am learning to check markets and tiendas for things before going to Walmart. There are clothes, dishes, chicken, and other things. The chickens look kind of scary, but the vendors are very careful to swish the flies away! Today I saw one man grab a cauliflower leaf  from the ladies produce right beside him and he sat there fanning his chicken so the flies couldn't land.
We have one family coming for the night tonight and then they are going to a church about an hour away from here tomorrow. I am trying to decide what to make for Sunday lunch. I think maybe chicken enchiladas. Tonight I am having tostadas with all the little toppings - beans, Guatemalan salsa, guacamole, dry cheese, cilantro and onion slices, with mango for dessert! Yum!
Jody has been very busy getting ready for school. Our school will start Sept. 1. Learning! What a privilege, and blessing and what hard work! If I would have memorized 5 Spanish words a day since we got here, I would have a vocabulary of 450 words. That's enough to depress me!!! Guess I'll go start right now, hasta luega...............

Back to work!

My first day of life in Guatemala after a flying trip to Idaho. Jared and I did fly to Idaho for a family reunion and the days did fly by! It was a wonderful time with my family and Jared relished some of the things he had taken for granted before we left for Guat. in June. He always wanted to be dropped off  at the end of the driveway and run. He told me, "mom, I can just run and run and there are no walls!" We absorbed as much of the clean pine scented air as we could, ate fresh blueberries and peaches, and even jumped into the cold water of deep creek. Best of all, we got to spend time with Jeremys! Jared keeps telling me how much he enjoyed his nieces.
Our flight home to Guatemala was extra long because we spent 3 hours with Justins in Denver! Talk about extra blessings! It is good to be back! I missed Vernon and the girls so much. Unpacking was quite time consuming as the brewers yeast powder and clear gel I was bringing back looked like it had exploded in flight. Everything had a coating of white and yellow dust! Lesson learned: pack all stuff in ziploc bags!
This past week has been a treasured time of being real with the families I love and the church family I love! Then to come back here and see the welcome on faces! It is precious.
God is gracious and does abundantly bless. I am grateful for every person that touched my life this past week and I pray I can be a blessing to others in return!

Be aware of lifes blessings!

I am packed and ready to leave for Idaho tomorrow. Jared and I are flying up for a family reunion this weekend. I am feeling sad that Vernon and the girls can't come! They are telling me to enjoy the trip and I will! But I can tell they would love to be there too!
Did I read my Bible today? Did I treasure the time? I have been thinking about this all week. On Sunday the pastor told the story of Joseph and used big pictures to illustrate. After church was over, I looked outside to see a cluster of people, old and young, looking at the pictures and hearing the story again! There are many who can't read, or who can read a little, which makes comprehension difficult. We have so many blessings and we take them for granted! I pray that I will always have a delight and hunger to read Gods Word!

Be my guest!

Sunday, a 'day of rest' that had people heading in lots of directions!
Vernon, Jared and I went to a small church about an hour from here. Mark and Norma Gingerich took us. The people were very friendly and smiled at me with a true welcome. We got back for a late lunch and fed a few women who were here waiting to fly out to their home village. At 4 am Tristan took a van load of people to San Marcos for church, a 5 hr drive one way. Jody and Jeana and Marta went to cottage meeting with a van load of people this afternoon. We stayed here to keep the place going. Sharon made us a delicious supper of bread sticks, left over pizza, popcorn and pumpkin dessert. I had a little time to sit and think and thank God for my family! For a husband who calmly does what needs to be done even though he is getting requests for help from different directions, and who surprises me with a lovely bouquet of roses he bought while sitting at a stop light, and then tried to sneak them past all the visitors that were watching! I am thankful for my daughters who are a joy to watch as they interact with the local people and just do what ever job they have to do, something that varies quite a bit! This week they cleaned house, painted, got sick, did children's Bible club, washed mountains of dishes, swept, mopped  did laundry...etc... Their humor is a treasure and I love it!(usually) Then there is Jared who leaps and races around the compound, sailing paper boats in the rain water, or catching flies for his 'pet' spider! or playing soccer with any one willing to play. What a blessing, and I pray that I will always treasure the days! Note to my married children, I haven't forgotten you :)!
 Tonight 3 men from El Salvador are coming in and tomorrow there are 13 people coming through, some headed to the states for Mark Andrews wedding in North Dakota and some headed to Antigua for Spanish school. Vernon has been drawing up plans for cupboards for the house Roy Beihns will be living in. We went over to the house and moved the stove and fridge around trying to find the best spot for both in a kitchen that is  7' x 10'!! Then to add cabinets to the small area is interesting. Vernon would love to get them done by the 18th, when they fly in. Tonight he had to run Danny Beachys boys up to Brian Yoders to do their chores as they are gone for 3 days. Janet Meyers came in tonight and will head to Oratorio tomorrow for a 2 week stay with a native family as part of her training for life in Guatemala. "A day of rest is as restful as my attitude and may not depend so much on how much rest I actually get," is the conclusion I have come to today!

.....God will take care of you................

No, I wasn't in physical danger! I was in need of much wisdom, medical and otherwise! Monday started out very good. Ruth was at work and I was so happy to see that her burn was healing well and I was feeling great about getting lots done. We had a wonderful time around the dinner table, laughing and enjoying each other. Sharon and I ran to Walmart after lunch and when we got back, Marta came running with a scared look on her face and told me Priscila was very sick. I ran into her room and didn't know what to do! She was so weak and dizzy and throwing up and every one was looking at me - the house mom - for direction. I was praying desperately. I urged to take her to the doctor and just as Vernon carried her out a terrific rain storm came in and we all got wet trying to get in the truck. I had Priscilas head on my lap and Vernon and Brian hopped up front and just then, Ruth came running with umbrellas and climbed in the back with us. I was so glad to see her. I am only a 2 month stranger here, and felt Ruth would be comforting. So we held hands and prayed and looked at each other and it didn't need language to read the concern and love in each others eyes. The doctor came out and checked her right away and we waited in the truck till he had seen the 2 patients that were waiting. The windows were fogged and the rain was pouring down and we waited and waited. The doctor said it was vertigo, sometimes caused by inner ear infection, but sometimes by inflammation in part of the brain. Today is Thursday, and she is much better, but still somewhat dizzy and is relaxing all day. Now we are praying for inner peace for this time of resting when the to do list is growing. Priscila is the secretary here and very busy with all manner of paper work!
Jody and Jeana are sick now too, I think it is strep throat, and Vernon is recovering from strep. Other than that, life is good.
Jorge, a little old man who comes and works here every day, made a towel rack for me. We call him 'grandpa Dan' and his wife Emna, we call 'the candy grandma'. After church, she hands out little bags of candy to the children and I might have the nerve to crowd around her yet!  We seem to be very busy and getting busier. We painted the room Jody will use for school and I sewed her curtains. Am also sewing some very simple curtains for our little house since the girls painted the kitchen and living room and when I took the old curtains down, they were rotten.
Tuesday Vernon had to go out in the pouring rain to look for a man who had been robbed at gun point right close here. We walk past the place when we go to Walmart. The man was from Chimaltanango, and had been at the bank. He was driving along when this car pulled in front and stopped and men jumped out and held guns on him, grabbed his phone, keys and started digging through his car. They got his money and slapped him across the face while they were at it. Vernon stayed with the man till some guys from his church could come and helped him.
Thursday was the day we had planned to take off and leave headquarters behind, all of us, and go do something fun, but plans had to change with the sickness. Instead, we went and cleaned a house for Roy Beihns, a couple moving down here indefinitely, to be administrator. As consolation, we ordered in pizza and had floats for dessert.  There is a beautiful lightening and thunder show and I need to go up on the roof to watch! Adios.....