Seasons...

There are Seasons we all go through

Seasons we laugh, Seasons we cry

These Seasons are Gifts given from above

Seasons we share, Seasons of Love

The Season we have now is the Season God gave

Whether it's a Season of Joy or a Season of pain

His hand will guide us through the Rain

Winter's winds are cold and harsh

But Spring's rains will bring New Life

The Summer's Joys are worth all the pain

When Autumn's leaves fall again 

The Season we're in now is the Season to use

For experiencing the Joy God gives

He gives Peace as we walk through the Rain 

Ecclesiastes 3:1

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.

The Clock is Ticking

15 days!!!!

That's how many more days left in the countdown until I fly to the States for 6 weeks over the holidays, Lord willing! I am a bit excited, in case you can't tell ;) 

And they promise to be a busy 15 days!! 

- This coming Thursday Ron will fly home. 

- On Friday Rachel, Tammy, and Rylee will be heading into the City for an overnight stay then flying home on Saturday.

- Next week our last team of the year will be here.

- Then, on the 30th Joe and Bethany will be here for a 4-day visit - they'll be flying home on December 3rd with me and the rest of the American crew that will still be here!

Did I mention the word busy?! But, I will do my level best to write one more blog right before heading home. 

Prayers are appreciated!

- For everything to go smoothly, that no last minute emergency would arise, and for protection for the staff and friends we leave behind (as well as for ourselves, of course!). 

- The Binduses are moving back to the States 'permanently', so prayers for smooth transition for them and the ministry here would be appreciated. It will be hard to see them go and know they won't be back next year but we know that God is leading them and look forward to seeing where He will take them. 

- Meme, our 'head of operations' is in the hospital right now with a brain hemorrhage. He most likely needs and operation; they are still doing extensive tests to see if they can get the bleeding under control. We've set up another page where anyone who feels led to can donate. Please visit his page here, read his story, and keep him in your prayers!

- Cristina is doing very well - praise God! We were able to visit her and her family today. She had just gotten back from therapy and although tired, had a big smile on her face. They have helped her, through small inexpensive objects, be able to help cook again (one of the things she's missed being able to do the most). For a more detailed update, feel free to visit her page here. 

overlooking the valley of Canilla'

A week and a half ago, I was able to head back to Canilla'/Chijoj to visit my friends and family for a week. They were hosting a team from TX with the ministry The Forgotten People - a ministry that is continuing with the ongoing mission in my 'little hometown' (Chijoj), which is where our family spent Christmas and New Year's last year (and also where we've done many months, years, of ministry in the past.) 

Norma, me, Elma

It was a fun, memory-filled week! When first making plans to visit, my expectations were to help my 'sisters' in the kitchen with meal planning and fill in anywhere else needed. I ended up being able to do that and more - one of the main things being to go along with the team to visit several different churches in the mountains and fill in as a second translator. 

They were a great group to work with and get to know! It was an honor to be able to work alongside them and call them friends. I arrived a day earlier than the team to help with preparations then stayed a day longer to spend extra time with just 'my family'. I had also wanted to visit the Ficker family who lives in Canilla' and run a medical based ministry (as well as flying the plane that shuttles groups back and forth from Guatemala City - which would otherwise be a long rough 6 hr drive). We left our family's bus (the one that made half a dozen trips carrying 10 people from MI through MX to Guatemala in years past) with them this past February and one of their married sons and his wife are now using it as a little apartment. 

Anyway, before you get too bored, I will share some pictures that I actually remembered to take while there! 

it's an unspoken rule to have at least one break-down a week when traveling in the mountains

hiking to one of the three churches we visited in the mountains

the neighborhood kids love using the soccer field on the compound almost every evening

Hayley and Darlene

a 'waterfall' from a mountain stream

in each church Kyle and Phil spoke to the congregation as a whole before splitting up the men and women for 'building marriages' sessions wit David and Meredith

David with one of the men's groups

Norma leading songs for Sunday school in Chijoj

playing games with the little kids

a shot of the valley taken from the location of some small Mayan ruins

exhausted after traveling 4 to 5 hrs on bumpy backroads to visit a church

Byron - more commonly known as Chapo - one of my long-time little buddies went with us everywhere

little 6-yr old Roman was a trooper 

my 'brother', Nayo, wanted a cool-looking picture when he saw my camera ;)

the kids here steal my heart everywhere I go!

the last church we visited

my 'nephew' and 'nieces' - Angi, Isaac, and Alison

Elma, my 'soul sister', working on donuts (our project the last day I was there). Did I mention that she's almost 2 months pregnant! :D

they actually were as good as they look ;) 

my 'sister', Norma, and I had such a great time working together that week (I miss them all :( I almost called Tammy to let her know I wouldn't be coming back to Chichi til Dec. 2nd!)

our family's famous bus - that's not ours anymore!

The day that I got back, there was a dental clinic going on here at Monte Flor. Dr. Steve Niergarth very generously extracted all 4 of my wisdom teeth (even though 3 of them were impacted). It was a huge blessing! They'd been hurting me on and off for over a year and my insurance at home didn't cover the extractions I needed. So, since then I've been on a diet of mostly yogurt and ice cream...BUT the nuisance will be worth it when my mouth finally heals up! 

the great Dr. Niergarth ;) we love him around here - seriously, we do! 

this picture was taken right after 'surgery'. today, I have officially quit looking like a chipmunk! still minor swelling on the inside of my mouth but I've actually been able to eat something non-dairy and semi-solid - yay! 

P.S. I think I'm still as wise as before but that's still to be determined :/