A Weekend Away!

We were glad to be able to get away last weekend to a missionary conference here in Guatemala.  It is a big blessing as they serve us missionaries in many different ways and make it really affordable.  We have realized the importance of getting away every once in a while even though it is a lot of work to do so with 5 kids :-)

The conference was held at Lake Aitilan in a city called Panajachel.  It is the most beautiful place I think I have ever been!  Enjoy some pics of our time there:

Waiting Patiently?!?!?!

If there is one thing God has been teaching us as a family it is how to pray.  We are still in the process and we will be for all of our lives.  But there is something about feeling way over your head that forces you to be on your knees more!  There are so many things to be in prayer for sometimes it is overwhelming.  There are sick people, a young girl who we don't even know that fell 30 feet and just had a major surgery, there are our schools, the students involved in the schools, the teachers, our family.  We just found out that Levi will soon need another surgery (bone graft) for his continued cleft lip and palate process.  Of course we are praying big for our Love Guatemala Vocational Training Center. And so much more to be praying for!

Here is one thing specifically God was teaching me as I have been praying the last few days: "I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cray." Psalm 40:1 Before the second part can happen, the part we like and want we have to learn to wait patiently.  Patience is not a strong suite of mine.  But the Lord keeps bringing me back to that living here in Guatemala.  Nothing happens fast here!  No one is on time and not many people are in a huge hurry.  One of the biggest frustrations is driving!  The many speed bumps, the people walking in the streets, the cows in the streets, the dogs, the random security stops along the sides of the roads, and the randomly closed streets for any and every celebration.  (The road was closed this morning as we were leaving for Levi's dental appointment which caused us to be late.)  I could go on and on!

So back to patience. Sometimes we need to wait patiently in prayer, in fact most times we need to wait patiently in prayer.  But why can't we just ask for something and we get it as soon as we ask.  I am more and more convinced that God uses prayer and even the missions he has called us to draw us deeper in love and relationship with him.  God's biggest goal for our lives always involves us drawing nearer and nearer to Jesus.

I just finished reading a book on George Mueller's life.  He was a missionary in Bristol, England who ran several orphanages and never asked a person for money but just prayed and asked God and God always provided.  His life is a great challenge to truly learn to live a life of prayer.  I leave you with this quote from this book challenging us to continue in prayer and expect the blessing: "It's not enough to begin to pray, nor to pray aright, nor it is enough to continue for a time in prayer; but we must patiently, believingly continue in prayer until we have obtained an answer; and further, we have not only to continue in prayer until the end, but we have also to believe that God does hear us and will answer our prayers. Most frequently we fail in not continuing in prayer until the blessing is obtained, and in not expecting the blessing.