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.

Virginia Team

At the end of December we had a team come down from Virginia.  This team was like no other.  Let me explain:

The way they got here was clearly divine.  Jennifer had a dream about her friend, Tammy, who she knew from years ago that she was here teaching Art Classes because she is an artist.  Jennifer could not stop thinking about her and so she contacted her.  Long story short within 2 months she had gathered a team of 10 people and they were here!  They brought a team of artists and a lady that was a cooking instructor at Virginia Tech.

It was a great team!  They taught art classes, cooking classes and did lots of home visits. They were also here when we launched our 21 days of prayer for the Love Guatemala Vocational Training Center and prayed with us on the property the 1st day of January. They were not only here to do good work and minister during this week but passionate about carrying back to their homes the vision of Love Guatemala and helping out however they could.  They took suitcases full of paintings to sell and have already sold several!  Tammy, Jennifer's friend wants to partner with us moving forward with her business, Fun Nite Art.  And they have already planned another trip back in July!

We are so excited about our partnership with them moving forward!  Enjoy some more pictures from the week:

 We had a great time celebrating New Year's Eve and Levi's Birthday together!

This visit was quite impactful for all!  God did a work in this ladies life!

The art school fun!

 The Cooking School Fun.

There are a ton more pictures here: http://loveguatemala.smugmug.com/ They like to take pictures! :)

Family Pictures December 2013

We had some recent family pictures taken.  A big thanks to our friend Chris Steed who took them for us!  It is always a challenge to get all 7 people smiling and looking at the camera at the same time but we got a few decent ones.  Merry Christmas to everyone!  We love and miss you all!

What are you getting for Christmas?

Each year we have a Christmas Lunch for a bunch of needy kids who would otherwise not get anything for Christmas.  Nothing, not a gift, not a special lunch, nothing.  It is hard for us to fathom not even having our favorite food or anything for Christmas.  More than anything these kids need love, attention and hope.  And for just a few hours we are able to give them a little of these.  It is a ton of fun to love on these kids and provide them some gifts and food.  Here are some pictures from our time together:

 Decorating the rooms...

 We had a little competition for the best decorated room and the one above one! They both did a great job!

 After lunch we had a time of sharing and showed Charlie Brown Christmas.

 This was after lunch but they had saved some and were eating during the movie!

 This boy kept coming to me for hugs and was hanging on me.  He obviously hungry for love and attention!

 Sweet Girls!

 Some more cuties!

 We of course had a pinata!

 Here we were passing out little gifts and apples, grapes and marshmallows (which is typical Christmas fruits here) for everyone at the end of our time together.

This is the team that helped us.  They were here with our friends Chris and Holly.