Campamento 2008

Along with a children's home here at New Life, a medical clinic operates 4 mornings each week and there's a school that ranges from Pre-K through 9th grade at has about 400 students in attendance.

Each year the 7th, 8th, and 9th grade students have the opportunity to go to "campamento" or camp. This past week we went to Campamento 2008. We were blessed to have a group of 6 from West Texas A&M Wesley join us...those guys are another blog.

Camp lasted for 3 days and 2 nights. It was unlike any camp that we attended in the states with a few exceptions. The cabins that we stayed in were much like what you'd expect in the states... bunk beds wall to wall. We ate meals cafeteria style - and the food was really good. They're was a large swimming pool that the kids loved. The differences: the schedule was packed beginning at 6am, and going to bed about midnight (later for some of the teachers). For these kids this 3 day camp is a big big deal, and so the teachers (who not only teach, but organize and run the camp) pack the schedule full. There were hours of games, small group times, swimming time, large group meetings, and even a dress up dinner. We'd also mention another difference for us was the heat and humidity. Here in Villa Nueva, we're in the mountains and enjoy temperate weather year around, but just 2 hours away we were very close to the pacific coast and it was hot and humid. We got out of our vehicles when we arrived and started to sweat just standing there.

Here are a few pics from camp for your enjoyment:


This is what the pickup looked like just before coming home.


All of the teachers, and adult volunteers that went to camp.


One of the games was a scavenger hunt. The list was given in about .5 font, and so they were given a magnifying glass to read the list.


Another one of the games... I'm not really sure of the exact point, but they loved it.


This is just because we like this picture. The flowers were beautiful & plentiful. There were always butterflies flying around them.

"I just set my alarm for 3:15am"

That's what Lee just said...

Tomorrow morning we leave for "Campamento"... a three day, two night camp with the 7th, 8th and 9th graders from the school here. We're excited to have a team from West Texas A&M University Wesley Foundation to go with us.

Today we had a meeting about camp - we learned what promises to be an important dance for the weekend, and got teamed up with Guatemalans. Hopefully everybody understands his/her role.

Kendon & Wendy are still in the states for a 2 week visit. So far so good here! We expect them back next week.

We'll give a camp report when we return!

*This past Sunday we went to lunch with Daniel & Kara. Little Michelle joined us as well. After lunch we headed out to the zoo - check out Daniel & Kara's blog for pictures of the fun day.

the rainy season is here...

We're West Texans. When it rains, we stare at it like we haven't seen any in months - because we haven't. Rain generally means thunderstorms and or hail. And...there's never enough of it.

Then the West Texans moved to Guatemala. We experienced the end of the rainy season last September and October. It rained most afternoons for a couple of hours...

Now, the rainy season is beginning here. Tropical Storm Alma helped the normal rainy season out a bit this past weekend. We went to Panajachel for our staff retreat where we perhaps saw 12 hours without rain over a 4 day span. We're back in Villa Nueva, where it is still raining, however, not with the great consistency of this past weekend.

About the retreat... we had a great time with our fellow coworkers. We really enjoyed hearing about the other New Life Advance International ministries in Guatemala. NLAI is in many countries, and operates very differently in each place because each culture is very different. In Guatemala, NLAI has New Life Children's Home, 2 missionary families that work in different towns, but both work with training pastors and church planting. Another woman works with street kids, helping them with schooling and feeding them. Here at New Life Children's Home there are 4 couples from the US (sadly about to be just 3, as our friends Daniel & Kara will be returning to the states at the end of June).

Tomorrow morning the kids who passed all of their classes during this last session, plus have good behavior level get to go to McDonald's for breakfast. We're looking forward to celebrating with them!

Please note to the right that we now have a phone number that we can be reached at! It operates through the internet and we have to be at home with the computer on to receive calls. Also, there is voicemail attached to the number so that we can receive messages. So with that said.... give us a shout out & keep in touch!

We'll be back on Tuesday...

Thank you all who continue to read our blogs and pray for us.

Here's a quick update as we run out the door....

Last Saturday Staci's dad and the 4 other men that were here working for a week left. We loved having them here, and miss their community.

This past week we worked on various projects & attended staff and intern meetings. All went well - we're continuing to learn to hear spanish, so those staff meetings are helpful for both keeping up with all that's going on around here and practicing our listening.

We're headed to Panajachel today. Panajachel is a small town located on Lake Atitlan in the mountains. We'll be there for 3 nights for our annual staff meeting. All of the missionaries with New Life Advance International that are in Guatemala will be there along with the president of NLAI, his wife, our speaker and his wife, and the Houston office administrator and her husband. In all there should be about 34 of us. We're looking forward to this weekend of connecting with our coworkers in other types of ministry.

Please pray for us this weekend. Pray that the Holy Spirt would manifest Himself in our times together of worship & fellowship, and that we'd be ministered to. Also, Staci tends to get carsick on the roads that we'll be taking. If you'd pray that she would be free from this, we would appreciate it .

So, we'll be back late Tuesday night, look for a blog either Tuesday or Wednesday.

Mimi's Coffeecake goes International!

My dad has been here with us this week. Because this is the end of the school year, my mom had to stay home and finish up the year with her second graders. We emailed a list of things for dad to bring with us, and he came through with everything, including my Mimi's coffeecakes.

I have lots of memories of baking with my Mimi during the weeks that we stayed with she and my granddad each summer while I was growing up. Specifically, I remember making lots of coffeecakes - and eating them too!

So in the picture below, you see Lee and I attacking one large piece of coffeecake - what you can't get a good idea of is how great that sweet bread with lots of gooey sour cream, sugar & cinnamon mix on top is!

So thanks, Mimi, for sending 3 excellent coffeecakes.

If you happen to be in the central Texas area and run into my Mimi - maybe you'll be lucky enough to get to try this delightful treat!!

A 6th Love Language?

"The Five Love Languages" by Gary Chapman is a popular book. It speaks about how we communicate love is 5 basic ways: words of affirmation, quality time, receiving gifts, acts of service, and physical touch. In our 8 months of being here in Guatemala we have discovered that Mr. Chapman missed one important love language: the string of blackcat firecrackers.

You see - Christmas Eve, the country blew up at midnight. Seriously, it was much like a scene out of a war movie. New Year's Eve was a repeat - many firecrackers at midnight then again at 6am, 12noon, and 6pm. Mother's Day we began to hear firecracker's at 4:30. Really? The one day each year to celebrate mom's and we do that by waking them up at 4:30 with a string of blackcats. Then there are birthdays...... everyday their are birthdays, and every day we hear a string or 2 of blackcats.

This past Wednesday was by birthday, my first Guatemalan birthday. I woke up to find that Lee had left a cupcake cookbook for me to find. I love to bake. During the 6am hour our friend and coworker went through the apartment across from us, lit a string of blackcats and then threw is onto our balcony. (We live on the third floor) About the time the smoke cleared the girls set off a string downstairs. We spent the day with the group from Texas Tech Wesley & Trinity Church in Lubbock in Antigua. We were back in plenty of time for supper, and Kendon & Wendy took our duties for the evening so that we could go out to eat. Wendy called and said that before we left we needed to drive by the dining room so that she could give me some instructions about some medicine that she needed us to buy. Poor Lee, knowing the whole situation tried his best to get me to move a little quicker - after deciding that I could check email a little later we went. We showed up to a dining hall full of kids (waiting on me) with cakes (all decorated, with candles & plenty for everyone). After they sang the Guatemalan birthday songs, 2 more strings of blackcats were lit, and the candles were blown out, I was handed a whole stack of homemade birthday cards from the kiddos.

To top all of that, we got to eat Pizza Hut that night!

What a great birthday.

Here are a few pics from the day:


This is the blackcat "leftovers" on our balcony with the smoke from the second string.


This is what was left of the second string as we left for the day.

Thank you Florida State Wesley

This past Tuesday we said goodbye to a group from The Wesley Foundation at Florida State. We enjoyed having them here for just over a week. They all were so great to do whatever we needed them to do at any moment. They helped us with tree trimming, painting, building picnic tables, and running down lots of kids energy.

We realize that we've been back for a couple of weeks with little blogging, so we'll help to fill you in a bit....

The latest in Guatemala news was the possible strike by gasoline/diesel trucks. From what we understand there are specific hours that these trucks cannot drive in the capital city because of the heavy traffic. They blocked two entrances to the city one night in efforts to have their voices heard. The president sent the army out to take care of the situation. Today - there are no lines at the gas stations - everything seems to be normal.

Also, the temperatures have been a little warmer than usual - probably in the upper 80's. (We know, we know, most of you are gearing up for a hot summer, we shouldn't be complaining...) The rainy season is a bit late this year in making itself known. While it's been nice to not have to deal with the rain (and mud) we're ready for cooler afternoon temperatures & less dust.

This past Monday we celebrated our first wedding anniversary. It seems much longer than just a year, as lots has changed in the past year. We moved countless times (including moving countries), learned a new language, started new jobs, and started a marriage. That's a lot to put in one sentence, much less in one year. :) We are thankful to be settled into life here at the children's home and are very much looking forward to the next year having fewer big changes.

Tonight we'll leave you with the latest story about Sammy...

Sammy wanted to know why the group was cutting branches off the trees. I (Staci) said "well, Sammy, you get your haircut once a month, don't you? It's the same with the trees, once a year we cut their branches." Sammy said, "the trees must be sad." I asked him why so. He said, "because I don't like getting my haircut."

We're back in Guatemala

Thursday night we arrived back to Guatemala. We had such a good three weeks in the states. Thanks to everyone who made time in their schedule so that we could see you.

We are enjoying a slower Saturday morning, and taking care of some business so that we will be ready to receive a group of college students from Florida State tomorrow.

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We're pansies when it comes to cold weather!

Yesterday we arrived to Missouri to spend a couple of days with good friends here. We've learned a lot being in another culture for 7 months - and yesterday we learned that we don't deal with cold weather very well any more.

At any rate, we're enjoying being with Kendall & Amy, and their cute kiddos.

We'll be back in Texas this coming Monday. For all of you in the Canyon area, we'll be at First Methodist Church in Canyon this Wednesday evening. We'll share our experiences of the past 7 months in the Searcher's classroom begining at 6:30. After that we are heading over to the Wesley Foundation to hang out for a bit.

Also, we're going to the Sunday (April 20) evening service at First Baptist Church in Canyon. We'll also stick around afterwards to hang out for a while that evening.

News from the lands much farther south..

We received an email tonight from Guatemala. Over the weekend theives stole their phone lines. 1500 users are out of phone lines, which also means internet.

We rely heavily on the internet for lots of communication, including telephone services that allow us to connect with friends & family in the states.

Of course, the cell phones are still in service, so they still have communication available.

They have been told that it will take 1 week to 3 months to replace the lines. Would you join in praying with us that those lines would be retuned in one week - and that the added stress of having to go off site to check email & such (something we all rely on) wouldn't be an issue that they have to deal with?

On another note - today we had a great time seeing some of Staci's extended family. What a joy it is to see and reconnect with family and friends.