November

Give thanks in all circumstances,

 for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.  

1 Thessalonians 5:18

As my time here in Guatemala comes to a close,
I give thanks for all He has done in this season
an all He has for the next.
 

To the Great Commission Conference 

I was privileged to be a student in this two-week intensive training course, designed to equip leaders in taking the Word of God to children and youth around the world.  It was an awesome opportunity to learn and be challenged alongside peers from Guatemala, Peru, Honduras, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Nicaragua.  

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

I labeled, packed, and stored books so they will be ready for next year!

 

 

 

FYI: Construction is under-way for

school additions, including the new library! 

  

  

This was a youth camp I had the opportunity to help facilitate and photograph.  The element I facilitated included challenging students to state three goals: one personal, one familial, and one professional.

I can’t believe these six months are ending!  Thank you for your support, prayers, encouragement, and love which have made this time possible.  It has been a vital preparation for me— the first step in my race.  I give thanks to God for you, and look forward to sharing more with you in person!

October

Snapshot:

Teaching sixth grade had gone horribly on Friday.  The class was out of control.  After contemplating what the core issue was, I decided it all revolved around three roughty boys.  They interrupted me, made all kinds of sounds during the lesson, and basically seemed desperate for attention.  I made a dramatic note to myself for the next class: WORKSHEET.

Well, Monday came and I was ready.  I had hardly handed the super-worksheet out when I realized that the very three boys who were the worst-behaved on Friday were the ones who were asking me what to do next on the assignment.  Discovery: they were disrupting because they were bored.  The ones I thought were the least motivated were actually the brightest!

Panorama:

A few of the activities for the month included:

Finishing the school year with my high schoolers and teaching sixth grade for the last two weeks as well,

Co-teaching a lesson with Angela, another missionary from the States

Making 32 styrafoam keys in preparation for the To the Great Commision conference decoration,

Labeling Christmas gifts for over 100 children,

And the arrival of the palate of books from the States!  I spent a week labeling, stamping, sorting, making cards for, and boxing over 1,000 books. 

Aerial:

In the midst of all things, we cling to His Word:

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

–Philippians 4:4

September

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

—James 3:17

Christ is creating a pure spirit within me as these weeks have been full, full, full.  Throughout the September whirlwind and now entering a packed October, He continues to provide His:

peace when I’m inclined to panic,

hope when I’m disheartened,

confidence when I feel incompetent,

conviction when I want to complain,

wisdom when I’m without, and

strength when I feel spent.

Enjoying a day at Tikal: a Mayan ruins site

By God’s power and provision my parents’ visit was amazing!  They were such an encouragement to me and to the rest of the team.  They thoroughly interviewed Xaume, decided he was a worthy candidate for their daughter’s hand in marriage, and were present to celebrate her engagement!  I can now officially say that Xaume is my fiancé!



Celebrating The Jungle School!



Praying for a mother in a local village

Engagement Dinner!

In Guatemala, September fifteenth is Independence Day.  However, the preparation and festivities start well before then.  Due to Miss Independence Day pageants, parade practice, soccer games, piñata parties, and the whole school’s participation in the Independence Day Parade, I didn’t have English class for two weeks.  Celebrating with them was beautiful.

I really can’t say enough how much I love being with the kids.  I’m so thankful that I have a position here where I get to be metida—stuck in there with them.  Whether I’m teaching the older ones, or supervising library time with the little ones, I’m blessed.  There are times when they drive me crazy of course.  But those are the times where I learn it’s better to hold the expectations higher for them and to teach them consequences. 

Thank you for your prayers.  They are powerful and effective.  Please continue to pray for rest, unity, and strength for our team and for Xaume and me to have revelation and wisdom as we seek Christ’s plan for our future.  May the power of His love surround you! 



August

Andy, Yeferson, Leysser, and Wendy are regulars.  They come in almost every day to return and check out.  Maritza and Martina love to listen to music.  Elder, Denilson, Ángel, Wilber, and Urbano are puzzle fans.  They have learned to ask permission to come in, to walk to the puzzle box, and to say por favor when asking for the pieces.  Sometimes I make them say “please.”

Slowly but surely I am learning names.  While I often get the beautiful brown faces confused, especially siblings, they are patient with me.  Just being able to interact with them is a blessing.  Besides the typical crowd control, I do get some one-on-one time. 

Elián, a particularly rambuctious third-grader has spent the last two weeks in la dirección: the principal’s office.  It just so happens that the library, for the time being, is in the same room.  Hence, Elián and I have been learning from each other.  As I attempt to teach him how to focus and to use self-control, he teaches me what does and doesn’t work.

One day, to keep him occupied, I told him we were going to read together.  We started reading—first the side in Spanish and then the one in English.  He was hooked.  When the other kids told him the bus for his village was leaving, he asked if we could finish it tomorrow.  ¡Claro que sí, Elián!

 

As much as I love the little ones, I am thankful for my time with the high schoolers.  It is such a privilege to challenge them— to pray at the beginning of class, to be on-task, to learn the Word of God (in English), to be responsible by doing their homework, and to be respectful to me and to their classmates.  It’s invigorating.  Plus, it’s really fun to design lessons (and then revise them).

Celebrate with me:

First of all, I am very thankful that I am learning to cook.  This may seem miniscule, but it was actually one of my biggest fears coming here.  While I may occasionally get stressed in the kitchen, I am improving.  On a greater scale, my parents are coming to visit!  They arrive September 1st! 

Keep in Prayer:

Since I have more of a routine now, I have been battling a sense of monotony.  Please pray for me to remain expectant— making the most of every opportunity—not just with the kids, but with the Hearts in Action team as well.  As God moves, we are praying to be one: united in heart and mind.

Thank you.  You are so dear to me.  I pray Christ continues to astound you with His love.

July

I’ve only taught two days.  And I love it.  Our current topic is the human body, and even though my throat is sore, (from talking, not yelling mind you) it's been an absolute blast.  The students are beautiful.  I've been teaching the high schoolers, and although they are hesitant to repeat the “th” sound that doesn’t exist in Spanish, with a little encouragement they were all singing “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes."  I'm discovering how much I enjoy working with youth. 

The mini-library is up and running!  It is a bit chaotic, but the key, I found, is appointing bouncers.  Yesterday the two boys I asked armed themselves with brooms to cross in front of the door.  They were very proud and very helpful.  That way I can focus on book check-in and out, regulate book handling, and attend the very popular listening center.  There are occasional blissful moments when all is quiet, and as the kids read and listen, I get this gleeful sensation that their minds are expanding! 

Thank you for every prayer.  Christ keeps providing opportunites to practice moving by His Spirit.  My favorite times are those praying with people when we visit churches.  For example, last week I got to translate a sermon, and this week I got to hear Xaume preach!  After the services, we invite everyone to respond.  As they raise their hands or come to the front, it's such an honor to meet them where they are through prayer.  I'm constantly amazed at how Christ provides every word to fortify and build up His people! 

May He continue filling each of you with all the fullness of His glory!  You are a blessing to me and to everyone you encounter because His Spirit lives in you.  We pray John 17:26 along with Christ: “I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I MYSELF may be in them.”