Antigua Excursion

Several weeks ago, we drove 1 1/2 hours down to Puerto Quetzales to meet the NCL Cruise ship that would be docking for the day.

 Meet Doug and Lori.

We first met Doug and Lori on our 25th Anniversary cruise back in 2005.  We've exchanged emails, yearly Christmas cards and more recently reconnect through FB. Lori FB me and mentioned they were traveling through the Panama Canal and had a day port call here in Guatemala. 

We had a great time showing them Antigua, revisiting our friendship and now looking forward to them possibly returning to Guatemala for a longer visit.  Come back again.

~J

Snapshots

"Cute little boy!"

Candid Shots of Conference

"Hold my hand!"

Pink Skies

Sunset 

just out my patio door

in Guatemala

The past couple of days, it has been sultry HOT.

No wind.

Very Still.
It got up to 82.5 F on Sunday, but it felt like 95 F.

They (whoever they are) say that the rains will be coming.

I hope Soon. 

~J

Turn the Light On!

While dinning at a local restaurant in Panajachel, I looked up and saw the most unique paper lamp shade.  The lighting was spectacular.

How about this one?
Beautiful.
~J 

Scott

So, Scott comes to Guatemala to share the Word and challenge us. Thank you, Scott!

However, I caught some other snapshots of Scott besides preaching...Scott in action.  Scott and Carol helped us babysit the "wee-ones" on Saturday evening while couples went out for dinner in couples or in small groups.  Sitting on the floor, he kept the kids entertained.

  It's this skirt action going on that gets me worried!

Thanks Scott and Carol for sharing your life with us and also for your involvement in bringing down folks from Wildwood to help with the kids' program.  Thank you!

More later.

~J

Guatever Guatemala

These last few days, we've had myriads of activities ranging from sickness, on line class Moody studies, slow computer, left over Conference details, mission exposure trip with the Wildwood team, and more. 

But basically, the bottom line....s l o w computer and my struggles of uploading my photos to my blog have been my biggest challenge. My dear husband comes to the rescue and hopefully we have this thing cured.  All this to say, I'll be uploading more photos and/or blogs.

~J

Being Blessed

Brother Keith led us in Worship during the Conference.  Back by popular demand, Keith sang his "Dining with Pigs" song.  We especially enjoyed the Saturday evening Hymn Sing!

Clark and Nita accompanied with their musical talent.  Now, when Clark didn't have an instrument in his hand, he had a

 camera.

click the link
to view Clark's photography blog

Thanks FBCLC for blessing us last week at our annual Conference with your worship, encouragement and help with the teens (Chad and Kelly)!

~J

Conference 2010

Over the weekend, we had the honor and privilege to host the Annual CAM Guatemala Conference.  This year's set up was just a little different than previous years.  With the influx of more MKs, we have had to be a little more creative in providing a program for the children and teens, along with coordinated babysitting for the "wee-ones".

Chad and Kelly led the teens for the 3rd straight year.  Way to Go!  Our Mks were deeply blessed by their leadership, love and care.  Thanks Chad and Kelly.


More later

~J

The Calm Before the Storm

Thursday means its just 1 day before our Annual Conference.  Team #1 (aka FBCLC)  arrived late Wednesday night.  Yes, I stood in the Guatemala City airport driveway for 1 solid hour waiting for the team to clear customs, gather their bags and head through the doorway to the sea of Guatemalan faces.  One American face in the crowd.  

 So, to get ready for the big weekend, we took the team #1 to Santa Terrisita along with some friends to spend the morning at the hot thermals (baths).  Team #2 (aka Wildwood) will be spending several days after the weekend with us exploring ministries in Panajachel, Santiago and Antigua.

I still remember and can hear Gail's cry as we jumped from hot to the cold pools.

What a great way to relax and get "geared up" for the upcoming Conference.  Lots of preparations.  We have about 12 volunteers that have given up of their time to travel down here and help with different aspects of our Conference weekend.  The youth are looking forward to Chad and Kelly (3rd year in a row); Keith (2nd time to help out) is here to lead worship again and then we have several others that will be helping with worship, childcare and youth work.


I look forward to a great weekend and pray for God's word to speak, encourage and uplift each person.  I'm also thankful for these volunteers that will be helping out so much to make this weekend happen.


~J
PS  This was not proofread by Glenn...just a lot going on right now. :)

Connecting

So, we go out to the airport on Wednesday night to pick up the first group of volunteers for our Conference.  Conference begins on Friday night.  This group is from First Baptist Liberty City.  Chad and Kelly will again work with the youth, Keith will lead worship and Nita and Clark will also help in the music department.

Once we got home and settled in, I proceed to the kitchen to make grilled cheese sandwiches for everyone with Ruth P's home made bread. 

I came out to the living area, and look what I find?  (l to r) Keith, Clark, Chad and Glenn all with their lap tops connecting to the outside world.  I don't think they were doing much talking.  It sure slowed down the internet connection.

 

  Looking forward to a great time at Conference with these guys.  Thanks for sharing with us and the rest of the CAM family here.

~J

Multicolored Rose

 

It can't get better than this!  

These are actual colors of the rose.

~J 

Tired

Now that is one way to haul some tires!

~J

Yellow Rose

 

Yellow Rose of Texas 

in

Guatemala 

My Aunt Bonnie and Her Baby Brother

Meet my Aunt Bonnie.  She is one of Dad's 5 sisters.  I don't know where in line she falls, but I know she was one of Dad's older sisters.  Aunt Bonnnie died on April 1st.  She would have been 88 this next week.  

Several months ago, I had the privilege to drive my parents over to Weatherford and visit with her.  She was frail at the time.  She didn't talk much, but had a smile on her face when she saw her baby brother (my dad, age 81).

My dad took his cell phone and placed a long distance call for Aunt Bonnie to talk to another sister, Aunt Mayrene.  They didn't talk long and I wonder if she knew who she was talking to.

I remember as a child learning how to ski at Aunt Bonnie and Uncle Bill's lake house.  She was always so kind.  Aunt Bonnie lived a long and happy life.  She had many challenges that life can throw you, Uncle Bill dying at an early age over 30 years ago and a daughter tragically killed in a plane accident, but through it all she stood firm.  Thank you Aunt Bonnie for your example.  You will be missed, especially by your baby brother (my dad).


~J

Magnum Bars Part 2

We first discovered the Bressler Magnum ice cream bar down at the local kiosko there in Santa Cruz, near the third ring, not too far from the SAM mission home.  Jeff was the kind friend that said "Hey, look what I found!".  Ever since then this has been a family treat and hit.  Come to think of it, it took the place of the Cabrera, what we called our "drive thru Dairy Queen"  that was right near the NTM home on Plaza Placú. 

I remember driving in our Chevy pick up truck back in the 80's and 90s and the kids would be sitting on the open bench behind the enclosed cabin.  Glenn would order 3 simple ice cream cups for the kids, then he would drive slowly up to the brown train building and the employees would hand the ice cream cups to the kids sitting in the open bed of the pick up truck.  It was easier to order the cups than to order dips of ice cream cones.  Remember the chocolate chip ice cream?  Mocha was pretty good too.

Then when Magnum came on the scene, we adventured to a more pricier yet more delicious ice cream.  

Magnums are hard to eat.  The chocolate falls off all too quickly.  Many times, Glenn would challenge our friends to try to eat the ice  cream  without the chocolate falling off and the reward would be another ice cream bar.  Glenn was pretty good, he didn't have to pay out...because it was nearly impossible to do.

Memories.  Precious Memories.

~J

Magnum Ice Cream Bars

This is the BEST ice cream in the World.  By Far!

I have eaten Magnum bars in

Bolivia,
Chile,

Guatemala, 

Israel,

Germany,

Thailand

and Mexico.

Where have you enjoyed them?

~J