Picture This

As you walk down "the Arch Street" in Antigua, you will find artists painting.

Antigua is truly an Artist's paradise! 

Pollo Campero, KFC or Chick-fil A????

Look what is for supper!! Where deez "cute chicks" "be-headed"?

If these Chickens only knew what was coming next!

As we were getting "a head" of this truck, I laughed when I noticed many of the chicken heads poking out of the chicken crates, as the truck went careening down the Antigua highway.

~J

Antigua Adventure

The Olsons with Ronald

Last week we hosted 2 families who were here for a work team project down at the coast.  They spent 4 days helping Edwin and his mother, Rina, down at the coastal town of Puerto San José by pouring a cement floor to replace their previously "dirt" or rather, "sand", floor in their small shack.  They also helped trying to stabilize a leaning wall.  After the 4 days working in the hot scorching sun under tin roofs, the team members were glad to get back to higher elevation and cooler temperatures.  Since the Conner home could not house all 13+ family members, we offered to help by hosting 2 couples.  

The next day we took an Olson couple up to Antigua as they wanted to spend a few extra days in this quaint historic town.  We gave them maps, gave them highlights on where to go and what to eat.  We stopped at our favorite restaurant, Las Palmas, {check out their website} and also introduced them to our good friends, the Kendalls. {check out their website too}.

They did stay in a nice bed and breakfast place called Hotel Catedral, just off the main plaza.  Check out their web site.  We took them to a coffee plantation, signed them up for a massage (especially needed after the construction project they had been working on ) and showed them some key areas of town. They enjoyed Luna de Miel Café and went back to Las Palmas a second time.

All in a day's work!  We thoroughly enjoyed being instruments of encouragement to this fine couple.

PS We ended up keeping the Olsons two more nights on their return trip back to the USA.

~J

God's Child Project

I would recognize her laugh anywhere...she must be related to my friend, Lori!  We met Sue in Antigua and she showed us around her work.  Sue works for the God's Child Project at the headquarters in the USA, but she had a 2 week experience to learn more about the work going on down here.

Check out the web site for the God's Child Project

~J

¿Cómo estás?

We happened to visit Hannah 2 times last week while she was in Language School. So in last 3 weeks we have "surprised" her all 3 times.  On Thursday we were driving around the down town plaza and there was Hannah walking along the street with her language instructor, deep in conversation.  Lots of times they will get out and experience the culture and speak spanish as they go to learn the language better.

Then there is book work.

The courtyard of CSA (Christian Spanish Academy) is gorgeous!

check out their website

~J

Gary's HS English Teacher

Last week we visited with Trisha, who had returned to Guatemala with a work team.  Trisha was Gary's High School English teacher here at CAG 4 years ago.  We handed her some of Gary's old school papers which we had kept.

On these papers Gary had made 100%s.  Of course we kept his best papers.:)  Trisha's remark was, "Yep, Gary did a great job on this paper, because he had written it in complete sentences." (Glenn asked, "Did you say, 'in complete sentences' or, 'incomplete sentences?'"  We had a good laugh and then we mentioned that Gary is graduating from college in May!! We expressed to Trisha how much we appreciated her input into Gary's life by teaching him English and helping to prepare him for college.

Trisha, don't look so surprised! :)

Can't Be Thankful Enough

A couple of days ago, I addressed 99 postcards and wrote a short note on each one of them.  
I've been doing this for years. - 28years to be exact!

How else can you say "thank-you" to those who give their lives through finances and prayers for us to be on the mission field?  Sometimes I get tired of writing the same thing over and over again, but then I realize that people need to hear that we appreciate them.  If it weren't for their prayers and financial support, I wonder what the ministry would look like - I don't even want to think about it.

If you are reading this and happen to be one of our special friends who has stood with us through the years or even just recently have "come on board", we want to say,
Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!
~J

Click on the link

Click on the link to see our latest letter!

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Stuff-from-Stewarts-March-2011.html?soid=1102803547488&aid=5dSwj6PM474

Be sure and view the YouTube videos!

~J

No Time Change For Us

I like the time change, because we receive East Coast News (aka Miami, Florida),
so the 11pm news comes on down here at 9pm.

Look at last year's post

Day light Savings Time

or

Read Below:

What Time Is It Anyway?

FYI - We did NOT go on Daylight Savings Time here in Guatemala.  So, now we will be in the same Time Zone as Denver, Colorado (Mountain time).

Despite saving approximately 60 mega watts of energy per day, the later sunrise would force people to begin their walk to work or school in the dark, further exposing them to threat of violence. 

About 4 years ago, Guatemala "tried" to turn the clocks ahead and it just really messed things up. As most of the country operates with the sun rise and sun set concept, the Government decided not to join the Daylight Savings Time strategy.

~J

A Leg Up

Many have asked how I'm doing since my broken ankle accident in Colorado back in October.  It has been a long road to recovery, however, I'm thankful for

• excellent care and operation at EPMC
• patience of my loving husband who waited on me hand and FOOT
• flexibility from friends who helped us as we traveled with a wheelchair

I must say it is very challenging to maneuver the uneven sidewalks here in Guatemala and sometimes I feel the altitude affects my ankle.  The ankle still swells during the day and it hurts to walk on stairs. I understand it will take months for my ankle to completely heal and I feel more and more encouraged as I begin to walk without a cane here in Guatemala.  I long for the day when I can freely walk about without thinking about my ankle.

Again, thanks for those of you who have expressed concern for me.  Continue to pray for my full recovery.

~J

Beverly Hillbillies

As we we driving back from Antigua the other day, we passed this truck.  Ironically, we had just moved Jordan and Hannah with their 8 suitcases, 5 carry-ons, 2 kids and groceries to settle into Antigua.

Come and listen to a story about a man named Jed

A poor mountaineer, barely kept his family fed,

Then one day he was shootin at some food,

And up through the ground came a bubblin' crude.

Oil that is, black gold, Texas tea.

Well the first thing you know ol' Jed's a millionaire,
Kinfolk said Jed move away from there
Said Californy is the place you ought to be
So they loaded up the truck and moved to Beverly.

Hills, that is.
Swimmin pools, movie stars.

The Beverly Hillbillies!

photo of the stuff that Hannah had
....not too bad compared to the Beverly Hillbillies!

~J

Moving Day

Jordan and Hannah, plus 2 kids have been living with us for the past 7 weeks

(from January 14 - March 3)

 as they waited for their apartment to free up and for Hannah to begin Spanish Language classes at CSA.  We thoroughly loved having them stay with us.  They were very much understanding when I couldn't prepare too many meals because of my broken ankle, and Hannah would jump right in and she made herself at home.  Those are the types of guests I like.

In the mean time, we helped them learn a little more about their adopted country.

• They shadowed us as we continued our "pastoral care" job here, and we introduced them to the CAM Guatemala family here on the field.
• Jordan went with Glenn several times to SETECA for "Lunes del Pastor".
• We took a trip through Chimaltenango to Patzún to Panajachel, then to Quetzalentango and then down to the Pacific coast near Monterrico visiting missionaries along the way.
• Glenn helped them open up a Guatemalan bank account, showed them how to get money out of an ATM machine and other necessary stuff to survive here.
• Each time we went out, we tried to show them landmarks along the way as they learn how to drive in this confusing city.
• We shopped for vehicles with them.
• We took each other to the city zoo, our first time there.
• And we basically got to "spoil" their kids as we "gear up" to become Grandparents.
• We arranged for missionaries to have them over for a meal or go out for dinner, giving them a chance to meet our wonderful CAM Guatemala family.

 "don't forget Baby Grace"

Now we have said "goodbye" to the Selfs as they study at Christian Spanish Academy for several months.  Glenn will still check up on them as they progress with their Spanish and we'll visit them on occasion.

Please pray for the Selfs as they study Spanish, get accustomed to Guatemala and learn the culture.  In summary, it was a long time to have 2 families living together, however, they were very flexible with our schedule, creative in learning about new things and they "rolled with the punches".  Thanks for staying with us Hannah and Jordan. 

~J

Having a Bad Day

Just outside of Panajachel, on your way to San Antonio Palopó, we noticed this building leaning just a little bit too much.

Lesson learned: 
Build your house upon the rock and not near the river bed
~J

Nancy's Shop

Thank you for Shopping at Nancy's Shop in San Antonio Palopó.

 ~J

The !@#$% We Put Up With

{with permission}

As we were driving down to the coast, Glenn had to make an emergency stop on the side of the road for little Solomon.  

I guess Glenn is getting geared up to become a GrandDad! 

~J