Multicolored Doorway - What Think You?

I wonder what this lady is thinking?

Nancy's Shop

 While visiting San Antonio Palopó, we got to visit with Manuela. 

She is just so photogenic.

If you are ever in the neighborhood, stop by and see Nancy's shop.

~J

Between a Rock and a Hard Place

So, I'm encouraged recently, as Glenn and I have been walking each morning.  I like to walk very early in the morning to start off my day.  We're usually walking before dawn. Thursday morning  Glenn left early to take Dan so he could catch a ride down to SETECA with Fran. So I told Glenn I would go ahead and start our morning walk without him.

Then it happened.  My right foot slipped and twisted on a small stone.  I fell to my hands and knees.  I cried because Glenn wasn't there to help me up.  I hobbled back home to wait for Glenn to return.

 Glenn took me to the doctor for x-rays.

 Mind you, these are old machines.  During one x-ray, the technician had Glenn push the button, while he held my ankle in the correct position.

Diagnosis:  Fractured right ankle bone

Remedy:  Stay off my foot for 2 - 3 weeks

Wear my boot, get plenty of rest and take some medications.

I'm thankful it wasn't as serious as my last break, which was my left foot.

~J

Point and Shoot

Last week we hosted a Canadian photographer who spent 6 days with us to capture sights and scenes which will help represent the face of CAM International and the new name of Camino Global.  I appreciated Brittany for taking time to give me some personal instructions on taking photos.

As we visited many different CAM ministries, Brittany would have to get down to get the right angle.

 We climbed up on top of roofs to get the best angle.

I am not sure if we told her before or after she climbed the ladder, that this was where Wayne fell and broke his foot several years ago.

We visited Casita Benjamin.
The kids loved looking the view finder afterwards and seeing themselves.

We visited classrooms at SETECA and GBS.

 And what would a trip to the lake be without visiting Santiago and the Foote family?

We made a visit to Manuela in San Antonio Palopó.

Brittany is a great photographer.  If you ever need a wedding photographer and you live in Calgary, check out her two web sites. Actually, wherever you are in the world, Brittany will come to you. She loves to travel, another reason I like her. :)
Brittany Esther Staddon
http://brittanyesther.com/blog/
Wanderinghomebody 
http://www.wanderinghomebody.com/

~J

Caregivers and my friend Marj

 Sweet Caregivers for Marj

Beautiful

 Glenn and I visit Marj whenever we get a chance.  On this particular day, she barely opened her eyes.  She really did not realize that we were visiting her.  However, we prayed with her.  We sang her favorite song.

"This world is not my home, I'm just a passing through".

Seeing how poorly she was doing, I said my "good-byes", not knowing if I would yet again see her this side of heaven.

2 years ago, I recorded her singing her favorite song.

Check out my Sept 2009 post

~J

Artist at Work

Wash Day

 We stopped by the Pila, where the ladies gather to wash their clothes at the community "laundromat".

A basket load of clothes costs about 35.00 Quetzales to have washed.

Young and old were washing their clothes and others' clothes!

Psams 51:7  

Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;

wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

Email Inbox

I had 288 email messages that I needed to deal with.

  Some were basic emails that I could easily punch the delete button, others required me to "star" them so I could follow up on the information, and others were a simple "reply".  

 I had been meaning to do this for some time, but just didn't have the energy to do so. 

With the business of the holidays and ministry here in Guatemala, 
I had let my "InBox" fill up. Way to much.

But now, I have only 25 in my "InBox"  YEA!
~J

Waking Up at the Crack of Dawn

Brittany is here for 5 days to do some photo shoots for CAM.  We've schedule time for her to take pictures of folks in class rooms, in churches, and typical Guatemalan stuff.

Yesterday we were up at 4:30am to drive to Antigua and take some good morning shots of the sun coming up over the mountains with it reflecting against the walls, cobblestone streets and buildings.

Brittany has given me some pointers in the area of photography.  Thanks Brittany.

Tuesday we spent the whole day making our way to Panajachel, stopping in Antigua, Chimaltenango and Patzún.  We also took a short drive to San Antonio Palopó to visit Nancy in her shop.  (more photos later)
~J

Time to Change

I just hate change.  But, change is a part of life.  Change usually happens at the most inconvenient times.  But it is necessary.  I have come to realize that I need to embrace change for it's good.

2 examples come immediately to mind about Changes happening in my life.

Facebook

and CAM International.

Facebook is doing this Timeline thing.  I thought to myself, I had better jump on board before I get left behind.

And CAM International is changing it's name to Camino Global.  I love the name.  The mission is still the same. (So what am I doing now?  I'm using up all the current stationery with CAM's logo on it, making way for the new re-branding of the new name.  How exciting can that be?)

As I sit back, I can do 1 of 2 things.  I can dig my feet in the ground, kick them and scream.  I don't like change.  Or, I can embrace it as a new opportunity to learn something new, get a new perspective of things and take the opportunity to welcome the change.

I choose the later.

Check out the changes on my FB

~J

Inauguration Day

 Passing the torch: President elect, Otto Pérez Molina, with outgoing Guatemalan President Álvaro Colom (Rodrigo ABD/AP)

Inauguration Day.

Most of the traffic is closed off in and around the airport.

Yesterday, Glenn and I were at the airport to meet a returning missionary, it literally took us an extra 30 minutes to get around all the barricades and fight the heavy traffic. 

Today there will be more festivities regarding the Inauguration. 

Tonight we'll be heading back to the airport to pick up a new Canadian friend and hopefully the blockades will be disassembled by then.

There was a shooting down at the Central Plaza yesterday.

Read more.  

~J

My Coffee Production

Somehow a Coffee tree started growing in our front yard.  I understand that each coffee tree produces 1 pound of coffee per year.

The coffee beans are "Red" at this stage is called "Uvas" which means "Grapes" in Spanish.  

They kinda look like grapes, don't they?

So, I've asked Juana, to take care of the processing of this coffee tree.

STEP 1:  Juana picks the beans.

STEP 2:  Then its time to peal the skin off and wash the coffee beans.

STEP 3: Coffee beans dry out.  This takes 10 - 14 days.

I'll post again in a few weeks when we start up the next process of the coffee.

~J
PS  We've "bean" putting the cookie sheet of coffee beans out on the patio in the morning and back patio in the evening to dry with the direct hit of the sun.

Happy Birthday to Naomi

 Naomi 

5 years old

Last Wednesday, we Met up with the Foote family at Pizza Hut before they headed back home to Santiago.  We were privilege to celebrate Naomi's 5th Birthday with the family.

She loved the card that I made for her and the 5 Quetzales bill we enclosed.  

Yes, 5 for 5 years!

Happy Birthday, Naomi!
~J