I like to think about the past year and review how the Lord has blessed us.
Glenn and I celebrated our 35th class reunion from Moody Bible Institute. What a great heritage we have as we have been blessed with 4 generations to have attended this great learning institution. God bless the school that DL Moody founded. I am thankful for the education we have received and have used in our ministries in Bolivia and Guatemala.
I flew to Nicaragua and brought David back to Guatemala to give Ellen a break before the "little girl" was to be born in March. Ellen was concerned that David wouldn't be around for the birth, so looking at the calendar, we scheduled our flights and I would bring David back "in plenty of time". This gave Ellen and Luke some down time.
We were thankful to have had David with us for 2 weeks. He joined us for the annual Intermissions Conference in Panajachel. While we were eating breakfast, we got a Skype call. Glenn handed me the iPhone so David could talk to his mother. There was a little baby girl on the screen. I screamed, "Who is that?" "It's David's little sister. She was born last night, mom, and you didn't even know I was in labor? What a surprise! I cried!
Emily Kay was born February 22, 2013. (little Emily, wearing one of Ellen's baby outfits from 30 years earlier)
Glenn and I helped with the annual Camino Fellowship Conference. Thank y'all from First Baptist Lake Jackson for helping with the kids programs.
During the Spring, we started receiving new missionary families. First the Herrington family with their 2 year old toddler and 3 dogs arrived. Yes, 3 dogs. Then the Lastrapes family with their 2 children arrived. They were followed by the Tarwater family with their 8 children. Yes, 8!;). And finally, in July, the Makidon family with their sweet 3 year old showed up. We helped in different ways in their transitions, from helping to make living arrangements, to acquiring new and used furniture, to organizing food poundings, to visiting them in their new locations, to helping orient them to their new culture and language and also by forming a support team. We love to be able to help in such practical ways. Their transition is important as they begin their missionary adventure.
We did enjoy some family time in beautiful Colorado. The special blessing was to spend time with family.
Glenn's sister, Sarah, was able to come and visit us, followed by Scott and Barbara and their grand daughter. They just tagged along with us in our ministry and were able to encourage the missionary families here too. Thanks for coming and sharing your lives.
In September, we had David with us in Guatemala. He was a trooper. We started potty training him. The 18 hour bus ride that ended up being close to 20 hours was pretty tough. Right after that, Glenn experienced a heart attack in Nicaragua 2 1/2 hours from the closest hospital. We're thankful for the 2 stents that were placed in his heart, the good care he received and his continuing recovery. The doctor ordered Glenn "to slow down", "take it easy". And Glenn's heart Doctor in Guatemala even wrote out a prescription for a Caribbean Cruise, "as soon as possible."
Earlier in the year we said "goodbye" to veteran missionary Mike Stephenson. We celebrated the 50th anniversary with the Murphy family in Guatemala. We attended graduations, school programs and special events for the missionary family. Glenn and I feel very blessed to have known long time friend, Ron Baker, who passed away in October.
Finally, in December we attended the wedding ceremony of our niece Brenda and the love of her life, Drew. What a testimony!
In summary, Glenn and I are thankful for life. New life in the birth of our new granddaughter, Emily, born in February. (Grand-parenting is the greatest!) We're thankful for God restoring Glenn's life from his heart attack in September. And we're thankful for my improved after surgery in December.
We say
Goodbye to 2013
and
Hello to 2014
~J
