I love Lucy

 Lucy Katherine
born Sept 27, 2014
weighs 6 pounds 12 oz

Thank you Skype for the early morning wake-up call at 5 oclock this Saturday morning.

Big Brother, David (3 years)

and

Big Sister, Emily (1 1/2 years)

 have a new baby sister.

{photo courtesy of Ellen and Luke}

 So, GrandDad changed the blocks on our hearth here in Guatemala.

We love our little grandkids.

 {insert happy face here}

A Year Later

 It's been just over a year. It was September 17.

2013.

Now, 30 pounds lighter

eating more wisely

walking and exercising daily

 A year ago we were visiting the grand kids in Nicaragua and Glenn suffered a heart attack.  After an emotional and tense 3 hour drive from Lake Nicaragua back into the capital city of Managua, the doctors determined that Glenn had suffered a heart attack sometime during the night hours.  Glenn was immediately wheeled into the OR for 2 stents to where he had 100% blockage. 

Today, Glenn had his 1 year check up since his heart attack.  The doctor reported that they could see he still had scar damage, but that it had not gotten worse.  The doctor's report was encouraging to both Glenn and me!

Over the past few months, we have had friends about the same age as Glenn suddenly die of heart attacks.  We were heart broken.  

And I ask, 

"Why did God spare Glenn's life?"

"Why didn't Glenn die like our other friends did?"

  I can appreciate life more.  

I can appreciate Glenn's life!

I am thankful for God sparing Glenn's life and allowing him to serve here on earth just a little longer.

Mark 12:30

Love the Lord your God 

with all your heart

and with all your soul

and with all your mind

and with all your strength

Trust in the Lord

Proverbs 3: 5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

A Mighty Fortress is Our God

A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal. 

Photos from Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany

In Christ Alone

 In Christ alone my hope is found;
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This cornerstone, this solid ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My comforter, my all in all—
Here in the love of Christ I stand.

Check out this YouTube video.

 

When Morning Gilds the Skies

Sunrise in Guatemala City!

 When morning gilds the skies, my heart awaking cries:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Alike at work and prayer, to Jesus I repair:
May Jesus Christ be praised!

gild

verb (used with object), gilded or gilt, gilding.

1. to coat with gold, gold leaf, or a gold-colored substance.

2. to give a bright, pleasing, or specious aspect to.

This hymn was written by a German author whose name has been lost in time.  It first appeared in a Roman Catholic hymnal, Catholisches Gesangbuch in 1828.  That hymnal originated in Wurzburg, on the Main River near Frankfurt.  That is lovely country, with hills and streams.  It's no wonder that a poet, seeing that beauty, would be inspired to write a hymn praising God for natural wonders.

But the hymn celebrates more than natural wonders.  It calls us to praise God whether we are at work or at prayer –– whether in the night or the day –– even when faced with the powers of darkness, which lose their power when subjected to praise to God.  It calls us to praise God "thro' all the ages long."

taken from "history of an hymn"

Happy Birthday, Gary!

Happy Birthday Gary!

Today, Gary turns 26 years old.

Some important facts about Gary.

1. Gary Loved Legos - he spent hours and hours...
2. One year he got 32 Ninja Turtles from an AA pilot, Scott
3. He also loved to wear his Batman shirt 24/7
4. Gary is out-going and very social
5. He was named after our good friend, Gary Beekman.  Before Gary was born, we had picked out the name Julie, if we had had a girl, named after Gary B's wife.
   
6. Gary was born in Santa Cruz, Bolivia on a Tuesday morning at Clinica Foinini.  After I had been in labor for 8 hours, the doctors determined he was in distress, "cord wrapped around his neck", so he came into the world by emergency C-section.  We had our HAM radio friend, John G. make important phone calls to the grandparents in the states.
7. Growing up in Bolivia, he loved playing in the sand pile with GI Joe figures along with his best friend, Ben.
   
8. Gary would take afternoon naps with me, but he soon discovered that after I would go to sleep, he could slip out of the room and go play legos in his room.

Love on your kids, because they grow up too quickly!

Thank you Gary for being a part of our family, for loving your sisters, for always bringing a smile to our faces and laughs to our bellys. And thank you for your patience with us as you repair our computers and give us social media lessons. 

You are loved and we love you.  Happy Birthday, Gary!!

God's Word is Powerful

Glenn has had the privilege over the years of distributing thousands of tracts, portions of scripture and even entire Bibles. Currently he is participating in a project to get illustrated scripture portions and New Testaments into the hands of children, young people and others who need to hear from God's Word.

Please pray that God's Word would do it's work of conviction in the hearts of kids in Sunday Schools, adults who read along and the many prisoners who are able to have their own copy of Scripture.

So will the words that come out of my mouth
    not come back empty-handed.
They’ll do the work I sent them to do,
    they’ll complete the assignment I gave them. ISA 55:11 MSG

~J

Guatemala Independence Day

On Friday, Glenn and I attended the afternoon Independence Day program at CAG (Christian Academy of Guatemala).  Several of our mk's (missionary kids) attend there and this is where Gary graduated from High School back in 2007.

CAG had invited another Guatemalan school to preform also.  They were complete with a marching band and majorettes.

One of the Camino TCKs (third culture kids), little Emma, preformed with her kindergarten class.

Also, missionary-kid, Gracie danced too. She is the grand daughter of one of the missionaries we worked with in Bolivia years ago.

September 15th is the day on which Guatemala won its independence from Spain in 1821.  

Four other countries also declared their independence on September 15, 1821:  Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua. 

Happy Guatemala Independence Day

Café Saúl

Most of the malls here in Guatemala City have a Saúl Restaurant.  They are famous for their crapes and coffee.

Strawberry Banana with Nutella was delicious!




Cafe Saul

 

I will give you Rest

Matthew 11:28-29

King James Version (KJV)

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

My Knight in Shining Armor

 Happy Engagement Anniversary to US

(1979-2014)

35 years ago, today,

September 8,

Glenn proposed to me!

Looking back....

3 children and their spouses,

3 children and their college graduations,

Glenn and I graduated from MBI 1978 and 2010,

2 countries served in (Bolivia 1986-2000) and (Guatemala 2006-present),

2 grandchildren with 1 on the way,

1 broken ankle and 1 heart attack,

thousands of meals served in our home,
serving on Moody Alumni Board and JBU Parent Association together

hundreds of phone patches and flight following small SAMAIR planes,

countless trips to Viru Viru and Guatemala Airports,

encouraged by so many faithful friends,
feeling blessed to be married to this wonderful man,

 the love of my life!

Palace

In my Father's house are many mansions:  if it were not so,
I would have told you.  

I go to prepare a place for you.

John 14:2 

Lindendorf Castle

Germany

Final Flight for Captain Russell

 Glenn and I were beyond honored and blessed to be on the very last flight of our good friend, Scott, otherwise known as #19 in seniority with AA, or even #6 for those pilots based out of DFW.

The night before, the crew enjoyed a retirement party at a local German restaurant.  Scott received some beautiful gifts and appreciation from the pilots and flight attendants.

The Stewart-Russell Selfie

The crew decorated a poster board and we carried that to the 

p-a-r-t-y

 and then posted it in the cabin on the final flight the following day.

Scott got lots of gifts to remember his retirement.

On Friday morning, before leaving the Novetel Hotel in Mainz, the crew gave Scott several helium balloons that he ceremoniously let fly away - just like flying off into his retirement.

Final crew picture of Captain Russell with wife Barbara and rest of the AA crew members who worked Scott's last flight, AA 71, FRA - DFW August 29, 2014.  That is 36.5 years of employment with AA and 6 years previously in the military.

Final stop - FRA.

Walking through the airport the last time.

The atmosphere on the airplane was festive and light.  Passengers clapped as they introduced Scott's retirement flight.

 {photo by Barbara R}

Then upon arrival into DFW, the 777 was greeted by the traditional

 Water Cannon Salute

 with the plane rolling slowly underneath the water spray from the fire engines .

Then Scott stood at the door and greeted everyone as they strolled off the 777.

{photo by Barbara R}

Then we were greeted by ground personnel to congratulate Scott on his retirement.

 Grandmommy and GrandDaddy came out to pick us up and got to greet the newly retired Captain.

Our friendship started in Bolivia, South America 18 years ago.

AA Captain Cameron goes to see our missionary friend Jeff and Kathy.

Next, Captain Cameron introduces us to first officer Don.

Several weeks later, Don flies down with AA Captain Scott and

the rest is history.  

We've been friends and were blessed by his visits in Bolivia.  Scott played racquetball with Glenn.  Then when we moved to Guatemala, Scott and his family have visited numerous times.  Barbara is a professional licensed counselor and has helped many Camino missionary families with her helpfulness, her love and her insights into our challenging work and ministry.

Thank you Scott for your 36.5 years of work with American Airlines.  We wish you the very best in your retirement years.