Monday, December 19, 2016

Typical Day?


Often we are asked, “What does a typical day look like for you?” Wow, that is so hard to describe since a lot of what we do in Pastoral Care requires us to keep the information confidential. Because of this, we trust you to pray earnestly for us as we minister to others, even though you may not know all the specifics, so that we might be effective in loving and encouraging our fellow missionaries.

Just for fun, we thought we would share with you two recent experiences from a typical day.

October 4, 2016

• 7:00 Breakfast at home, some reading and internet, waited for rush hour traffic to die down
• 9:00 Left home to make “mail run” to various places such as CAG, San Cristobal, etc, making visits along the way including a stop at the bank
• 12:00 noon Lunch at Pollo Campero to check on internet, e-mails, messages, etc.
• 1:30 Dropped by TGN Radio station for mail delivery and visits
• 2:00 Helped Bob carry items to his classroom at SETECA where he teaches English to Seminary students
• 2:15 Received phone call from Judy M. She had heard from Lydia in the US that her mother was in a Guatemala City hospital for a shoulder operation after a terrible fall
• 2:20 Made contact with John, Lydia’s father, who was at DFW en-route to GUA via AA. Got contact info from John to call several church members in Guatemala
• 2:30 Drove to Centro Medico Hospital to check on Gail
• 4:00 Spent the rest of the afternoon visiting and praying for Gail
• 6:30 Headed to GUA airport to pick up John. He wanted to go directly to the hospital
• 7:30 Half way to the hospital John got a cell phone call asking if he had his own or someone else’s suitcase
• 8:00 Arriving at the hospital, John confirmed that, indeed, he had a suitcase that looked like his but had another name
• 8:30 Glenn dropped John off and drove back to the airport to exchange suitcases
• 9:15 Glenn made several trips between John’s house and hospital
• 10:30 Glenn arrived home and headed to bed, resting up for whatever surprises might lie ahead



October 5, 2016
• 6:00-11:30 Enjoyed the sunrise, breakfast, reading, prayer, e-mails and phone calls
• 11:30 Left home to drive to Antigua (about 45 minutes away)
• 12:30 Picked up rookie missionary Natalie at CSA (Christian Spanish Academy) where she has been studying Spanish
• 1:00 After talking about lunch options, we arrived at Joe’s. Natalie was excited to learn of a new place to eat and enjoyed her old fashion hamburger
• 2:00 While eating lunch we visited with her about many things, including her adjustments to her life in Guatemala, Spanish classes, her impending move and to a Mayan village and visa renewal.
• 3:00 After dropping Natalie off, we drove to the local market where Glenn shared some Spanish material with a Guatemalan friend
 
So, what does your day look like?



Galatians 6:10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good

unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

Friday, December 16, 2016

Cornbread Salad


  CornBread Salad
(not dressing)


Cook 2 pkgs cornbread.  Let Cool
Cook 1 lb Bacon, cool.  Crumble

Chop:
1 medium onion
3-4 tomatoes
2 medium Green Peppers
1/2 sweet pickles

Mix:
1 Cup of Mayo
1 T sugar
1/4 cup of pickle juice

Layer:
Crumbled cornbread
Bacon
Peppers
onion
tomatoes
pickles

Drizzle dressing over top - Salt and pepper
Refrigerate - Toss well before serving

Recipe from my sister-in-law, Kelly.

Thursday, December 15, 2016

Grand Children Growing




While in the rocking chair, I would sing these words to each of my children.  I loved holding them.  I loved rocking them to sleep.
I love you Lord
and I lift my voice
to worship you
O my soul, rejoice

Take joy my King
in what you hear
let it be a sweet, sweet sound
in your ear.
Now, I sing these same words to my grandchildren.  When I hold them and sing these words, it takes me back to when I would sing to Ellen, Karen or Gary.

Now I am excited to be able to sing them to David, Emily, Lucy and ?  

Yes,
grandchild number 4 will be arriving on or around April 2, 2017


We received the news in a rather unconventional way.  Sitting around the dinning room table at Luke and Ellen's apartment 3 months ago, 3 and half year old, Emily prayed for the meal saying "Dear Jesus, thank you for this food and for the baby in mommy's tummy.  Amen." 

  (I
t was actually David who said "Dad, can we tell Grammie and GrandDad the secret about the new baby yet?" as David and Luke were in David's room unpacking, with GrandDad, just before supper.)

Thursday, December 08, 2016

Taco Soup


Recipe for Taco Soup

2 lbs ground beef
1 onion chopped
Brown ground beff w/ chopped onion.
Add 1 pkg Taco seasoning and 1 dry pkg of Ranch dressing mix
Add 1.5 cups water.
Simmer for 10 min.

In large pot - Add together all cans.  Do not drain juice
3 cans petite diced tomatoes
1 can sweet corn
1 can diced green chillies
1 can pinto beans
1 can dark red kidney beans

Add the meat mixture.
Cook.
(my sister, Sherrie's  recipe)
Thanks

Although its not COLD weather here in Guatemala, (like what US is experiencing today) I thought I should post this delicious soup recipe.

Thursday, December 01, 2016

Not "Keeping on Truck'n"


Oops, the driver of this semi truck got a little too close to the mountain. At least it was this side of the road and not the other side which is a sheer drop off into a valley.



We are always thankful for those of you who constantly pray for our safety on the Guatemalan roads.

Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Samsung Safety?

You can still buy the Galaxy Samsung phone in Guatemala.
Hmm!  

They're exploding in the US,
 but evidently sales are 
exploding out of this world in Guatemala.

Tuesday, November 29, 2016

A Common Sight Driving in Guatemala


This is a normal sight on the freeway.  I had noticed that these 3 folks (all girls) were pushing the car and they had changed from the right lane to the left lane.  Why?  The upcoming exit was a left-hand exit.

I would have pulled off to the right hand side, but I think these energetic Guatemalans were hoping that pushing the car 1/4 of a kilometer down the highway CA-9, they could coast on home.

To put it in perspective.  This photo was taken on hiway CA-9, between Guatemala City and Villa Nueva on a road very similar to Interstate 20 or 635 (Not!).  There are 4 lanes, sometimes they are very fast but many times the traffic crawls up the hill and around sharp corners.


Sunday, November 27, 2016

The Guatemala Postal Service is NOT Working


We have recently learned that the Guatemala Post Office is closed.  
The Guatemala Postal Service is NOT open.

Thus, if you send a Christmas card to us at our Guatemala address, chances are that we will not get it. 

I love the Christmas season when I receive Christmas cards from friends and family.  Usually the mail arrives in January or later.  However, this year, the Guatemalan postal service is NOT working.  So, if you would like to send any Christmas cards this year, we suggest that you send them to the Camino office (only .47 instead of the 1.15) for postage.  This is a way to definitely get your cards to us.  Thank You.

 Please send any Christmas greetings this year to the mission office in Dallas.

c/o Camino Global
8625 La Prada
Dallas, TX 75228

Read more at the following website.
Guatemala Postal Service

Saturday, November 26, 2016

Carrot Casserole


Carrot Casserole
renamed Harvest Souffle

2 C cooked Carrots
3 Eggs
1/2 C Sugar
1 C Milk
1 stick butter (1/2 c)
2 TBS flour
1/2 tsp Cinnamon
1 TBS Baking powder

Put in Blender
Pour in casserole (uncovered)
Bake 350 for 30 min




Renamed Harvest Souffle because my family didn't like cooked carrots.  Most people think this is sweet potato instead of carrots

 In any case, it is delicious.  Try it.  Easy to make.

Thursday, November 24, 2016

Thanksgiving Day in Guatemala

Traditionally, the Camino missionaries gather together to celebrate Thanksgiving. This year, we hosted the small group.  We had great conversations, lots of laughs and enjoyed delicious food.  And the Cowboys won!  Woo Hoo!  How about them 'Boys?

.
Corn casserole, jello salad, green salad, carrot casserole, green bean casserole, chicken and dressing, cranberry sauce with pecan pie and brownies for dessert.
The Bookends
Helen is the oldest missionary on the field with Natalie, the youngest

Wednesday, November 23, 2016

Meeting Friends on Their Cruise

Last Friday, Glenn and I got up early and left our house by 3:15am and headed towards Puerto Quetzal.  Glenn was able to get us inside of the security section right at the dock.  Our purpose was to connect with Jack and Carolyn, friends from Wichita Falls, Texas.

Carolyn had sent me an email several weeks earlier letting us know that they were taking a cruise through the Panama Canal heading to San Diego, California from Fort Lauderdale, Florida and had a port stop here in Guatemala.  We immediately told them that we would be their shore excursion.




We did the normal "touristy" stuff in Antigua.  
We walked down the Arch street.
We purchased some Barista coffee.
We bargained with the street vendors.
We walked through the Don Rodrigo courtyard.
We purchased paintings off the street.
We had lunch at Cerro de San Cristobal, a cute, quaint little restaurant perched on the hillside overlooking the beautiful city of Antigua.
We visited some missionaries, Paul and Ruth, and then walked through the ruins of Santo Domingo.

 




Whew!!  That was a looong day.  We drove to the coast, then to Antigua, then back to the coast and then finally ended up home again after fighting Friday evening traffic in the city.  But I wouldn't miss the opportunity to share with our friends and meet their friends who tagged along with us.

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Family Reunion





While Aunt Hattie was at my folks house earlier this month, we had several road trips we made with her and my parents.  On Monday, November 7, we drove to Shreveport to have lunch with some relatives.  They may seem to be distant relatives, but not really.

My mom with Edna Kay
The weather was just gorgeous the whole time Aunt Hattie was with Mom and Dad in Dallas.  We took an afternoon to stroll through the Dallas Arboretum.



Then on Saturday, we took an afternoon to drive down to Rick and Bev's lake house.  The home was filled with kids, g'kids, great g'kids and dogs.  Again, the weather was perfect.  The company was super.  And the food was delicious.


Thankful for family.