Sunrise Shots

Several days ago, Glenn and I needed to head up to Antigua, so instead of sitting in traffic at the peak of rush hour traffic, we elected to leave early, before the crack of dawn to get to Antigua in plenty of time to take some photos with pre dawn lighting and on into the sun rise. We were not disappointed.

Then we connected with Tim and Lynn who drove up from the coast for the day.

We showed them several ruins and interesting historical sights.  They tagged along with us as we visited Paul in his home. We drank in the view, overlooking the city from the foot of the cross.

Then we took a "less traveled", rustic road that wound up the Eastern slopes overlooking Antigua to a great place for a banquet with a panorama. We ate one of their delicacies, either fried or broiled Tilapia, complete with it's eyes, head and skeleton intact. On a "scale" of 1-10...it got mixed reviews.

I enjoyed my nachos rather than picking around the multitude of tiny fish bones that ran it's length, for the head, still attached, to it's tail. Yes, this makes quite a tale.  

It was a good day, watching the sunrise and ever changing hues of pastels projected on the city sites and surrounding mountain sides, visiting missionaries and visitors and enjoying God's creation here in Guatemala.

Happy Birthday Weekend

David 4 1/2 years old

Glenn and I spent an extended weekend in Nicaragua, loving on the grandkids.  We took the kiddos to McDonalds several times for them to romp and play.  For them to cool down in the air-conditioned PlayPlace and for us to delight in watching their enthusiasm, was a joy, to say nothing about how fun it was to spoil them.

Emily - 3 years old

Lucy - 17 months old

We survived a quick 20 minute trip to Walmart.

GrandDad enjoyed being out on the patio and playing with the two oldest kids.

After giving the kids their evening bath I rolled Emily's hair up in the pink curlers, I made attempts to read to them before we tucked them away in bed. That was met with varying degrees of success.

Thanks to Molly Goodson, Emily got a Minnie Mouse dress for her birthday.  Later in the day, she had a pool party.

GrandDad was the only adult who braved the chilly, refreshing waters of the swimming pool but the littlest swimmer, Lucy, made the biggest splash.

Happy 3rd Birthday, Emily! 

Many more, on Channel 4

Scoobie Doo on Channel 2

with Frankinstine on Channel 9

doo doo dooh dooh do DOO DOO

Fun Swim Birthday party!

How Many Do You See?

I thought I saw one - two - three - four.

Look closely.

Yes, a fifth, a child, sandwiched in the middle.

There is always room for one more.

Street Performers

While waiting for the light to turn green, we were entertained.

 Never a dull moment.

This young man had painted himself in silver metallic paint.  He stood in the middle of the intersection and performed a dance routine.

Valentine Roses

After church, Glenn stopped by the local florist shop to get some Valentines Day roses for me.

Glenn only had a $20.00 US bill with him, and the teenage boy said we could come back tomorrow to pay him for the flowers.

Right I took a dozen pictures of my beautiful roses, the wind came up and blew my roses off the edge of the patio and dashed the vase on the tile floor.  Ugh.

I said, "Thanks for sweeping up the patio."  

Glenn's response: "Well, you swept me off my feet." :)

My Valentine

Zika Virus

Our friend, Juana, came to work on Saturday.  She mentioned to us that the Zika virus was in her town of Palín.  She also told us that she has been fighting it.  She mentioned that she has suffered fever, red eyes and nausea.

I quickly went to the internet to read more about this evil virus called Zika.  Yes, it mentioned all the symptoms Juana was experiencing.

I read about the Symptons, Diagnosis and Treatment, especially the Treatment.  There is no vaccine like the vaccine I took as a child for Polio.  However there were some things to treat Zika.  Juana was doing all the proscribed treatment such as resting, drinking lots of water and taking Tylenol (not aspirin).

I'm thinking, how can Juana get this Zika virus?  Juana lives 45 minutes down the mountain toward the Pacific coast, where the climate is hotter and it is infected with mosquitoes.  It made sense that Zika has hit Guatemala, in the lower tropical areas.

Click here to read about Juana as she helped us with our coffee tree in the front yard.

Pray for Juana as he recovers from Zika.  Pray for the other family members who suffer with Zika.

Psalms 103

Praise the Lord, my soul;

    all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

² Praise the Lord, my soul,

    and forget not all his benefits—

³ who forgives all your sins

    and heals all your diseases,

New Rector at SETECA

Glenn and I attended the chapel service where Oscar was installed as the new Rector (Director) for SETECA, the Camino Global founded Evangelical seminary in Guatemala City.

Oscar has big shoes to fill.  Prior leadership of SETECA are men such as Carlos, Jim, Paul and Al, to name a few.

Pray for Oscar in his new responsibility of leading SETECA forward.

Veteran Missionaries

Glenn and I drove to Antigua to visit Paul and Ruth.

  They are the definition of the word missionary.

   They have raised their children here on the mission field, having arrived in the mid 1950s. Evangelism, church planting, media ministries, church statistics, teaching men's and women's SS classes, retreat center management are just a few of the many things they have been involved with.  

Imagine being called to this beautiful country, Guatemala, to serve the Lord?  

Paul and Ruth both love the Lord and you can tell that by the expressions on their faces.

I walked around the back of the house with Ruth admiring the flowers in their back yard, finally ending up on a park bench.

The flowers were beautiful.

As we sat there and visited with their daughter, who was visiting her parents from the states, we talked about politics, old memories from arriving on the mission field in the 50's, to attending Moody Bible Institute in Chicago to God's faithfulness through the years.  Ruth introduced me to her daughter several times not remembering that she had just done that 5 minutes prior.  Memory has become her recent challenge.  Yet, I smile.  I get it.  My mom struggles with the same illness.

Today, our joy was to pay a visit to Paul and Ruth.   

This is our job!  

This is pastoral care.

  To listen to  their stories, to ask them questions, to see how they were doing, to encourage them and to pray for them.

However we came home being blessed ourselves. 

We thank the Lord for Paul and Ruth's ministry here in Guatemala for over 60+ years.  

I Chronicles 16: 8-9

Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name;
    make known among the nations what he has done.

 
 Sing to him, sing praise to him;
    tell of all his wonderful acts.

Visit with Veteran Missionary

Glenn and I stopped by Zone 1 to visit with Helen.  Sitting at her small dining room table which also serves as her office desk and visiting area, we chatted for awhile.  We handed her some mail, gave her the US stamps she had ordered and listened as she recounted some memories from her many, many years of service here in Guatemala.  

She blessed our hearts.  Helen grew up as a missionary kid in Bolivia and has served here in Guatemala since 1951.  She, along with her late husband, David, worked on 4 different Bible translations.

Recently she was honored for her service with Camino Global.

https://vimeo.com/143069107

Click on the above link.

We are grateful for Helen's ministry, her pleasant smile and the way her passion for God and His people is so evident.

How Can I Say Thanks?

36 years ago, after each of us saying, "I do", Glenn and I walked back down the isle to a beautiful organ rendition of "My Tribute".
As we reflect on these 36 years together, we echo the words,
"To God be the glory!"

My Tribute

Andraé Crouch, writer and composer of this song, died at 72 on
January 8, 2015.

I know this is an old song, yet I love the words. 

How can I say thanks for the things
You have done for me?
Things so undeserved yet you gave
To prove your love for me
The voices of a million angels
Could not express my gratitude
All that I am, and ever hope to be
I owe it all to thee


To God be the glory, to God be the glory
To God be the glory for the things he has done
With his blood he has saved me
With his power he has raised me
To God be the glory for the things he has done
Just let me live my life and
Let it be pleasing Lord to thee
And if I gain any praise, let it go to calvary
With his blood he has saved me
With his power he has raised me
To God be the glory for the things he has done

36 Years

Earlier this week, Glenn and I celebrated 36 years of marriage.  I have enjoyed the ride.  Glenn has made my life simple.  He goes along with my spur-of-the-moment adventures we have created together.  We have learned to talk through stuff, laugh and cry with each other and to stick together when faced with life's challenges. 

Here are just a few of the things that I love about Glenn.

• Proof-reads my blogs, prayer letters and FB/Instagram entries
• Can repair just about anything
• Is Faithful and Dedicated to the task
• Loves his grandchildren 
• Makes me feel special
• Washes the dishes

I can't wait for our next adventure and where life will take us.  

Happy Anniversary, Glenn!  

I love you you more today than I have ever have. 

You are the anchor of my life.

 You are my Hero.

I love you, Glenn!