Fisher of Men

I caught this photo while traveling across the lake.

~J

Prensa, Prensa, Read all About it!!

Local Guatemalan man had a stack of newspapers he was carrying. His little son or grandson was following behind. With curiousity, I watched how the man backed his load into this public van.

~J

Visiting Little Elizabeth

Last week we visited with Laura and her new baby. She is a precious little girl. Laura is so fortunate to have such a sweet baby. She is very content and easy going. This is a sleepy yawn, not a cry.
I understand the Conner family is still keeping the same noise level as before, so little Elizabeth is use to all kinds of commotion and distractions.

~J

Antigua at Night

While the engaged couple was spending the evening at the Welden restaurant, Glenn took me to the restaurant under the archway in this historic city of Antigua, Guatemala to celebrate our 30th year anniversary.

~J

Anniversary Engagement Number 30

Recently Glenn and I celebrated our 30th Engagement Anniversary. Yes, Sept 8, 1979. Glenn proposed to me, or rather my dad proposed. Read more!

History - Glenn had spent the entire day with my dad painting the house. I spent much of the day with my mom shopping. We had plans to attend a wedding, then Glenn wanted to take me out for dinner since we were all dressed up for the wedding.

Glenn talked with Dad seeking his blessing and his advice about his intent to propose to me that day. Dad was thrilled but commented that it would be good for Mom to know about the engagement. However, Glenn never was able to visit with Mom since we were busy all day running errands and shopping.

The 4 of us headed off to the church service (same church Karen and Thomas were married in). After the wedding, the congregation watched the wedding portraits being taken.

After the pictures, as we were leaving the sanctuary, my dad walks up to me, gives me a big bear hug and says "Congratulations, Judy!" The only things is that Glenn hadn't yet proposed to me. I smiled. Glenn knew what had just happened. Dad was embarrassed about his 'slip'. As we walked back to the house in the alley after the reception, Glenn proposed to me, and then again in the revolving restaurant that night over dinner.

Glenn made the engagement official as we ate dinner at the Reunion Tower Restaurant. Happy 30th Engagement Anniversary - story.

~J

International Treaty - Cuba / Chile

Several weeks ago we had the honor and privilege to take Sinaí and his "girlfriend" up to Antigua for a date. We dropped them off at The Welten Restaurant for their special date, already knowing what was going to happen. Side note - I would recommend this Restaurant in a heart beat. Very nice and romantic!

After dropping the couple off at the Welden restaurant, Glenn and I drove over to the restaurant under the arch and had a nice dinner ourselves, courtesy of a good friend.

Sinaí had prepared a PowerPoint presentation with pictures of his and Nicole's childhood photos. Well done. Then he had the sign, "Do you want to marry me?", light up. Of course, Nicole said "Yes"!

Sinaí, from Cuba, is a graduate of GBS and now is working on his master's degree at SETECA. Nicole is from Chile and will be graduating from SETECA in a few weeks. We wish them lots of happiness and joy as they begin their lives together.

Speaking of engagement, Glenn and I were celebrating our 30th engagement anniversary that evening also. My next post tomorrow will be about that adventure.

~J

HOT Water!!!

Ever since we moved into the house here, we've had trouble with the hot water system and the hot water heater. Glenn can explain that it wasn't plumbed correctly.

However, we now have hot water! Glenn and Neri put in some new pipes, banged on the wall, and now the hot water doesn't mix with the cold water when it goes from the hotwater heater to the faucets. Yippee...nice warm(hot:) water to bathe and to wash the dishes.

~J

7 Layer Casserole

Its been 9 years since I've made this dish. Why? Because I always made the 7 layer casserole in the dish that I got as a wedding present, but it broke in our move from Bolivia back to the states. And as a creature of habit, I couldn't make it in a different Pyrex. So, I didn't.

My kids can testify that we had this simple dish at least 3 times a week, while they were growing up. (You know, it was a balanced meal:) I think my kids dislike the dish now because I used to cook it so often. I could get all the ingredients and it was simple to make. Note recipe at the bottom.

~J

Layer the 7 items in the following order in a greased casserole dish

1/2 C uncooked rice
1 can of corn (drained)
1 onion chopped
1 bell pepper chopped
1 can of tomato sauce
1 lb. of ground beef (not cooked)
1 can of tomato sauce

Cook at 350 degrees (not centigrade:) for 1 hour.

Pacaya - Blowing Off Steam

Recently, as we were driving home, we caught this sight of the local volcano spewing...and to think people climb up this volcano and roast marshmallows.

We live about 45min from the base of Volcán Pacaya.

~J

Rincón Suiza

One of our favorite restaurants along CA-1, heading towards the lake.

~J

Happy Birthday - Guatemala

Today is Independence Day for much of Central America! Guatemala included. No schools, no work and basically people have the day off to celebrate. Guatemala is 188 years old.

~J
(I thought I had posted this earlier today, but I can't find it...must be a senior moment)

My thoughts exactly

I haven't had any post recently on my blog. Several reasons. Running hard ~ and I wasn't able to "get ahead". Where did the summer months go? Besides, our normal Pastoral care job here in Guatemala, I can tell you. Glenn and I were preoccupied with my 4week "on-line" Biology course I was taking. Thanks Glenn for your help. It was tough, but I learned a lot. Ended up making a B in the course.

Prior to that, Glenn and I took an "on-line" Developmental Psychology course. Very helpful and useful in our day to day life of understanding people and problems. Something we will definitely use in our ministry.

Since I am a "sprinter", I seem to blossom when it comes to on-line course. With the self-pace structure style, this "one-line" stuff is ideal for me.

I needed to take a 3 hour elective for my "degree completion" program. I just didn't want to take anything. So, I signed up for a Business computer science course. I am thoroughly enjoying it. Ask my mom and Gary, I've used some new techniques in Microsoft Word when I write my weekly snail mail letters to them. The course is over Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access. Should be fun. I am glad I'm learning to learn and not learning to make the grade.

~J

Marge Watson Singing "This World is not my Home"

Several weeks ago, Virginia and I made a "house call" to visit long time SAM missionary, Marge. Marge is such a delight to visit. Her memory is failing, however, when I visit, I throw out names from her days when she worked and ministered for many years in Peru and she lights up. She likes to talk about her Peru days.

Marge is now living with her oldest daughter here in Guatemala. And its a pleasure to pay frequent visits to her home. She has such a good attitude. She has been in the hospital several times this year for surgery. She remembers Spanish very well.

One of her favorite songs is "This World is not my Home". She truly is waiting for the Lord to take her home and sings this song with a smile on her face.

This world is not my home, I'm just passing through.
My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue.
The angels beckon me from Heaven's open door
And I can't feel at home in this world anymore.

Chorus
O Lord you know I have no friend like you
If Heaven's not my home, then Lord what will I do?
The angels beckon me from Heaven's open door
And I can't feel at home in this world anymore.

Happy Birthday Haley

Haley turns 16 on September 2.

Haley is Sherrie and Steve's first born. She has a personality who is very conscientious and is very sensitive. She is helpful with her younger siblings. She loves unicorns and likes to make homemade jewelery. She likes crafts and likes to draw. She has a strong artistic bent and will probably exceed with her arts.

She will never let you forget a promise. She babysits quite often and during the summer of 08, she raised money for her airfare so she could go with her dad on a school tour to England to visit the castles and also visit her Nana. She is learning the concept of money, as she recently purchased a cell phone and is learning the value of the dollar and the value of a minute phone call. She is on the "pay as you go plan". Haley has completed her driver's education. Watch out drivers on 635! I know, however, she will drive very carefully.

This past summer, Haley had the wonderful experience of going on a Caribbean cruise with one of her girl friends and family. She had a blast.

Happy Birthday, Haley!

Aunt Judy

Fried Okra, Peas, Corn on the Cob, Cornbread

It doesn't get better than this. It was Wednesday night special at El Fenix but Ichose to eat G'mommy's great cooking. Cornbread; fried okra in onions, tomatoes, purple hull peas, new red potatoes (g'mommy renamed them Playhouse potatoes).

Story about Playhouse Potatoes G'mommy told me how she remembers at age 5 playing in the yard with her Aunt Hattie (who was closer to her age than being a typical age Aunt). Aunt Hattie dug a hole in the ground, lit a fire and cooked these new potatoes on a grate there in the ground. 75 years ago, G'mommy named these potatoes Playhouse potatoes and it has stuck ever since. However, G'mommy cooks them over the stove these days!!

Nothing left. Excellent!

~J

Friends

We had dinner with some dear dear friends from way back. Thank you folks for your consistent love and friendship. Listen, Cerlina and Patrice, we want you to come down and visit us in Guatemala.

~J

Mr. Magoo

Recently, Glenn and I spent an evening meal with Joseph and Patrice. They are long time friends from GPBC and we picked up like we hadn't skipped a beat. It just dawned on me, that with Joseph's new reading glasses that he reminds me of the cartoon character, Mr. Magoo. Do you agree?

Thanks for the great meal, lots of laughs and your friendship.

~J

Friends Celebrate 60 Years

Glenn and I were honored to attend the 60th Anniversary party of long time Mexico branch friends, Bob and Joyce. Glenn's family and Bob and Joyce served and worked together for many many years in Mexico. What a sweet couple and wonderful family.

Judy

To Bermuda, Bahama come on pretty mama

The International check-in was a real blessing. This mother and her son flew in from the Bahamas. Glenn helped with several Wal-mart runs for the mom to get the much needed supplies for college (TV, electrical extensions, bedding and sheets, etc). We asked them to sing their national anthem, and they stood proud and tall. So, how does someone from the Bahamas find John Brown? I asked his mom, and she said he looked at several ivy league schools and his response was "I want to go to a Christian school and I choose JBU"! Welcome to JBU!

Aruba, Jamaica ooo I wanna take you
Bermuda, Bahama come on pretty mama
Key Largo, Montego baby why don't we go
Jamaica

Off the Florida Keys
There's a place called Kokomo
That's where you wanna go to get away from it all


J

Old Time Connection

While at JBU and helping out with the International and MK check-in, I ran into Anna Maria and her son, Matt. Anna Maria and I recently reconnected 2 years ago, when she brought her son to JBU, the same time we were enrolling Gary. Anna Maria and I were in the same youth group at Foster back in the 70's.

Glenn helping out by serving on the Parent Association Council.

Matt, Anna Maria, me and Glenn

J

Helping Caroline Move In

Glenn helped move some shelving and connect Caroline to the Internet. She's in the new dorm that just opened up in 2008.

On Wednesday we had the awesome privilege to "sign in" Caroline into JBU. We were invited to help out with MK and International students this week. Glenn and I had so much fun making connections with these MKs arriving for their first year at John Brown University. Again, it was just like my blog says "Small world...Big Family". There is a great bunch of students coming in.

Welcome to JBU, Caroline!

J

End Results

Then end results. Beautiful woven fabric. All hand woven!

J

How it is Woven Together

The cloth is woven together by this simple machine.

Weaving In and Out

After going to the pottery shop, you can stop at the local "Jo Ann's Fabric" store and watch the ladies make their weaving of cloth.

All the villages around Lake Atitlán have a different "fabric weave" depicting their "color". San Antonio Palopó has this deep blue color. Also the color of the dress depicts the Indian dialic that is spoken. It could be Cachiquel or Tsu'tujil or some other language.

Judy