Email Inbox

I had 288 email messages that I needed to deal with.

  Some were basic emails that I could easily punch the delete button, others required me to "star" them so I could follow up on the information, and others were a simple "reply".  

 I had been meaning to do this for some time, but just didn't have the energy to do so. 

With the business of the holidays and ministry here in Guatemala, 
I had let my "InBox" fill up. Way to much.

But now, I have only 25 in my "InBox"  YEA!
~J

Waking Up at the Crack of Dawn

Brittany is here for 5 days to do some photo shoots for CAM.  We've schedule time for her to take pictures of folks in class rooms, in churches, and typical Guatemalan stuff.

Yesterday we were up at 4:30am to drive to Antigua and take some good morning shots of the sun coming up over the mountains with it reflecting against the walls, cobblestone streets and buildings.

Brittany has given me some pointers in the area of photography.  Thanks Brittany.

Tuesday we spent the whole day making our way to Panajachel, stopping in Antigua, Chimaltenango and Patzún.  We also took a short drive to San Antonio Palopó to visit Nancy in her shop.  (more photos later)
~J

Time to Change

I just hate change.  But, change is a part of life.  Change usually happens at the most inconvenient times.  But it is necessary.  I have come to realize that I need to embrace change for it's good.

2 examples come immediately to mind about Changes happening in my life.

Facebook

and CAM International.

Facebook is doing this Timeline thing.  I thought to myself, I had better jump on board before I get left behind.

And CAM International is changing it's name to Camino Global.  I love the name.  The mission is still the same. (So what am I doing now?  I'm using up all the current stationery with CAM's logo on it, making way for the new re-branding of the new name.  How exciting can that be?)

As I sit back, I can do 1 of 2 things.  I can dig my feet in the ground, kick them and scream.  I don't like change.  Or, I can embrace it as a new opportunity to learn something new, get a new perspective of things and take the opportunity to welcome the change.

I choose the later.

Check out the changes on my FB

~J

Inauguration Day

 Passing the torch: President elect, Otto Pérez Molina, with outgoing Guatemalan President Álvaro Colom (Rodrigo ABD/AP)

Inauguration Day.

Most of the traffic is closed off in and around the airport.

Yesterday, Glenn and I were at the airport to meet a returning missionary, it literally took us an extra 30 minutes to get around all the barricades and fight the heavy traffic. 

Today there will be more festivities regarding the Inauguration. 

Tonight we'll be heading back to the airport to pick up a new Canadian friend and hopefully the blockades will be disassembled by then.

There was a shooting down at the Central Plaza yesterday.

Read more.  

~J

My Coffee Production

Somehow a Coffee tree started growing in our front yard.  I understand that each coffee tree produces 1 pound of coffee per year.

The coffee beans are "Red" at this stage is called "Uvas" which means "Grapes" in Spanish.  

They kinda look like grapes, don't they?

So, I've asked Juana, to take care of the processing of this coffee tree.

STEP 1:  Juana picks the beans.

STEP 2:  Then its time to peal the skin off and wash the coffee beans.

STEP 3: Coffee beans dry out.  This takes 10 - 14 days.

I'll post again in a few weeks when we start up the next process of the coffee.

~J
PS  We've "bean" putting the cookie sheet of coffee beans out on the patio in the morning and back patio in the evening to dry with the direct hit of the sun.

Happy Birthday to Naomi

 Naomi 

5 years old

Last Wednesday, we Met up with the Foote family at Pizza Hut before they headed back home to Santiago.  We were privilege to celebrate Naomi's 5th Birthday with the family.

She loved the card that I made for her and the 5 Quetzales bill we enclosed.  

Yes, 5 for 5 years!

Happy Birthday, Naomi!
~J

Roads around the Lake

With the recent rains from the Rainy Season (several months ago), many of the roads have been washed out.

~J

Lake Atitlán

~J

Going Bananas

 Chiquita Banana from Guatemala,

anyone?

Year In Review

2011 was a blessed year 

filled with accomplishments, graduations, new baby, engagement, weddings, sickness and saying "goodbye" to some veteran CAM Missionaries!

Jordan and Hannah,  plus Solomon and Grace arrived as our newest missionaries on the field.  We have known Jordan since the 80's when he grew up with our kids in Bolivia.  The Selfs lived with us for a couple months before they settled into language school in Antigua and now they're starting their first semester of teaching at the MK school here in Guatemala City.

We completed our official duties as presidents of the John Brown University Parent Association Council.  We loved helping out on campus and being a voice for the parents and relating to the students within the John Brown family.

 

Gary was baptized.  How proud we feel to see Gary mature over the years and wanting to follow God's leading in his life.  We love you Gary.

Having Ellen and Luke, GrandMommy and GrandDaddy, plus Scott and Barbara come to visit us for a special week during Easter vacation.

Congratulations to son, Gary, graduating from John Brown University.  Now he has a full time job there!  Just call him the IT Guy!

We welcomed Baby David into our family on July 13.  Proud parents are Luke and Ellen who live in Nicaragua.

Over Labor Day weekend, Gary proposed to Madison.  We couldn't be more thrilled.  A June 2012 wedding is in the works.  Gary is the sentimental type.  So, he gave Madison my engagement ring which was Glenn's grandmother's ring.  In other words, Madison is wearing Gary's Great Grandmother's engagement diamond.  How cool is that?

We were blessed by a special 10 day visit from dear friends, Jeff and Kathy.  Our families go back nearly 30 years together where we worked, lived, vacationed together in Bolivia.  During their visit, Jeff helped us distribute back-packs to the kids at Casita Benjamin, visited the CAM missionaries with us, sampled as many cups of coffee as he could and engaged in various aspects of ministry together.  
We laughed.  
We cried. 
We were encouraged.

We said "Goodbye" to 2 missionaries who served the Lord for many, many years here in Guatemala.

David was born here in Guatemala, was married for over 50+ years, worked on 4 Bible Translations and was a dear friend.  He passed away on November 10.
{To read more}

Esther died peacefully in her sleep on November 13.

{To Read More}

Welcome to the family - Clay

Clay and Catherine's Wedding

We enjoyed a special Christmas weekend with family.

Grammie and David


~J

Video of Our 2011 Stewart Christmas

Check out the video I put together of family shots during our Christmas together with all of our kids.  We enjoyed a full week with Ellen, Luke and grandbaby David, a fast-packed weekend with Gary and his fiancée, Madison  and multiple get-togethers with Karen and Thomas.  A highlight was a full day down at the lake house with my brothers and sister and their families along with my parents (GrandMommy and GrandDaddy).

SnapShots of Christmas Memory

my parents

 whole Stewart family

 Merry Christmas 

from Glenn and Judy

Fun Times With Baby David

Baby David's Balancing Act

and

Baby David sits alone

~Grammie

4 Generation Photo

Grammie (55 years)

GrandMommie (almost 83)

Ellen (29 years)

David (5 months)

Grandmommie (aka David's Great Grandmother) loved tickling his little belly.
and giving him kisses.

It doesn't get better than this!
~J

A Day in the Life with David

  Enough said!

 Janie and David

We kept David for the day and over night, while Ellen and Luke celebrated their anniversary.  In the meanwhile, GrandDad (aka, Glenn) and Grammie (aka, me) drove David around the metroplex to introduce him to special friends of ours.

 The Beekman family


Later in the evening, we went to dinner at the 
Magic Time Machine.  

2 furloughs ago, we took the family here and we all enjoyed the dining experience where the waiters are dressed up as different characters.  We had Peter Pan serve us.

~J