Miller Family

 I had an awesome time with this sweet family.  Jonathan is so sweet.  He asked so many questions about being a missionary, what it was like to live down here in Guatemala.  He loves collecting money from Guatemala.  So, thank you, Jonathan, for praying for me.

 Thank you for taking such good care of me!  We appreciate your prayers.
~J

Bunch of Kids

Last year I started following Courtney's blog.  I had never met her.  She blogs all the time.  So, since I was in the DC area last weekend, I specifically stayed over 1 extra day to visit with her.  She is a talented woman.  She has 4 kids of her own and last year, they adopted 2 other boys from Africa.  

We enjoyed a good 2 hour visit while we sat on the front porch watching the kids play in the yard.  We talked about the adjustments the family has made since the adoption and how everyone was coming along.

I even made her Blog.  Check it out! 

~J

Connecting with RBC Ladies

Last weekend, I was able to make a quick trip to attend RBC Ladies' Weekend Retreat.  What an wonderful time.

I met 2 new friends that took me to a Christian Book store, then we went out to Starbucks for Coffee.  Thanks gals for being my new friends.  You are a blessing.
See you on FB.
~J

Fresh Fruit

 Each time we make a "potty stop" at Paulinos, I like to look at all the variety of fresh fruit available.

Lady with Heavy Load

Matthew 11:30

For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Pathway

We were in this town along Lake Atitlán.  And I noticed these precious Quechua gals.

We walked up the path.

Past the lady washing her clothes in a simple blue bucket.

~J

Part 2 trip to Casa Del Mundo

Since we drove the GraceWorks team out to Panajachel 1 day before the conference started, Glenn arranged for us to take an early morning boat ride.

We took the charter boat to Casa Del Mundo.

I had my favorite breakfast.

French Toast.

After breakfast we took the boat to Santiago and then we dropped by to pick up the Foote family.  We had to do some negotiating to put the 7 additional folks on what was already a pretty full boat.

Sick - since last Sunday, I've had fever (average 100.7) for several days now and vomiting.  Not fun at all.  I hear others caught the "bug" too.  Believe me, its not fun. Slowly, I'm kicking this!

~J

This World is NOT My Home

 Last night, Marjorie Watson went home to be with her Lord. 

Nov 21, 1921 - Mar 1, 2012

Check out my Sept 4, 2009 blog post where I showed Marge singing her favorite song.

This World is Not My Home!

Over recent years Glenn and I would love to take friends and family over to visit Marge.

Last year we took our good friends, Jeff and Kathy to see her.

Marge was a character.  I took my sister to visit her several years ago while she was in the hospital and she had a "hoot" holding up FLAT STANLEY.

Back in 2010, we took our niece Haley to visit Marge.

And as usual, Marge was a Cut-Up.

Marge would "light up" when we would start talking with her about her days in Peru, living out in the Campa village.  We would ask questions about her ministry there.  She would tell us stories of how they would receive mail only once or twice a month, and sometimes via "mail drops" from the airplanes.  We would talk about old HAM radio days.

We were blessed each time we saw Marge.  She was witty, quick and spunky!

photo of Ann with Marge on her recent birthday in November

Marge, you have been loved by many and now you will be missed by us all.

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.

~J

Intermissions Part 1

Last weekend, Glenn and I were able to help with transportation for the folks from GraceWorks and Green Acres Baptist Church in Tyler, Texas to help them get to the annual Intermission Conference in Panajachel.

The Intermission Conference is an annual event for all evangelical missionaries living here in Guatemala.  Glenn and I have looked forward to this event every year.  Guest speakers come down from the states.     This year there were 138 families in attendance, 228 adults and 118 children.  There were 70 team volunteers from the states who came down to minister to us by providing child care, youth programs and also there were opportunities for folks to sign up for haircuts, manicures, facials, back massages, foot massages and even eye tests.  I had my feet massaged by Gene on Sunday morning.  That felt good.  Wow, what a way to encourage and bless the missionaries.  The guest speaker was Lareau Lindquist from Barnabas International.

I especially enjoyed the times of worship during the weekend.  The music team was from Highland Baptist Church in Waco Texas




I am already looking forward to next year's conference!

Part 2 { tomorrow's blog}
~J

I've Been Adopted

This special group of ladies have adopted me into their Bible Study.  I will be sent the questions, and will have a chance to answer via email.  Then Sheryl will read my answers.  

Even though I am miles apart, I feel connected.

Thank you NBC ladies.  I am looking forward to sharing more with you over the next several weeks.

~J

Family Weekend at JBU

I just love these 2 people dearly.

Plans are coming along well for a June Wedding.

Annual Luncheon at President Chip Pollard's house.

Glenn and I served on the Parent Association Council for 5 years.  And now we are officially off.  We were blessed with a nice gift from the council members as an expression of their thankfulness for our 5 years of volunteer work.  I am grateful for the opportunity to have ministered to the parents, faculty and staff at JBU.  We had an added bonus of seeing Gary while he was attending college there and even as he has stayed on working at JBU.  We were able to help with the International students and MKs when they checked in early each fall semester - using our Spanish and gifts of hospitality. 

Thank you, Jerry, for your excellent work in the area of parent relations.  You were a joy to work with.
~J

3 Precious Gals

 These girls have the biggest smiles on their faces.

White Pink flower

Weekend with Baby David

            

Look what happens when the parents leave you with the grandchild!

We placed David in the bin with his toys and he just stared out at us. Not complaining, just enjoying. 

We had more fun playing with Baby David.


While Luke and Ellen were away for a marriage conference, we enjoyed being creative with the little boy!

I'm thinking they'll need to "get away" more often, so we can return and spoil our little grandson. Don't you think so too?

Check out our latest YouTube video of our special weekend.
~Grammie

Yellow Rose of Texas

By the Numbers

We were asked by a church last week to come up with some NUMBERS...This is what we ended up with.  

DURING the YEAR 2011...

• 2 veteran missionaries buried with a combined years of service here in Guatemala of 105 years
• 24/7 on call
• 3,826 Digital photos shot
• 32,827.2 ministry kilometers (20,517 miles) driven
• 90 backpacks Handed out to children at Casita Benjamin
• 730 meals prepared and served for missionaries and families visiting in our home
• 338 missionaries, friends, visitors hosted overnight at our house
• 99 nights during the year 2011, we had someone stay in our home with us
• 12 monthly expense reports filled out
• 3 Church Annual Reviews turned in
• 4 Graduation ceremonies attended
• 100s of tracts and Scriptures distributed
• 59 average hours worked per week
• 164 Blog entries posted on our blog "Small World...Big Family" JudyfromMoody.blogspot.com
• 1,011 letters hand written to friends and supporters (49 were typed letters to my mother)
• 6:9-11 (KJV) and let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.  As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
• 4:9-11 (NIV) offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.  Each of you shall use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms.  If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God.  If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.  To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Yes, we love our job - Pastoral Care for CAM missionaries!

Our Home Grown Coffee

Last month I posted a blog about finding a coffee tree in our front yard.

Juana roasts the beans over the stove

Pretty Good!

All from the 1 coffee tree in our front yard.

~J

the Lake

Duct Taped Car

I couldn't resist a photo of this car.

Take a closer looker.

 This car was literally held together with duck tape, wires and ropes and was made up of parts from different makes of cars...priceless:)

Antenna

 Look closely to the antenna of this Volkswagen bug.

How is that for an Antenna?
Turns out that coat hangers work for more than "receiving" clothes.

~J