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

Thatch Roofs

I love thatched roofs.

Judy

Another Strange Vehicle

If you look closely, this is a 3 wheel scooter type vehicle. It had the license plates of a motorcyle.
Funny looking, huh?

J

Pink and Yellow

Yes, and I have this flower as my screen saver! Just beautiful! And I didn't even Picasa it!

~J

My Biology Classroom

For the past 3 weeks, I've been taking an "on-line" Biology class for the degree completion program with Moody. Remember, its been since 1974 since I've taken a science class, so this has been a real stretch for me. We've converted our dinning room table to my science lab. I must say the course is quite interesting and I've learned a lot.

I am counting the days down until this course is over! I lack just a few more days , a few more labs and some final tests. I learned more about the workings of cells, genetic engineering and other things. I did have an "ahh haaa" moment recently. I was watching the DVD "GATTACA" for extra credit about the genetic engineering possibilities in the future. It was fascinating and thought provoking how man can possibly manipulate the cell formation. After watching the movie and then studying about DNA and stuff, it dawned on me that the letters of the basic DNA molecule are made up of ATGC. That was an "aaah haaa" moment for me.

5 more days of classes.

J

George Clooney

I keep calling him George Clooney. But it's Tom Cooney. We ran into him at LBN a month or two ago. Man, he keeps busy with his activies, travel and stuff. It was good to reconnect again.

J

Times are Changing

The view!

David Ekstrom (83 years old) and Glenn (54 years old) enjoying some "man time" on their computers, as they connect to the WWW here in Panajachel. And to think less than 15 years ago, the only good means of communicating was the snail mail letter. Oh, the good old days. I still like the envelope/card letters.

Judy

Johnny & Maria

Johnny and Maria enjoying a nice lunch at Las Palmas in Antigua. They had this work team from Wisconsin up at the camp with several construction projects. Great team. Glenn and I enjoyed getting to meet some of the team members, seeing what they experience and hearing their story about their mission week. We enjoy this part of our job, working together and seeing the ministry being expanded.

Always a good time of fellowship and food. Thanks Johnny and Maria for your hard work. I think they have already hosted 3 teams already this summer season. Busy time for them. Currently, the Cokers are hosting another team from California this week.

~J

Fruit and Vegetable Stand

Look how large those carrots are.

Down along the coast, you can get all the fresh fruit and vegetables you want. The fruit and vegetables here in Guatemala are delicious. Today, we're fixing to head up to Antigua to take Gail to reconnect with her Tulsa Bible Church team and John. I think she plans to give them a tour of the city including the coffee plantation, cathedral, market (food and artisans), the CSA (Christian Spanish Academy) and other sights. I look forward to visiting with Gail since our paths have not crosses recently as Gail has been cooking for the Tulsa team this past week. I bet you Gail enjoyed cooking with these delicious vegetables.

J

Beautiful Pink Flower

So what do you do when you can not get on the Internet?

That is the story of my life, yesterday, July 28. Since I am taking an on-line course, I wasn't too upset that the Internet connection was out all day long, because that would have meant I would have had to have reviewed the results of LAB 4 and then take a 10 min. LAB 4 quiz and start on LAB 5 (equivalent to several hours). So, instead, I decided I needed to make some "sending you a Texas smile" and "love ya with all of my Texas heart" cards for my friend Shirley. Then I addressed some "get-well" and "thinking of you" cards.

So, at 10pm Tuesday night, the Internet kicks back on. Am I happy? Kinda. But now I will need to kick it in gear and spend the next 2 days on some Biology labs and also take my final Developmental Psychology exam over the Internet.

The more I look at these beautiful flowers, the more I appreciate God and his creative works.

J

Celebrating birthday

We had our July team meeting. This month we got to celebrate Bob and Oscar's birthdays! I must say the carrot cake was pretty good.

Happy Birthday Bob and Oscar!

~J

Happy Birthday - Glenn

Happy Birthday - Glenn! The love of my life!

Happy Birthday Ellen

Ellen turns 27 today. She has blessed our home with a sweet smile and voice for all these years. She loves to sing! We remember the day when she came into this world. It was a Saturday morning. Having been in labor all the night I was glad to hold our little bundle of joy. Dad affectionately called her our "little froggie" by the way she laid in the crib. Ellen was an easy going baby, not crying much and sleeping through the night.

So, as Ellen celebrates her 27th birthday today, we pray that she will continue to sing to the Lord, follow His steps and embrace the beauty of Life... Just like she is - Beautiful.

We love you, Ellen!

MommieMoe

Jessica

Last week, Glenn and I ran into Jessica here in Guatemala. She was the leader for the Buckner trip that I took here along with Moody radio group back in 2006. I emailed her to let her know that we were in Pana and she emailed back and said she was staying at Porto del Largo on Thursday night. Amazing. Right next door to where we were staying.

Another Small World...Big Family connection.
Jessica and one of the team members.

~J