Avant Home-Coming

ALL last week, Glenn and I attended meetings at the Avant Headquarters in Kansas City.  There is a yearly meeting of retirees who gather to have food, fun and fellowship.

It was especially fun to meet new and old friends.   The special speaker was Ron Blue, whom we have known for years and years.

It was also fun to see all the connections we have had with Camino Global (formerly CAM International) and Avant (our new mission agency) over the years.

(Avant missionaries who have served in Ecuador)

For Example:

• In 1986 when we first arrived on the field in Bolivia, Glenn and I drove across town with the 2 girls to attend special missionary meetings at the GMU (now Avant) Guesthouse to hear Ron Blue speak.  Several years later his single adult daughter was Karen's teacher at the Santa Cruz Christian Learning Center.
• Bob and Janice, missionaries with Avant, were the missionaries in residence at John Brown University during Gary's freshman year.
• Jim, Avant missionary, married Debbie, who was Ellen's first grade teacher at SCCLC.
• Several families from Avant in attendance worked at SCCLC (school in Santa Crus Bolivia), where are kids attended school.
• Harold and Carol, retired missionaries from Camino Global (now Avant), are dear friends that I stayed with in their home in 1977 while traveling through Central America for my internship with Moody Bible Institute
• Carl and Karen retired missionaries from Guatemala
• Douglas and Gloria are friends from wayback
• Bob and Shirley are retired both Camino Global missionaries and Avant missionaries.

What a great heritage we have now that 2 great mission forces have joined together.

We are Avant!

40th Anniversary of our Engagement, Sept 8, 1979 - Sept 8, 2019

Yesterday, Glenn and I celebrated our 40th Aniversary of our Engagement!

Let me tell you the story of our engagement.  

Glenn spent the whole day with my dad as they were painting my parents' house together.  Glenn expressed his intention to ask for my hand in marriage later that evening.  My dad was thrilled.  He did suggest that Glenn talk to my mom before he proposed to me later that night.

All-day, on that Saturday, my mom and I were doing bunches of errands together.  Glenn never got a chance to speak to my mom.

We had plans to walk up the alley to attend the wedding of a friend at the local Baptist church.  We walked up with my folks.  All dressed up for the wedding, Glenn mentioned to me that after the wedding we could go downtown for a nice dinner.

After the wedding, Glenn and I were standing in line to greet the newly married couple in the receiving line.  My dad came up from behind and gave me a big hug and said "Congratulations, Judy!"

Glenn had not yet proposed to me.  I smiled.

As we walked away. from the wedding, down the alley back to my parents' house, I said, "Glenn, you need to make it official."  Glenn got down on one knee and put his grandmother's wedding ring on my left hand.  Beautiful.  For the next 2 hours, I was busy calling my friends letting them know of our engagement. Finally, we were able to leave. Glenn took me to the Reunion Tower and the rotating restaurant. 
My head was spinning.

Today, Glenn and I spent our 40th Engagement anniversary day driving up to Kansas City, MO.  

Cracker Barrel for Dinner

We drove through Tulsa to have a quick visit with Thomas who was "filling in" for Father George.

Then we made a quick stop to visit family relatives who live in Kansas.

The old Stewart farmhouse in Garnett, Kansas.

Lorrie's great-great-grandfather is the same person as 

Glenn's Great Grandfather.

Glenn Clark Stewart

Donald Glenn Stewart

Glenn Gibson Stewart

John Gibson Stewart

Visit with Natalie

Recently, we took the Clyne family out to San Juan, Sacatepequez and Chivoc to visit Natalie and learn more about her ministry.

On our way to Natalie's home, we stopped by San Lucas, SAC to visit Patricia.

Natalie took us to her school where she teaches ESL.

Then we enjoyed a delicious lunch that the family, that Natalie lives with, prepared for us.  We had typical soup and hand-made tortilla

Elevator Operator

When is the last time you had an Elevator Operator?

This man does this ALL day at Centro Medico where Glenn had his yearly visit with his heart doctor.

Glenn got a great report from Dr. Ricardo Molina.  Its been 6 years since Glenn had a heart attack in Nicaragua.  I'm thankful for these last 6 years.  Praise the Lord.

Visits in Antigua

I'll use anything for an excuse to run up to Antigua, even if it is a Friday. (Busy Traffic day)

Ruth recently fell and had a hip operation.

She welcomed us by singing "Bienvenidos, Bienvenidos". She always a smile on her face.

We also visited with Nolan and took him out for lunch at Joe's.  Nolan is an 18 year old missionary kid who is studying Spanish.  His parents live in our gated community and teach at CAG.

The final stop was to visit with Patriciain her new home and catch up on life with her.

Sucess:  It was a Good day in Antigua.

Contrast in Antigua

What a contrast.

Glenn and I were in Antigua and were amazed at the stunning view of the Agua Volcano.

Then we noticed 2 students who looked like they were carrying a friend along the street as a prank, until we drove closer to the teenagers and noticed it was not a prank, but rather a drunk who they were moving off of the busy street.

My, My!

Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice

On the weekends, Glenn and I adventure out into the community to do our morning walk.  There is less traffic on Saturdays and Sundays, plus we feel safer walking outside of our gated community on Saturdays and Sundays with less traffic than on week days.

One of the best treats is to stop at the local Orange Juice stand.  Can't get better than this!

Glenn found an abandoned knife along the sidewalk. He left it in case the owner came back looking for it.

Santa Teresita

Glenn and I enjoyed the morning at the local "Hot Springs", Santa Teresita.  After a very physical and grueling #ConversationsCoasttoCoast, we had been looking forward to getting our muscles relaxed and massaged.

The local volcano was spewing. This is Pacaya Volcano which provides natural volcanically heated water to the Santa Teresita Hot Springs.

We invited the Clyne family to come along and we introduced them to the hot springs. Tim and Rachel Clyne, along with their 4 teenagers is the newest missionary family "on the block" with us here in Guatemala with Avant.  I think they'll come back again.  The teenagers enjoyed the waters!