Christmas activities

First, it was very different to be in Guatemala and far away from family and friends for Christmas. At times it felted like a mountain that I could not climb and I did not climb alone. Jesus picked me up and took me to the top. What joy to experience His strenght. Thank you Jesus.

Got to skype with Kevin and family this morning and it was really hard not to be able to reach out cuddle our newest little granddaughter. But it is so good to be able to see all of them and talk with them. Braden read us a book the last time and it was so special. Thanks Braden. They were just taking it easy today.It was still cold there after the snow on Christmas.

Got to visit with Joy on facebook this morning and she really encouraged me. What a blessing our children are! Planning to make appointment with Savannah and Caleb on Skype!!!

Today in San Juan there was a festival called dancing in the street and it was just that. Like a parade but everyone was dancing. it is 7:00 now and it sounds like it might be a really loud night with music.

"As we have a high old time this Christmas, may we who know Christ hear the cry of the damned as they hurtle headlong into the Christless night without ever a chance. May we be moved with compassion as our Lord was. May we shed tears of repentance for these we have failed to bring out of darkness. Beyond the smiling sc...enes of Bethlehem may we see the crushing agony of Golgotha." - Nate Saint

In class today I had to tell a story from bible and then explain it and then answer questions that my peers and the teachers ask.....In spanish. I want so much to be able to tell about my Lord in the peoples heart language. Today I talked about the cost of following Jesus. Luke 9:57-62

A Guatemalean

It has been awhile so I will try to catch up. Last Saturday morning a missionary couple from Chemalnatengo came went to capital and got a van so we would all fit and came to San Juan and picked all 10 of us up and took us to their home and we were served chili and lots of deserts and had great fellowship. David and Glynis Miller were a wonderful blessing to us. On Saturday evening we brought all of the younger folks back to Antigua and Rocky and I stayed the night with the Millers and went to church with them and we had a great time. The best breakfast ever!!!!! Glynis served us breakfast casserole, grits, homemade Cinnamon rolls, and fresh fruit with coffee and juice. David brought back to San Juan and he drove us right up to our door. woohoo we did not have to walk up the volcano.

Tomorrow is Friday and we will only have 2 hours of class and then Penny and Keith Stamps will pick all 10 of us up and take us to the capital for our Christmas meal with all the other missionaries in Guatemala. It will be fun and we will see the people we had Thanksgiving with. After lunch the Journey folks will leave for Panajachel to help with a youth retreat on Saturday and Sunday. Rocky and I are planning to stay in the city with Carol, a missionary that live there. we will just hang out and maybe go to the store that is like Walmart and on Sunday we will go to church with carol and she will bring us back to San Juan in the afternoon.

I want to announce the birth of our 5th grandchild. She was born on December 11, 2009 and we are still waiting to hear what her name is but I just know it will suit her just find. I am amazed of how my Father has sustained me through the time of being in another country during this precious time in our son’s life. He is so faithful and He just keeps on showing me His faithfulness.
We are down to three more weeks of language classes and Rocky and I are so ready to get to Ecuador. It has been a good experience in San Juan but we are ready to have our own home again. One room can get pretty small sometime.

Rocky and I have been having some funny language conversations this week. In a group with teachers and my peers I was telling in spanish about taking the baby goats to work at salon and how the clients enjoyed sitting in the dryers while holding goats wrapped in baby blanket. The teachers understood what I was saying but one of the journey men thought I was saying that I used goat hair to make wigs for clients.
Other mishap was when Rocky and I were shopping at market for a movie named “Old Dogs” and we got got home with a movie named “Wild Hogs” That was so funny to me when we used the translator to see what we actually had. We watched the movie because it was about old folks on Motorbikes but was not a good movie. It did make us laugh a lot. Was needed!
On Friday I did my presentation of the Christmas story and it went pretty well. Really want to tell the story more clearly. It will come in time POCO a POCO. Rocky was in my group also and he presented Ephesians 2: 1-10 and he did a great job also. Landon was in our group also and he presented John 13: 1-17. I thought all of those worked together well for presenting the gospel to our teachers.
JESUS
FREE GIFT
SERVING OTHERS

Devil pinatas

There were so many devil pinatas all over the city for tomorrow is the day of burning the devil. More on this later.

We had lunch at Chilis

We just have one more day of language this week and as usual I am glad. Tonight I had to learn the Prodigal Son in Spanish and tomorrow I will have to explain it and then answer questions that the teachers will ask. It will be in a group with Rocky and Landon and their teachers. Rocky is learning the story of the rich young ruler and Landon Daniel in the Lions den.
On Saturday morning our supervisor from Guatemala City came and picked up Rachel, Angela, Audra, and me and took us to the city for the weekend and it was wonderful to get away. Yes I left Rocky in San Juan by himself. We got to take our dirty laundry and use Sandy’s washer and dryer. It was the best shower and inside of the house. We had a great time just chilling and eating good food. It was great to have access to a kitchen. I MISS HAVING A KITCHEN. We just have 4 more weeks of Language and then on to Ecuador. And a kitchen!! I had a wonderful time in the city. We were just restful mostly.