one month left

Good news! All I have left to finish the paperwork on my car is getting a new title. That should be tomorrow and I'm done! The lady helping me really has been great, even though I waited for over an hour for her to meet me yesterday. But you can never learn enough patience, right? And for her to be standing in line all day instead of me... well, that's worth an hour right there. Yesterday was a good day. Besides waiting for her forever. I got to see an old friend I met last year and meet new ones as I visited Amor del Niño while a group was there from Illinois. Also, I didn't write this weekend about going out to visit Rehoboth. It was the sweetest thing. I was invited for lunch and the boys had a huge cake to say good-bye. Of course, they were happy just with the cake. When asked if any of them wanted to say anything to me, only one spoke up. One of the youngest, Geovanni, said thank you for all I had done to help them and may God bless me. But when as I was leaving I got a hug from each of them. They are expecting me to come back and visit though, so I'll have to keep my word on that!! I go home one month from today.

I know you're all tired of hearing this...

I'm still fighting off this... cold, I guess is what it is. I'm so stuffy and all that fun stuff. I actually went to bed last night at 7 and woke up today and 6:30!! My body must have needed it. I'm feeling a little better today, since I stocked up on the good stuff last night (medicine and orange juice). Please keep me in your prayers.

Casa Bernabe

Here are the pictures from camp last week. There are about a bajillion, so get comfortable!! I'm not through writing all the captions because my connection won't stay connected... But I'm getting there. A lot of the pics are from Jose and Shari also, so I can't take credit for all of them!! But they are ALL good!!

Enjoy!!

*sigh*

I know you are probably tired of hearing this, but literally hours after I got home today my throat started to close up. I wonder if there could be something in the house... a mold or something that is making me sick. Or maybe just the change in weather. Who knows, but I'm really sick of this. I am starting to feel achy and of course my throat hurts. UGH!!!I'm trying to get my pictures up from this week. My connection at home doesn't allow me to, but I may try and go to an internet cafe tomorrow. We'll see. There are a bajillion pictures, so get ready!!!

Wednesday night

Here it is Wednesday and I am just getting to update. Who was I to think I could update everyday?!? Anyway, camp is going great! The days are packed with fun in the sun and at night we have movies or games and story time.

I had my art time yesterday. I had the kids make those butterflies I posted awhile back. They turned out really cute! Then I had them paint nature around them. That turned out to be very creative. Some of my favorites just had bright smudges of different colors all over the paper; another had hers all green. They were all beautiful though.

We’ve been swimming everyday too. The first day it rained, so that cut our time short. Shari moved swim time to earlier in the day (before the rain) and yesterday I go sun burnt. My arms and legs hurt pretty badly. I’m keeping them aloe vera’d up though.

Today (Wednesday) we went to Panajachel in the morning. It started out to be a beautiful day! We took a boat ride to another village along the lake. The kids had a blast! It started sprinkling on our way back, but we got to the restaurant just in time. We ate at a 5 star restaurant, but to those kids it was just like any other place. They had grilled cheese sandwiches and fries, plus dessert! They couldn’t have been happier! Until it started pouring right before we left!! Luckily our driver came to pick us up and we headed out. I don’t know how many times I heard, “Are we almost to Chichicastenango?” and I didn’t realize there were so many ways to ask that one question! But we made it back in time for Bible and dinner. Tonight was movie night at the Chichi Theater. They just have a projector and a large white wall basically, but hey, admission was free!! We watched A Night in the Museum. It was pretty funny, but the English subtitles were funnier.

Now I’m about to pass out, so hopefully I’ll be back again soon. Tomorrow is a big day in the market!!

Monday morning

After what seemed like a 6 hour drive yesterday (actually about 4 hours since we came in from the other side of the city), last night we ate dinner and crashed! I was out by 9.

We took pictures this morning of the whole group.

Don't even ask me all the names yet. I do know most of them, but I wouldn't be able to spell them if my life depended on it!

Jose and Shari are the ones putting on this whole camp and Leah is the kids' special ed teacher at Casa Bernabe. She and I were given ah hour or so off this morning before we go swimming until lunch. So, here I am.

I basically just wanted to let you "meet" the kids, so you can be praying that this week be a great one. That the kids learn a lot about themselves and about their heavenly father!

God bless!!

I'm off!!

I'm off this afternoon to Chichicastenango where I'll be helping out with a special needs' camp all week. I am thankful that they are meeting me right here in San Cristobal instead of an hour drive across the city. I just hope my taxi shows up on time!!

I think I'm prepared and have everything packed. Of course, I was up until midnight packing, but that's another story.

I am hoping I'll have internet there to upload my pictures at night. If not, I'm sure I'll have a lot of catching up to do when I get back on Saturday!

Pray for these kids this week. That they are blessed as much as they'll bless us!!

Have a good week ya'll!! I just heard it was Memorial Day weekend, so be safe!

All better

Your prayers were answered!! I am feeling a lot better today and I called and spoke with the lady in charge of the camp and told her that I WAS coming!!! I'm so excited I didn't have to cancel!! Thank God for healing me! This is the worst anitbiotic I've ever taken though. It leaves the nastiest taste in my mouth. I still feel a little "something" in my throat, but I feel good, so I'M GOING!!

Hopefully Gino will be taking care of some of the car paperwork that I still have left to do while I'm gone. OH! That reminds me... Jackie, my landlord, came by Thursday afternoon with a mechanic... wait, that was in my email, wasn't it? Anyhoo... he said the car was in great shape. They took it for a test drive. She made an offer and I accepted!! She is supposed to call me today to confirm, but I think it's in the bag!!

YAY!! Another prayer answered!!

So, I have a few things to do before I leave for a week, so I better get started.

I haven't even started packing yet!! :-/

The hotel in Chichi has wireless internet, I think. So hopefully I'll be able to keep you updated with pics and stuff during the week!!

Gotta go!!

Butterfly filters

Isn't this the cutest thing ever?!? This is a craft I'll be doing with the kids next week at camp. Have I mentioned that I'm going to help out with a special needs camp next week? Well, I am and I'm pretty excited about it. It's in Chichicastenango and I've actually never met the people that will be running it, but I think it will be a fun experience! I will pretty much be helping out with whatever they already have there. Just a helper. But I will be having one afternoon with the kids to paint and I decided to do this little craft too. Since it needs time to dry before you can finish, it will give us time to paint while we wait. I thought it smart to try it out and see how it works before I go, so this one is mine. It's good to have an example too. It was so easy, I think they'll be able to do it. All it is, is a coffee filter, painted with water, and then you stick pieces of tissue paper on it, let it dry, and tie the center with a pipe cleaner... cool, huh?!?

The 10 lepers

Today Pastor Merari preached on the 10 lepers in Luke 17:11. Out of the 10 lepers that Jesus healed, only one came back and praised his name!

Several years ago, Merari was diagnosed with a brain tumor, spent months away from his family, underwent surgery, and came out with a clean bill of health after the doctors said he could be spending the rest of his life (if he lived) in a wheelchair... Now obviously, he has something to be thankful for. As I watched him standing at the podium and listened to him preach the Word, I couldn't help but think about what would have been if God has chosen not to extend Merari's life on this earth. What would have become of this little church in San Lucas? How many people would have lost their way without this godly shepard to guide them and be a role model for them? Not to mention, his own daughters. Just looking at how he and his brothers live their lives is such a wonderful reflection of their parents who have raised them from birth in a spirit filled home. I can't begin to imagine how these girls will follow their God in the steps of their earthly father.

In the story, the 10th leper came and threw himself on the ground at Jesus' feet. Complete surrender. I can't think of a better way to show gratitude, can you? As Merari has done. He has given his life completely over to Jesus. Every aspect of his life gives testimony of Jesus' love. It can't help but to show it. The mere fact that he is here with us is testimony enough.

I didn't start writing this to glorify Pastor Merari, although I do think the world of him. I am writing because I personally was convicted of being thankful for God sending his only son to pay the price for my sin with his blood. I was a leper, covered with the sores that sin leaves on the soul and heart. Jesus said, "Go and show yourself to the priest." And as I bowed my head (on the way to the priest), I was healed!!

Now, how can I show my gratitude? All I can do is to throw myself on the ground before him.

Won't you join me down here in the dirt?

It's the best place in the world to be!!