Guatemala Day 5 - VBS and Sewing (shocker, there)

Today we went back to Casa De Paz for another day of VBS. Erica, the lady who runs this place was so grateful for us coming again today. We had about 65 kids come, Jenny read a Story about the lost Sheep. We were lucky to have a translator today, so it made things a bit easier. We made sheep puppets with the kids. The kids were so polite and thankful for everything. We even did snacks for the kids today, cookies, marshmellows and juice.

After VBS we went back to the mission house for lunch and then I was asked to make curtains for the seminary office. I didn't even get away from the sewing machine here. :O) It took much longer than I thought it would. I only got 3/4 of the way finished and will need to finish up sometime yet before we leave. There are so many things I would like to do yet on the trip...I wish I could do more here. There is so much need and I don't feel like I have even made a dent.
This was tonight's sunset, it was so much pretty in person.

I will leave you with a prayer request. Erica and her family who runs Casa de Paz, are doing this completely on their own with nothing financial support. Every day they have 15 extra children at their house. They takes care of these kids daily needs, trying to school them and she doesn't get help from the parents ever. Basically it's free daycare. Please pray that God will bless their minstry and that their needs will be taken care of. They are doing much a good thing for their neighborhood. There is so much need and not much help.

Until tomorrow.....

Guatemala Day 4 - building houses and Block Party

Today we went back to the same place (Aloga Tunino) we were on Wednesday. We needed to build 5 more houses and finish 2 others. So a couple crews went to the houses, a couple small crews finished up on a few houses that need a few things done on them yet from Wednesday. Others went to do concrete. I went with a building crew; today was "Day of the Women" We were suppose to build the house with the help of the men. We just about finished up on the houses today, some will need to go back and do some more work.

Pastor Teddie sporting a green S for Michigan State and a blue/orange AU for Auburn University.

Little Claudia - she was the little girl at the first house we worked at today. So Cute!!!

Claudia's mom making corn tortillas

Working of the house.


BLOCK PARTY: this afternoon we got to have some fun with the village people. People from Casa brought in an inflatable Bouncy Gym, carnvial games, a clown and other stuff. After a few hours of music, handing out tons of candy and toys, painting faces and hands, and lots of laughter, Pastor Max shared with the people about Jesus. It was so moving and an awesome experince to be able to witness and pray with the villagers. It was very moving and brought me to tears a few times today. They have so little, and yet they are so happy.

Carnival Games
Clowns
Enjoying Cotton Candy

Inflatable bouncy gym - at first the kids wanted nothing to do with it, but soon they were having a blast.A picture of people raising their hands if they knew Jesus


the steam coming from the volcano
Mission House

Morning Devotions.

Guatemala Day 3 - VBS and painting

Today we were busy with VBS at Casa de Paz. When we first got there....I'm not sure there was....

when we arrived, it doesn't seem like they were planning on us, so there were only 15 little kids (5 and younger.) But it didn't take long and we soon had close to 70 kids who came to hear a Bible story and craft time. There was a little language problem; we didn't speak spanish and they didn't speak any English.

Pastor Max telling the story of Noah and the Ark

After Lunch we went to the seminary and helped others with the painting. The colors were quite a surprise...think of mint chocolate chip ice cream and and Barney and those were the two color the house was painted.



After painting, we piled 11 people into a pick up and went back to the mission house. That was quite the site.

Guatelmala Day 2 - work day

today was a great day of work. we spent an hour in the van driving on the bumpiest, and steepest roads I have ever seen. We spent the day build little houses made of tin. What an experience!!!!

some of the locals
the roads were too steep for the van so everyone had to get out and the guys had to push the van up the hill.

the view from the mission housemy first concrete job. making my dad proud.

sorry there's not made info right now, but it's getting late and I need to get up around 5:00 so it's time for bed. There will be more to come.

Making Cookies

Seeing how Brendan didn't have school today, we took a trip to Grandma's house and making Christmas cookies. Morgan, Aunt Kelli and Dylan also joined us there. Grandpa was home to this morning, the fields were too wet for him to keep cropping. Making the cookies this morning definitely got me into the Christmas spirit. I even started my Christmas shopping today.

Brendan patting the dough flat
Lucas practicing the roller pin by rolling it up and down his tummy.

a sampling of the cookies

Austin cutting out cookies

Even Connor got into this year. And he did a great job.

Which cookie cutter do I use this time????

Cousin Morgan with her cookie dough

"I can do it, grandpa"

Lucas shaking the flour off his hands

What a mess!!!!

Oh No!!!! Mess!!!!

So I know today was suppose to be Wordless Wednesday, but as I was trying to get more stuff done than I have time for this morning, my three sons kind of have the reign of the house. But that's not always good cuase my naughtiest son was making a mess. He got into the Lucky Charms. There were lucky charms everywhere and a sticky mess.

Wordless Wednesday

Any Advise for the "Not So Well Traveled" traveler

Time is growing short, a week from Today I will be headed to Detroit for a trip to Guatemala with Grace Ministries. I'm excited and scared at the same time. First, I have never traveled for this long without Mike and second, I will be going out of the country and have to deal with the whole customs thing. I have no idea what to expect.

I have always wanted to go on a Mission trip and that fact that it ended about in Central America is even better yet. My mom keeps telling me that I can't pack one of the little girls in my suitcase on the way back home. LOL I can't wait to see how God will use us to work through these peoples live.

Anyway I have been doing to searching on the great web for thing to do and not do; things to take and not take. Does someone have any advise for me? As I am sitting hear writing this my stomach is already in knots. I may always look very calm and collective, but I'm not.

If no advise, maybe you can just remember me and the group that I am going with in your prayers next week. If I get a chance I will try and post some updates from Guatemala.

Gratitude

" Letting others know you see how they've helped you"

On the first Sunday of every month we have SS:FX aka Stepping Stones family experience. Basically, we had family sunday school. We sing songs (with the motions), watch some short videos, watch a skit, and learn about this coming month's viture. You can probably guess by the title of this post, this month's viture in Gratitude.

In this morning's SS:FX, each one of us was challenged to say thank you to five different people this week. And it got me thinking, how enough do I say thank you. I may quickly say it, but do i mean it. When's the last time I really thanked my husband for putting the dishes away or putting the kids to bed. Or my kids for putting their clothes or toys away. And what about Brendan's teacher at school, the people who help out in the stepping stones at church, my pastor, the lady who got us on lunch at McDonald's, or the person who got me my much needed cup of coffee at Starbucks, and the list goes on and on.

So if I may, I want to extend the challenge to anyone who reads this blog; in the next week say thank you to five people this week. Maybe you will need to pick up the phone at call a friend, or note a short note to someone, or simply just say Thanks. Together we can make this a better world.