Time flies

So I know I have not been updating this as I should, but it’s for a good reason – I’m finally into my routine here and really enjoying the time. I have my ministries, my church, and my friends, and I’m okay that I don’t have much time for blogging these days ;) So thankful for the Lord's faithfulness in helping me find my purpose here in Guatemala.

 My time at CAG doing speech pathology is winding to a close – they use the US school calendar so that the missionaries can be free to host teams and travel during the summer. It was such a neat ministry opportunity to use my therapy skills with kids in Guatemala; I had a great time with my 16 kiddos. It was also a great place to meet others on mission here and hear about all the different ministries happening around the country. I will miss the friendly staff and playing Candy Land with my students!

On Saturdays I keep busy too. In the mornings I’m giving English classes to two groups of kids in Buckner Transition Homes – these are homes for kids who were in orphanages but now live in a family environment with house parents. They receive help to continue their studies and later find a job and live independently, a really tough transition if you don’t have a network to help you out. It’s been fun getting to know the kids and helping them with their English skills – they are eager to learn. Saturday afternoons I am helping a handful of youth with English at my Guatemalan church – I am enjoying building relationships with people that I might not get to know otherwise and I am glad to be part of the church’s outreach.

And on to my favorite days – Monday, Wednesday, Friday – when I’m with my kids at the CTC. I am so thankful how my relationships with those precious kids grow every day! They trust me more and I get to know them on a deeper level. Their smiles and hugs bring me such joy! I miss them on the days that we are not together. I know that I cannot meet their every need, there are so many, but I am so grateful to be a presence in their lives that mirrors the love of our Father. We have so much fun learning new vocabulary, playing games, making crafts, having snacks, and, of course, playing soccer. There is no attendance policy and there are no grades so it is only self-motivation that keeps them coming back, and I am so happy for the 60+ kids that do. On Fridays I continue to use Bible stories as our daily focus and each week we learn a phrase that corresponds to each story - God loves, God saves, God cares, God forgives.... I pray that these messages give them hope when it seems there is none and peace when the world gives them trouble.

On my free days I am now taking some more private Spanish lessons and continuing to do some speech therapy as well. I am excited to further my Spanish studies and fill in some holes that might possibly exist in my grammar… I am also happy to now have the time to go the grocery store before 6 pm :) I've been spending time with my friends from Buckner and my friends from church in the evenings - it's nice to relax and hang out with them after a busy week; I am very thankful for those relationships.

Off to make some more lesson plans....

Psalm 31:19

How abundant are the good things 

    that you have stored up for those who fear you,

that you bestow in the sight of all, 

    on those who take refuge in you.

Something new

New year, new house, new job, new roommate...I have been busy! After the new year I moved to a little casita behind some other CAM missionaries. It is in a smaller, more closely guarded neighborhood and has some upgraded amenities - like a door to the bathroom and a water heater - woohoo! My CAM roommate also came the first week of January. Her name is Sarah and we had met before at a CAM conference in Dallas. She is from outside of Austin and is teaching 1st grade full time at CAG where I do speech therapy. We've only got one bedroom and one bathroom, but we're working it out.

Living room

Kitchen

Front door

View from the gate :)

Also in January, my parents were supposed to be coming to visit me. I was really looking forward to it after spending the holidays apart, but my mom tore her knee over Christmas and the doctor said that she needed repair surgery right away. We were all upset but knew it was the the best thing for her to get on the road to recovery. So, since I had already scheduled vacation during that time, we decided that I would make a quick trip home, to help my mom and see the rest of my family. It was such a blessing to see close friends and family and attend PCBC on Sunday. I was only home for 10 days but time filled with people that you love sure is refreshing for the soul. I am so thankful for the support that I have from so many. It was a super-quick trip, and I spent most of it with my parents, so if I didn't get to see you, I hope that I will get to the next time.

Good friends

More good friends 

Mi amiga Paulina

Before I left for that trip, I got to participate in the engagement of a dear friend, Allison, who I met here in Guatemala in 2010. She is from Illinois and has been dating Nino long-distance for some time and was coming to visit him on her vacation. He asked me and another friend to be part of the surprise - it was so fun to be part of their important event, and as you can see it was a beautiful evening.

I have started doing speech therapy (in English, of course) 2 days per week at CAG, the school for children of missionaries. I have 16 kids that I see in groups of one to two twice a week - it is definitely a busy day! It is also interesting to do therapy without a shelf full of books or 4 great speech pathologists right outside my office door, but I'm learning, and the internet is a great tool to find helpful resources. I enjoy my time with the kids and the knowledge that by serving these kids, I'm serving their families and their ministries too. And it is about 4 minutes from my house and has a gorgeous campus! I will take some pics of it sometime soon.

Thank you for your continued support and prayers - even though I've been here 4 months, the adjustment continues and I am continually learning more about ministry and about myself and how to truly depend on the Lord to provide all that I need.

Psalm 91: 1-2
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”