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.”

My cup runneth over

I have been so overwhelmed and humbled by kindness the last couple of weeks, it has been hard to even take it all in. Phone calls, emails, parties, dinners, gifts, cards, long conversations, short conversations, prayers, well wishes - they all mean so much to me and are so appreciated as I prepare for my new journey. Thank you to my friends, family, and church family for all this and more. To know that I have the support and prayers of such a great cloud of witnesses is so encouraging and inspiring. It is hard to leave such caring, wonderful people, but know that your encouragement will be carried with me, all the way to Guatemala. Thank you for being so difficult to say goodbye to! Luckily, it's not really goodbye, just see you again soon :)

Today I had the honor of being commissioned by PCBC in the Amigos de Dios bilingual service. First, pastors Sam and Brandon said some kind words, then I was prayed over by the congregation, my family, and close friends. What an amazing experience, to tangibly feel the support of so many, and to look out and see the faces of those who have inspired me along the way. Such a picture of the body of Christ and love without condition. I feel so privileged to take this love and share it with the people of Guatemala.

PCBC Commissioning

So Wednesday is the big day. Hard to believe that it is actually here after almost a year of planning. During the services this morning, I kept visualizing the cool Guatemalan air, towering volcanoes, gorgeous blue skies, and the smiles on children's faces, and getting more excited about what is coming up so soon. Good thing too, because last week was full of packing, moving, and goodbyes, and it was easy to lose focus. Now if I can just get my two suitcases packed, we will be good to go... low-maintenance has never been my forte.

My apartment, packed and waiting for its move to storage

So for now I will say thank you again, from the bottom of my heart, and see you soon! And if you happen to be in Guatemala City, even sooner!

Guatemala - here I come!

Praise the Lord!

 I will thank the Lord with all my heart

as I meet with his godly people.

 How amazing are the deeds of the Lord!

      All who delight in him should ponder them.

  Everything he does reveals his glory and majesty.

      His righteousness never fails.

 He causes us to remember his wonderful works.

      How gracious and merciful is our Lord!

Psalm 111:1-4

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Two Week Countdown!

In 2 weeks I am moving to Guatemala City to live for 10 months. That's strange to say. I've been 8 times before, twice for two months in the summer. But this time is different - I've quit my job(s), packed up my apartment and put my things in storage, and I have an apartment and a car waiting for me in the San Cristobal area of Guatemala City.
I am serving with CAM International and being supported by my church, Park Cities Baptist. I am considered a "mid-term" missionary, meaning I serve for less than 2 years. I will be working with children's homes, serving Guatemalan families, and doing some speech pathology work at a school for the children of local missionaries. I also hope to help PCBC with whatever Buckner International ministries they participate in next year. But first off I will head back to language immersion school, as that is needed - mucho!
Here are some pics of the cute house where my apartment is located - La Casa Amarilla!! :

 The sign out front is Joshua 24:15 - "Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve...But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD". The house is owned by some teachers who work at the missionary kids' school - I love that that message is prominent. I will also be working with CAM missionaries Mike and Sandi Glick. They were in charge of my internship last summer and have helped me so much in getting set up down there. They minister to so many people and I am excited to learn from them and serve with them again. Here we are last summer with their precious daughter Maria:

 I am really excited about this opportunity. It will be a new thing to just be fully there - not returning to postponed work or being in charge of a group of 20 or leaving just as I feel comfortable with my Spanish skills. I feel that the Lord has been so faithful in preparing me for this - from my first Buckner trip in March 2008 to two internships to leading missions teams abroad. It is such a blessing to be able to share His love, justice, and grace with others. And there are so many who need that.
Please pray for me as I prepare to leave Dallas - there are a lot of details involved in moving out of the country that you wouldn't even think of, and I am trying not to be overwhelmed by them. Please pray for the people of Guatemala - for the Lord to go before me and prepare the way. And pray for my family and friends here - what a blessing to have people  in my life that are so hard to say goodbye to. Thank you for supporting me in this journey!
Romans 8:31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?