Brr...

I was feeling sorry for those of you having cold weather already while we had warm days where we could still wear short sleeves. The nights were cool, but the days were sunny and great! About the time our team from California arrived, so did the cold weather! Because of where we were working, they stayed on the mountain with us and got to experience a little of what we live thru. You have to remember that our houses have no heat, so our house and the dormitory where the guys stayed was cold - with mornings in the high 40's, low 50's. There was frost on the ground each morning until the sun rose above the mountain and you could see your breath in the air - inside the house! Welcome to balmy Guatemala!

All I can say is...

Roll Tide Roll

Alabama still #1!

Thank you!

This is the time of year for Vacation Bible Schools in Guatemala. The children are out of school from the end of October until the middle of January, so many of the churches plan their VBS during this time. Many of you that have visited and worked with us this year brought craft supplies that we help supply the churches with. In the above photo, our guard's three children are separating big bags of beads into smaller bags with the colors for the "Gospel" bracelets. They were a big help with a monotonous task and enjoyed making bracelets of their own to be able to tell the Gospel story! In the background, you may can see the piles of supplies that are being divided and given out. We have had more visitors in the last week asking for our help. We couldn't have done it without you! Thank you to all of you that sent supplies or money to help the churches with this particular form of evangelism. Don't be surprised in Heaven if someone comes up to you and says they are there because of you!!!

Dios te bendiga (God bless you)

The things you learn...

There are things you learn, living in a foreign country. After nearly four years in Guatemala, I learned something new yesterday. I already knew that the rainy season kept things damp...all of your envelope flaps prematurely stick together as do your stamps. (Thank goodness for the "pre-stick" kind!) Anyway, yesterday I learned that Listerine strips stick together also. Johnny and I were in a meeting with about 30 people when I offered him a "breath strip". What I didn't know was that three or four had stuck together! Now, these things tend to be strong anyway but three or four of them together about burned his mouth and he couldn't do anything about it! We did not have any water available so he had to sit there and take it, eyes watering and about to choke. Yes, it's funny the things you learn...

Graduations

We have developed many relationships since moving to Guatemala. Last week, we were invited to a graduation where we were introduced as the grandparents!

Psycho kites

The dry season is here, we haven't had rain in almost a week now. Along with the sun comes the winds. So far, our roof has survived although when the wind comes down the chimney and blows the ashes from the fireplace all over the house...

As I said yesterday, this is the season for flying kites. Wilder (left) and Fabio (right) made their own kites and were out bright and early Saturday morning.

They were up on the soccer field where the wind was really getting their kites up!

We always knew that Xiba didn't like cows and goats...she would go crazy at the twice-daily parade of bovine. Now, we have discovered another dislike of hers...Kites. When the boys were flying their kites, Xiba was going absolutely crazy!

We will always be protected from psycho kites!

Dia de los Muertos

November 1st...The Day of the Dead. Sounds grusome, but it is an annual Catholic holiday that is followed by All Saint's Day on November 2nd. To celebrate, the people go to the cemeteries, decorate the graves and spend the day. Meals are eaten over the gravesites with food being left for the departed. Kites were traditionally used with noisemakers to attract the attention of God to pray their family out of Purgatory. I don't know how much the kites are used for that today, but it is traditional to fly them during these two days.

Sumpango, a small village just outside of Guatemala City, is famous for their large kites that they fly each November 1st. The size of the village triples during this time.

Here is a typical scene at a local cemetery. There are particular flowers that are grown specifically for this day.

Kites are even flown at the cemetery.

These are just some of the ways we see the darkness of Satan's realm. The evangelical church does not celebrate with these traditions, but due to the large Catholic population in Guatemala, most people are off from work, making it a "national" holiday. Pray with us that the Evangelical church in Latin America will be light and salt in an unbelieving world.