One, two, three...

No, I haven't gone back on my promise to continue the blog...it's just that our internet connection of late has been super slow. So, no pictures until I can get them uploaded.

This afternoon I had a Quiche language lesson. My guard's wife, Katarina, is my teacher, along with her 5 year old son Misael. As I would count, using the magnetic numbers on the fridge, he would count along with me. I can count from one to ten, but don't ask me to name them out of order yet! Misael had his own lesson...after we practiced in Quiche, I taught him one to ten in English. He did very well. Sad that I am on the level of a 5 year old...

"Lost" "pieces"

Look at what I discovered in Alabama in February! Almond Joy...our favorite! Next would be the Dark Chocolate, and last the York Peppermint Patties. Snuck a couple of bags in the carry-on before leaving. Yum! Got the first season of Lost for Christmas. Had to see what everyone was talking about! Needless to say, I liked it, got hooked and bought Seasons 2 - 5 on sale at Amazon. Guess what we do in the evenings?

I'm hooked...Johnny's just burned out!

So I bribe him with the Almond Joy!

Office and Salon

Remember the office and salon that was finished by the teams last summer? You'll be happy to see that we finally have some furniture to make them a real office and salon!

The table with the two chairs will soon hold a desktop computer and printer!

The "lockers" in the corner are for the different church committees in the area that may want to use the office as their meeting place, since we are fairly central. The committees can bring files, office needs, etc. and put in their "locker" and lock it with a padlock. Since file cabinets are very expensive, this was a simple way to give up to 10 committees room! The file cabinet in the other corner will be for the Camp.

You are looking at the start of the Pastor's Library. We have been growing since this picture was taken and now have over 50 books, various DVDs and programs for the pastors to use! All of the books, DVDs and programs are in Spanish and have been donated by various individuals and groups. We would love to fill this bookcase and have to buy a new one!

Finally, the Salon now has two whiteboards and a clock, besides the tables and chairs! We are still looking to buy a pull-down screen for use with the projector. We have the money but locating the screen has been the problem. Here's Johnny resting after he and Samuel hung the boards.

The request for much of this was placed in the CAM Christmas Catalogue this past holiday season. As you can see, gifts given to the Christmas Catalogue are put to good use! Thank you to all who gave, whether through the Catalogue or as a team. All of this has been used and will find many more years of usefulness!

He Is Risen!

He Is Risen!

He Is Risen, Indeed!

Semana Santa - 2010

The week of Semana Santa, or Holy Week, is celebrated throughout the Christian world. Here in Guatemala, Holy Week is a holiday, with many businesses closing at least from Thursday thru Sunday, if not the whole week. We have stayed at the Camp this week, having various groups from the churches come to have "retreats" and such. Travel is more dangerous this week and the pickpockets are out in force in the tourist areas such as Antigua and Panajachel.

Pray for those, here and all over the world, that don't believe in the cross...those that have never heard...those that don't accept the sacrifice that was given. Christianity is not a religion, it is a relationship. A relationship with God and His Son, Jesus Christ. A relationship that accepts the sacrifice that was made on our behalf. Many religions say, "Do, do, do". God says, "It has already been done". And the debt was shown "Paid in full" by the Resurrection!

We will celebrate on Sunday, the Day of Resurrection, with one of our area churches. You, dear friends, will be in our hearts.

Back again!

Those of you that haven't been here since last summer will be pleased to see the work of our January team from West Rome, Michigan. Those of you from West Rome will be pleased to see the work that has been done since you left! The gates give us more control over people coming onto the property (our side, at least) by car. There is a walk-thru gate on the left of the big gates that doesn't have a door yet, so walk-thru traffic continues. Other than one of our barbed wire fences getting cut, we are not having the problems with the locals that we had at first, as we began to fence and close off trails and secure the property. We are doing it slowly, so, like the frog in the pot of slowly heating water, they are getting accustomed to it little by little.

I have always been a procrastinator...just ask my mother! After 3 years of blogging, it has gotten slower and slower. For that I am sorry. I don't get much feedback, so it's hard to see if I am just doing this for me or if others enjoy it also. I guess there are others also because this week I received an email saying certain folks were having withdrawal symptoms! So, here I am again. I hope to continue in a timely manner, although pictures will be more sparse than usual. The time it takes for pictures to load has been one of my issues. So, more blogs with fewer pictures, OK?

Those of you that read this, thank you.