Making plans for the future.

Well, we have been home now for almost a month. It has been so good to see our family and friends. We have had many challenging issues to work through over the past month, including some health issues, and I have to say, I wasn't really excited about it. But, once again, the Lord has shown Himself faithful and what seemed overwhelming a month ago, is all sorting itself out. That is the Lord. He is the only one who could possibly put things in order to allow us to return to Guatemala in January and we are so thankful for divine intervention.
I think if I was aware of all of the ways the Lord provided, protected, guided and directed my life I'd be shocked. I know He is working His miracles in my life continually, but for the most part I am unaware. When I do see, with my physical eyes, how He has provided, I am only seeing the tip of the iceberg; so much more has happened already beneath the surface.
For example, in October, our renters emailed us in Guatemala to tell us they were moving. We were concerned about coming back to Canada, advertising and hoping to find good tenants. It is hard to put someone in your home and then leave the country, as you don't really know how they will care for your home. Just as we were preparing to put the ad on Kiji and Craig's List, and begin the long process of interviewing possible tenants, we had lunch with my family. We sat with my nephew and his family and learned they were interested in our house. To make a long story short, they are our new tenants!
With this provision, God answered two of our prayer concerns - providing us with good tenants and eliviating some of our concern about leaving Arryn behind in Canada. To know that she won't be alone in the house, but will have family upstairs, is a huge relief for us. How many things, although, needed to be put into place for this to all happen? Certainly more than I was aware of when I received the email saying we needed to find new tenants. I could only see the tip of the iceberg, and it looked more like a challenge than a blessing.
Another example of God's provision and planning is in the area of our health. Rocky has been in need of a surgery for a number of months now and we were doubtful that he'd be able to get in while we were home. Again, it looked like a real challenge. We were thinking that he'd actually have to return to Canada at some point during the year to have the operation. But, the Lord had a different plan. The surgeon he visited happened to be going to Guatemala to volunteer in a hospital in Antigua later this year. They got to talking and she was impressed with what Rocky was doing. She offered to ask one of her other patients to have their surgery postponed, so that Rocky could get in and have time to recover before we need to leave for Guatemala! That just doesn't happen in today's medical climate; that was the Lord! He hand selected this particular surgeon and prepared her heart in advance of Rocky's appointment. We serve an amazing God!
The Lord has also made a way for us, financially. Not only has He provided some odd jobs for Rocky this month so we have some cash for Christmas, but our support levels have increased substantially since we started on this adventure one year ago. All of last year, we were going into debt each month to work as missionaries in Guatemala. It was a debt we were willing to take on, as we really believe the Lord has called us to serve Him in Guatemala. That doesn't make it easy, although, and we were concerned about how much longer we could shoulder the debt if our support didn't increase. As we were reviewing the reports that Impact Ministries gave us at the end of October, we were humbled and thouroughly blessed. Although we are not yet at full support, we are getting close. The Lord asked us to go and we said yes, without knowing where the support would come from, and now we see Him touching people's hearts to give. That is miraculous.
I am sure if you stopped and looked at your life, you, too, could list off numerous ways the Lord has interviened and not only provided in a time of crisis, but prepared the situation well in advance of the crisis. What an amazing God we serve. He never promised us life that would be without its trials, but He did promise if we lift our eyes off of the problems and set them on Him, the author and finisher of our faith, we will see with a new perspective. That is my challenge - to see more than just the tip of the iceberg and feel overwhelmed or even defeated. I want to lift my eyes to the heavens and recognize the miraculous hand of the Lord in my life, so I can rejoice and give thanks in all things.
Bless you,
Karren

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...!

Well, it finally happened. This morning we woke up to a white winter wonderland. It really is beautiful, although the temperatures are sure cold.

The picture is from a recent outing with Rocky's brother, Myles, and his family.

Rocky has been busy this past week working on finishing off the renovations in our basement suite. We really had barely moved in last year before we left for Guatemala, so many things were left unfinished. He has also taken on a bathroom renovation so we have a little money for Christmas.

I have been busy unpacking boxes that were stuffed in under the stairs to see what we really have and still need to give away in order to fit into our downsized living quarters. It's all good, although. The transition into a smaller residence has been a good one. It is amazing how much stuff you accumulate that you don't really need or even use. For example, I had 8 twin sized comforters and only 1 twin sized bed. Why, you might ask; well I asked the same thing and couldn't come up with a good reason. I now have 2 and good will has 6.

I am also working on our third newsletter to fill everyone in on where we are at and what the future holds for us. I know there is still a lot of work to be done on editing and updating Impact documents, so I am going to get back to that task this coming week as well.

Our kids are all busy and doing a variety of things. Arryn has been taking a TESL course (Teaching English as a Second Language) at TRU so that has occupied some of her time. She is also looking for part-time work, which prayerfully she'll find soon. Hope seems to stay busy with school and homework - I love grade 11 math! Marshal is somewhere in Nicaragua enjoying the surf and sand, and Alex is finishing up this semester of nursing at TRU and looking forward to Christmas break.

There is a little update on our family's activities.

Blessings,

Karren

Remembrance Day

Yesterday was Remembrance Day; a day where we remember those who have served so that we can enjoy living in a free country. We were in the car at 11:11, and Hope said, "Okay, everyone quiet!" We observed a moment of silence and then I asked her what that silence meant to her. She said, "It is something we do out of respect. It is the least we can do for those who gave their lives for us."
It got me to thinking about Jesus. More even than the soldiers who have fought for our political freedom, Jesus fought for our complete freedom. The Bible says where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom! Because of what Jesus did on the cross for us over 2000 years ago, we have freedom! Not only that, we have a hope for the future. Remembrance Day should be every day! Everyday we need to remember the sacrifice that was made for us at Calvary and give thanks by living our lives as those who are free. Free from worry, doubt, anxiety, fear, whatever. The enemy tries to paralyze us and place us in bondage, but Jesus Christ came, died and rose again so we could be free. How amazing is that?
I want to live my life in a manner that reflects the fact that God knows me; He has a plan for me; His plan is good, not bad; His plan gives me hope for the future!
Thank you, Lord.
Blessings,
Karren

Back in Canada

Well, we arrived back in Kamloops this afternoon. Our flight was uneventful - PTL! - and we even got a free upgrade to the emergency row, so that was a bonus. We spent the night at Tom and Sandy Martin's place and they let us use their van to drive home with all our luggage. I think we had around 550lbs of luggage - 6 large duffles and 6 pieces of carry-on!

It is a strange thing to come home. It's wonderful to see family and friends and catch up with those we've been apart from, but it is hard to just slip into old routines, as they just don't seem to fit anymore.

We were only in our basement suite for 5 weeks prior to leaving for Guatemala in February and then another 4 weeks in August - a total of 9 weeks. I wandered around the kitchen tonight as I prepared supper and I didn't know where anything was. It was almost as if I was in a stranger's home. Home for us right now seems more like the house we left behind in Tactic, than our basement suite in Kamloops.

We went to Super Store this afternoon to pick up a few things. Ever since Super Store opened in Kamloops, it is where I have done the majority of my grocery shopping. I cannot count the number of times I have been in the store. Today, although, was different. Rocky, Arryn and I wandered up and down the aisles not really knowing what we were supposed to get. I kept repeating the most necessary items in my head, so I wouldn't get overwhelmed and forget. We felt like fish out of water. We hardly said a word to each other and when we saw the total for our 5 bags of food, we gasped! $137! How could we be so extravagant to spend that much on a few small bags of groceries?

It is interesting how your point of reference changes when you've been living in a different culture for an extended period of time. This is called reverse culture shock. When you've been away, even for a short time, but more so for longer periods of time, you no longer feel like you fit into your home culture. Everything seems strange and foreign and it is a challenge to feel like you belong.

I suppose that is okay. Les was saying, the night before we left, that we really aren't supposed to feel like we belong in our culture because our home is with the Lord, not here on the earth. So perhaps this taste of reverse culture shock / re-entry is a good thing in the bigger picture. "Do not be conformed by the patters of this world..."

Thank you for all of your support and prayers. We are so blessed to have people in our lives who care about us and support us. We have much to do over the next little while and many decisions to make, so we ask for your prayers. We hope to catch up with many of you over the next few weeks!

Blessings,

Karren and Rocky