Happy New Years!

This morning, at about 6am, we said goodbye to our second oldest daughter, Arryn. She left for Guatemala, where she will be working for at least 1 year. It was a tough goodbye, especially for her, as she had been saying goodbye to family and friends for the past week already. We know that God has some amazing things in store for her as she seeks Him in her life.
On the way home from the airport - a mere 4 hour drive through the mountains and snow - we were listening to the radio and the announcer was talking about New Years Resolutions - you know...those promises you never seem able to keep. This year I am going to lose 20 pounds; excercise more; read my Bible for at least an hour a day, etc. Have you been there? We all have in one way or another.
This year, my resolution is pretty simple - to walk with the Lord each day, no matter what comes, to trust Him with my life and the lives of those I love, regardless of our circumstances, and to step out when I hear Him call, no matter what it looks like.
I want to take risks with the Lord in 2012 that I would not have taken in 2011, not because I have lost my mind and am experiencing some sort of late mid-life crisis, but rather because I am learning that a risk with the Lord is really no risk at all.
Blessings to you and yours for an awesome, inspiring New Year!
Karren

Family...

One bonus of having a photographer in the family is getting nice, good quality family photos. Yesterday afternoon, our family - all 6 of us - went up to Rose Hill and Marshal took family photos for us. We hadn't actually gone out to do this for quite some time. As I looked through the photos, I realized that our kids are no longer kids...they are adults.


It is a really special time in life when you are no longer parenting small children or even teenagers, but are now parents of young adults. Well, I guess technically Hope is still a teenager, but not for long! Anyway, watching our kids make decisions, choosing what to do and what not to do, is really exciting.


One such decision has made us particularly proud. In one week, Arryn is leaving for Guatemala. She accepted a year long position to work with Cross Commission Ministry in San Cristobal, about 1/2 hour away from Tactic. This ministry is reaching out to street kids through a youth drop in center and Arryn is excited about the opportunity to serve the Lord in through this ministry.



We know that as she gives her life away she will find real meaning and belonging. We are trusting the Lord to provide for her needs and make a way for her to minister to those in need. Our God is so faithful!





For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

From our home to yours, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and Blessed New Year!

Rocky, Karren, Alex, Arryn, Marshal and Hope

Not Returning With Impact

Well, most of you already know, but I thought I should write something in our blog, in case you aren't on our mailing list.
Rocky, Hope and I will not be returning to work with Impact Ministries this January. The ministry is transitioning from working with one or two long term field workers, like us, to working with a variety of couples, all on a shorter term basis. We know that God has called us to full time ministry and as a result, we no longer fit the ministry's needs. We are sad about this, as we really enjoyed the work we had the honour of doing over the past two years and really love the people of Tactic.
We are also excited, although, about what the future may hold. We believe that God has a plan and He will direct us as we seek other opportunities to invest our lives through foreign missions. We are looking at a variety of ministries and praying that we will find a good fit. Please pray for us as we move through this time of change.
Blessings,
Karren
PS - if you do not receive our newsletters and would like to, simply send us an email (karrenchupa@hotmail.ca) or comment to this post. Thanks!

Christmas Time Again!

Sunday, December 4th we went out on our annual trek into the woods to find a Christmas tree. Every year we have fewer and fewer children along and this year we were down to one...Hope! Hunting for the tree is a bit of an art, because most of the trees growing wild grow in clusters which means they are not very well formed. You have look for one that is standing alone, off by itself so that the branches will have grown evenly all the way around.

Hope spotted our tree after we had been walking for only a few minutes and she cut it down for us. We dragged it back to the truck, took it home and decorated it that night.

There are so many things that I love about Christmas. I love the way we go out together and look for the perfect tree. I love the smell of the pine as the tree is cut. I love taking out the decorations and looking at all the decorations the kids made when they were little.

For me, Christmas is about slowing down and taking time to be with family and friends, and reflecting on what is really important in life. Our circumstances are not always as we would choose, but we are called to live above our circumstances. Rocky remembered an old hymn the other night that included the following thought: we may not know what the future holds, but we know who holds the future. How true!

This Christmas Season, take heart and lift your gaze. Join us as we remember that the reason we celebrate isn't just because a baby was born. We celebrate because that baby grew up and became the ultimate sacrifice that enabled us to be restored into the Kingdom. We are sons and daughters of the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Now we can twinkle and shine, just like the lights on our tree, and honour Him with our lives.

Blessings,

Karren

Thankful for Good Care

A week ago I had surgery. Although the operation was not super serious, I was a little nervous about "going under the knife." But from the moment I arrived in the hospital, I have to say I was so blessed by the care I received. Everyone that played a part in my operation treated me with such kindness and at no point did I ever feel insecure or concerned about the quality of care I was receiving. In fact, I felt certain I was in good hands and all would go well.
I started to think about those in the hospital in Coban, Alta Verapaz, Guatemala, and what it would have been like to have surgery there.
Let me describe the scene...When you walk into the hospital in Coban, the smell assaults your senses. It is dirty and chaotic. As you look around, you see people sitting around on the floor everywhere and there is a general sense of disorganization. In the main hall are a few of the mentally challenged patients who live in the hospital begging. They are unkempt, dirty, and clearly not receiving the level of care they need. In admitting, there is only one nurse working - one! - and people have to wait hours to be simply admitted. Once you've filled out the paper work and are admitted, you wait on a gurney without sheets, blankets or pillows. As you wait, you wonder wether or not they are going to have everything you need for your operation, but there isn't anyone there attending to you, so you have noone to ask. Following the surgery, you are placed into a ward with no separate rooms - all 36 patients in one large room. Family members are expected to stay at the hospital with you to attend to your care because there are not enough hospital staff to administer the necessary medicine let alone attend to the other needs a patient may have. And, speaking of medicine, often the hospital is out of appropriate pain medication and antibiotics so essential to recovery and proper healing. As a result of a lack of good follow-up care, your hospital stay is, on average, 1 week.
Talk about a contrast...I walked out of the hospital 24 hours after my surgery feeling confident that I would heal well and my problem was solved. Yes, I had to wait for the surgery and it was rebooked/postponed once, but I received excellent care. I am so thankful that I have access to this kind of care. I know our health care system in Canada is facing a lot of problems and it is far from perfect, but it is miles ahead of so many other countries around the world.
40% of Guatemalans have no access to healthcare - none! 90% of infant deaths are caused by preventable illnesses, dehydration and malnutrition being the most common.
I have nothing to complain about!

It's Cold Outside!

Well, it happened yesterday...snow! I was with my sister and we were out running errands and she suddenly looked outside and exclaimed, "Look, it's snowing! Oh, it's so beautiful!" I can't say that I was quite there ...snow being beautiful. It means it is really cold and that is about as far as my mind could go at that moment.
As I was trying to prepare myself for winter, I started to think about how our attitude really affects how we think about something. My sister's attitude was one of awe and wonder and she was excited to see the seasons change. My attitude was one of grumbling and complaining and as a result I was not able to see the beauty right in front of me. Our situation was exactly the same, but our response reflected our attitude.
I don't think anything happens in our life that does not contain a lesson for us. The snow reminded me of God's promise to me. If I root myself in His Word, beginning each day by meditating on God's truthes and spending some time just talking with my King, my attitude is affected. My circumstances may or may not change, but how I respond will definitely be affected.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Galatians 5:22,23
Thank you, Lord, for loving me enough to continue to teach me Your ways!

On Our Way Home

Well, I finished the last of the cleaning and packing to be ready to go back to Canada. I was so thankful for 3 days of warm, sunny weather, so that I could get all the laundry done! I also cooked and baked enough to fill the freezer so that Rocky will have some good food when we are gone.

This year we had the opportunity to work with some pretty amazing people. Heber, the young man third from the left in the photo, is someone I work quite closely with. I have come to really appreciate him. He has a real way with people and I admire the way he works with both the teams and the Guatemalans. Things don't always go as planned in our work here, but he rarely gets frustrated. I forget sometimes that he is only 20 years old.

We have also worked with numerous Guest House hosts, the last of which are on the far left in the photo - Al and Judy Willms. They were such a huge blessing to us the way they not only served the teams, but also really embraced Hope, allowing her to stay with them while we were in the capital picking up or dropping off teams.

Les and Rita Peters, of course, are in the center, and we continue to marvel at how the Lord is expanding this ministry under their leadership. We know it is not always easy work, especially as the ministry grows, but they are committed to the vision the Lord has given them and are here for the long haul.

As you know, Rocky will be staying back for 2 additional weeks, hoping to really focus on the work projects now that there are no teams here. He has worked so hard this year, taking on not only his team responsibilities, but also trying to supervise the many work projects. I know he has been a big blessing to the ministry and they are thankful for his input.

For me, I just love being able to serve the Lord here. I know I am not perfect - far from it - but I also know that the Lord is using me to advance His Kingdom both with the teams that we serve as well as with the Guatemalans we are so privileged to know and work along side. This little girl in the photo with me is Darlin and she attends our Chicoy school. A few months ago I was visiting Chicoy with a team and noticed she was not playing with the other kids the way she usually does. I picked her up and she snuggled right into me and I could feel she had a fever. I held her and rocked her and quickly discovered she had an ear infection. We just happened to have a doctor along with that group and so in a matter of minutes we were able to check her out, give her some Tylenol for the pain and some antibiotics for the infection. What could have gone on and on and perhaps even damaged her eardrum permanently, was corrected, just like that!

This last week when I was back at Chicoy, she saw me and came to me. I picked her up and she wrapped her arms around my neck. I felt so blessed to have been able to be a part of helping Darlin in her time of need.

Before we came here, people said to us that we were sure selfless for giving so much up to go to Guatemala. I don't think we have given anything up at all. What material things we sold or left behind are nothing compared to the honour of serving the Lord here. I keep thinking, that if just one person is impacted for the Kingdom because of our presence here and the Holy Spirit working through us, then whatever we have had to "give up" is so worth it.

We may not see the harvest, this side of heaven, but we know that our time here is of eternal value and we are so privileged to do what the Lord has called us to do.

Blessings to you and your families!

Karren, Rocky and Hope!

Our Last Group for 2011!

At 5:30am, on Friday, October 14th, we said goodbye to the Kamloops Alliance Church team and at 7:30pm that evening we received our last team for this season. It is hard to believe that we have worked with 22 different groups this year! Our teams have come from across Canada, from BC to Prince Edward Island and now, our last group is from Davenport, Iowa.

Impact Ministries is establishing itself in the US, with the help of some wonderful people who have been here in the past (Tim and Candy Weaver, Debra Cole, Phil and Beth Claussen, and many others). As we move into 2012, the ministry hopes to be able to host more American teams. That means we will be needing some help on this end!

Our last group leaves on October 24th, which will give me a week to clean up around here and pack things up so that when we return in January, all will be dry and bug free! That is a bit of a job, so I am thankful that I have a little bit of time to do it. Hope and I fly out on the 31st of October and Rocky will join us on the 12th of November. He is staying on in order to spend a bit more time on the worksite, building the new guest housing complex.

We will be having a sharing night at St. Andrew's on the Square on Saturday, December 3rd, and look forward to seeing some of you there!

Bless you, Karren

Sunday Morning

Well, it is Sunday morning. If we were in Canada, we'd get up, get ready and head out the door for church. Maybe we'd join friends for lunch out at a restaurant and then spend the remainder of the day relaxing or sharing time with family.

Here, Sundays are very different for us. It is the biggest market day in Tactic and we don't meet for church until 4pm. When groups are here, they do a "market activity" in the morning, which essentially consists of them doing some of our team grocery shopping and trying to complete a variety of tasks. The idea is to give the team a feel for what it would be like trying to function in a foreign environment. We turn it into a bit of a competition and it is a lot of fun.

After lunch, we take the group to a coffee plantation that is about a 1/2 hour drive from town. When we finish there, we come back home and get ready for church. Church ususally goes from 4pm - 6:30pm, so when church is done, we have supper. Following supper we spend time with the team, leading a debrief. Our day usually ends around 9:30pm.

The reason I am able to write this blog right now is because we have a couple living in the guest house - Al and Judy Wilms from Calgary - and they are taking care of the market activity so we don't have to. If they weren't here, we'd be "on" from 8:30 am to 9:30 pm - a 13 hour day! Not exactly like home!

Now, don't get me wrong, I am not complaining. This has actually become very normal for us and we really enjoy it. When our days are not filled with activities with the teams, we have other duties that we perform. Rocky, of course, is constantly going between the various work

projects making sure everything is progressing as planned. I do some administrative work for the ministry and have also started doing translating for the sponsorship office. Our days are full and we feel so blessed to be able to serve in the way that we do.
We are looking forward to a rest, although, and returning to Canada to see family and friends. Hope and I will be arriving in Canada on November 1st and Rocky 2 weeks later. We hope to be able to connect with you sometime during our time at home.

Bless you, Karren

Relationships

We have a new team here from Peterborough, Ontario. Yesterday, we took them out to our Purulha school to share in the morning devotional and spend some time just hanging out with the kids.
As always, it was such a joy to worship along with the students in our schools. I am happy to say, that I can now, when I know the song, worship the Lord fully in either Spanish or English. That is progress! My heart was filled to overflowing yesterday morning as together: the team, the school and me, we all cried out to the Lord and worshipped Him the way He is worthy to be worshipped.
One of my favourite songs they sing here is "Yo te Busco."It goes like this, "I search for you with fire in my heart; I seach for you; receive my worship; I long for you; I need you; I love you; more than I am." In the midst of 150 children singing at the top of their lungs that they long for the Lord, I simply melted. It is so good!
Afterwards, the team received a ton of hugs from the kids and we had a chance to just play and hang out. There is a special group of girls in Primero who own a little bit of my heart and we usually play a simple tag/chasing game where we tickle the one who is caught. But today, I was feeling the lingering affects of the pnemonia and wasn't really able to run much, so I was sitting in the shade.
A young lady from Quinto came and sat beside me. Her name is Leslie. She is an amazing girl. She is mute- not able to speak or hear. She came to our school about 4 years ago. Her mom had tried to put her into other schools, but no one would accept her because of her disabilty. In Guatemala, there is no provision made for children who have special needs. Usually, they don't receive any education at all and remain illiterate. Leslie's mom refused to give up, although, and had the courage to approach the principal of the Purulha school, Hector David. He had compassion for this little girl. He had no idea how they would go about meeting her needs, but he knew they had to try.
Well, I want you to know, that the Lord is so faithful. As I was sitting there yesterday morning with Leslie at my side, many other girls from her class came by and communicated with her in sign language. Leslie turned to me and signed out (as translated by one of the giggling girls) that these are my friends, and she proceeded to introduce me to each one by name. The smile on Leslie's face was confirmation that she was happy and content. What a miracle! She is also very bright and is an example in her class of dilligence and hard work.
She proceeded to teach me the alphabet in sign and we "visited" for the next hour. She shared with me that she is so happy to be a part of the school and to worship the Lord. I asked her if she could hear any of the worship, and she said "yes, in my heart!" How cool is that!
The Lord speaks to her in a manner in which she can receive and her life is a testimony of His goodness, love and provision.
I don't know what the future holds for Leslie, but I know for sure, she is confident in who she is in the Lord.

Not for the faint of heart!

Well, our trip to Honduras was wonderful and uneventful until we decided to go home! We left town around 9am because we wanted to be home mid-afternoon. It was only a 5 hour drive, so we thought 9 sounded like a good time to leave. We decided to take the outside road around the center of town because in town the roads were a maze of narrow one ways. As we turned down the road marked as leading to the main highway, it appeared that a bridge had washed out. No problem for Central Americans, although! We watched a small truck approaching, carefully navigating the stream bed, and followed the path he took! Yikes!

We made it to the highway and a short 10 minutes later we were at the border between Honduras and Guatemala. There we learned that the Guatemalan teachers, many of whom have not been paid in 3 - 4 months, had formed a blockade at the border crossing and were not going to let any traffic through until 1.

Okay. This is not the first blockade we've experienced here, so, we decided to turn around and go back to Copan and hang out for a few hours and try again at 1. When we returned at 1, nothing had changed. I went up to the teachers to try and find out some details. This is how it went - I asked, "who was in charge?" and they said, "no one." I asked, "when they were going to take down the blockade?" and they said, "they didn't know." I asked, "who would know?" and they said, "they didn't know, maybe the government." Oh boy!

We learned after from one of the border patrolmen that they were expecting things to open up around 4pm, and so our afternoon of waiting in the screaming heat began. Hope and Karey played crib and Rocky and I tried to nap - a tough accomplishment when you are sweating hot. Around 3:30 we noticed a bunch of rapid movement amongst those right at the border and then the immigration office opened up and suddenly, the blockade was down and we were moving! Yippee! We had quite a bit of traffic to work through, but it sure could have been worse. A short 6 1/2 hours after our planned departure, we were off!

Once we got onto the part of the highway that takes us to Tactic, the rain started. It was already getting dark and there was an unusual amount of traffic on the road (we learned later that a big transport truck had been in an accident down the other highway and blocked traffic for 8hours). As the rain continued to pour down, the roads became a little sketchy. Along the highway to Tactic they have trouble with massive mudslides and areas of the road simply sinking away. There are probably about 10 sections where it is becoming fairly dangerous to drive. The photo below is just one example of how the highway simply washes away. These sections are not marked really well and traffic is expected to simply figure out how to keep moving. I am thankful that we drive this road fairly often and know where the "watch" areas are.

So, if you can picture this: It is dark and the rain is pouring down. Cars and trucks have been waiting for many hours to get moving and now that they are, the traffic is so dense it is only creeping along. Cars are pulling out to pass even when they cannot actually see ahead, hoping to get by the big trucks. The low areas of the road are filled with water and it is a challenge to maintain your speed and control as you literally part the red sea as you drive through!
Driving in this country is not for the faint of heart!
Nor is serving the Lord.
I finished reading Radical and I am more convinced than ever that serving the Lord, really serving Him and surrendering our lives to Him, is not for the faint of heart. When we look at the world with our physical eyes we see so many obstacles. We see rivers to cross where there are no bridges, borders to cross where there is opposition, and paths to follow where the ground has given away. It is exactly for these reasons that our walk with the Lord is called a faith journey. It takes faith to continue moving forward when you do not know exactly where you are going or what you will encounter when you get there. If, although, we are really going to impact this world with the Gospel for the glory of the the Lord, then we are going to have to start living our lives differently...wait...let me rephrase that...I am going to have to start living my life differently. That means I need to brave and courageous, not because of anything that I bring to the table, but because of everything my God brings!
David, when facing Goliath, knew it was not his small stone that was going to win the battle, but it was the Lord Almighty.
In the same way, it is not you and me that are going to win souls for the Lord; it is us, like David, being willing to surrender to the Lord, no matter the situation or cost, so that His glory can be made known through us that will draw others into the Kingdom.
Definitely not for the faint of heart!
Bless you,
Karren

God's Church Meets Around the World Today!

This morning, we went for a tour of the mountains around Copan on horseback. I have to admit I was a little nervous - so was Karey - but it turned out to be a nice way to spend the morning.
We met our guide on the other side of town and mounted up for our adventure. As we rode into the hills, I began to visit with our guide. I am so thankful that I have now acquired enough Spanish to visit a little - I know it isn't good Spanish, but I can understand and make myself understood, and as such can get to know those we spend time with.
Through our conversation, I learned that he was an evangelical believer and we talked a little about the needs in Honduras and Guatemala - it seems the two countries are not only close in location, but also in economic, political and social needs.
After about an hour of riding, we arrived at our destination,, La Pintura - a small village in the mountains. Last night I had been saying that it would be nice to find and attend a local church, but really hadn't thought about it in the morning until I heard the singing! It was coming from a small community church - maybe 20 people in a house smaller than my bedroom. Thank you, Lord! First, to provide us with a Christian guide and then to lead us right to the door of a church! Wow!
We were able to join in their worship service for a little while and share a word of encouragement with them before continuing on our tour. What a blessing! The Lord is always watching over us and giving us opportunities to gather with brothers and sisters if we just open our eyes and ears and take notice. This morning was no exception!
On our ride down the mountain, our guide invited us to his church's evening service, and I am excited to share a time of praise and worship with our Hondurian brothers and sisters in the Lord!
"I'm so glad I'm a part of the family of God!" That is the song I thought of as I rode my pretty Mariposa back into Copan. I am never alone. Not only does the Lord promise never to leave us or forsake us, but He also surrounds us with others who share our faith to encourage us and for us to encourage.
I think that is pretty cool!
Blessings,
Karren

Honduras or bust!

Well, we arrived in Honduras without incident! For the first time in our travelling experience in Central America, we didn't get lost! Amazing! We drove into Ruinas Copan around 3 in the afternoon only to discover that all the hotels in town were booked because of the Independence Day holidays. It never occured to me that Honduras, along with Guatemala and all the other Central American countries, all received their independence at the same time. I was a little discouraged, but as always, the Lord provided. We met a guide who said, "I know of a hotel that has space." Now that can be a scary thing in this neck of the woods, but this time, it was a blessing. We landed up in a beautiful hotel with a swimming pool! It is called Buena Vista - beautiful view - and it lives up to its name.

The purpose of our trip is to get our tourist visas renewed, and because the price to do it in Guatemala has gone up so much, we decided to actually travel out of the country to get the renewal rather than just pay for it. I am so glad we did.

Today we went to the Mayan ruins just out of town. Wow! What an extensive community and interesting culture. We spent a few hours just walking around, up and over, and through these pretty incredible structures built back in the 8th century before Christ! Talk about history!

Tomorrow we are hoping to go horseback riding...okay, Hope is hoping to go horseback riding and the rest of us are hoping to survive the experience! Aparently there are some natural hotsprings and waterfalls about a 1 hour ride into the mountains. I am sure it will be memorable...both for my backside and for the experience!

Blessings,

Karren

Oots-a-wash!

"Oots-a-wash!"
This is the greeting I receive from the young man who helps at Les and Rita's property. It is early in the morning, and I have just walked the 7 minutes down the gravel road, through the soggy cow pasture, along the highway, and past the armed guard to their home, where I pick up a vehicle for the day.
My response is "Oots!" This is a simple exchage in the indigenous language of Achi-Rabinal. He is saying, "Good morning. How are you?" And, my reply is, "Very well."
This young man and his wife, both of whom are under 20 years old, live at the back of Les and Rita's property, right next to the chicken coop. Their "house" is built from cut off slabs of logs. It is about 12'x12' and has a dirt floor. There is a covered area outside that doubles as a kitchen and bath/laundry area. Although I don't know their story and how they came to settle here, I do know they are real people, created by God with a purpose in this life.
Yesterday he asked me, in Spanish, if he could learn the morning greetings in English. I said sure, and so, now, for the next few days when we meet, we will greet one another in English.
It is a joy to work with the Guatemalan people. Even though my greatest challenge is the languages, I can work alongside my brothers and sisters, knowing we have the same purpose in mind. It is the Kingdom of God and its advancement into the unreached corners of the world. There are villages not too far from Tactic where the people still have not heard the Gospel. Part of the vision of Impact Ministries is to train up people from this community who will go and take the Truth to these places. In two of the outlying communities where we have schools, cell groups have sprung up. We are proceeding this week with building meeting rooms, because the classrooms where they meet are now too small to accomodate all who attend. The harvest is ripe here!

Impact Ministries is also moving ahead with plans on the property at Chisac. The guesthouse construction started on September 1st and we are considering plans for the church and Bible School as well as shops for woodworking, mechanics and metal work. The desire of the ministry is not only to teach the Bible, but also to give people a chance to develop skills that would enable them to sustain their families and communities. Thank you, Canadians, for your generosity in supplying funds and equipment for thes endeavours.
We covet your prayers as we continue to labour in the Kingdom for His glory and we are confident in Him to supply the wisdom and strength we need to carry on. Our lives belong to Him and we are finding new ways to trust the Lord as we grow in Him. May God bless you as you do your part in the Kingdom, knowing that our eternal reward is far greater than anything we can receive on this earth. Let's not be consumed with what we can have here on this earth, but rather focus on His eternal puposes. We really are seeking for another country (Hebrews 11: 14-16). So, "Since then you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God" (Colossians 3: 1-3).
Rocky

Continuing the Journey

Last week I started reading Radical by David Platt. The first chapter really spoke deeply to me, not because it was filled with new ideas, but because the challenge presented was to live, really live, the way we were intended to live.
Next month I will be 49 years old - quickly approaching the half century mark! Sadly, I think I am only now beginning to understand what it really means to live as I was intended, by my creator, to live. I, like the majority of other North American Christians, bought into the materialism of my culture and thought I could have it all - suff and Jesus. I am learning that the more I let go of my "stuff" the more fully I am able to really love the Lord and His people.
It's funny, really. I have read the scripture many times where Jesus says to the rich man that if he wants to be a disciple he must go and sell all that he has and give it to the poor and then he can come back and follow Jesus. In light of the book Radical and what we are reading there, Rocky and I were talking about this passage yesterday. How would the average Canadian Christian respond if they were faced with this decision? How would I respond? Sell everything and follow Christ or hang on to your stuff. It should be an easy question, right? Sell it all and follow the Lord...but the reality is, it is not that simple. That day, when the rich man met Jesus on the road, he walked away sad because he was not prepared to give it all up in order to follow the Lord.
I have begun a journey of discovery - a journey of challenging myself to answer this very question. Would I give up everything to follow Christ?
David Platt's premise is that we were all created to make much of the glory of God to the nations. He reminds the reader that God has a global purpose - from the beginning to today, and that this purpose is not for a chosen few, but for us all.
So many of the things that I am reading make me stop and think, really think, and draw me to the Word. I love it!
For example, he asks, "How would you summarize the message of Christianity?" The average response is something like, "God loves me enough to send His Son, Jesus, to die for me." This is, although, incomplete, and creates in us an egotistic response - Christianity is about me! A more accurate and biblical summary is, "God loves me so that I might make Him - His ways, His salvation, His glory, and His greatness - known among all nations." He didn't save me for me - He saved me for Him. This places the focus back where it should be...on Him, not us.
Isn't that one of the challenges facing us today? Take ourselves off the throne and put God back where He rightly belongs.
This book reminds me of a session I participated in with Tony Campolo, "Red Letter Christians." Some Bibles have the words which Jesus spoke in red, to indicate these where His words. Campolo spoke that day of a group of young Bible school students who decided to live out the red letters of the Gospels literally, and how that radically changed their lives. In fact, their parents were not so happy about it, because they stopped living in a culturally acceptable fashion and lived without concern for themselves. Pretty radical!
My Bible doesn't have Jesus' words in red letters, but I just recently re-read the Gospels and I have to say, the challenge to change the way I live is pretty clear. I hope I am not too old to learn a new way of thinking and living. I am appreciating the challenges David Platt presents in Radical and I would encourage you to pick up a copy if you haven't already read it.
I want my life to line up scripture. I want my life to make a difference for the Kingdom...in my family... in my community... in my world. It is not one over the other, but it is all at the same time. I want my life to make much of the glory of God.
Thank you, Lord, for teaching me, for being patient with me! I want to learn.
Blessings,
Karren

Conflicting Emotions

This morning I am feeling both excited and a little nervous. I just started reading Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream, by David Platt. I first learned about this book on Facebook. I was reading the posts of two of my friends from Canada and got really excited about what they were saying about this book. I asked if it would be possible for them to send me a copy with one of the teams coming down here, and last week, my copy arrived with the Kamloops E Free team! (Thank you Anna and Greg!)
Last night, I read Chapter One, "Someone Worth Losing Everything For" and my conflicting emotions are a result of what I read.
The author's position is that the church of North America - the US in particular, but I believe Canada is really no different - has manipulated the gospel to fit our cultural preferences. Wow! That is a pretty courageous statement for a pastor of a mega church to make. I was deeply impressed that as he writes, he is not saying what others should do, or even what he has already done, he is walking through his own journey, thinking and reflecting, and inviting the reader to join him. I like that!
The following is a small exerpt from Chapter One:
Do we really believe he is worth abandoning everything for? Do you and I really believe that Jesus is so good, so satisfying, and so rewarding that we will leave all we have and all we own and all we are in order to find our fullness in him? Do you and I believe him enough to obey him and to follow him wherever he leads, even when the crowds in our culture - and maybe in our churches - turn the other way? ...We have in many areas blindly and unknowingly embraced values and ideas that are common in our culture but are antithetical to the gospel he taught (page 18, 19).
In our work here, we spend time with the groups talking about the Guatemalan culture and pointing out to them how those living here are immersed in a culture of polytheism and they don't even really see it. The rituals they perform are so much a part of their lives, they don't even really think about them or what they mean. We ask groups to reflect on how they have embraced their own culture - not polytheism, but rather antitheism - and allowed culture to define their norm. What have they, as North Americans, embraced to the extent it has become a part of their thinking and their lives without really even examining it in light of scripture?
I am excited to keep reading Radical; and, yes, I am a little nervous, too. I don't think this is going to be an easy read. Not because the language is difficult, but the concepts hit very close to home and have already begun to stir my heart. Last night as I was reading, I felt a sense of conviction that prayerfully, if I am willing, will lead to change in my life.
I am not sure what the Lord is going to ask of me as I take this journey, but I want to be ready to say, "Yes!"
Blessings,
Karren

Back Home!

Well, we are back home today, after being at a hotel for 10 days. We have been staying in a place called Ram Tzul - a hotel in the middle of the Quetzal reserve in Baja Verapaz. It is lush and tropical and really quite beautiful. The picture to the left is of the restaurant/lounge area. It is all made of bamboo - the building and the furniture - and is really very unique. The second photo is of a fire pit inside. Every evening, they cooked our frijoles on this fire and it warmed up the restaurant. The grounds of the hotel were like a huge garden complete with peacocks!

Our reason for leaving town was the fair. The Richmond Bethel Church team arrived on the 10th and the fair was already in full swing. Because it is literally all around our home and the guesthouse, it would have been impossible for the team to get any sleep if they were at the guesthouse. So, out we went to Ram Tzul. The team left today for Antigua with Les - we get a couple of days off! Yeh!! - so back to town we came.

Although our accomodations were wonderful and we were thankful not to have to struggle with the noise and filth, honestly, we were looking forward to going back in our own home.

I wish I could say that the fair is gone; however, that is not the case. Originally, we were told that it would run from the 10th to the 15th. Well, today is the 18th, and not much has changed. A few of the small stands have started to pack up, but the bars on either side of our house are still in full swing. I was a little disappointed. I was hoping to come home and have things pretty much back to normal. Oh well.

I am not sure what tonight will hold, but right now I can hear the music from both the bar on our right and the one on our left as well as the music from the rides section of the fair. Add to that the screams that come from those riding the ferris wheel, and...well, suffice it to say, it's loud!

But, scripture tells us to count our blessings, so that is what I am going to do.

I am so blessed! God has given me an amazing family. Rocky is a good husband and he loves the Lord and he love me! Our four kids are all healthy and are all a blessing to us. Our extended family is amazing and we are literally surrounded by those who love and serve the Lord. We have the amazing opportunity to serve here in Guatemala and be a part of buidling His Kingdom both in Guatemala and in North America through the teams we work with. We live in a wonderful little house with a nice yard, when many here live in wooden shacks with dirt floors. I have indoor plumbing, a fridge, stove and washing machine. I have more than enough to eat and when our food runs out, I know I can buy more. The biggest blessing in my life, although, is that I know, without a doubt that I am a child of the King of kings and that He has written my name in the Book of Life and has prepared a place for me with Him in heaven. Everything else pales in comparison to that truth. Yes, the next few days may be loud and may try my patience, but it is just a few days. God has been so good to me I have no reason to complain, even if the fair is in my backyard!

Bless you,

Karren

The Loss of a Son

This last week, a family involved in the ministry lost their brother/son at the age of 22. Marvin died at home with his family at his side after a long struggle with brain tumors. Many people had prayed for Marvin, asking the Lord to heal him, yet the Lord chose to take him home. For Marvin, his suffering is over; he is in heaven with the Lord and no longer has any pain or sorrow. For those left behind, although, the loss is overwhelming.
It is hard to understand why God would heal some and not others, but I am learning, it is not necessarily for us to understand. As believers, we are to trust the Lord in all things, even when it doesn't make sense to us. In our humanness, we would have thought that healing Marvin would have been the best option, but God knew something we obvioulsy didn't, and He took Marvin home to be with Him.
My heart broke for his parents and I thought about how I would feel if I had to experience the loss of a child. Honestly, I have no idea how I would handle that kind of grief. But, as I prayed for Marvin's family, the Lord impressed upon me that He understands even this depth of grief and is more than able to comfort and sustain those left behind. He too has lost a son.
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
The life we live on this earth is but a brief moment in light of eternity. For Marvin, his real life has now begun. For us, we need to continue to trust the Lord in all things, living in a manner honouring to Him. In this way we will be prepared to be called home at whatever moment the Lord determines, so we too, can begin our real life.
Blessings,
Karren

The Fruits of the Spirit

Paul wrote the Galatians to gird up their faith and understanding of the truths previously presented to them. He wanted to be sure they were living in a manner that separated them from those living in the world. The following passage is preceeded by a description of what someone living in the world looks like. That is why it begins with the word, "but" because we, as believers are to be different.

Galatians 5:22,23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Living and working in another culture has certainly tested our "fruit" as we try to live day by day in a manner that sets us apart. Certainly, the people of Guatemala are easy to love. They are warm and generous and embrace you wholeheartedly. Patience, although, is a little harder to demonstrate on a consistent basis. Many things that happen here simply don't make sense to us and it tries our patience as we attempt to work through whatever comes our way.

For example, as I sit here and type, there are two men in our yard lining the top of our wall with razor wire. The fair is coming to town and they are set up right behind our house. The razor wire is to protect our home/property from those who will be participating in the fair. There will be many people from out of town here to party and cause trouble. This is the first year for the fair to be set up right here! Ususally it is in the central square, but this year, we are smack dab in the middle of it all. On one side of our home they are setting up a marimba band/dance hall! They will go almost 24 hours a day. Normally, I like the sound of marimbas - Guatemala's national instrument - but at 4am I think it will be a bit waring! On the other side of our home they are setting up food kiosks. Right behind us are vendors selling their wares. About 50 feet past that will be the rides - ferris wheel, etc - and other typical fair games.

The next week will be loud and also a little dangerous around our home. Guatemala doesn't have any noise bylaws or restrictions about what you can and cannot do...anything goes! As a result, we are relocating to a hotel out of town, along with the team we will be hosting. It will not be the same to be out of our home and our own space, but we are blessed to have an alternative!

Things don't always go as we plan and we have to be ready to make adjustments and then be thankful for whatever the Lord provides. Patience...also translated as long-suffering...is a fruit we demonstrate when we accept challenges and changes without losing our peace or our focus. When we keep our eyes on Him, everything else is simply secondary.

Blessings!

Spanish School

We arrived in Antigua on Sunday, July 24th, only to discover that the school didn't arrange for a homestay for us, like we asked, and that there were no classes on Monday because of a holiday in Antigua. Thankfully there was 1 room left at the school - praise the Lord! - so we took it.

We decided to take advantage of our day off and we made a trip to the coast. We only got lost two or three times and what was supposed to be a simple 2 hour drive took over 3 hours. We never did actually find the spot we were looking for, but we did find the beach and enjoyed a couple of hours of fun in the sun, sand and surf. The trip home was pretty uneventful, in comparison to the way there and we made it back to the school in under 2 hours. Overall it was a good day. The scenery through Escuintla is amazing - field after field of sugar cane as far as the eye can see. It is a little like Saskatchewan grain fields!

Tuesday morning we started classes. Because Monday was a holiday, our days were increased from 4 hours to 5! The first day, I thought I was going to lose my mind! The last hour of instruction was almost a waste of time. There is something incredibly difficult about going back to school. I don't know if it is that as we age, it is more difficult to learn new things, or if we are just unaccustomed to this type of learning. Whatever the reason, language school is hard work.

Don't get me wrong - I want to learn - it is just a lot of work and I often feel like I have to start all over again. This time around, I am learning all of the things I have been doing wrong. I am at the stage in my language development that I can understand a fair amount, but my speech is way behind my understanding. I suppose that is normal - frustrating, but normal. Anyway, I don't really use any tenses other than present correctly. I simply add on the time frame of an action to give it tense instead of deciding how to conjugate the verb. That has the been the area my teacher is focussing on. Rocky is at the table just behind me and I can hear him speaking Spanish! That is awesome. His goal this time was not to allow himself to default to English when it started to get tough, and he isn't taking the easy way out. That will help him tremendously.

We actually only have one more day of classes, tomorrow, and then we will be readying ourselves to pick up the next team. We are excited to see the Lighthouse gang again. We sure enjoyed them last year and know they will be a lot of fun again. We are also really blessed to have an entire team devoted to medical clinics. We won't be involved in the clinics, but the group will join us for all of the cultural/spiritual activities we do with the Lighthouse team.

I know the Lord has good things planned for both of these groups. There have been some challenges in organizing things for them, and I know when the enemy tries to frustrate us or take our focus off of the Lord and direct it to the challenges, it is because God is planning something big. I am excited to see what that is and be a part of it. Pray for us as we really get busy now. We have teams back to back (and overlapping) between now and the end of October. Pray for an abundance of health, wisdom, patience, and love to be evident in our lives as we serve the teams and the Guatemalans we work with.

Blessings on you!

Karren

Two days ago Rocky finished installing our new wood stove! We were so excited to have our first fire. We sat around the stove, warming ourselves as the rain poured down outside. It was so incredibly nice to feel warm and dry! Rocky had a hard time getting the wood to burn, although. Here they use dense, wet hardwood for firewood - can you believe it? Q5 or about 60 cents bought us an arm load of wood, but it was too wet to burn. So, we had to improvise. We found a pine shelf from one of the cupboards we don't use, and burned it! It worked great!

This morning, we took the Land Cruiser 4x4 up to Bem Pek to check out the road. We are making our second trip up to this remote village with the Lighthouse Team and wanted to check out the condition of the road, as we have had some pretty crazy rain storms lately. Last year when we did children's ministry in Bem Pek, we had to rent 4x4's to get up the road because it had rained a lot and the road was in pretty rough shape. Now, although, the ministry has 2 of its own 4x4's, so we are good to go!

We didn't encounter any other vehicle traffic on the road, but lots of foot traffic. Many men were carrying down loads of wood. Some had long pieces, like the photo above, and others had short wood, meant for burning in the kitchen. In Tactic, the majority of people still cook over a fire. Some have pretty sophisticated wood stoves to cook on, but they still use wood.
The end of the road in Bem Pek offers quite a view. From one direction, looking back towards town, you can see the valleys full of corn. Every bit of land not covered with trees is planted in corn. From the opposite direction is a little foot path leading down to the small public school.

The vegetation is lush and varied and you can sure see the creativity of the Lord in the landscape; it is absolutely spectacular. In 2 weeks, we will be returning to Bem Pek, this time with a team. We will be doing 3 days of children's ministry in the little village and I know it will be a huge blessing to those living in Bem Pek. The miracle of the work that we do, although, is that as we serve, we receive an even greater blessing than the one we give to those we serve. How does that work? I don't know; but, I know it works. Time after time our hearts are humbled and filled with gratitude as we give ourselves away.

The principle in Scripture that speaks about giving your life away and in doing so you will find real life - life to the full...it is true!

When you are serving others, it is pretty tough to focus on your own challenges and hardships. I read somewhere that the best therapy for those suffering from depression is to plug in somewhere and volunteer. Yes! God knew this all along. He actually designed us to serve, not to be served, and in the serving we are lifted above our circumstances and blessed. Try it out - it really works!

Back in Tactic.

We arrived in Guatemala on Monday, July 4th. This morning is the first chance I have had to connect to the internet to let you all know we are here!

We arrived with a team from Richmond Christian School, so we hit the ground running! This group is doing children's ministry in San Antonio and working in Chijacorral. They are a great bunch of young people, full of enthusiasm and interested in growing in the Lord.

There is also a doctor and two nurses with this group, so they are running medical clinics each day. Today they are in San Antonio doing a clinic for the community.

My mother-in-law, Sherry Chupa, loaned me a small, hand-held video camera and I have been having fun learning how to use it. I tried attaching a video to this blog, but for some reason it won't let me. I must be doing something wrong; so, I'll have to keep trying!

I have been really stretched, language wise, with this group. They needed multiple translators for their children's ministry program, and I had to function as one. I find translating from Spanish into English easier every day, but when I have to go from English to Spanish, it is a real challenge! I simply don't have the vocabulary. So, Rocky and I are hoping to get into language school the last week of July, as there isn't a group here then and we both really need to learn more. This would be a great area for you to pray for us - that the Lord would increase our capacity to communicate in Spanish.

That's it for now. Thank you for your continued support and prayers! May God bless you richly!

Karren

Our last days in Canada!

Well, it is Saturday, July 2, 2011. Tomorrow we leave for Vancouver and fly out Monday morning bright and early! Our time here in Canada has been wonderful! Although we didn't get to see everyone we wanted to, we did have wonderful opportunities to connect with those we love. It just amazes me what a wonderful family the Lord has blessed us with.

We spent time with my parents before they left for another one of their motorhome adventures. We were at the coast to see Rocky's side of the family for a few days, reconnecting with our youngest neices, Izzie (5) and Tilly (2 1/2). When we spend the majority of the year out of the country, it is the youngest in our family who forget who we are, so time together is important. I was able to take a "girls" trip with Alex and Arryn and really enjoyed just hanging out with them. Rocky was able to connect with a bit of work - PTL! - and we got Hope all set up for camp.

We also had an opportunity to share at our home church - Bible Truth Church - and our sponsoring church - Gateway City Church. It is such an honour to share, even if just a little, with those who are praying and supporting us here in Canada.

Yesterday, we went out to Paul Lake government campground and had a hotdog roast with my family. My sister Chris, brother-in-law Dean, and their entire family were there (Josh, Christa, Zeke (3), Zoe (1); Chels and Jesse). What fun! The weather hasn't been typical June heat, but it was really fun to sit around a campfire, visiting and eating, just sharing time together.

Now, this morning, I am working on taking care of the last minute things to prepare for our return to Guatemala. It is at times like this when I feel a little "torn between two homes." I suppose that is just part of being a missionary. I have been reading through the book of Acts, and Paul was torn between many homes which had a piece of his heart! I am very thankful that as we go from Canada to Guatemala, I am not feeling overwhelmed at leaving family behind. Rather, I am anticipating what the Lord has in store for us over the next 4 months.

Thank you, Lord, for giving me the opportunity to embrace two homes, two families, and two cultures. What a blessing!

Karren

In Canada for a Visit!

We arrived on June 7th at about midnight, but didn't make it through customs, etc until about 1:30 am! It was nice to see my dad, waiting for us on the other end.
We drove to Bridal Falls, where he and my mom were camping, and crashed for the night. In the morning, Arryn and Marshal met us for breakfast and then we drove to Kamloops. It is so nice to be able to spend some time with family!
It is hard to believe that our time home is already 1/2 over! It goes so quickly! But that is okay. I spent Sunday to Tuesday with Arryn in Chilliwack. We visited family in Chilliwack and Vancouver and just hung out together. I sure miss that!
Tonight, all the family in Kamloops is getting together at my sister's for the final game - go Canucks, go! - and supper.
God has blessed us with an incredible family! We all get along and enjoy spending time together - what a gift!
Blessings on you and yours,
Karren

Ugh! Flies!

It is fly season in Tactic! UGH! Everything is covered in flies. Not just one or two, but 10 or 15 all over the coffee pot, or, as the photo indicates, all over the kitchen table. It is Rocky's 51st birthday today, so I baked him a cake. It was quite a feat to get it mixed and into the oven without a fly sneaking into the batter. Then, once I iced it, I had to cover it with a pot (so I didn't wreck the icing) and then make sure all the possible gaps were filled with plastic wrap, so that the flies didn't enjoy the cake before we did!

When I took this photo, there were a total of 12 flies drinking water off of the table. It doesn't seem to matter how clean we keep things or how many we kill, they just keep coming. At first we thought it was because of the market that moved in directly behind our house. You know, rotting fruit and vegetables are bound to breed flies. But, we were assured it is bad all over town, so we have resigned ourselves to living with flies for now.

Why did God create flies? I don't know. I cannot see the purpose of a fly, other than to annoy me, yet they are God's creation, so they must have a purpose. I am sure by the time I get to heaven, I won't really care about flies; I am simply going to sit at the feet of my Father. But today, here on earth, flies are a part of my life. As I swatted and sprayed, trying to rid the house of at least a few of these nasty critters, I started thinking.

There are a lot of things in life that are a little like flies - annoying and difficult to understand why they exist. I fight against them, and yet they persist. Perhaps the "flies" in my life are simply around to remind me that I need to adjust my focus and not make such a fuss about things that don't really matter. When I look up...way up...everything changes.

This picture also is of a fly, but when you focus on what else is there, the fly almost disappears. This is exactly what happens in my life when I have challenges that are driving me crazy, but instead of focusing on what I cannot change, I focus in on the Lord, and suddenly what I see is completely different. It isn't that the "fly" is gone; it is just now in its proper perspective.

Thank you, Lord, for your gentle reminders that You give me everyday. I need You to help me focus on what really counts.

Plug into Relationships

I remember, not so long ago, putting on a CD on Saturday mornings as our family went about our household chores. We all listened together, in community. Today, we all have our own Ipods, so we can listen to what we want, and we plug in our earphones and plug each other out! I remember, not so long ago, actually going into the bank and knowing the tellers by name and visiting with them a little as I did my banking business. Now, rarely do I ever actually go to a bank. I do all my banking online and if I have to make a deposit, I use an ATM. I remember, not so long ago, not having cell phones and actually having to talk to others. Now, I do more texting than talking. I even remember, not so long ago, when someone came to the car and pumped your gas, cleaned your windshield and checked your oil and tire pressure! Now, I simply swipe my credit card and "pay at the pump." Not contact required! The last time we returned to Canada, the grocery store and hardware store had automated checkouts. We could choose whether or not we wanted to speak to anyone or simply stay in our own little world, isolated and alone.


The modern world is becoming less and less connected, relationally. Yet, we serve a God who sent His Son, to connect with the world, relationally. This Son gave us a relational ministry - that of reconciliation - as though we were His "ambassadors, making His appeal through us!" 2 Corinthians 5.


How, as believers, can we live in this modern world and enjoy the technology that has simplified our lives, but at the same time, not get so plugged into ourselves that we are plugged out of the world around us? It is a challenging question.



Living in rural Guatemala, has helped us take a step back and see what is happening in our home culture so much more clearly than if we never would have left. Here, our world is relational. Relationships always superceed tasks and people are always more important than things.



This is not so, when we go back to Canada. Yet, Jesus called us, as believers, to be fishers of men - "to go and make disciples of all nations..." Matthew 28:19. That takes time; it takes energy; it takes heart; it takes committment; it takes relationship!


We are coming home for a visit in June. I didn't think I was going to be able to join Rocky and Hope, but thanks to my parents' generosity, I can! One thing I am going to try to focus on, while in Canada, is to engage in relationship, wherever I am. If I am at the grocery store, I am going to choose the checkout with a person working the cash register so that I can, in some small way, build relationship and be a blessing. I am going to take the time to talk to the people I encounter along the way, because this is what Jesus would do and because He lives in me, this is what I am to do!


Will this make errands take longer? Absolutely! But I really believe it is worth it. You see, the only way we, as the body of Christ, are going to reach the lost in our culture, is by building relationships one person at a time. Jesus took the time with me, and it radically transformed my life. Now, because I no longer live for myself, but for Him who died for me and was raised again, this ministry is mine! Wow! Challenging, hey?


The Lord is speaking to me about unplugging from my own isolated world and plugging into those around me, speaking words of life to all I encounter, being salt and light in the mission field where God has planted me as His ambassador, so that the lost in my community can be found! I challenge you to do the same!


Blessings on you,

Karren