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!