We have been home now for 2 weeks. Rocky has been working a bit, which is great. We seem to be accumulating more bills than paychecks these days!
While we were on our Vision Trip, there were many things that the Lord impressed upon us. I suppose that is what a vision trip should be all about, right? Hearing from the Lord.
One thing became very clear to both Rocky and me - we need to focus on learning Spanish. We have been stumbling along, but that is just not good enough any more. So, we are committing to 3 months of language school - 4 hours/day/5 days a week one-on-one instruction! This will be stretching for both of us. We really do desire, although, to have enough language that we can share our hearts with those we are ministering to without the language standing in our way.
Another thing we both felt very strongly was the need to partner with a sending agency that could not only provide our supporters with a stable, reliable avenue to give, financially, and receive tax receipts, but also an organization that would be able to provide Rocky and me with a covering. We found one: CTEN (Commission to Every Nation). Their mandate is, "to help ordinary people do extraordinary things with God." CTEN offers its missionaries an incredible support system and we are really excited about this. Our paper work is all in and we now waiting to hear back from the head office in Texas. Once accepted, we will be assigned a Pastoral Care Couple who will be responsible for us. They will visit us twice a year out on the field and will be available to us via phone and email whenever we need to talk, need advice or just have a question.
And, finally, the real reason for trip - to determine where God wants us to sow our lives. We were not really sure about this until last weekend. All four of the ministries we visited really were incredible. They were all very different in size and structure, yet each one is working towards building God's Kingdom and each one could use some extra help. The more we talked about the different ministries and prayed about where we should go, the more one particular ministry seemed to stay in the forefront of our minds - Mano con Mano. It wasn't that this was the most established ministry we visited or that our jobs would be easily defined and fixed. In fact, there will be many unknowns for us here, but it is where we believe God is calling us to be. We are in the process of communicating with the directors of Mano con Mano Health Reach who will, in turn be communicating with the board of Mano con Mano regarding our placement.
We are excited to see what the next 6 months holds, as we dig in and really study Spanish, build a relationship with CTEN and Mano con Mano, establish a home and begin to plug into ministry once again. Thank you so much for your continued prayers and support. We are truly blessed!
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
We are home...safe and sound!
Well, we did it! We drove 10,500km to Guatemala and Honduras! We can now check that off of our "to do" list. Well, I am not sure it was ever on my "to do" list; that was Rocky's list! No, it was an amazing adventure and an incredible learning experience.
As I look back at our journey, I really am quite amazed at how the Lord guided and directed us. Every step of the way, we could sense His hand upon us.
Every morning we would start our day by reading a chapter out of the Bible, working through one entry from Oswald Chamber's My Utmost for His Highest, and then reading a chapter or two from The Power of a Whisper: Hearing God. Having the Guts to Respond, by Bill Hybels.
It was a great way to set the stage for the day. Many years ago, God impressed upon me the passage from Psalm 5, where it talks about seeking God in the morning and then waiting in expectation to see Him move.
Because our regular routines were interrupted and we were journeying through unfamiliar territory, it really caused us to seek the Lord and look for His leading. Rocky liked one description from Bill Hybels' book, "striving to hear God." This is what we did, and you know what? We heard! I guess I still find that incredible - that the God of the universe would be interested in speaking to me. But it is true.
Now that we are home, we are beginning to reflect on the ministries we visited. Just to recap them for all of you:
Adventure in Missions - El Cacao, Atlantica, Honduras.
Loma de Luz - Belfate, Atlantica, Honduras.
Fe Viva - Chiquimulilla, Santa Rosa, Guatemala.
Mano con Mano - San Jose el Yalu, Guatemala, Guatemala.
Each one of these ministries is doing an amazing work and we could see how we could partner with all four, but we know that we need to find one, so we continue to process.
Thank you for praying for us and supporting us as we walk through this time of transition. We are very aware that we are not in this alone, but have many who are partnering with us. For that we are grateful!
Blessings,
Karren
As I look back at our journey, I really am quite amazed at how the Lord guided and directed us. Every step of the way, we could sense His hand upon us.
Every morning we would start our day by reading a chapter out of the Bible, working through one entry from Oswald Chamber's My Utmost for His Highest, and then reading a chapter or two from The Power of a Whisper: Hearing God. Having the Guts to Respond, by Bill Hybels.
It was a great way to set the stage for the day. Many years ago, God impressed upon me the passage from Psalm 5, where it talks about seeking God in the morning and then waiting in expectation to see Him move.
Because our regular routines were interrupted and we were journeying through unfamiliar territory, it really caused us to seek the Lord and look for His leading. Rocky liked one description from Bill Hybels' book, "striving to hear God." This is what we did, and you know what? We heard! I guess I still find that incredible - that the God of the universe would be interested in speaking to me. But it is true.
Now that we are home, we are beginning to reflect on the ministries we visited. Just to recap them for all of you:
Adventure in Missions - El Cacao, Atlantica, Honduras.
Loma de Luz - Belfate, Atlantica, Honduras.
Fe Viva - Chiquimulilla, Santa Rosa, Guatemala.
Mano con Mano - San Jose el Yalu, Guatemala, Guatemala.
Each one of these ministries is doing an amazing work and we could see how we could partner with all four, but we know that we need to find one, so we continue to process.
Thank you for praying for us and supporting us as we walk through this time of transition. We are very aware that we are not in this alone, but have many who are partnering with us. For that we are grateful!
Blessings,
Karren
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Today is Day 29 - 2 more days left!
On Tuesday, we journeyed from San Cristobal Verapaz to San Lucas, just outside of Guatemala City. It was fun to be on familiar roads again. Well, fun might not quite be the right word. The condition of the road between Tactic and El Rancho - the midway point between here and the capital - has deteriorated substantially. Instead of 3 or 4 large sections of sunken road, we counted 12! And, rather than working on one until it is finished, they have partially worked on them all, but none are complete! Wow! That would never work in Canada! 
The purpose of our trip was to visit Gerry and Barb, a couple from Ontario, who are working with Mano con Mano in a small village of 1900 people called San Jose el Yalu.
We spent the night at their home in San Lucas and then made the trip out to Yalu in the morning.
We have just been amazed at all of the good things the Lord is doing in Central America. Each ministry we have visited has been such a huge blessing to us and to the community they are serving. Mano con Mano is no exception. They are working in a small remote community and trying to help without causing harm. They too, have read When Helping Hurts and are pretty sensitive to providing help, not harm.
The ministry is involved in a variety of building projects - outhouses, beds, and stoves. They don't give these away; they sell them at a price that requires the people to save, but is not out of their reach. The beds are Q200 (about 34% of the actual cost); the outhouses are Q300 (about 19% of the actual cost); and the stoves are Q300 (about 17% of the actual cost).
They also receive a few teams from North America throughout the year. They have a medical clinic with a part-time Guatemalan doctor, but love to bring in other medical professionals to serve the three villages that are close together.
They have a feeding program where they serve 250 kids three times a week. Once a month, the doctor weighs and measures each child to track their growth and intervenes, medically, when necessary.
They are also involved in education. Health education is a huge part of what they do. The doctor gives classes three times a week on various subjects from self-esteem to hygiene. They run an afterschool program for both primary and high school, and they support the work in the public school. In addition, they offer scholarships for the top students from sexto (our grade 7). These scholarships provide them with an education in a Christian school in Sumpango - a city about a 1/2 hour away.
They work very closely with a large church in Sumpango, as well, which is their home church. This pastor is very visionary and has some amazing plans for the future.
We had a great day, participating in some of the activities that were taking place in this community. Then, at around 3:30pm, we left to return to San Cristobal for our last two nights.
Our hosts in San Cristobal are John and Donna Reynolds, the founders of Cross Commission Ministry. This is where Arryn works. They have been amazing. The work they are doing is incredible - reaching out to the young people who otherwise would just be hanging out on the street. They are seeing 3-4 young people come to the Lord every month! On the surface, it looks like a regular youth drop in center with pool tables and games, but in every conversation and interaction, the Lord is present and His truth is being presented. It is very cool!
Although we are feeling a little tired and ready to go home, our time here has been a real gift. God is so good to us. We really don't deserve it, yet, He pours out His love on us, day after day. It is such an honour to serve Him with our lives.
Blessings,
Karren
The purpose of our trip was to visit Gerry and Barb, a couple from Ontario, who are working with Mano con Mano in a small village of 1900 people called San Jose el Yalu.
We spent the night at their home in San Lucas and then made the trip out to Yalu in the morning.
We have just been amazed at all of the good things the Lord is doing in Central America. Each ministry we have visited has been such a huge blessing to us and to the community they are serving. Mano con Mano is no exception. They are working in a small remote community and trying to help without causing harm. They too, have read When Helping Hurts and are pretty sensitive to providing help, not harm.
The ministry is involved in a variety of building projects - outhouses, beds, and stoves. They don't give these away; they sell them at a price that requires the people to save, but is not out of their reach. The beds are Q200 (about 34% of the actual cost); the outhouses are Q300 (about 19% of the actual cost); and the stoves are Q300 (about 17% of the actual cost).
They also receive a few teams from North America throughout the year. They have a medical clinic with a part-time Guatemalan doctor, but love to bring in other medical professionals to serve the three villages that are close together.
They have a feeding program where they serve 250 kids three times a week. Once a month, the doctor weighs and measures each child to track their growth and intervenes, medically, when necessary.
They are also involved in education. Health education is a huge part of what they do. The doctor gives classes three times a week on various subjects from self-esteem to hygiene. They run an afterschool program for both primary and high school, and they support the work in the public school. In addition, they offer scholarships for the top students from sexto (our grade 7). These scholarships provide them with an education in a Christian school in Sumpango - a city about a 1/2 hour away.
They work very closely with a large church in Sumpango, as well, which is their home church. This pastor is very visionary and has some amazing plans for the future.
We had a great day, participating in some of the activities that were taking place in this community. Then, at around 3:30pm, we left to return to San Cristobal for our last two nights.
Our hosts in San Cristobal are John and Donna Reynolds, the founders of Cross Commission Ministry. This is where Arryn works. They have been amazing. The work they are doing is incredible - reaching out to the young people who otherwise would just be hanging out on the street. They are seeing 3-4 young people come to the Lord every month! On the surface, it looks like a regular youth drop in center with pool tables and games, but in every conversation and interaction, the Lord is present and His truth is being presented. It is very cool!
Although we are feeling a little tired and ready to go home, our time here has been a real gift. God is so good to us. We really don't deserve it, yet, He pours out His love on us, day after day. It is such an honour to serve Him with our lives.
Blessings,
Karren
Monday, March 5, 2012
The last few days have flown by. On Saturday, Hope, Arryn and I, along with Hector's sister, Nancy, did some wedding shopping. What fun!
We found the seamstress who is going to make Arryn's dress and we are going to go back to her shop on Thursday so she can measure Arryn and get started.
We also found the flower shop where we will be able to get the flowers Arryn wants even in November. Because flowers are so cheap here, we bought a bunch and played around with different arrangements and sort of decided what we were going to go with.
Then, in the evening, we went to the central park in Tactic to have Churascos with Ruth, Walter and their two kids, Sammy and Katie. It was a great day.
We literally ate our way through Sunday! For breakfast, we went to Obed and Kara's. Arryn works with Obed at the Zona. They have three adorable kids and are expecting their fourth. We had homemade bread, berry coffee cake, and home roasted coffee...yummy!
Then, we were off for Chicoy to have lunch with Jorge and his family, along with some of the guys we worked with for the last two years. It was a really nice lunch. Ana, Jorge's wife, made chicken chow mein, and, you guessed...more coffee.
We left Chicoy just in time for church at Rio de Vida. It was wonderful to see so many familiar faces and once again worship together with those we were honoured to call friends. Irvin, one of the leaders of the church, spoke about the power of prayer.
After church, we had a barbeque at Hector's. Heber, Jose, Eduardo, Naidi, Ana, Jorge, Manolo, Hector, Arryn, Hope, Rocky and I feasted on chicken, beef, sausage, pasta salad, black beans, and toasted tortillas. I was so full I could hardly move! It was a long, very full day, but it was awesome!
Today, Rocky and I went to Coban to check out language schools. One of the things the Lord has really impressed upon us while we've been on this journey is the importance of studying Spanish and becoming more fluent.
Both Rocky and I have only had 3 weeks of classes, spread out over two years. That just isn't enough. If we are really going to be effective in the work God is calling us to, we need to be able to speak better Spanish. So, we are going to commit to a minimum of 2 months of schooling when we return in April.
Tomorrow, we are off to visit Gerry and Barb Normand from Mano con Mano, a ministry about a half hour outside of the capital. This ministry started as a medical clinic, but has grown and is involved in both education and feeding programs in the small community of San Jose el Yalu.
We also hope to stop at the airport in the capital to check on rental cars (trying to plan ahead for Arryn and Hector's wedding) as well as to ensure they will let Rocky fly home and leave the car behind.
I probably won't blog again until we get back to San Cristobal on Wednesday evening/Thursday morning.
Blessings,
Karren
We found the seamstress who is going to make Arryn's dress and we are going to go back to her shop on Thursday so she can measure Arryn and get started.
We also found the flower shop where we will be able to get the flowers Arryn wants even in November. Because flowers are so cheap here, we bought a bunch and played around with different arrangements and sort of decided what we were going to go with.
Then, in the evening, we went to the central park in Tactic to have Churascos with Ruth, Walter and their two kids, Sammy and Katie. It was a great day.
We literally ate our way through Sunday! For breakfast, we went to Obed and Kara's. Arryn works with Obed at the Zona. They have three adorable kids and are expecting their fourth. We had homemade bread, berry coffee cake, and home roasted coffee...yummy!
Then, we were off for Chicoy to have lunch with Jorge and his family, along with some of the guys we worked with for the last two years. It was a really nice lunch. Ana, Jorge's wife, made chicken chow mein, and, you guessed...more coffee.
We left Chicoy just in time for church at Rio de Vida. It was wonderful to see so many familiar faces and once again worship together with those we were honoured to call friends. Irvin, one of the leaders of the church, spoke about the power of prayer.
After church, we had a barbeque at Hector's. Heber, Jose, Eduardo, Naidi, Ana, Jorge, Manolo, Hector, Arryn, Hope, Rocky and I feasted on chicken, beef, sausage, pasta salad, black beans, and toasted tortillas. I was so full I could hardly move! It was a long, very full day, but it was awesome!
Today, Rocky and I went to Coban to check out language schools. One of the things the Lord has really impressed upon us while we've been on this journey is the importance of studying Spanish and becoming more fluent.
Both Rocky and I have only had 3 weeks of classes, spread out over two years. That just isn't enough. If we are really going to be effective in the work God is calling us to, we need to be able to speak better Spanish. So, we are going to commit to a minimum of 2 months of schooling when we return in April.
Tomorrow, we are off to visit Gerry and Barb Normand from Mano con Mano, a ministry about a half hour outside of the capital. This ministry started as a medical clinic, but has grown and is involved in both education and feeding programs in the small community of San Jose el Yalu.
We also hope to stop at the airport in the capital to check on rental cars (trying to plan ahead for Arryn and Hector's wedding) as well as to ensure they will let Rocky fly home and leave the car behind.
I probably won't blog again until we get back to San Cristobal on Wednesday evening/Thursday morning.
Blessings,
Karren
Friday, March 2, 2012
Meeting the In-laws.
We arrived in San Cristobal a few days ago and have been enjoying our time with Arryn. The founders of the ministry that she is working with, Cross Commission, are John and Donna Reynolds. They are amazing people! They have been so generous with us. They opened their home, their ministry and their lives to us and have asked nothing in return. We have had the chance to hang out at the Zona and see first hand the work that is happening there. Young people are coming to Christ and being discipled - it is pretty incredible. Last night we had the privilege of going to Coban and meeting Hector's family. I think we were all a little nervous at first,
but by the end of the evening, we felt pretty comfortable with each other. Hector's family is obviously very loving and close and they have embraced Arryn wholeheartedly. Hector's mom lives on a compound with his dad's extended family; his dad left for the States when he was young, but he grew up surrounded by family.
We had an awesome dinner - stewed meat, potatoes, pasta salad, tea and dessert. His mom, sister, brother-in-law, grandmother, aunt and cousin were there. Although it was tough to
communicate at first, as we all relaxed, it became easier. After supper, Hector's brother-in-law broke out the cards and we played a few rounds of "have no mercy" Uno. It was great fun. It is funny how a game can bring two cultures together and bridge whatever language barriers are there. His brother-in-law is quite the character and we laughed a lot.
It was great to see that Hector's family has accepted Arryn so well and to know that they are good people, but it was even more awesome to see how they love the Lord.
Hector wanted to start the evening with prayer and worship, and so Rocky prayed over them and we sang a few songs together. What a blessing it is to know that both Arryn and Hector have a heritage of faith behind them and that they are starting out with God at the center of their lives. As parents, what more could we want?
Rocky and I both left that supper, feeling good about the family that Arryn is marrying into.
Thank you, Lord! You are so faithful!
Tomorrow morning we are off to Coban to do some wedding shopping/planning and then later in the day we are going to spend some time with Walter, Ruth and their kids.
Blessings,
Karren
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