What's Up?

Well, it is already February 18th!  I don't know about you, but I cannot believe how quickly the last 6 weeks have passed. 

We have been blessed to help more than 80 children with school supplies, and about 30 with shoes and uniforms!  Incredible!  Talk about the Lord multiplying the fish and the loaves.  We started with a couple of bins of donated supplies, a donation from a church and a gift from my Mom and Dad, and look what God accomplished!  Truly He has taken what we would have thought could only serve about 25 and expanded our vision and our faith!  Just this morning we delivered the last 7 backpacks. 
What a blessing! 

Rocky has been working with guys at the mission and has had the opportunity to teach them how to use a sight level and other machines for woodwork.  He really enjoys the opportunity to teach skills as they accomplish a job.  The photo here is of Rocky and Lucas.  Lucas doesn't speak any Spanish, only K'ekchi, but somehow they are able to understand each other. 

I have also been teaching English to the primary teachers at the Christian school in Chisec, where Hector and Arryn work.  Every week I go in and teach them and provide a little mini lesson/unit for them to try out with their classes.  It is a lot of fun and another great way to build relationships and make connections in town. 

Last week we received a petition for a water project from a group who live in a remote village.  They described how in the dry season they had to walk 2 hours to find relatively clean water and it was very limited.  They are not able to dig a well because the ground is so rocky, the drills are not able to penetrate it.  We will be working with the group to create a cistern and pump system to service their village as well a community pilla (outdoor sink) so the women can come and do their laundry without polluting what water they have.  I love being able to show the Love of God in such practicle ways!

This week we are leaving for Panajachel for the Intermissions Coference.  Although we've been members of Intermission for almost 3 years, we've never had the opportunity to attend the conference.  We are excited to fellowship with other missionaries and hear the Word in English...It's been a long time! 

We have now been in Guatemala almost 1 year without a trip back to Canada.  This is a first for us.  Although our Spanish continues to improve, we have really missed family and English fellowship and are looking forward to our trip home in April.  We are, the Lord willing, planning on being in Canada from April 15 - June 4.  As many of you know, our daughter Alex is getting married in May, so we planned this trip around her wedding.  It will be good to connect with family and friends (hopefully you!) and our home church.  After being away so much, there will be many new faces in church and we will be the strangers!  Funny how that works.

Blessings,
Karren