For some reason, I just happened to be awake in the wee hours of yesterday morning when my bed started to tremble, then shake, then really shake. Several thoughts went through my mind and being the slow thinker that I am you know that this quake was a long one. My first thought was, it will quit in a few seconds. When it didn't my next thought was, maybe I should get outside, but I didn't. My next thought was, o.k., it's time for this to stop. When finally, after 45 seconds, the shaking started to subside, my next thought was, wherever the epicenter was there is probably damage. When I did finally get up and check the news, I found that it was a 7.1 and there had indeed been damage and death. This was the longest quake I have experienced since being here. They usually only last 10 to 15 seconds....it only seems longer. The mission house and apartments have been built to stand a quake of the magnitude of 8 or higher, but when I look at some of the cracks in the concrete, I can't help but wonder.
In one of my early blogs, I stated that there were plans in the works to teach English to the principal of the school in Santo Domingo. So far, that has not come to pass and now another person has asked me to teach him English. What's up with this? Am I supposed to teach? First of all, I have had no experience as a teacher and also there are other obstacles to overcome, none of which God cannot overcome, in fact already has if this is His plan. Please help me pray about this and be open to His leading and enabling.
Luisa
May 29, 2009
May 18, 2009
On the road again....or rather in the air.
My time in the U. S. is rapidly coming to a close. It has been good to spend time with my family and friends and to once again worship with my church family.
But now it is back to Guatemala to make preparations for the teams coming this summer and to check on some people in the villages. It is going to be a very busy summer starting a few days after I get back and continuing until mid-August.
Hopefully, I will be able to make time to blog and keep everyone up to date on what is going on in Gautemala.
As I read the news of things that are happening in the world and especially in our country, it mystifies me that so many people cannot see a connection between the economic problems and unrest in the world and the prophesies in the Bible. That is until I read that those who are not spiritually enlightened are not spiritually discerning.
Maybe the reason I like my job so much is because I get to be around people who love God and are not afraid to say so.
Luisa
But now it is back to Guatemala to make preparations for the teams coming this summer and to check on some people in the villages. It is going to be a very busy summer starting a few days after I get back and continuing until mid-August.
Hopefully, I will be able to make time to blog and keep everyone up to date on what is going on in Gautemala.
As I read the news of things that are happening in the world and especially in our country, it mystifies me that so many people cannot see a connection between the economic problems and unrest in the world and the prophesies in the Bible. That is until I read that those who are not spiritually enlightened are not spiritually discerning.
Maybe the reason I like my job so much is because I get to be around people who love God and are not afraid to say so.
Luisa
Apr 24, 2009
Soapbox Time
It's soooo easy! Just swipe your credit card through a little machine, sign your name and you are in debt. I had to learn this week how to use one of those little machines, now I have it down pat.
There was a friend of mine once, when I lived in Michigan, who was a truck driver and received a monthly expense check. He decided to put all his expenses on his credit card then pay that bill off when his expense check came. Unfortunately, his expense check first and he spent it on other things so he didn't have the money to pay the credit card bill. This friend eventually declared bankruptcy. Do the phrases "take responsibility for your actions", "payday someday", and "paying the piper', come to mind?
When I used to work as an escrow agent doing loan closings for people who were refinancing their homes in order to pay off some debts, it was astounding to me the amount of money some people owed to credit card companies. How could they let this happen? It is so easy. It is amazingly easy to obtain a credit card and even easier to use it, often times irresponsibly.
What is it about us that we almost think we are being unpatriotic if we are not in debt. You might say we are helping the economy when we buy things because if we don't buy, there won't be a demand. We have been demanding things for years and where is the economy.
Sadly, I see the same thing happening in Guatemala. More and more people are handing over the little piece of plastic in Maxi Bodega (Wal-Mart).
I heard on the news just this week that the average person has eight credit cards. My word! Why would a person need eight credit cards? I don't mind being below average in this respect. I only have one and have considered shredding it, but it is so convenient. Oh well, if I get too far in debt, my faithful government will bail me out.
Luisa
There was a friend of mine once, when I lived in Michigan, who was a truck driver and received a monthly expense check. He decided to put all his expenses on his credit card then pay that bill off when his expense check came. Unfortunately, his expense check first and he spent it on other things so he didn't have the money to pay the credit card bill. This friend eventually declared bankruptcy. Do the phrases "take responsibility for your actions", "payday someday", and "paying the piper', come to mind?
When I used to work as an escrow agent doing loan closings for people who were refinancing their homes in order to pay off some debts, it was astounding to me the amount of money some people owed to credit card companies. How could they let this happen? It is so easy. It is amazingly easy to obtain a credit card and even easier to use it, often times irresponsibly.
What is it about us that we almost think we are being unpatriotic if we are not in debt. You might say we are helping the economy when we buy things because if we don't buy, there won't be a demand. We have been demanding things for years and where is the economy.
Sadly, I see the same thing happening in Guatemala. More and more people are handing over the little piece of plastic in Maxi Bodega (Wal-Mart).
I heard on the news just this week that the average person has eight credit cards. My word! Why would a person need eight credit cards? I don't mind being below average in this respect. I only have one and have considered shredding it, but it is so convenient. Oh well, if I get too far in debt, my faithful government will bail me out.
Luisa
Apr 13, 2009
The Sky is Falling
What is that stuff falling out of the sky? There has been little to no rain in Guatemala since mid-October and the day after I arrived in the states, it rained all day. I'm sure the Easter egg hunters were disappointed, but it looked good to me.
Just before I left Guatemala, a couple of people came to me with needs for help in paying for medical exams. One was for a woman's son who needed x-rays and other exams on his back and another was for a lady who needed an ultra-sound to determine if she had miscarried. She got the results a couple of days before I left and it looks as though she has lost the baby. Whether this was brought on by stress or would have happened anyway, I don't know. It can be very stressful when men show up at your house with shotguns demanding to see your husband as they did at hers. She managed to close the door on them and no one was harmed, just frightened out of their wits.
As I spend these few weeks in my home country, I am reminded again of how blessed we are here with material things. If material things were all that we needed, America would have no needs. We don't know that we are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and naked, and blind. But there is hope....in Jesus Christ.
Luisa
Just before I left Guatemala, a couple of people came to me with needs for help in paying for medical exams. One was for a woman's son who needed x-rays and other exams on his back and another was for a lady who needed an ultra-sound to determine if she had miscarried. She got the results a couple of days before I left and it looks as though she has lost the baby. Whether this was brought on by stress or would have happened anyway, I don't know. It can be very stressful when men show up at your house with shotguns demanding to see your husband as they did at hers. She managed to close the door on them and no one was harmed, just frightened out of their wits.
As I spend these few weeks in my home country, I am reminded again of how blessed we are here with material things. If material things were all that we needed, America would have no needs. We don't know that we are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and naked, and blind. But there is hope....in Jesus Christ.
Luisa
Apr 1, 2009
Joy, Joy, Joy
What a difference a few days and a little good news can make. Last week I received word that my residency has been granted for me to stay in Guatemala. It has been well over a year since the process was started to bring this about. What this means is that I can now stay in Guatemala for two years without having to leave the country every 90 or 180 days. After that I can apply for a permanent residency which I understand is a much simpler process. All that's left to do is go to the city Friday to pick up my passport from my attorney.
This probably doesn't mean much to a lot of people, but to me, it is a big deal. Without the residency there is always that time limit hovering around in the back of my mind like a little gray cloud. To me, it means freedom to think and to plan things that I was hesitant to do before.
There is a young man here who has become an object of my prayers. He has no job, no money and through the generosity and good graces of a friend is attending the seminary here in Chimal. This friend is looking for a way to set the young man up in a business in order for him to support his family and continue his studies at seminary. This bears more investigation and as I said much prayer. Please join me in praying for him and for direction and wisdom for me.
Luisa
This probably doesn't mean much to a lot of people, but to me, it is a big deal. Without the residency there is always that time limit hovering around in the back of my mind like a little gray cloud. To me, it means freedom to think and to plan things that I was hesitant to do before.
There is a young man here who has become an object of my prayers. He has no job, no money and through the generosity and good graces of a friend is attending the seminary here in Chimal. This friend is looking for a way to set the young man up in a business in order for him to support his family and continue his studies at seminary. This bears more investigation and as I said much prayer. Please join me in praying for him and for direction and wisdom for me.
Luisa
Mar 20, 2009
Gloom, Despair, etc., etc...
Being sick is depressing to say the least and I almost forget what it feels like to feel good. I have heard it said that there is something good in everything...a silver lining behind every cloud. It is hard to see anything good when a person is flat on their back and their body aching from fever. However, after four of five days in bed, I noticed that some of my body parts were getting some much needed rest and weren't as sore as they had been. So maybe there is something to this silver lining business.
During all this, there has been a team at the mission house. This team is comprised totally of college students from the University of Alabama. I enjoy young people.....from a distance. They are so enthusiastic and full of energy. They are creative and flexible. They haven't yet learned that they have limitations, that there are certain things they aren't able to do, so they just do them anyway. This team of young people built five houses, held a basketball camp, visited homes and took food to families, conducted VBS, and had a block party. Now I can imagine what a block party in Guatemala must have looked like. In the states, it would consist probably of the people in one block or neighborhood. Here, I am sure people would come from everywhere to join the fun of a block party.
March has been relatively quiet and the time is rapidly approaching for me to leave for the states. It will be good to spend some time with my family and friends.
Luisa
During all this, there has been a team at the mission house. This team is comprised totally of college students from the University of Alabama. I enjoy young people.....from a distance. They are so enthusiastic and full of energy. They are creative and flexible. They haven't yet learned that they have limitations, that there are certain things they aren't able to do, so they just do them anyway. This team of young people built five houses, held a basketball camp, visited homes and took food to families, conducted VBS, and had a block party. Now I can imagine what a block party in Guatemala must have looked like. In the states, it would consist probably of the people in one block or neighborhood. Here, I am sure people would come from everywhere to join the fun of a block party.
March has been relatively quiet and the time is rapidly approaching for me to leave for the states. It will be good to spend some time with my family and friends.
Luisa
Mar 9, 2009
Wise Friends
Whether accidentally or on purpose, I don't know....I prefer to think on purpose....a very good, wise friend helped me this week to understand something that only someone who was standing back from the forest enough to see the trees could.
I have been put into a situation the last few days that has causing me not some small degree of stress and this friend made me see that what I was doing was protecting myself rather that reaching out to someone in need. That does not mean that I intend to roll over and play dead, but I have been able to formulate a plan that has relieved the stress somewhat.
I have another very good, wise friend who said something long ago that has stuck with me, but I have yet to figure out how to accomplish it. He claims that this was not original with him, but it sounds like something he would say. He said, "humility is not thinking less of yourself, it is not thinking of yourself at all."
We, meaning Laurie King and I went to see Berto last Thursday and he is doing surprisingly well. He has seemed to be doing better ever since his week's stay in the hospital. He has some pain, but it is not unbearable. On Saturday, I went back loaded with tangerines, Ensure, vitamins, and pain relievers for him. He is still adamant about not having the surgery....his choice.
I have decided that these posts need to be shorter and more frequent. I can promise shorter, but am not too sure about more frequent.
Luisa
I have been put into a situation the last few days that has causing me not some small degree of stress and this friend made me see that what I was doing was protecting myself rather that reaching out to someone in need. That does not mean that I intend to roll over and play dead, but I have been able to formulate a plan that has relieved the stress somewhat.
I have another very good, wise friend who said something long ago that has stuck with me, but I have yet to figure out how to accomplish it. He claims that this was not original with him, but it sounds like something he would say. He said, "humility is not thinking less of yourself, it is not thinking of yourself at all."
We, meaning Laurie King and I went to see Berto last Thursday and he is doing surprisingly well. He has seemed to be doing better ever since his week's stay in the hospital. He has some pain, but it is not unbearable. On Saturday, I went back loaded with tangerines, Ensure, vitamins, and pain relievers for him. He is still adamant about not having the surgery....his choice.
I have decided that these posts need to be shorter and more frequent. I can promise shorter, but am not too sure about more frequent.
Luisa
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