More Exciting Details...

We had a trip meeting this past Saturday and here are some updates....

-We saw pics of where we will be staying and working. We will be staying in a nicer, safer part of town and leaving the ghetto (where we will work) before dark.
-I think there are 19 of us going.
-We can pack 200 lbs of luggage, so it is our personal goal to pack 150 lbs of stuff to give away and 50 lbs for our things. I have been washing gently used toys, stuffed animals, and clothes. I'm going to buy or collect things for any remaining extra room in our the bags. Mama Carmen is a friend there. She is 70 years old and has adopted 50 kids!! She also runs a place for childcare for 30 kids for single moms. What a saint! It would make my heart feel happy to leave some of Addie and Ryan's nicer things there with them.
-Guatemala is a hugging place...Yeah for me, but of course this make Phil a little nervous.:O)
-Shorts aren't acceptable culturally...When Dwayne was telling us that, I was really thinking...YEAH! I feel like it is a ministry in itself for me not to wear shorts. We also need to wear clothes toed shoes because if sanitary issues. Apparently there is a river of sewage that goes through the place we will be working and when it rains a lot, well you can imagine.
-We also saw pics of places we will be working and the local people we will be working with. Tita's school building is salmon colored stucco building in a sea of shacks. She wants it to be a bright place among the poor!
-We will be helping at a food kitchen run by an American. They serve lots of meals for the homeless there, the youngest Dwayne and Peggy have seen there is a baby 8 days old!!!
-We will also be helping people convert their bathroom/kitchen room to be separate. Yikes, I can't imagine cooking and using the bathroom in the same 4X8 space!

I can't believe we are so excited about going! I will really miss Ryan and Addie, but I know that our time there will be such a blessing.

Will you please pray for our trip?

Things that Feed My Soul

Phil says I do too much for others and often forget to do things for and think about myself. This has actually been the source of quite a few arguments and let me just say...I hate it when he is right! So, I have been thinking a little more about me and what I like. Here are a few things that God uses to feed my soul....
1. Naps with Addie on Friday afternoons
2. Ryan laughing so hard his dimples show and he hunches over
3. Phil making me breakfast in bed
4. A pedicure (made especially fun with my pedi-buddy Jody)
5. Organic spring mix, fresh lilies and heirloom tomato plants from the farmers market
6. The windows down/sunroof open in the car, singing along to the new Sara Groves CD

A Dangerous Place

A sweet woman from Guatemala came into the store this week. She was mailing some documents home, to Guatemala City. We talked a bit and when I told her where we were going there this summer her eyes got big and she said, "That is a dangerous place! Don't wear jewelry!" An interesting perspective from a native! I'm glad my mom isn't a blog reader!!! It doesn't worry me though, just reminds me how much more we need to pray and ask the Lord to go before us.
I'm ready Lord! Where you lead me, I will follow!

Great Things

Are happening in Guatemala now. A group went down last week and here are just 2 of many wonderful stories:

During a medical clinic in an area called the “other side” of La Limonada more than 100 people were served. It is very different from the area around Tita’s school (where we will be), though only a 10 minute walk away. The faces of the children on the “other side” are sad, there is more crime and more gang activity. In the medical clinic and much goodwill was brought to the “other side” through this outreach. A lady by the name of Mercy, who is the sister of a gang member, worked in the clinic all day helping where needed. At the end of the day she said that she wanted to invite the Lord into her heart and accept Him as her Savior!!

Several members of the team along with some La Limonada residents began a project to put a roof on the home of Luis. Peggy met and prayed with Luis more than a year ago. At that time he very seldom spoke and never smiled. Since then Luis has accepted the Lord and he is always smiling and talking. As the project progressed, a new home emerged from the rubble of what had been Luis’ home where he was exposed to the cold and rain. Now he is protected from the elements before the start of the rainy season and for the first time in his life of 50+ years sleeping in a real bed!

Life is Busy!

Life busy and hectic and crazy (especially when you have 2 kids, 2 small businesses, 6 employees and more dirty laundry than you can shake a stick at)! Most everyday I start with a long prayer in the shower (well, that is my excuse for using most all the hot water anyway). And it goes something like this..."God, please help me live in each wonderful moment you give me. Help me be open and ready to go where you spirit leads...."
Then my day really starts! And I'm sure most of you can relate...There are meals to make and lunches to pack. There are children to love and keep reasonably clean. There are activities, like gymnastics, bible study, story time. And meetings, emails and calls. And a marriage to nurture. And all day I've been too busy to even notice the cheerio glued to my shirt with slobber, let alone a need someone else may have.
So, when Phil and heard again about a trip to Guatemala City to help those less fortunate that us, we looked at each other and at the same moment said, "Let's go!" It really didn't seem like a sacrifice to ditch our fancy Mexico plans. I feel so grateful that our hearts want the same thing. We sort of long for a simpler life, with less stuff and a chance to bless others ...that is the reason for our businesses. We want an adventure and we want to teach our children that we are blessed and have a wonderful opportunity to share God's love and our talents with those who don't have as much. It will bring us closer to the Creator and make us better people in the process.

Life is a Journey

A man I really respect has told me several times, "Life is a journey." He knows me well and at first my type-A self was frustrated with this thought. I have a list!! I need to check boxes!! A journey implies that at any given moment boxes will be empty and I might not even be able to specifically identify those boxes to be checked!

Thank goodness for his guidance! And I am so thankful God is patient with me! I have come to embrace this idea...something to learn, ways to grow...guaranteed! As long as I breathe! A full journey, that is what I long for. This blog is about specific things but random thoughts too. I don't take myself too seriously (just look at this blog address), but I love the idea that we can share thoughts, ideas and prayers.

BLESSINGS TO YOU!