Day 3 Saturday May 29

prayer requests for now: 
*with the volcano erupting, flights are canceled until Tuesday.....the team of 10 were supposed to leave today

*it is raining 24/7...raining HARD.  even Dan said this is unusual for this time of year.  this causes a few problems: 1. the road is almost washed out, so even if there are flights on Tuesday, it is still a question mark as if we can get them to the airport.  2.  The water truck cannot get here and with the rain, we dare not run the pumps, because then we might be pumping muddy water into the water tower  3.  supplies are not able to go out to the village for the first building team for the next week.


Prayer request:  that God would stop the volcano, that the ash would cease, and that the rains would stop.  Mircale prayer, that the government would finish paving the road this summer!  Pray though, knowing that our God is bigger than any other problem or hurdle that we ever face.  We are grateful that spirits are still well and work is still being done  

Day 2 and us versus a volcano

Day 2 here brought us BETTER energy after a great night of sleep.  We were exhausted yesterday.  We jumped in and joined the team of 10 here that were working on the apartments and helped where we can. They are amazing  (both apartments and team).  We both chatted about how God has really grown this ministry as well as the staff and buildings.  It has been fun.  Vicki hung curtains and was a busy little bee, and I jumped in the electrical "team"  (just Bob and me).  We put sockets, changed 3 way switches, put covers on (harder than it sounds when the boxes do not line up and the screws are jjjuuusssstttt, that much shorter.
So, funny story.  Today, AJ said that she wants to live in Guatemala forever....translation, she loved the beans, rice, and homemade tortillas and guacamole that we had for lunch.  Top that with the pancakes for breakfast (Caleb was happy) and the lasagna for supper, the crew said that they are definitely leaving with gained weighed and a happy heart.
So, now about the volcano.  Do not worry everyone, we are completely safe from it.  The Schrocks did see smoke coming from it when we were driving home from the airport.  However, the airport is closed and a question mark as to when it will open up.  Continental has a flight (maybe) going out on Sunday night....but all the airlines are saying, plan on Monday OR Tuesday.  SSSSooooo, the building team of 10 is with us for a few more days.  Yes, the Iowans and Michigan folks are here a few more days.
    Now for the story, now that the dust has settled....even if the ash has not.  So we got to the airport in Omaha and plenty of time.  We got to the line, and about 45 minutes later, we were ready for the security check point.  LONG LINE, about another 45 minutes later, we heard over the intercom, the gate to the Houston flight "if you are not at the gate in 3 minutes, the flight will be leaving without you."  We at that point, were 7 Schrocks without shoes on and all of our carry on bags just coming out of the check point.  Oh, yeahm we now have to check in at the gate counter too.  So Vicki ran with Miya, Em, and AJ, and I had Caleb, and Kira, and got to the gate...but realized Em's backpack was still at the security, so I ran back and snagged AFTER a different guard said she needed to check it again.  We made it on, the last people, with 5 kids 7 years of age and under, with EVERYONE looking at us with that "oh great, small kids on the plane" look.  4 of them kids did fine...Miya is lucky we love her, because from Omaha to Houston, we did not like  her too much.... :)
We had plenty of time in Houston and that flight went better with all of us taking a nap.  Yesterday seems like a blur, but after a good nights rest, we a little back to normal.  Oh yeah, we are 1 hour before the Iowa crew....no day light savings down here.  Blessings for now.  Until the next time.  Dios Le Bendiga (God Bless You)

WE ARE HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is currently 6:10pm, and we are safe and sound at the base.  We have had our dominos pizza with the work team that is here, the kids have invaded the Smith Kids (all are loving it), and we are going around and introducing ourselves to the staff and the work team here.
We had QUITE the adventure.  We will definitely update that story, but not tonight.  We are all exhausted and ready to the dust to settle.  Thank you for your prayers for traveling mercies, they were felt...we almost missed our flight from Omaha, thank you TSA.  But, we are here, the forces that want us to not be here, have no match for THE force that is driving us, the teams, the mission, the Gospel.  Until our next update, pray for the work team, the staff, the teams will be starting to come in a few weeks, and more over the lives that will be forever changed by the Holy Spirit!  Dios Le Bendiga (God Bless You)

Twas the night before we left....

Twas the night before we left and all through the....oh, forget the cuteness of it all.  Let us boil down to the basics.  It is now 10pm the night before we leave.  We will be on the road in a little over 5 hours.  The only kiddo awake still is Emilee (go figure).  Vicki and I have most of the bags in the van.   We are busy putting the last things away, writing notes for those helping us this summer, and double and triple checking our mental lists of "what are we forgetting?".  Passports: check- bags of clothes: check- kids: check- etc etc.
We GREATLY appreciate all of the prayers.  Here is the plan, we will be leaving about 3 am (we will try not to wake the college crew staying at our house this summer), get to Omaha, fly to Houston, then fly to Guatemala City.  We are scheduled to land around 1:30 CST.  Then about an hour drive and then we are at the base to unpack and get settled into our new home for the next 10 weeks.  We will do our best to notify when we arrive, but it might not be until the evening when we can update everyone.  Dios Le Bendiga (God Bless You)

Just two days away....

Wow, the last few days have been busy.  Stressed?  No, not really, just busy.  Vicki has been packing the bags for the cherubs and we have been trying to tie up loose ends here at home, and with the ministry at church.  It is hard to believe that after a journey of almost two years exactly, we are on the eve of leaving.  People ask us if we are nervous or scared.  Really, we are unsure of what exactly the summer will look like.  We just know that we are needed and that there is need.  We have been praying for our kids and ourselves to be used in any and all ways this summer.  We do appreciate the prayers and the support.  It had been a blessing.  Well, on to tying up more loose ends before we shove off.  We will try our best to send notice when we get there, but it might take a day or two before the BLOG is up and functioning.  We will do our best to have you come along with us on this journey via notes, pictures, thoughts, and prayers.  Glory to God Forever....  HE > US