So, what have the Schrocks been up too? Let me see….This past month we just finished
up two weekends with the Timothy Lay Leadership Training. It takes 30 men and women (each weekend) who
are pastors and lay leaders and trains them to be the most effective pastors
they can be.
Needless to
say, for this guy who loves discipleship, it was awesome to see and
witness. I was even asked to lead some
of the devotions (first week had a translator and second week had the help of
the Spirit!).
SCHOOL
SCHOOL SCHOOL!
The kids have been real troopers as they are plugging away
with school each day AND Spanish classes for an hour each day. Vicki and I each have separate times of 2
hours each (each day) of Spanish classes.
WOWzers!
Having
Vicki’s aunt Cheryl here to help with the schooling for the kids has been a
true blessing. It allows Vicki to be in
the clinic and myself to connect with Pastors.
We have
decided that we want to take our Saturdays to go exploring a little of this
incredibly beautiful country. Having a
little more Spanish under our belts, we are getting brave enough to venture out
further. We have visited, Iximche, Lake
Atitlan, and recently went to one of the oldest operational coffee plantations
in Guatemala near Antigua. THAT was
awesome. SO beautiful as well.
Did you
know that there are various kinds of coffee and it takes 1 and half years
before the plant is ready for transplanting?
It takes one complete coffee plant (full grown) to produce one pound of
ground coffee. This plantation, only
women do the engrafting process…because of the PH in their hands. They take the root of the Robusta coffee (a
strong plant) and graft it with the Arabica coffee (a better flavor and more
beans) to create a “super” coffee plant.
They use a razor blade to cut it and then splice the two together and
then tape then together and allow time to connect to the two to make one.
As I
pondered this, isn’t the same so very true with Christ. When we are broken and cut and fused
together. Part of Him and part of us are then wrapped together. We reach our best
potential when we live not just on our own but when we are I am His and He is mine.
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| Frisbees, laundry baskets, and homemade flags....and you have Disc Golf! |
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| The Restuarant at Finca De La Filadelfia |
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| coffee plants under the shade of bigger trees |
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| baby coffee plants |
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| John Deere even is in the coffee business.... |
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| wonder what year this machine is from? |
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| we live in the orange region on this map |
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| wedding day photos for a couple. They were taking photos at the plantation |
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| guess who LOVES coffee NOW!!!!!! |
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| do you have your crossing the street buddy? |
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| watch out for the cactus Caleb (or is it an act? :) ) |
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| crazy kids...... |
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| grass + hill + boy = fun for 25 minutes straight! |
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| The Schrock Kids..... |
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| "Bird of Paradise" |
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| Did you know Coffee is a fruit? Want a second cup of fruit juice?...or three or four or... |
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| We did not buy a zoo, just caught a lizard |
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| Vicki and the big three went to Leslie's church. They want our entire family to come next time and Justin to preach |
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| Girls grilling for the Staff meeting..... |
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| Learning about "A" in kindergarten...SO, we make applesauce! |
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| having a blast peeling apples |
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| Kira wanted to make supper.....so Chicken Enchiladas it was |
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| Emilee helping in the Kitchen with her authentic Mayan dress that she LOVES |
connected to Him.
We are
plugging away at two more weeks of Spanish class then preparing for the
Construction Team to come down and work on some much needed remodeling of the
clinic and offices (anybody want to come to Guatemala for a week in
October? Let me know!!!!) and then
followed by that is the Paradise Bound Board Retreat. Then on November 4 we will be flying back to
Iowa for 8 weeks. We are looking forward
to visiting family, eating Chinese food, chatting with people, churches,
schools, and companies about Guatemala, visiting the chiropractor, and
beginning the work for the Tim Hawkins fundraiser at Dordt College on April
9….in no particular order (yes, we have our chiropractor appointments scheduled
with Dr. Daron De Jong the day after we get back!!!!!.....)
OH, we also
took Emilee to the eye doctor here to have her eyes checked. She is doing GREAT…the bill?.....only $10 US
dollars for the visit! Yet, to visit the
chiropractor here it would cost around $75.
If anyone has ever been here and seen how people carry things on their
heads and with their backs, it is to no surprise!
If you are ever on Facebook, make sure you go to the
Paradise Bound Ministries page and like it to receive even more info about the
ministry.
Many blessings and love!
~Justin
