The arm bone is connected to the ......

     Some of you may or may not have known that this past Memorial Day (exactly one week before we were to move to Guatemala) I tore my right bicep.  First off, let me say that doing this is something that I do NOT recommend for anyone.  Also, being right handed, this proved to be a MAJOR inconvenience.  I went to three different doctors in three different states in one week (ER on the day it happened in Worthington, MN...Wednesday to my local doc in Sioux Center, IA....and then Thursday to the specialist in Dakota Dunes, SD).  They said that the bicep was torn and recommended surgery.  Surgery was not mandatory, but said that I was young enough that I would want that.  If I opted out of surgery, it would be 6 to 12 weeks of recovery, probably would not be able to use my arm in a "using a screwdriver" motion well again, and be about 30 to 40 percent weaker in the arm.
     If I proceed with the surgery it would be 6 weeks of not being able to lift anything heavier than a pencil with the arm and then another 6 to 8 weeks of rehab.  The kicker was that if I went to the surgery route, Guatemala would have to wait.
   After praying together, both Vicki and I felt that the greater need was for us to go this summer.  We would trust that God would heal my arm to the point of His power.  I had to ice it quite a bit....wear an elbow brace....and the biggest hurdle, ask someone to help me lift things that I normally could lift by myself.
    My daily habits had to change a little bit.   Yet, the biggest thing I had going for me was many people praying.

Those prayers helped GREATLY.  Considering I had an MRI done in March for my knee that I dislocated, I did not want to have an MRI done before we left.  I did not want too much radiation, and the cost would not able to be absorbed in our budget.  As the summer went on, I began to shift my prayers that the tendon would only be partially torn and not completely.  You know what, I firmly believe that the prayer was answered!
   As the summer went on, the pain decreased greatly.  I still wore the brace, but gradually attempted more things (even was able to move a sheet of cement board by myself by the end of the summer.  Now, I can flex my muscle, lift about the same amount of weight with each arm, and even use a screwdriver!  I think that with some simple physical therapy, I can get my arm back to where it was before the accident.  I will never be a professional weight lifter, I am still a little cautious with various heavy objects, but am grateful to God for healing.  I am not 100% what happened in my arm, but "I am Still Confident of this, I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the land of the living. Wait for the Lord, be strong and wait for the Lord!"  (Psalm 27:13-14)

Thank you for your prayers.....

~Justin

School update

Hi everybody!

How are you all doing?

For the past couple weeks we have been taking Spanish class from Requel, who is a wife of one of the people on staff, and she happens to know a little bit of English. So us Schrocks have been enjoying Spanish. Justin goes to class first thing in the morning while us kids go to school. Then Miya, Kira, and Naomi go at ten. After that is Caleb, Emilee and me(AJ) Then Vicki goes in the afternoon. We are very blessed to have a great Spanish teacher.

School for us kids has been a little different (In a good way) since our Aunt Cheryl has come to teach us. We would love big prayers for her as she has to prepare everyday for us to learn. We have been having a lot of fun with her.

Our days have gotten longer and harder at school, 

but we are having fun and missing you all.

Always praying for you guys in Iowa.

-AJ

Justin and our spanish teacher Raquel

AJ working on Math

Caleb and Aunt Cheryl (our teacher) 

Emilee practicing Spanish

 "A Child's life has no dates; it is free, silent, dateless.  A child's life ought to be a child's life, full of simplicity" ~ Oswald Chambers

Timateo Seminario: Week 1 complete

We just said goodbye to 26 pastors and lay leaders from the 2016 class, of the Timothy Lay Leadership (Timateo Seminario).  What an epic time.  To see men and women hunger for more.  In a time and world where it is easy to settle on things, why settle for anything less than the full measure of Jesus?

The Holy Spirit was truly felt and seen on Saturday morning during worship.  Seriously, it was felt!  How can one describe it?  How can one capture it?  You can’t.  You can only allow it to capture and describe YOU!  So we worshiped! 

We look forward to this Wednesday when we welcome the 2015 class of Timateo students.  Another group of 20 men and women from all around Guatemala and Mexico will come to grow and learn.  I may be the tallest one here at the base, but when I am in the presence of these people….I am in the presence of giants.

Keep praying for this side of the ministry: The discipleship.  The fruit is amazing to see…..

SIDE NOTE:  Our family has started Spanish lessons and boy is it intense.  We are blessed to have an aunt here to help us with the school for the kiddos, but we find that our time is filling up fast.  Please pray for strength……strength and maybe even an Easy button!  But since there are not Staples stores here, we just continue to plug away.

~Justin