This is how we roll...

For the past two days we have been working very hard. While Justin was building houses with a team from Michigan, Vicki, Kathy and us kids have been working at the base. Our apartment is almost done. We even had time to go on a hike to security hill, which is just a steep driveway. We are doing great. Thanks for all of your prayers.

-AJ

us and Grandma at the top of security hill (minus mom and dad who are behind the camera)

some of us kids hard at work sorting meds before the team arrives

Day 1 (and a few days late...)

(Monday's original post)

After a busy morning of getting some of the final preparations for the summer in place, we headed off to the airport to get the first team (two groups from Michigan….a youth group and a Christian group) AND the rest of the tribe.  Everyone made it safely here and even the entire luggage made it.

It is a refreshing feeling to have the family back together again.  This feeling is refreshing and energizing.  We do find ourselves re-doing the orientation with the big three of life in Guate, but they are bouncing back quite well. 

Tomorrow is building day one in a new village.  We ask for prayers of safety, no rain (or at least until 5pm), and that relationships can be built already.

Your prayers are truly being felt.  We are seeing the goodness of God already.  We were busy with the team when they got here by sorting medicines, packing the care package bags, and sorting through the piles of equipment and tools from the container that came down a few weeks ago.  They are much needed supplies will be used for the base and other projects . 

We are excited to see what God has in store for our tribe AND the people that God will place in our paths…

Prayer requests for this team ( AND for all the teams) that the rain would occur in the evening of building days and in the afternoon or early morning on medical clinic days.

ALSO, Please be praying for the transportation as vans are breaking down left and right!

Hello Again from Guatemala!...Remember Us?

Well, after a quiet week with the internet, we are finally able to post some updates.  With the weather with what it has been and the busyness of a first team, we were unable to share insights, photos, and prayer requests.  We are hoping to get caught up again.

A Picture can say more words than any other story....

Volcano Agua, seen from the base

The view we are blessed to have out of our living room window

2 Corinthians 5:9
Therefore, we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to HIM.
~Vicki

On the Verge...

Well, here it is, down to the last day before the teams come in for the summer.  There will be seven teams coming this summer.  We will be busy with new villages and houses, new villages and medical clinics, visiting new villages and churches and training/connecting with pastors....the theme, is new.  This summer is going to be one filled with a lot of newness.

As I wake each morning (okay, maybe earlier than I would like) I get to see the sunrise (when the summer rains will allow it to shine) over the mountain ridges out our living room window.  Lately I have had a song come to my mind.  Now, this song has a small story to it as well.  I only remember part of it and I have not sung it since I was a freshman in high school.  My high school music teacher, Mr. Cooper, was big on bringing in choruses that held Christian over and under tones.  The song was called, The New Day.

"You are the new day.  I will love you more today than yesterday.  You are the new day".  That is it!  That is all I can remember, short of the melody as well.  Yet, it sticks with my inner being.....each day I am reminded that it is HE that makes the new.  No matter what yesterday held, today is a new day.  The maker of all, makes all things new.  So today, He is the new day.  May this new day be a day where you seek after Him and see Him in all things.  May the sun shining or the birds singing or the raining falling give you pause to think on Jesus, the Word made flesh.


You are the new day.  I will love you more today than yesterday, you are the new day....Jesus!


~Justin

Climbing On....

                                            

                     Our home for now...Paradise Bound Ministries and Open Doors Children's Home

   We have not updated the blog lately because of sheer busyness.  We are so sorry for that.  We do appreciate the prayers and can feel them.  We as a partial family (oh how we are missing the older three) had a blast hanging on with the Nannies and kids in the Orphanage the other day.  The kid’s personalities really do shine!  Right now they have 12 kids living there, 7 under the age of 5 months!!!!!  We literally have to tell the younger three NOT to go in there all the time.  They all want to go and hold babies and help out. 

   Vicki and Anya (another one of the missionaries) went to Guatemala City to go to Wal-Mart and Price Smart to get a few things for the apartment and food for the first team that comes in on Monday at the same time as the rest of the Tribe arrives.  They were able to pick up Dan Smith (Executive Director of the Ministry) and arrive back at the base at around Midnight.  I was able to have a blast with the younger three as the rain pounded down outside and with out power temporarily.  So…we made a fort out of cardboard boxes, did a talent show, and ate grilled cheese sandwiches.

Our Apartment is the top window and patio door (facing south).  Will send a picture from the East window sometime in the near future too....

We are now down to three days before the first team arrives and we are beginning to get in “prep” mode.  We feel blessed that we had a few days to get the apartment organized as much as we could (until a few more helpful items come to better utilize the space that we have).  I really think that Ikea should come to our apartment and take a few ideas as how to best maximize space! HA

So with this day we go forward.  No major "ahas" to report, no major revelations, just life.  But then again, isn’t that what happens often?  Oswald Chambers writes that "it is on the mountain tops that we see the glory of God, but it is in the journey that we live the Glory of God" (My Utmost for His Highest).  We expect God to show up in the major things of life (good and bad), but how often to our thoughts drift to Him in the mundane?  In the routine or the work of life, we need to learn to walk with Him as we walk each day.  May our hearts, minds, and soul be pointed towards Him each and everyday.  It is easy to praise Him on the mountain tops or even cry out to Him in the valleys of life…the true task is to dwell with Him on the climb!  May you climb well today as you converse with your Creator!  Dios te Bendiga    ~Justin

The playground for ALL the kids at the base...

What do I expect for the Day? 

This is a question I’ve been asking a lot in the past few weeks.  I fully expected to get the house sided and painted before we left for Guatemala.  I fully expected to pack and still be able to sleep the night before we left.  I fully expected to enjoy our Sunday of see ya’ laters.  I also fully expected to get to Guatemala at 11:30 am on Monday morning.  

The story goes like this. . . we were doing very well meeting our expectation for the day as we worked through the airport.  We also made our connection in Houston TX after a quick egg croissant and apple juice.  We then flew for an hour and a half hours and only Kira was sleeping (of course she was sitting by Justin J )  So, I continued to try to get Miya and Naomi sleeping . . . despite my attempts and prayers neither one would give in . . . ugh, not what I expected from two girls who got up at 1 am. 

Finally Naomi gave in and I was so glad.  Then Miya made friends with the 20 something man behind us and she received some attention and snacks from him!  How, does that girl do it?   Just as I expected, the airplane started its usual decent into Guatemala City, after seeing the land quite close we were thrusted into the air again.  About this time Miya falls asleep, now, why now?  We’re almost ‘home’.   A few moments later we heard the captain saying, there’s storms too close to the ground and we are being diverted to San Salvador.  After a peaceful (both girls are now sleeping) 25-minute flight to San Salvador, we landed and waited on the plane for the weather to clear, fuel, and a new flight plan. 

As we sat and waited I had time to think.  I watched people stomp to the bathroom.  I watched people turn around and chat with those sitting around them.  I also watched Miya, Kira, and Naomi sleep through the entire 2 hour process of taking off again.  I came to the conclusion that God has our best interest in mind, even if it is in the delay of naps that I thought should have started much sooner on the airplane.  All 3 girls slept through this change of plan in a very confined space.  Thank you Jesus!

After we took off it was literally a 25-minute flight back to Guatemala City.   The girls woke to clapping as the passengers of United flight 1500 erupted in elation.  The excitement in the girls eyes were unexplainable and refreshing. 

We did arrive at the base as expected, just a few “minutes” later than expected.  Oswald Chambers writes “God does not further our spiritual life in spite of our circumstance, but in and by our circumstances.”

Learn to expect the unexpected!

San Salvador Airport

Vicki

Day ONE.....

what the Iowa house looks like after two years of work

Well we made it...kind of! :)

All five of us are now at the base and all of our luggage made it too. The kicker was that we got up at 1am to get to the airport (and VERY grateful for getting there when we did) and land in Guatemala at 11:25am.  That was the plan.  Yet, we remember that life is rarely in line with "our"plans.  We were so close to landing when the pilot took off again and told us we could not land due to bad weather....so we flew to El Salvador.  Well, first time there!  Long story short, instead of 12:30pm we made it to the base at 6:30pm.  We are shot and walking with the girls who took a nap and trying to process all the newness.

Keep the prayers coming as we spend this week getting the family situated.

8 hours left....

the "house" when we bought it two years ago...

(after a few updates)

What would you do if you knew you only had 8 hours left before you began a new adventure?


Well, this morning was a good AND tough morning.  How do you say goodbye (or see you later because we know that many of you will gladly come and visit us...in the cold winter months :) ).  The past 10 years we were a part of the ministry at MRC.  Our roots ran deep, our branches spread out in various areas.  As I was on the stage for the last time in a long time, I had images of students run through my head.  Memories of trips, and retreats, and bus rides filled my mind.  Flashes of conversations (both good and tough) played out in my mind.  I soon found tears rolling down, knowing that I was indeed called to MRC 10 years ago, but we as a family find ourselves called out yet again.  The sadness was truly in the temporary separation that will be placed.  We love you all and will miss you all.  We know of many stories that will happen, while we are away.  God will move and shine in ways that make us sad to miss out on.  Yet, we look forward to hear of those stories and SEE the goodness that will come forth.

We will update the blog as much as we can.  We know that these first two days will be rather difficult to update, but as soon as the scouting team is set up, we will update.  So here is the plan:  Half the tribe is moving tomorrow with the older three kiddos staying in the States for one more week for Bible School.  They will come down on the 9th with one of the Grandmas.

Once we get to Guatemala, we will try our best to settle into our apartment, make some beds, unpack some suitcases, go shopping for some groceries, and a few pots and pans.  The rest of the staff from the states should get in around the 6th with the first team arriving on the 9th.  A few days of rest and adjustment.  Teaching the youngins to drink the correct kind of water, how to wash, what to touch and not touch, what rooms to stay out of and all the other guidelines and protocols to maintain a healthy living in Guatemala.

Are we scared? nope.  Are we overwhelmed, naw, not really....that depends on the minute in terms of packing.  Are we excited, we think so.  The emotions are all over the place, but we are for certain that this calling is what God has for us for now.  We will serve using the gifts that God has entrusted to us.  We will try to be a blessing as much as we can.  We thank you for your prayers!
Prayer list for this week:
^safe and good travels to the airport, through the airport/planes, and to the base
^all the luggage makes it through customs
^for the big three who remain in the states
^for rest (and healing)
^for a start at the gift of tongues (namely Spanish, as the gift of French will not do us too good in Guatemala.....and the gift of interpretation of Spanish).

As we ask for prayers here, we offer some things for you:  Stories of God's work, devotions that speak to our hearts, a preview of writings, and a chance to look at life a little differently.  Feel free to pass this on to friends that you feel might like to join us in this journey of life too!

Blessings,
Justin

PS- we are going to be posting some pics of the "house".  Starting with what it looked like 2 years ago, what it looks like today, and what it will look like tomorrow.....

what has been happening....three days left

My focus was on the wrong thing, I thought I was ready but then found out quickly that it was too heavy and could not handle it on my own.....


The radio silence the last ten days has not been intentional.  We have been running around to get things ready for our departure.  We are finding that there is great joy in finishing up projects that were once started and placed on hold because of Grad school, life, ministry, or whatever.  Landscaping: check.  Playground: 98% check.  Clean up cattle yard and pasture: check  Siding: check (thanks to some amazing people)
have an injury that will have life long affects: check

On Memorial Day, I (Justin) was helping to put a dock in the lake and found myself focusing on "bending with the knees and being aware of my bum wrist" when all of a sudden the weight became to great and I felt and heard multiple "pops" in my right elbow.  The pain was great.  Went to the ER in Worthington and they gave me some thing for the pain but suggested an Ortho visit.  They feared that I tore my bicep.  The kicker was then that many of the Orthopedic doctors had a waiting list of a few days....we did not have a few days to waste..we needed to jump on the moment for trying to discover the most amount of info as possible.  So we scheduled an appointment on Wednesday with our doctor in Sioux Center ( the ever smart and extremely talented man that he is).  Our initial thought: torn Long Head Bicep Tendon, typically happens in the shoulder.  Yet, my shoulder was fine, it was in the elbow.
When I went to the doctor, I did various resistance flexes and stretches.  By then, the pain, or constant pain was gone.  I found myself with a dull ache....much like when you twist your elbow.  However, when I do certain stretches for the docs, the dial of pain did get turned up fast!

The doctor in Sioux Center said, "oh, the elbow is a scary place for an injury, I would like you to see an ortho asap....but, there is something strange about your injury, you should not be able to do some of the stuff that you are doing".  Through the magically work of his staff, I was able to get an appointment in South Dakota Thursday morning.  All the while, friends and family were on a lift at my house hanging siding and painting...something that I felt earlier that I should do and wanted to do.....I was humbled by their great generosity.

Thursday at the Ortho doc..... he dug around with my left arm as a test and then dug around with my right arm.  I thought I was going to jump through the roof.  He said, after am X-Ray, I think it might be torn. He said surgery.  Our hearts sank.  Surgery would mean a massive delay in leaving.  We asked for a moment and then begin to take it all in: 3 doctors from 3 states.  What would I have done IF we were not leaving on Monday?  What are the benefits of surgery/what are the risks?  What would I lose if I do not do surgery?  But then, we asked something crazy: What would I GAIN if I do not do surgery?

A loss of 30% of strength and a difficulty to rotate my arm (screwdriver motion) as well if no surgery was done was what I was told.  Yet, if it is not torn completely, there is Hope.  I asked then: what if this injury happened before I left for Guatemala so that I would place my full hope and trust in God's hands instead of trying to take things in my own hands (or the hands of others).

My focus was on the wrong thing, I thought I was ready but then found out quickly that it was too heavy and could not handle on my own.....I NEED my HOPE and STAY in Christ alone.  The burden of trying to lift everything around me with my heart, mind, and soul is too heavy for me, but not for Christ.  I trust that I will be healed.  But if not, I will still remain in Him.....Him...the One who formed me and can breathe new life and can create the tendons to heal.  So we go, in faith and confidence AND with only three days left to finish packing and process with our family...

Psalm 27:13-14