Hello Everyone...

Today in Guatemala the team from Michigan are getting ready for their last medical clinic.  As this week is coming to an end we are all thankful that the team could make it to the medical clinic last night, as their car got stuck. Once they were to the village it started to rain, so they could not show the film or preach over the loud noise of the rain, but God answered our prayers and they were able to show the film and preach. We are doing great down here. Thank you for your prayers.

-AJ Schrock

sights and sounds and smells and more....

AJ organizing our kitchen

friends on the play ground

what happens when a 5 year old gets your camera...

and this too!

busted sink in the kitchen? Vicki and on that fast!

Emilee and Leslie and Noami cooking in the kitchen for the team

Always a great day at the playground when friends are around

AJ and Yvonne

Naomi and her buddy Dulce!

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...