Some Photos from the Season

Elementary students wish you Feliz Navidad at their Christmas concert!!

Performing the Christmas cantata Let Heaven and Nature Sing Gloria at Union Church

A few of my favorite elves!!

Preparing for a performance of Handel's Messiah at the National Theater

CAG staff get into the Christmas spirit at the annual luncheon

A Few Updates...

• Javier got permission to take time off!!!!!!...only half the time we were hoping for, but we'll take it!! We'll be heading to Chicago on Monday, Dec. 22 to spend the night. We're excited to see our dear Annette (Little Wit) and check out Chad Perry's Wii!! Then on Tuesday we'll catch the bus up to Madison to spend Christmas with my family. Javier will have to return on the 28th to be back at work for the 29th, but I'll stay on, taking a short detour to the Great White Nort' of Toronto to visit my Jo-anne and her new little Mary!!

• The next-door neighbors have just had their vanload (literally!) of holiday fireworks delivered (I am sssooooo not going to miss that this year!!!).

• School ended on a yucky note...me missing it...home in bed sick with fever...and missing sharing Merry Christmases with all my kids!! :(

• Challenges have been bountiful this week with numerous financial difficulties due to fraud with my bank account and visa issues. We are choosing to believe that these are all strikes by the enemy because something big and wonderful is trying to come our way. We are casting aside discouragement and remembering that God is greater than any of the troubles we find ourselves having getting this trip underway. We ask you to join us in prayer that we will see the fruits of our faith!
  

So COOL!!!

First of all...TWO posts in ONE day!?!? What's wrong???? Nothing!! I just had to take a moment to share the coolest thing!! We just got home from another two-hour choir rehearsal in the city and decided to take Rupert for a walk since he's been cooped up all day. As we rounded the corner at the top of the hill just outside of our house, we were greeted by a huge orange glow. It wasn't the city lights below, Christmas lights, or warning lights on a cell tower...it was the lava from Volcan Fuego glowing bright as it flowed down from the crater on this crystal clear night! Now THAT is something to shout out about!!!! (Sorry I didn't have my camera!!!)

Is It Christmas Yet!?!??!

Life sure has been crazy these last few weeks! I feel all turned around and upside down with Messiah rehearsals and performances, projects at school, Christmas choir rehearsals, kid concerts, Christmas parties, accreditation work, and trying to keep up with teaching squeezed in there somewhere!!!! I am so looking forward to a time to relax and take a break to spend time reflecting on what Christmas SHOULD be about!! Please keep Javier in your prayers as he has still not been granted permission to have time off to spend Christmas in the States with me. We so want to spend this special time of year together, but do not know yet if it will be possible. We have made all of our travel arrangements on faith, believing that our Savior CAN move the mountain...which, in this case, (as is often with us) the red tape ("fijase...") of Guatemalan government! Blessings!!

Retreating and Reaffirming

The past two weeks have been as busy as any, but I wanted to send along two highlights. First...High School Retreat. This is an annual even when all students, grades 9-12, and their sponsors, set off at the end of Spiritual Emphasis week to further connect with God and each other. This year we headed to Chimaltenango. The speakers were the DeVries family, who offered great lessons, support, and ideas to help the kids start finding ways to make God more a part of their everyday lives. The picture above is from the second night, banquet night, where the theme was "Medieval Times," (hence the crazy attire!).

And Second...the Annual Parent Meeting at CAG...which teachers are required to attend. While it is generally not the most exciting event of the year, it did serve this year to reaffirm for me why I choose to serve here. Here a few little-known
facts I walked away with from the meeting:

CAG is completely independently supported through tuition fees ($200 per month per student) and private contributions, and operates in the black.

Students at CAG receive an accredited English education, and are offered such things as AP courses, individualized math classes, National Institute of Learning Disabilities support, specialized reading, an extra curricular competitive sports program, drama programs, music (including Praise Team, choir, and orchestra), art courses, intramural sports, and community service opportunities...all of which are run by teacher and parent VOLUNTEERS.

All teachers are self supporting, receiving a stipend of $150 per month from the school for 10 months per year.

Teachers and families work together for the betterment of the entire school community. They pray together, worship together, work side-by-side, support one another (btw...substitute teachers = parent volunteers), and really love one another despite their differences.

When we were leaving the meeting, I was trying to figure out what makes such a difference here at CAG, and I decided this...

Contrary to popular belief (which has been a belief I have held, having been a public school teacher for a number of years) more money does NOT equal a higher quality of education. I have seen through my experience here in the mission field that what really brings out the best in people is daily affirmation and sincere gratitude from others around them combined with the knowledge that what we do is in service to an amazing God.

CAG is made up of a very wide variety of people from even wider religious backgrounds, social/economic levels, and political affiliations. Above and beyond all of that other stuff, however, the community here shares one bottom line...GOD and His love; and THAT is what makes things work here!

It is my prayer that other schools and communities will find this "solution" as well.

With blessings for a wonderful Thanksgiving!!! Sherry

Harvest Fair!

This past Saturday we celebrated our annual Harvest Fair at school! It's a time when middle and high school students plan, set up, and run a fall festival with games and goodies for younger kids and their families. It's a great service project that helps to bring a little piece of "home" to those (of us) who miss such celebrations this time of year. Our eleventh grade class ran a face painting booth, ladder climb, bounce house, and Cafe Le Cirque...since this year's theme was The Circus! I hope you'll enjoy the video!! With blessings for a Happy "Fall"!!!

SIGH....

Today was one of those Midwest fall-weather days which catch me by surprise every now and then here in the subtropics. It was cold and rainy, but crisp. And the air was filled with the scent of burning wood. And all I wanted to do was get home, snuggle on the couch and dream that the fine mist coming down might actually turn a little bit white by the morning. But, alas, all the trees are still green as emeralds, there's no football on TV and no Grandpa Harry's chili on the stove, and the burning wood is actually from the homes nearby where they have to build fires to cook and heat their water. We don't have a couch...somehow the cold tile floor just isn't the same...and there is no way I'll ever see a little frost on the ground tomorrow. Sometimes I miss home so much...

Blessings Abound!

I can't believe it's been a whole month since last I posted something here! So sorry!!

In this past week we've been witness to some great works of God!! Our dear friend Elaine was able to come to Guatemala and take her little girl Sofia home!! It has been a long time coming and not without difficulties and some heartaches, but as we sat at Pizza Hut and listened to Sofia offer a prayer of thanks before diving into her cheese pizza pie, I knew it was nothing short of God's hand at work. We send our blessings and love to Elaine, Isa, and Sofia as they start their new life together.

And Javier was touched this weekend as he received by "luck" a full-payment tuition voucher for a course he has long wanted to take in order to fulfill his certification through the Linux Professional Institute. Not only was he blessed with this "random" offering, but he was able to use the experience to testify to others about this work of God.

God is Good!! And I'm glad to be able to share some of that with you!!

Prayer Request

Starting into our fourth week of school...it's difficult to believe. At this point I am feeling extremely overwhelmed with all that I've taken on and am just putting up this short post to ask for some prayer support. While I am certain that I am where God wants me to be, using my gifts to serve others, I am feeling burdened with how much there is to do. All that advice that says, "Learn to say no," and "You can only do what you can do," is not at this point relieving the responsibility I feel for the program I am trying to manage here at CAG. Thank you for reading, caring, and praying...

First Days

The first two weeks of school (one just for teachers and one with kids) are unbelievable OVER already and classes and activities are full swing. These first days were highlighted by:

• meetings, meeting, meetings

• a fun-fill teacher field trip to the import grocery store where we were able to find Bigelow tea and Jell-O!

• a special anniversary (which meant carrot cake for all!!!)
  

• technology, technology, technology

• a giant caterpillar attack!
  

• praise, worship, prayer

• blessed times of work and fun, but a lack of time for it all!!

Enjoy the video!!

T-Minus Two Days and Counting!

After a busy, sometimes stressful, but definitely exciting and blessed week, I am nearly prepared to greet students on Monday morning! My schedule, like that of all other CAG teachers, is jam-packed with classes and activities. This year I will continue to coordinate the elementary Reading Program, which includes supervising two staff members; teach the Middle School-level English as a Foreign Language, and co-sponsor the Junior Class. A new undertaking that I am so, so, so excited about is starting a Middle School-level Destination ImagiNation class/team! If you don't know this fabulous program, check this out to learn more:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yTFBozqpQM

My two big personal goals center around content reading and technology this year. I've made commitments to address these areas both in my classes and by helping others. The realm of technology is way outside of my comfort zone, but is something I am feeling called to address. I've committed my EFL class to spend one class period each week learning online and have started my very own website (allalvarez.webnode.com) which I will need to keep updated daily for the benefit of students, parents, and other teachers. These areas are a prayer focus for me, as I delve into new territory. The verse we've been praying with this week is from John 11:3 - "Lord, the one you love is..."... and in my case: nervous, worried, excited, and overwhelmed. I hope you will pray with me that my endeavors will be of benefit to others in the pursuit of educating God's children.

More to come once classes get underway...

PRAYER REQUEST...

A very dear friend has been working to help a family complete an adoption that they have been working on since the child was born..FOUR YEARS ago! The biggest obstacle that needs to be overcome is finding the child's birth mother so that she can verify that she has abandoned little Shyanne. We have been successful in finding a birth mother in the past, for this friend's own adoption, by working through the missionary community. In this case, however, the pieces don't seem to be coming together quite as easily. We have been working at helping from every angle we can think of...sending people all around the country, arranging for radio announcements, running information through government databases, hanging posters, sending emails, offering a reward...the list goes on. What I would really like to ask is for prayer support for the adoptive family. While obviously we need help in locating this mother, the family who has been worrying and trying to provide for this child for the past four years is in great need of the strength to continue right now. Their hope is fading and their perseverance waning. So, I am asking for prayer support for them now. And I thank you for it on their behalf.

This is the woman we are seeking. I'm posting the information here because you never know....

Her name is Ana Maribel Cruz Giron, born August 21, 1978 in Masagua, Escuintla, Guatemala.

Any information or additional suggestions that you can offer will be mostly gratefully accepted. Blessings...

And they'll know we are Christians by our....spelling presentation?...

The first question I received during the teacher workshop I presented this week...

"Are you a Christian?"

Surprised and very honestly a little confused, I answered: "YES!"

Marta, the young teacher who was asking, told me that she and her husband have just come to Guatemala and are looking for a church to get plugged into. I was more than thrilled to be able to share Union Church of Guatemala with her and her husband Rob over dinner that night.

In my last post I had mentioned how I was so looking forward to giving this presentation because it would offer me an opportunity to testify. So, I know I shouldn't have been quite so amazed that God made doing so possible. He is amazing!! I guess it was my first experience of "random" recognition by a stranger, though, and it did catch me off guard. But how inspiring and motivating! I know I was there to help Marta and Rob find ways to serve God while they're here, but it was also a personal confirmation that God does want to keep using me here as well. (and Yay! for that because I really want to stay here!!) My faith has been strengthened that God will continue to provide for our life here.

On another exciting note...it was our two-year wedding anniversary yesterday. We weren't planning on doing much, as money is tight, and then we were given a restaurant gift certificate by some friends for helping them out last month. So we were able to go out and enjoy a special night, including dessert: Oreo Mad_ess. God is Good!!!

"Just WITNESS While you Work..."

I am so excited to be working on a presentation that I've been asked to give at my former school. I'm about a quarter of the way done with the planning and will be presenting the last week of July. While it is not an official "ministry," I am so glad to have a chance to offer myself as a positive witness of Jesus' love to a different group of people. ( Just like with teaching...you never know who will be watching when!!) In addition, in researching for the presentation, I am learning TONS of interesting (and useful!) information about language and teaching!!

Beware the Mud Monsters!

One thing I L-O-V-E about the missionary life here in Guatemala is how amazingly supportive, helpful, and genuinely generous the missionary community is. Through the InterMissions organization, people are always offering to help one another with small and very big things alike. Sometimes in unbelievable ways. And in ways which I've seen lead to true miracles. So, in the spirit of trying to help others, I (Javier wants no part of this decision!) have volunteered to dog sit for another teacher from CAG while she and her husband are visiting family in the States. Fewer than 48 hours into this "giving" experience, (which has included four dog baths, multiple loads of laundry, and washing and rewashing my floor), I have come to the conclusion that the Mud Monsters simply can't be beaten. Two 75+lb. dogs. The rainiest rainy season in recent history. And me. Needless to say, I do not see myself a victor anytime soon. Your prayers for sunnier days or suggestions for better defenses against these four-legged foes are greatly appreciated!!!

Aside from that, I have today finished all the requirements of Master's program and am looking forward to receiving my diploma sometime in September! I am truly blessed and am excited to be able to bring all my experience and knowledge to help others here!!

This video is dedicated to those who experienced God's blessing
even in one of the world's darkest places.
I thank
Young Life Hinsdale and Young Life Guatemala
for allowing me
a glimpse
at how God uses each and every one of us
to bless one another
in love.

Unable to Give It a Title.

I looked on as humans.
PEOPLE.
Gathered their lives out of the dump today.

Perhaps the largest man-made structure I've seen.

Did they see me?

Probably not, as the vultures waited. Watched overhead. I've never been so close to these hairless birds.

I put the cups and plates and bottles in the garbage bag tonight.

And wondered.

Who will find this stuff?

Can I afford to throw it away?

And then stand and look on?

Crazy Days!

Balancing tutoring, studying, and trying to help the YoungLife work team that is here has kept more than busy over the past week. I am at school nearly every day to tutor several kids and am so glad to be able to be helping them. My next-to-last Masters course begins this Sunday, so I'm reading and then reading some more in order to be ready and meet course requirements. And then the YoungLife team: a group of about 30 from the Chicago area here whole-heartedly working construction for some of the very neediest people living in one of the worst parts of the city. Their effort and love are overwhelming and so much appreciated. I have been able to help prepare concrete to cover a family's dirt floor and Javier and I have been leading music worship at night. I will post pictures soon!!! I'm happy to have so much to do, but would like a little more sleep one of these nights....

So I spent Monday and Tuesday sitting in horrible traffic and rain, rain, rain! We've been suffering the repercussions of two different tropical storms for about a week now! (Although I do think I spotted the sun for about 5 minutes yesterday!). The purpose of the painful (1 1/2 - 2 hour) trips was our Women's Ministry bi-annual rummage sale. Monday we set up. And we set up. And we set up. Apparently this time around saw the most donations ever! Tuesday was the sale, but unfortunately the horrible rain kept a lot of people away, so in comparison to other sales, we didn't do so well. The money raised will go to a variety of service projects that the Women's Ministry supports around the country. The left overs are given to the Salvation Army here for distribution.

Monday also saw the start of my Big Tutoring Adventure. I have so far set up a pretty rigorous schedule, and just heard yesterday that I may still be getting a call about another student, as well. I will be working with five students (grades K-12!) for about 12 hours total. I know I will end up being at school a lot more than that, though, for all the planning (for them) and preparing for next year. It's a good thing I love being at CAG so much!!!

Yesterday I also set my schedule to work with a group of high school students from the Chicago area who are coming to Guatemala on a work trip with the organization YoungLife. I am excited and will keep you posted!!

Support Raising

Dear Friends:

I am writing with continued excitement and praise about my service here in Guatemala! As you know, I have been serving as the Reading Coordinator at the Christian Academy of Guatemala (CAG) for the past school year, thanks to the support you generously provided for me to do so. I can very sincerely tell you that your willingness to help me serve the children of missionaries working here in Guatemala has made a true difference in many lives, including my own.

Upon staring at CAG last August, I designed and implemented a literacy program for the elementary school. In doing so, I assessed all students’ reading needs and was able, with my two part-time staff members, to begin providing supplemental reading intervention services to struggling students. We were initially serving about fifteen students, three of whom were able to move out of the program by mid-year, but who were also quickly replaced by others demonstrating need. With the start of the second semester and the reading program well established, I was able to also begin providing English language services to students who were having difficulty acquiring their new language, and the program grew to serve more than twenty elementary students in all.

In addition to my work in the elementary school, I also team taught sixth grade English and developed and taught an English as a Foreign Language curriculum for secondary students. My most challenging position at CAG was serving as co-sponsor for the sophomore class and required weekly personal devotional time, as well as supervising special activities, such as High School Retreat, Servant Days, the Annual Sports Banquet, and Graduation.

All in all this past school year has handed me the biggest challenges I have ever undertaken, both personally and professionally, but I have all along felt completely blessed to be a part of it all, knowing I am where God would have me, serving others. I have had the opportunity to provide an important yet previously unavailable service to students in need, as well as help CAG continue to progress in order to serve more missionary families. I have never forgotten the fact that I wouldn’t be able to be here serving in these capacities if it wasn’t for the support of all of you. I have done my best to administer and allocate what you have provided in a way that brings glory to the Lord.

As I have daily seen how important my work is here, and do most sincerely believe it is part of God’s Will, I am planning to stay in Guatemala and take CAG’s Reading Program and English as a Foreign Language program into a second year. I am hopeful that you will continue on this journey with me! I have enjoyed sharing this experience with you through my monthly updates and will continue to do so, as well as make posts here on my new blog!

My life here in Guatemala continues to require a commitment from 25-50 people who are willing to provide $20-$40 per month for basic costs of housing, food, and insurance. I encourage you to pray about making such a contribution. If a monthly commitment is not possible, a one-time special gift is equally appreciated. Please visit my mission's website at www.cten.org to find out how you can continue to be a part of this service opportunity.

With blessings,

Sherry L. de Alvarez