New Year, New Endeavors

Apologies for a much-delayed update. I'm not even sure where the time has gone. Javier and I enjoyed a restful Christmas vacation and have begun preparing our tiny home to house one more...meaning rooms have been switched around, closets cleaned out, and many bags and boxes of whatnots have made their way to the church rummage sale. We now have most things settled and are on to trying to find the right infant items to fit the space we have.

The doctor says all is well now in my 24th week and so I'm trying to commit more hours to being back at school these days. With the help of Karina, my assistant, I have been able to complete all the mid-year literacy assessments in grades K-5 and have made adjustments to our schedules so that all kids who require literacy intervention are able to receive such. At this point, we are providing individualized services for seventeen elementary students.

My workload at the middle school has changed as I have now graduated all of my English Enrichment students. I miss meeting with them each day, but am proud to see them able to move on, knowing they have worked hard to do so. Preparation for our Destination ImagiNation competition continues as my team of all middle school boys attempts to build their structure and create their presentation by mid-April. I am hopeful that I will still be able to attend their performance with them.

Next on the agenda for the Senior Class (as much as they would like to believe it to be graduation!) is the annual CAG Fun Run, which will be held January 30 and managed completely by the seniors. It is a community service outreach and we are hopeful for a good turnout this year! Two weeks after that we'll be off to the rural town of Cubulco to serve at Centro Medico Cristiano Senorita Elena during another CAG annual event...Servant Days. During Servant Days, each class, from Kinder to 12th, chooses a service project to take part in. Elementary students serve a need on campus; middle school students serve a need in a local community for a day; and high school students spend a three-day period moving out to serve needs in various locations across Guatemala.

Javier continues to volunteer in the computer lab at school. In addition to this and his online work, he also finds himself increasingly busy presenting innovative ideas to heads of the Guatemalan government regarding the use of Open Source software to run their social programs. He is determined to help build strength and security in his country by using his special skills in the area of technology. While it often makes me nervous to know he's rubbing shoulders (again) with the people of the country who have the power to do both good and evil, I know he is doing so with a true desire to make his home country a better place. And I trust that it is God who is allowing him to try to do so from this unique angle. He is also excited to have been asked to join the Elder Board at Union Church of Guatemala! His voting in will take place next week. As if that weren't enough, Javier has also started learning Korean so that he may be better able to communicate with and serve the large Korean population here, of both missionaries and businessmen.

As always, we are only able to stay on here and take on these endeavors through the grace of God and your support. If you or someone you know is interested in helping support our work here in Guatemala, you can do so through our mission, Commission to Every Nation. Through their website, you can make a one-time donation or a monthly commitment to helping us serve others. All donations are tax deductible and greatly appreciated by both ourselves and those you help us to serve. If you have specific questions about our ministries or just our lives here, please do not hesitate to contact us here or through email at: slynnll@gmail.com

With Thanks, Love and Blessings-

Sherry