For Prayers and Praise

Writing about trying times is always difficult for me. I never want to sound complain-y about following God's call because I am truly blessed to be here serving Him. And I don't want to project the sense that I am not appreciative of the support people send my way, both spiritually and financially. But there are times when the circumstances surrounding the location that I've been called to get tough. And it's human nature, unfortunately, to allow ourselves to feel discouraged and even afraid at times. So I'm writing to today to inform and solicit prayer for this small part of God's Kingdom, which continues to be relentlessly attacked by the enemy.

This past week has been an especially sad one for Guatemala. I love this country and the people here, and being witness to their pain is not easy. Below are two links to news coverage by the Latin American Herald Tribune, describing the situation, much more concisely and objectively than I could.

Guatemalan Bus Drivers on Strike to Protest Murders

Two More Bus Drivers Slain in Guatemala

In addition, here is a link to a recent report from the Council of Hemispheric Affairs that I found interesting in light of all the press being given to the lamentations of the U.S. about their Mexican border issues:

COHA Report on Guatemala

"...the drug crisis that Guatemala currently finds itself in is due primarily to spillage from Mexico..."

"In December 2008, Carlos Castresana, Head of the United Nations International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala, stated “if the Guatemalan authorities are unable to stop the infiltration of Mexican drug cartels in two years they could take over Guatemala City.” "

I post these items not for shock value or effect. I do it because people often ask: "How can we pray for you?" and to be honest, I feel so blessed to be here doing what I am, that I don't often have a good answer. The above articles, however, mention thousands of people who are much in need of prayer, and I ask that you direct your petitions on their behalf.

That being said, these events do affect my work here as well. My call is to find ways to provide normalcy for kids living here due to the call of their parents to serve here. How do I balance addressing the situations swallowing up their environment with finding ways to let them be kids? It's a ministry of fine balance. Kids are still kids even in the midst of everything else. And they still want to do kid things. So, I do pray for wisdom about how to do that appropriately. In the attempt to let them lead kid-friendly lives, I try everyday to move forward with regular kid/school activities. And here are some recent highlights:

Felicita has been accepted, with a full-tuition scholarship, to
Berea College!!!
(This is a story all it's own, that I will someday have Felicita share.)

My Middle School Destination ImagiNation team was commended for providing the "Most Creative Solution" at their practice problem-solving competition last week!

Junior/Senior Skip Day was bright, sunny, safe, and FUN!!!!

Elisa, a seventh grader, blogged: "This is getting FUN! :)" in response to EXTRA work she's been asked to do!

Javier and I will have a chance to celebrate God's love and grace with students at
High School Banquet
tonight!!

In all we do, let's find conviction and inspiration from God's word:

"Naked I came from my mother's womb,

and naked I will depart.
The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;
may the name of the LORD be praised."

In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.

Job 1:21-22

Can't Believe I Forgot!!!

Oh my goodness!!! In all the hullabaloo I am now realizing that I never posted one of my most exciting adventures so far!!! Check it out here:

Just a Simple Comic by Sherry L. de Alvarez, M.Ed.

Of Middle Schoolers, Midwesterners, and Medals!

Middle Schoolers: I distinctly remember the days of substitute teaching many years ago when the thought of being placed in charge of middle schoolers had me shaking in my boots! Now I mostly just shake with laughter from enjoying them. Recently my English Enrichment class planned their own class party in celebration of all they've learned this year. There was pizza, board games, and live music courtesy of Yo Han, an extremely accomplished pianist. How refreshing to see these simple pleasures able to truly entertain kids of this age!!

In the world of Destination ImagiNation, my other groups of middle level kids have been recently participating in skills workshops to get themselves prepared for the big competition on April 18. Prayer support is GREATLY appreciated here as they work on time management and teamwork issues.

Midwesterners: This past week Javier and I were blessed to be able to share great meals, fun times, and enthusiastic conversations with friends of family and other friends who had ventured down this way. We loved having the opportunity to keep in touch with folks back home, make new friends, and hear about how others are working in and enjoying Guatemala. Sarah and Howard were here from Tennessee with other members of their church on an annual trip to help build in Mazatenango. And Mark, Fran from Wisconsin, and their friend Walt, told about their new found love for Guatemala and how they'd like to help an NGO build a library in Santiago. (*My apologies if Tennessee isn't technically in the midwest...I was working on a catchy title!)

Medals: Just yesterday I ran in my sixth annual Avon Run Against Breast Cancer. Although this is something familiar to most people in the States, it is a relatively new event here in Guatemala. Each year, however, I've watched it grow and grow. This year over 4,000 women of all ages ran! I was able to get our first grade teacher and two girls from our high school to run along. We are hopeful that even more ladies will join us next time around!!

Servant Days 2009: Building in Xela

This year our class traveled to Quetzaltenango (aka Xela), Guatemala to help with the construction of a Bible school near there. Although Xela is located less than 200km (less than 120 miles) northwest of the city, the trip takes over four hours due to road conditions and mountainous terrain. The city of Xela itself is located at about 7,500 feet above sea level.

We left school around 8am Thursday morning and arrived at the seminary that hosted us just in time for lunch a little before 12:30. After fueling up, we headed to the work site, about fifteen minutes outside of Xela.

Once at the work site, the kids began helping haul cement block to the second level of the building and then used it to construct the ceiling. Others began the arduous process of chipping away a first layer of cement from the walls in preparation for finishing layers that will be added later. Still others were responsible for shoveling and hauling dirt to backfill along the foundation of the building.

On the second day, after working all day, the kids put on a performance for some local children by singing songs in Spanish and telling the story of Noah. And both days there was, of course, time made for some friendly soccer games between the gringos and the locals.

It was such a blessing to me to work beside these teenagers who labored so hard with no complaining; no expectation of something in return, but rather with so much laughter and joy! It truly gives me hope.

I think the video I've put together will help you see how God not only worked through them during these Servant Days, but also how He worked in them as well.

Falling Down and Popping Up

It rained today. It never rains in January. Such a simple thing gave so many pause. Everyone stopped or ran (depending on where they were when the deluge started) and laughed and smiled and yelled: "It's RAINING!" We don't know why and it didn't last long. The ground, so dry from months of sunshine and wind, soaked it all up before you could even notice that it had been wet. It came just as my kids were about to start a presentation at our weekly staff meeting. Rain on a metal roof would not have been conducive to their nervous voices trying to speak in front of 50 adults. So, we offered prayer and just as we were about to begin, the rain stopped. If I haven't mentioned before, my middle schoolers have produced the most amazing piece of cartoon art which is now featured on a website, also being viewed as an online ebook, and is about to be the focus of an article in English Teaching Professional...an internationally-read teaching journal. We thought we ought to share that PRAISE with our school community which has been so harshly targeted with crisis and tragedy lately. You can view their work at either of these sites:

http://grammarmancomic.com (look for the comic titled "Grammarman Travels to Guatemala")
http://www.myebook.com/index.php?option=ebook&id=3623

We will also be PRAISING tomorrow night as the high schoolers open their production of Beauty and the Beast for its three-night run.

So what was popping up? About 200 bags of popcorn on top of my stove! ...to sell as snacks at intermission tomorrow night. Only 400 more to go!!!

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!