Pray for Guatemala

Things are changing rapidly. I have emailed most everyone I know with initial details of the story developing here in Guatemala as the president, his wife, and various advisors have been accused of murder. And now a citizen has been arrested for speaking out against the corruption of the government. Unfortunately, I have received little response from anyone I know. I post this in request of prayer for the country of Guatemala...it's citizens, visitors, leaders...everyone. I will continue to post relevant stories as they arise, in the hopes that others out there will help take up the cry.

Here is the best brief summary and follow up comments that I can find at this time:

Guatemala Update

Spring 2009 Update

(Felicita & Me at Banquet... Middle School Destination ImagiNation... Suzy & Me Back together at CAG!...More pics available at: GuatePics)

The RAIN always comes on so quickly! It's amazing to me how we go from the dry season to the rainy one in a matter of just a few hours. While I'm enjoying the water for the yard and plants, I have been quickly reminded how long it takes to line dry clothes this time of year!

With only two weeks of regular classes left, the rainy season isn't the only thing that has come on so quickly!! How it got to be this time of year already, I'll never understand.

Here are some highlights from the last few weeks:

Easter being my favorite time of year, I again helped organize Union Church's Sunrise Service held at CAG. The weather was nice with just enough sun to keep us warm out there at daybreak. The 70 folks in attendance this year were treated to wonderful music from a visiting choir from Sweden.

Our Middle School Destination ImagiNation team went to the National Tournament on April 18. There were 40-some teams competing in all; in our category there were six. The kids showed amazing teamwork and graciousness (unlike anything I've ever actually seen IN CLASS... :) and brought home a SECOND PLACE finish!!! I'm so proud of them for all of their hard work and the wonderful witness they each put forth while competing. I've already been asked to expand the program to include a High School team for next year! But I'll need some extra adult hands to pull that off!! PRAYERS that others will follow the call to help!

This past week, one of my very dear friends, Suzy Leonard, returned to Guatemala to attend the wedding of another friend, Rene Gonzalez. It was so great to have her around the house and CAG again for a few days. Suzy is one of the main reasons I pursued my ministry at CAG. And she and I team-taught sixth grade language arts last year. She is dearly missed now that she's back in the States, and I feel so blessed to have been able to spend even a short time with her again. She's now back in Indiana where she helps run a year-round adventure camp. PRAYERS that this new position will allow her many opportunities to share Christ with others!!

In these last two weeks of classes, I will again be undertaking assessing the reading skills of all kids (grades K-6) at school. It's a daunting task, but one I take with great seriousness. While most kids at CAG don't struggle academically, those who do need the extra love and support that I can provide through the Reading Services Program. At any other school in Guatemala, they would not receive such specialized services. Knowing this is one important reason that I choose to continue on in my mission here. PRAYERS that I will make wise decisions in helping to educate the kids of other missionaries serving here.

The other big event taking place at this time is the taking over the the school tienda by the Junior Class. The tienda is the school store, run by the Senior Class to help serve the school community during break, lunch, and after school. As the seniors are on their way out, it is now our turn to start managing this small business. At this point, I think the class advisors are more concerned with this than the kids are. But that is probably because we have seen the behind-the-scenes of it all. To get warmed up, the juniors will be "in charge" these last two weeks of school. PRAYERS for a smooth transition.

Other events at school recently have included High School Banquet, Night of Excellence, the Elementary Spring Concert, Student Art Show, International Fair, and the Spring Sports Banquet. Still to come are Baccalaureate, the High School Spring Concert, and, of course, Graduation.

On the church front, I am putting together a special presentation for our Mother's Day Brunch to be held this coming Saturday, May 9. The topic is "Generations in the Church". Researching this topic has been intriguing, and I am excited to be able to share what I've found with other ladies of all generations! PRAYERS that the information shared will help to bring us closer together.

Palm Sunday 2009

You can find some pictures and information from our visit to zone 1 to watch the Palm Sunday procession at:

GUATEPICS

It's easier for me to host them there than here :( I hope you'll take a look and enjoy!!

With Trembling

It has been a day filled with tremors...something always a little disconcerting. Since I've lived here I have felt a number of tremors, but never so many in one day. Things have been shimmy-shaking all over the city all day long, and Volcan Pacaya, normally available to hikers day and night, has been closed due to the severity of the eruptions. So, we're not really sure what's going on, butwe're hopeful we'll be spared from anything too serious.

Tomorrow is my favorite day of the year here in Guatemala: Palm Sunday!! We are heading to zone 1 to see my very favorite processions and alfombras at sunrise! I'll be posting pics soon!!

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!!