A New School Year for Christ

The start of a new school year!...We've been in classes for two weeks now and already it seems like so much has happened!

A quick recap of THIS SUMMER'S BLESSINGS:

...a trip to Toronto to visit dear friends Jo-anne, Paul, and Mary...seeing things I've never seen before and witnessing God's work in their lives and the closeness of their families

...a reunion with friends from as far back as elementary school at my 20th! high school reunion!! The number of people truly interested in my ministry was inspiring and refreshing!

...a visit from my very dear friend Lydia who flew across the country and endured a bus ride just to spend a few fleeting hours with me; the depth of her love and support is never lost on me

...an adventuresome ride to Tennessee to meet with my very first supporters, the Seekers Class from Bartlett United Methodist Church, and to visit with Auntie Em, Uncle Denis, Allison, Erin, and all of theirs! Their intrigue with Guatemala and how they can be involved touched my heart.

...a day and a half with my former student teacher, Annette, who showed me parts of Chicago I've never seen, shared her YoungLife ministry with me, and inspired me to get back to work here with a positive outlook!!

My three weeks of traveling around refreshed my spirit and made me ready to get back to serving here at Christian Academy.

I knew going in, this would be my most-demanding year so far, and I have yet to be disappointed in that!!

Praises for:

...meeting and caring for my host child (new teacher to CAG), Jordan, who has done an amazing job adjusting to Guatemala even after being hospitalized during his first days here

...the return of teachers and students ready to work, love, and serve together

...a strong reception by staff of my inservices on educational technology

...incoming reading test results showing that the reading program IS making a difference!

...Javier's ability and willingness to serve the needs of the CAG community in the computer lab at school (thus allowing us to work together every day!! :)

...the blessing to work with the senior class! (which will be a source of many prayer requests as well!)

While I am still feeling that overwhelming rush of new challenges that come with getting a new school year started, I am also feeling the blessing of knowing that others are with me in prayer and financial support! Being able to focus on my ministry to these very special kids and families while being secure that God is providing for my work through your contributions gives me peace and fills me with great thanks!

If you would like to know more about my ministry here in Guatemala or help support it, I invite you to please email me at: slynnll@gmail.com or visit my mission's website at cten.org .

"He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing."
(Ephesians 2:10, The Message)

Thank you, Christian Science Monitor!

An even-handed/objective article on Honduras.

Please Read. Please See with New Eyes. Please Pray.

DEFENDING DEMOCRACY IN HONDURAS from the Wall Street Journal

Further Information on the Crisis in Honduras

Please be in prayer for the people of Honduras, their leaders, and those of us who are traveling there during this time of crisis:

From the Wall Street Journal Today: Honduras Lurches Toward Crisis Over Election

Deja Vu All Over Again

I am so excited to be heading to Copan Ruinas, Honduras this weekend to celebrate the marriage of two dear friends: Jodi and Kraig!! In addition to the celebration, Javier and I have been looking forward to taking a short vacation together...something with which we haven't had much experience.

After an expected "fijase" with the hotel which required us to find a new one, we were surprised by the one that came from the bus company, Hedman Alas...a reliable name in transport. We had desired to return to Guatemala on Sunday, as all the wedding guests will, at that point, be clearing out...back to the States or on to Roatan to spend the honeymoon with the happy couple. When Javier called me from the bus depot saying: "We have a problem..." I was not expecting it to be quite so political. The bus lady (as Javier affectionately called her) informed him that they would not have bus service to/from Honduras that Sunday due to elections. Wait...what? Presidential elections? Congressional? Did he hear her right? What did an election have to do with buses? I did some quick research and found that general elections in Honduras are held at the end of November. I double checked that the bus lady understood we wanted to return THIS Sunday...in June. She understood, but no one at the bus company had any more information than that. So, our choice was to return either Saturday or Monday. Seeing as we would actually like to be at the wedding on Saturday, we had to opt for the extra night/day and return on Monday. It wasn't until checking the news today that I began to understand why buses may be choosing not to run on Sunday:

Thousands March to Protest President's Plan to Change the Constitution

And, as I have continued to read various articles,(hard-found) on this topic, I have wondered...are we, in light of events here in Guatemala, going to be jumping from the frying pan into the fire on this trip? And maybe more importantly (and sadly), if Central American countries such as Guatemala and Honduras had oil or nukes would this information have been 1) more easily found and 2) something people in other parts of the world would care about?

I write to ask for prayers for the situation in Honduras, as well as here; for the bridal couple who has long awaited this time, and for all of their guests who will need to be traveling through Honduras on this day that not even the buses will run...

Decompressing and Following the Call

I realize it has been awhile since I've put up an actual mission-newsletter-y-update. While I have been attempting to post events as they unfold here in Guatemala, I have been doing so without sending out notices each time. So, for more detailed updates on the state of affairs, please scroll down through my older posts below.

Part of school ending has been some decompression time for me, during which I have been limiting my contact outside of the house. This hasn't been a completely conscious choice, and each day I wake up feeling guilty that I have not been doing more. But in honesty, when I look back at all that has occurred, not just this school year, but over the past two years, these are the first days that I've had to stay in my house and feel guilty about staying in my house. In the past, when I haven't been full-bore on activities for school, I was working on Master's degree and tutoring. Since I've graduated and have only taken on one student (due to family schedules this summer) for tutoring, I have this time on my hands. Initially I thought I would use every waking second getting ready for next year...research, planning, designing, etc. But I think what God is having me do right now instead is take advantage of this down time to make sure burnout is not on the way. Next year I know my class load will be heavier (thanks to initiatives I began this year) and I will be working with the senior class (the most demanding in the high school years), and while I will eventually need to start getting ready for all of that, what I need most right now is to slow down, listen to what God wants me to hear, and work on not feeling guilty about that. I ask for your continued prayers in helping me do this. Not working or even working more slowly is not in my nature and something I struggle with. I know as soon as I head for the States things will be a whirlwind of activities and connecting and sharing and moving. And when I get back from that, school will be just around the corner, so I know I need to take this time now to take care of myself.

That's not to say Javier and I haven't been doing anything. As we continue to feel called to help in the fight for justice here in Guatemala, we continue to participate as much as we can, spread the word to others, and pray. (again...for details, please scroll through the older posts below...and visit my sharsite for pictures...)

Thank you for your continued support, love, and concern for us here!

Habakkuk 1:1-4

The problem as God gave Habakkuk to see it: God, how long do I have to cry out for help
before you listen?
How many times do I have to yell, "Help! Murder! Police!"
before you come to the rescue?
Why do you force me to look at evil,
stare trouble in the face day after day?
Anarchy and violence break out,
quarrels and fights all over the place.
Law and order fall to pieces.
Justice is a joke.
The wicked have the righteous hamstrung
and stand justice on its head.

MURDERS UP 15 PERCENT IN GUATEMALA