End of the Term Prayers

Is it possible it's been four months since my last update?!!? It seems to be. For that, I apologize. Here are some ministry highlights...

Javier has taken on his role as elder at Union Church with gusto. He has been helping lead different services, serving communion, as well as providing spiritual support to the widowed. His human resources programming for the government project continues to move ahead despite a few roadblocks, and so do his university-level software/programming seminars. I am always amazed at how many different groups of people he is able to serve with such a wide variety of skills and talents.

My literacy program, as always, has been my priority the second half of this school year. In preparation for my maternity leave, I have recently performed an end-of-term early literacy inventory with kids in grades K-2 and am so pleased with the results! God has been good in leading me to provide for the needs of these kids. I have/will be "graduating" six of my primary students from the program this year (a third of all the kids in the program!!). And the entire first grade has met all required benchmarks for the year!! In witnessing such results, I am affirmed that God is the true force behind my work.

My middle school Destination ImagiNation team did a great job at their recent national competition. It being their first trip to the tournament, I was proud not only of their great teamwork and attitude, but even more impressed with the wonderful witness for Christ that they provided the whole day long. I do not doubt that their presence touched hearts and minds that day. Their problem solving skills placed them in third place in the competition, but their love and dedication placed them first in my heart!

Prayers of Thanksgiving for both of these groups of amazing kids!!

And, alas, my seniors are full of senioritis and "ready" to move on, regardless of the support I (and their other sponsors) try to lend. Most are trying their best to finish strong, but all are understandably both tired and anxious. Please be in prayer for them as they reach this milestone of life.

And now Javier and I are home. The baby's room is ready. We have all the supplies we think we might need. And I've finally reached "term." So now we just wait for God to give the signal that the time has come. Having just been to the doctor yesterday, she reports that both the baby and I are healthy and almost ready for the delivery. The baby has dropped, but is, as they say, "sunny side up," meaning that it is facing out instead of back. In addition, the umbilical cord is presently in a bit of a precarious position. Both of these conditions are not currently a problem, but need to change before delivery day in order for us to go ahead with a natural birth. Please be in prayer with us that God will, in his perfect timing, correct both of these situations.

And one final prayer request...that both Javier and I will be able to build and sustain a new and successful ministry to the one who will be our first true disciple. We will let you know when s/he arrives!!

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

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

Giving Thanks

As Thanksgiving quickly approaches and I start to dream of pumpkin pie, mandarin orange jello salad, and scalloped corn, I want to take a moment to share my thanks.

As many of you know, during the first few weeks of school, Javier and I discovered we have been blessed with a long-awaited pregnancy. As I write, I am at 15 weeks and the sickness of the first trimester is lessening. (Many, many thanks for that!!) And so have my hours at school been lessened, due to some continuing medical concerns. And while it has been a blessing to be in a position that has allowed me to be at home and resting, I have also been missing my kids at school. I think, though, that this has been one of those hidden blessings...realizing I can slow down and let someone else take the reins...at home and school...because God is ultimately the one in control anyway...not me.

I am thankful for a great turnout at this year's Harvest Fair, where all the kids worked so hard to serve others. And for the amazing blessings that transpired during High School Retreat last week. I witnessed kids drawing closer to God, bonding with one another, and maturing in the Word. And while I couldn't participate in all of the activities this year, I am thankful to be in a place that recognizes the importance of such for students and sets aside time to make sure they experience them. I am also extremely thankful that Javier was able to come along, as I would not have been able to participate at all without him there to help!!

This year's Thanksgiving will be different for us, as all the folks we usually celebrate with are now away. So instead, we have decided to invite some of our Korean students over to experience their first American (via Guatemala) Thanksgiving feast. I'm excited to share this favorite time with them and am hopeful they will enjoy it!!

And, of course, not at all least on my list of things to be thankful for is you! I'm so very thankful for all of you who continue to show interest in our ministry here and continue to support us through prayer and financial giving.

Love and blessings to you all!!!

Some New Shots!

I've added a new album with a few photos of the beginning of the year!! (Finally!!!)

You can check it out by following the link "GuatePics" on the Other Spots of Interest list

or

by clicking HERE!

Enjoy!!

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