This past week was Semana Santa (Holy Week) here so things were a little different. Schools were out and so most of the girls at Mimi's House went home to spend time with their families. Antigua was packed with people and processionals so we stayed clear of all the crowds. Since Robby's parents were here, we spent most of our time working on projects around the house. Thank you, Bob and Bette for all of your help! We've got lights that work in the living room and finished so many other projects that needed to be done.

Our friends Holly and Brad who visited us recently delivered a care package from our home church, Northeast Christian. Thank you so much, Northeast, for thinking of us! It was so nice to receive some things we needed but could not purchase down here!

A Busy Week!

We are so happy to be working with a team from Georgetown, Kentucky! We were able to meet some members of the team last year when we visited Central Church of God in Georgetown. Others in the group are from North East Christian Church in Lexington, New Life Church in Louisville, and several others. It's great to have this time working with people from home!

The past week we've been working with the team on many different projects. We are continuing the water project which will bring pure water from a nearby stream to the small community of El Gorrion. Families there are thrilled that they will soon have plenty of clean water coming right to their homes.

The team has also completed two new homes! Today we had the home dedications and it was incredible to be a part of this work. Both families realized that their homes were gifts from God and not us. And they blessed us just as much as we blessed them this week.

The families that received new homes also received an onil stove. The majority of women in Guatemala cook over an open fire. Because of this, they spend a lot of their time collecting fire wood and carrying heavy loads (usually on their heads) back to their homes. The onil stoves require only 15% of the wood that they would typically use, which means women have more time each day which they can devote to earning money for their families. Also, the stoves are vented which protects their eyes and the families don't have to breathe all of that smoke on a daily basis. The two families we worked with were very excited about their new stoves!

The team was also able to have two Bible schools -- one for the children of El Gorrion in the morning and one for the children in Magdalena in the afternoon. I think we all fell in love with these kids. They are so precious!

Visit to Tecpan

Last night it occurred to us that exactly two years ago we were in Guatemala finishing a week-long mission trip. It was during that week that God confirmed to us that He was calling us to work in Guatemala. And last night we spent our first night in our new home -- we are now living next door to Mimi's House!

Today my mom and I met up with Dick Rutgers to visit with some families in Tecpan. I was most anxious to see Samuel, a fourteen-year-old boy that we sponsor. Two years ago I met Samuel while on a mission trip. We were bringing food and clothing to a widow that lives near Samuel and he asked for shoes not for himself, but for his younger brother. The missionaries we were with explained that we were only able to help the families without fathers and it absolutely broke my heart to have to tell Samuel no.

Months later I remember praying and complaining about my own circumstances when Samuel popped into my mind. I was reminded that although my situation at the time was not perfect, I was still living in a comfortable home with plenty of food to eat. The very next day I emailed the missionaries we had worked with to ask about Samuel. It just so happened (not a coincidence, but orchestrated by God) that the missionaries had just visited Samuel's community. His father had recently died and they were looking for sponsors to help this family.

Today Samuel was working at a nearby farm since schools here were not in session, so we weren't able to see him. But we did have a nice visit with his mom, her children, and lots of other kids who live in the neighborhood. Samuel's sister, Anna, is twelve and doing well in school. His brother, Josue, is nine and also enjoying school. The youngest two boys are still at home with their mom. We had such a great time and I look forward to going back again soon!