The Doors

                          A collaboration of artistry and song choice by husband and wife!

Living in this space of time
I have to wonder where I'm going
Just who I am, what I'm supposed to be
Searching for that certain sign
That points me in the right direction
The path to take, the one that's right for me

Oh, choices will come my way, but which ones to choose?
Oh, can't do it on my own, there's too much to lose

Take me, guide me, lead me
I'm trusting in You, Lord
Teach me and show me the way
Break me, love me, forgive me
I'm asking of You, Lord
Take me and show me the way

Knowing if I stand alone
I could never see the way that is meant for me
The life that we could share
Learning lessons I must know
From the source who has the answers of life itself
the one who really cares

Life has so many turns, which way to go?
When You're beside me, Lord, You're in control

Take me, guide me, lead me
I'm trusting in You, Lord
Teach me and show me the way
Break me, love me, forgive me
I'm asking of You, Lord
Take me and show me the way

I know for me You have the perfect plan
I know You had it before time began
Don't want to listen to what others say
Just show me the way

Take me, guide me, lead me
I'm trusting in You, Lord
Teach me and show me the way
Break me, love me, forgive me
I'm asking of You, Lord
Take me and show me the way

Psalm 145:13  

The Lord is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made.

Isaiah 58:11  

The Lord will guide you always; 

He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame.  

You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.

Last Days in Guatemala

Kenny and I were blessed with two incredible teachers. Both of them were strong Christians who have loved and served the Lord for many years. My teacher, Leticia, is about 64 years old, has lived in Antigua all her life and has been teaching Spanish for over 30 years. Kenny’s teacher, Jorje has also been teaching for many years and was also on the Guatemala basketball team when he was younger!

We were so sad to leave but so happy to be free from headaches. We are thinking God used our headaches to bring us to the Dominican Republic right when he wanted us here!

Break time on the school rooftop!

One of our favorite ruins on the way to school.

I love yellow houses. My favorite in Antigua!

We had a wonderful visit with our MTI friends, Lauren - who will be serving in the DR (center) and the Barron family - John, Elaina, Lauren and Jack who serve the Lord  in Guatemala City.

God continues to bless....

We got to spend time with so many wonderful people while in Guatemala! Fernando, the Director of Students International Guatemala and his wife Mariella treated us to a wonderful Italian dinner - best I've ever had! We felt such a connection to Fernando and Mariella and hope to see them again.  Then the night before we left we were so excited to visit with Lowell and Cheryl Troyer from SI Nicaragua, along with their daughter Amber and her husband Travis, and their neighbors in the US who were checking out SI Giatemala as they consider God's call on their lives.

Rainstorm in the Rainforest!

The two of us, along with a bunch of other folks, were caught in an incredible rainstorm as we were walking out of the jungle! After waiting for about 30 minutes we decided to brave the path which 30 minutes before had been dry ground! Crazy fun!

Check it out: http://youtu.be/hN2M6Z9BUbY

A Special Gift

I was blessed while in Antigua to have this bike for exercise.
I had many great workouts riding this bike.
And I needed it considering we were fed such  large portions of food at our host home!
Dona Alicia was an amazing cook who definitely made sure you had enough to eat.
We think that was her love language.
 I can't wait to tell you the story about my bus adventure when I went to pick up the bike!

Tikal

Pictures cannot even begin describe how phenomenal this place was.  In the middle of the 

jungle is an ancient Mayan village with some of the temples dating back to 900BC.

This was only one of the many temples.
And all over this part of the jungle were huge mounds just waiting to be unearthed.

This looks like a story book village but it's a huge archeological site!
Taken from the top of another building that was apparently some kind of hotel. Wow!

And this is what we were able to see on the other side of the hotel like building!

We really did feel like Indiana Jones!

We were alone in the jungle! Kenny was so brave!
Especially after seeing all the signs on our way in!

These buildings were built in such a way that tree roots couldn't penetrate.
You will see mound after mound with trees on top but the tree roots are on the surface.
Fascinating!

My explorer! He just needs an Indy hat!

Here we were in a building over a thousand years old and Kenny says,
"Wow, check out this coupling!"

There is a super steep ledge in front of me!
We are actually on the top part of a building that has yet to have its base unearthed.

What a great way to celebrate our 20th anniversary!

As we sat atop this huge ancient temple rising above all the trees in the jungle I was filled with a sense of wonder. The reflection of our Creator was so evident in the minds of these people who lived so long ago but yet knew the stars and the earth so well. They were brilliant and creative. 

They had incredible water systems and architecture but yet they worshiped false gods and offered sacrifices at these temples. I found myself trying to imagine the people back then, walking around living life, raising families, going to work, eating, sleeping and dying.

I wonder if any of them knew God or if they ever thought that there might be something more than what they believed to be true. 

Wild Life in the Jungle!

Not sure what these are called but they kind of looked like a raccoon with an anteater  nose.

God fulfilled my need to be close to plants on this trip! Huge leaves and so many different species!

Gotta love an orange bug! Almost fluorescent!

We spent about a half hour watching 8 monkeys play in the trees! So incredibly agile!

Is this the coolest set of tree roots ever?

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

FOR OUR 20th ANNIVERSARY WE WERE BLESSED TO TAKE A TRIP TO TIKAL -
AN ANCIENT CITY IN THE JUNGLE DATING BACK TO 900 B.C.
KAREN SAID " DON'T WORRY HONEY, IT WILL BE SAFE!"
THIS IS THE FIRST ROAD SIGN INSIDE THE PARK THAT MADE ME NERVOUS

2ND ROAD SIGN THAT MADE ME NERVOUS

DESPITE BEING REALLY, REALLY NERVOUS, I HAD NO IDEA  OF THE ADVENTURE THAT WAS AHEAD!

Thanks

We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints (including us!) – the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel that has come to you.  All over the world, including here in Antigua and in the Dominican Republic, this gospel is bearing fruit and growing just as it has been doing since the day you heard it and understood God’s grace in all its truth.

We pray that you will continue to grow in grace and love as you seek to walk closely with our God.

In Christ’s Love, Kenny and Karen

The Ultimate in Home Security Systems!

New place to study.

Karen's 2nd favorite building.

Parade outside our school.

Kenny back from a run in the rain!

Sunday Morning Thoughts from Karen

It’s early Sunday morning, Kenny’s still asleep and the sun is out after yet another incredible night of thunder, lightening and pouring rain. Lots of noise going on in the neighborhood – a string of firecrackers going off at 5:30am, chicken buses driving by constantly, very loud birds, lots of personas speaking Spanish! A big difference from the peace and quiet of our home in North Bend but yet I am filled with a sense of peace knowing we are here, learning a language that will enable us to serve God as He has called us.

I never knew it was possible for my heart to ache so deeply for our family and friends, our church family and even just a view of Mt. Si and yet at the exact same time for my heart to long to be in our home in the DR with our dear friends, settled in and serving our Lord. I feel as though we are in limbo – a place between two different worlds – just kind of hanging out there in space with our feet not really on the ground. Praise God for making clear to us He never leaves us nor forsakes us!

Sleep has been difficult. In my dreams, I find myself puzzling Spanish questions and then lying awake trying to figure out the best answer in Spanish. And my dreams are incredibly - a mixture of way, way in the past, the present, Spanish and of all things German! It’s almost as though my whole memory bank opens up when I fall asleep. My mom is German and I was born there but have no recollection of ever speaking the language although we visited a few times when I was young. The other morning Kenny asked me how I was doing and I said, “wunderbar” (wonderful in German). In school with my teacher I apparently am speaking Spanish with a bit of a German accent. Crazy times!

We are not sure how much longer we will be here. Please pray that God would give us clear guidance. We now have the opportunity to either learn Spanish here in Antigua or in the DR. While our time in Antigua has been fruitful, we have both been having some pretty regular intense headaches. We suspect the cause to be fumes from the cars and buses. We can smell them whenever we walk to town, in our classroom and even in our home.  Or could it be the intensity of trying to learn Spanish? Could you please pray that God would speak to us clearly in this and also that we would continue to soak up Spanish into our brains that are not so young?

We are praying for you all faithfully. Please be sure and let us know of any special needs so we can join you in bringing them before our Lord.

Love,

Karen

We found a new place to study!

View on the way to school every morning!

Working on homework!