Six months in . . .

  We just returned from our VISA renewal trip to Mexico which means that we have been in Guatemala for 6 months!  It seems hard to believe yet feels like it has been longer at the same time.  Here is Samuel sporting his new shades from Tapachula, Mexico!  

Here is my (Don's) attempt at a 6-month recap!  

I have spent a lot of time in medical clinics over the past 6 months.  We have seen lots of the 'easy' tums and tylenol cases as well as some really hard situations.  We encounter a lot of complicated social isses including abuse, rape and incest.  We have also added lots of new kids to our nutrition program. 

Luis and I spent some time under Dr. Heidi's 'school of surgery' as preparation for the roles that we will have in the future with our clinic expansion.

Although we are still awaiting a roof over the prayer room, the prayer sets have continued to increase.  We now have 4 morning sets and 2 evening worship times.  Two of our sets are led in Spanish.  Some of the momentum came as a part of a 72-hour prayer/worship time that a team helped us accomplish in late June.

Lori continues to facilitate our monthly widows' outreach. 

We continue to try to make our family time a priority.  We live in an awesome community with some great people but also try to have some 'alone' time as a family as well. The kids continue to move ahead in their schooling as well as helping out wherever they are needed - cooking, cleaning, babysitting, helping in clinic etc. etc.

The camper that we pulled through Mexico has been 'retired'.  It was used for housing while the Lifegate team was here and now is storing all of the sound equipment until the prayer room is finished.

Oh the memories . . .

As you will recall, we might have had our camper a little bit overloaded!  We have not had any regrets about any of this things that we brought with us - well, maybe the Queen-size electric mattress pad that Lori insisted on bringing! (hasn't even come out of the bag!) 

We were not able to fit much for furniture in the camper outside of two chairs, our couch and our bed!  We have been living out of suitcases for the past 6 months . . . until yesterday.  We now have places to put our clothes!  Can't wait to see what the next 6 months will add to our collection!

The Lord has been so faithful.  We are more than confident that this is where He has called us to be.  We do have some hard days - missing friends, language barriers etc. - but the peace of the Lord is sustaining us and confirming His plans and purposes for our family.  Thank you for your support and your prayers!  We appreciate you all so much.