Fútbol

Over the last few months, we have been having soccer games on Wednesday nights. Team building, exercise, and just plain fun.  Normally Lori and I stay home and let the youngin’s play. I went this last week to watch.

Prayer Room Renovation

How lovely is the place where you live,

O LORD who rules over all!

I desperately want to be

in the courts of the LORD’s temple.

My heart and my entire being shout for joy

to the living God.

Psalm 84:1-2

 In June, we hosted a team from our home church, Lifegate Omaha, led by the Knutson family.

 The focus of the team was to renovate the Prayer Room at the hospital.

 Everyone pitched in and we finished just in time for Saturday night community worship.

 The team also helped out at the widow's project.

 After the devotion, there was a prayer time for each of the widows who wanted prayer.

 The team spent time with our missionary families and prayed over them as well.

 Lindsay shared her testimony with the nurses and students at Wednesday devotion time.

 They were also here for a soccer game between Adonai and Hogar de Vida!

 And a trip to our favorite local eatery for dobladas!

 After such a busy week it was good to make a stop in Panajachel on their way out.

 Several got up early and rented kayaks.

 All of us enjoyed the encouragement of fellowship sharing meals, walking down Calle Santander, and just hanging out!

 And we all enjoyed the beauty of God's creation! 

It is difficult to express how much of a blessing this team was.  It is always encouraging to see old friends, to meet new friends, to host a team from our home church, to be encouraged in our work, to have the prayer room prioritized and 'spruced up'.  

We are so thankful.

In-Services

Over the last two weeks we have hosted teams that have held some in-services for our nurses and staff.  Our medical staff is already incredible and with such great teaching times together they are only getting better.  They have teachable hearts and soak in every minute of the in-services!

Dr Ellen and PA Erin work together in Kansas.  They talked on healthy babies and perinatal issues.  Their team also instructed on ultrasound (thanks Ryan!)  

Dr Koert and nurse Nancy traveled from Arizona.  

Nancy taught on EKG and patient monitoring and Dr Koert led a casting lab.  

Here are a few pics from the casting lab.  We couldn't have done it without brave volunteers!

After the casts dried, they had to come off.  

Using the saw was a good skill to learn.

Over and over again, we see where there is need God provides!

Such an encouragement both professionally and personally!  

We are so thankful for those who traveled down.

A Good Day!

So yesterday I turned 50.  I have to admit that I am struggling with this milestone a little bit.  It just sounds old!  I told the secretary for our ministry that I didn't want 'to have 50 years'.  She told me that just meant that I had more experience, more wisdom, ... and I said "mas vieja".  She laughed and said that was true as well!  It just sounds old!  

It also feels like my life has come full circle in many ways!  The kids are now asking me what I want for my 'birthday lunch', what kind of cake they should make and they do all the decorating.  And did they decorate!  Balloons everywhere!! 

The living room

The hallway

The kitchen

Even my office!

And they made me a delicious chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting!  So good! 

I celebrated my 40th birthday in Guatemala as well.  We were here for seven months from September 2008 until April 2009.  That was a hard birthday.  

We were living in someone else's space away from many of my friends who would have celebrated with me.  We were struggling with life here in general.  The Spanish, the difficulties of understanding the culture, the issues with living in community, the trips to Guatemala City and Mexico to renew our VISAs, sharing our space with the clinic every Saturday.  We never knew when a patient was going to land on our couch in the middle of our 'school time'.  Or have to come into the clinic late at night because of an 'emergency'.  

Ten years later, we are in the same space but we have all of it.  Our living room is where they held clinic.  My office is where the kitchen used to be.  Our kids are not all in one room but are split into male and female.  This space is ours now.  It feels like home.  

The culture is still hard sometimes and Spanish. Ugh - some days are good; others not so much!  The trips to Guatemala City are still long but the road is now all concrete.  Such a blessing!  

I still miss my friends that would have invited me to coffee for my birthday!  But we so treasure the relationships that we have here!  I had surprise gifts most of the day - cookies, a beautiful plant, a wonderful 'happy birthday' song sung in Spanish and lots of hugs!  Plus all of the gifts from my amazing kids, phone calls and surprises from my mom.  

I am blessed.  I am content.  I am older.  Never would I have guessed that I would be celebrating this milestone in this country when I was half this age.  

As I look ahead, I am excited.  

My kids are awesome (yes, I am extremely biased!!) and I really enjoy watching them grow into young men and women who are after the Lord's heart.  I am anticipating all of the plans that He has for them.  

I am so loved by a wonderful husband.  Someday, it will be just the two of us again and it is going to be so much fun!  He spoils me - from making the bed and the coffee everyday to stepping into all of the projects that I desire.  Well, almost all of them!!  He is incredible and I am blessed!

I serve an amazing God.  I am closer to Him than ever and yet I know there is more.  I have a hunger to go deeper in my relationship with Him.  I am learning everyday how faithful He is and how much He loves me.  He is so worthy!  

So I am 50.  It just sounds old.  

But I am blessed and exactly where I am supposed to be.  Thank you all for your encouragement and sweet messages. Thank you for sticking with us as we continue on this crazy journey.  Thank you for being a part of making my birthday a good day!!  Love you all!