Our Morning at the Auto Safari

On Wednesday, April 8 we headed with friends down to the Auto Safari towards the beach. This is the best highway in the country (very nice...really) and one of the views that we are going to miss heading back to the flatlands of Michigan. (Volcan Agua)
Our beloved Pacaya (the smoking volcano on the right).
Another view of Agua with the town of Palin in the foreground.
A sight of Michigan, here in Guatemala. Very rare here and reminded us of times past, and hopefully times to come.
The toll booth is more like a party zone, music blaring, venders shouting and anything you want to buy available right at your car window!
On the way to the beach!
Turning off the main highway in sugar cane country (the beginning of the season).
Typical mode of transportation in Guatemala. And not even that many people in the vehicle.
The drive into the Auto Safari.
Our first animal encounter. Zebra.
Water Buffalo & school bus of tourists. We just wove through the park following the line of cars & assorted vehicles.
Emu...didn't trust this thing. Rolled up my window with it only about 5 feet away.
That was one big sheep!
Our first lifer in the park. (Wild bird we had never seen before...yes he was wild!) Boat-billed Heron.
Lifer # 2...Northern Jacana...so cool!
Lifer #3-Groove-billed Ani. Just hopping around on the ground and in the trees...Wow!
The children in this photo pulled their heads in the car and then the giraffe reached down to their car and stuck his tongue in the window! Maya was not impressed.
Maya's in the back seat saying "Dad, that giraffe is looking at you, you better roll up your window." It was pretty cool, but we didn't get any tongues in our car.
Spider monkey just chilling with a snack!
Then we got to the lions. Wow...obviously we had to have the windows rolled up (a little dusty to take pictures through). They roared for us too...it was incredible.
And then they were off and we drove with them as they walked to a different patch of shade.
Play break. Lily's swinging and has her friends around to join her!
Part of the group...minus some explorers (Aaron, Caden, Lil, Amanda Agrellas & Eric Larimer). Generally families from left to right are the Agrellas', Soderlings, Kinmans, & Larimers.
Classic end of our safari picture. Then off to lunch & more exploring.
Caden found a large tree to hang out in!
Our tickets included a boat ride and we had the privilege of sharing our boat with our friends the Larimers.
This little monkey was so close to the boat, Maya thought for sure we were going to be boarded. And he probably could have. But he was a very cooperative monkey!
This is one of the large iguanas that ran wild all over the Auto Zoo. Every feed trough had a lizard and most seemed well fed like this big guy. It was a great day and we enjoyed our time to explore. Thus ended our planned activities for the week. Little did we know one more was in the works for Aaron. (which he will share about soon.)

Caden's 9th Birthday-April 7

A late lunch at the mall on our way home from Casa Bernabe. Adobo burritos...burritos as big as your head and delicioso...Caden's first...what a big boy he is!
Girls happy with their Mc'y D's.
Later at supper (still dark here by 6:15ish) and Caden's cake. And it was pretty good if I do say so myself!
Here is the whole family showing off the presents Caden got (soccer fans, note the Chelsea jersey in the back). And yes those are socks...good Dutch family we are. It was a good day and we continue to pray that God bless Cade with many years to celebrate ahead.

Our Days at Casa Bernabe-Apr. 6 & 7

This is a very random picture for the beginning of this blog but this is the first picture of our two day experience at the orphanage Casa Bernabe. This is Greg Malczewski (he & his wife are our host family) and the smile on his face is his realizing there is a Wendy's in Guatemala City...and this after three years of living here! It's the simple things in life, man! But this is our only picture of the day because honestly we were just too busy to do anything the first day besides wrangle kids. The Malczewski's joined us on our first day of helping out at the orphanage...and when the house mom, Betty said, "why don't you just take the kids outside to play" (and out they sent us with 16 kids, our very limited Spanish, and they only speak Spanish, to "play")...it basically took us a whole morning just to figure out what was and was not good for them to do! Henceforth...no pictures.
The second day was much better, though it still took all of our energy. Here from left to right are Carolina, Manuelito, & Juliana. This is in the play yard of the 3months to 2 year-olds house. The kids we watched were ages 2-6 and lived in the house just up the hill from here. (Aaron knows the exact number of steps for he went up and down them most).
This is Aaron and he was Maya's big buddy. He was two and very cute!
This is just a glimpse of the group that we were in charge of...everyone playing very nice at the time. Phrases like "No pegue." (don't beat them up-we should have said "no golpe"-don't hit-but it was effective none the less.) and "Aqui, por favor" (here please) were used many times!
These two little cuties are standing in the "sand box" (dusty white gravel) with their communal sippy cup & play things (styrofoam cups and plastic spoons we brought on day two).
Snack time...quiet and rest for at least 3 whole minutes.
Aaron, with his buddies Brian (standing in back), then left to right Lily, Dulce, Juan Carlos, and a little boy I whose name I can't remember (he was a very good listener and I didn't have to use it often!).
Aaron with Alex and Brian while Caden in the sheet at the bottom of the photo is a tackling bag for Rubia. They did have a lot of fun!
Carolina and I enjoying some resting time, watching a Dora the Exploradora video.
The kids loving on each other. This is a person who helped on the Tuesday as well. She was from Canada, teaching at one of the international school in the city for a few months, and helping out at Casa Bernabe during her week-long break. She was delightful to work with.
My favorite picture of the day, Maya with Aaron. I hope our kids continue to be servants, helpers here in God's world & in God's plan. What a blessing to serve with them. And what a memorable Monday & Tuesday of Spring Break week in 2009.

I Can Only Imagine...

This week has been like a fairy tale to me. Even as I sit here now my eyes tear up, thinking of how good God is and what a privilege it is to live in his will. I have had three moments this week where I have actually stepped back and said...who am I, God, that you should give me the opportunity to be part of something so divine, here on earth. Random moments where God intersects space and time so clearly with saints to minister to you, to touch your soul, to realize that you are part of such a bigger thing than what you see...You are amazing God!

Situation 1: For the past 8 weeks my drama class has been working on skits from the Bible to present to the elementary classes during these final three weeks of school. I must confess there has been some complaining. I have made them memorize 3-7 skits when really they wanted to be on cruise control after their accomplishment of Beauty & the Beast. On Wed. they were pretty nervous about their first performances and asked me to pray for them. So after we prayed, we walked over to the elementary building and they entered their classes to perform. The performances weren't perfect but they made it through. And afterward they broke down into groups and my students asked the younger ones questions and then prayed with them. I went around and took pictures (I'll post them here later). And as I took those pictures a thought came to my mind that these are God's kids investing in God's kids, that God is growing his kingdom one teen & one child at a time, and I was able to see it in action...how cool is that to witness. And what an impact on those who participate...God changing us to be more like him, one moment at a time. What an awesome God we serve.

Situation 2: Thursday's are my day off from teaching, and in God's infinite wisdom he placed us in a church that has a women's Bible study that meets on Thursday morning. It is a very diverse group that meets. There are 3-5 people in our 30's, a half dozen or so in their 40's & 50's but most of the 30 or so that attend are over 60. One of these saints is named Rita. During my year of attending this group we have heard testimony after testimony of how Rita's kindness and compassion has touch life after life and has been a blessing to each person who she has come in contact with. At our prayer time at the end of our Bible study, one of my thankgivings that I shared was how thankful I was to be a part of this Bible study and how I don't know how many more I will be able to attend before I leave due to school commitments (they have chapel at CAG on Thursday morning and there are a few Drama/farewell things that will be occuring over the next few weeks). So we prayed, I was privileged to close, and then we sit around and chat for a few minutes afterwards. Well that is when Rita made her way over to me. We shared many things over the course of the next 45 minutes, but when she asked where we were from and I told her Holland, MI area...the look that came on her face was God's revelation. She shared that she had been praying for a dear friend who was going through some difficult times and was now living in Holland, MI. Would I be so kind as to deliver a note of encouragement to him from her? God are you kidding me? The opportunity to be a vessel of conveyence from one saint to another across the world from a chance meeting...how cool is our God. And as we sat there and I had the chance to share about God's miracles in our financial lives, God's leading us back home to whatever he has in store, and then to hear stories about how God had worked in her family, through her family's work with the Salvation Army, her husband's 10-year struggle with Alzheimer's, and her doctor daugther's incredible experience with the spouse of God's choosing, it struck me why I'm so attracted to this incredible woman of faith...she reminds me of my Great-Aunt Lilly who showed the same encouragement, same genuine interest, same foundational faith that this woman sitting next to me had. As I walked out to the van with my dear friend Becky I just wept...who am I, O God, that your saints should take their time and encouragement & share their lives with me. It is what I hope to be someday, it is what I pray to be each day....a witness of God's goodness and an encouragement to whoever God places in my path. Thank you, God, for touching my life so abundantly.

Situation 3: Last night was the elementary music program at CAG. Each class had their own praise song that they were in charge of sharing with all of us attending. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, Hosanna, blessed be the rock of my salvation from the kindergarteners, accompanied by the whole elementary (you should have seen their faces). 5th Grade shared verses from Revelations, 2nd Grade Jesus is The Rock and he rolls my blues away, Caden's class in Spanish & English (to the tune of LaBamba) I LaLaLa Love Jesus, he is my Savior, he is my Salvation, my Lord & my Master, Oh sing his praise. Maya's class sang Jesus, I love you. Then the 4th grade came up to finish with I Can Only Imagine...and I realized once again, in space & time our amazing intersection there with our creator...being ministered to by our children and his praise resonating from their hearts...it was so good to share together in a packed Chapel the greatness of our Lord. More tears.

It has been an incredible few days...I'm overwhelmed with God's blessings in my life and pray that these mountain top experiences permeate through my life and make me more into the person that God wants me to be.

At His feet, Amy

Palm Sunday @ La Primavera (The Spring)

On Palm Sunday, we had the opportunity to share in the ministry with our dear friends the Millers. They are involved in a ministry here called Hearts for Hope and they run a number of feeding centers for children around Guatemala. Every Sunday afternoon from 3:30-5:30 they go up to the closest feeding center, at the settlement of La Primavera (only about 15 mins from our area), to conduct a children's Sunday School Program for kids ages 4 or 5 to 15. The first hour is when the kids come in a just play & get settled. Caden has been there a couple of times with them so this time he shared with them two orgami projects he had for them, a cup and a ball. With the help of Ms. Rensch (Lois is the high school math/science teacher at CAG for the past 20 years and will probably be leaving this year) to translate, Caden showed them how to do it and it was a big hit as you can see.
Aaron got his fingernails painted by the adorable Madelin seated next to him while others worked on puzzles (rompecabezas=head breakers) while they watched.
Lily was next and loved it!
Most of the boys play soccer on the third level of the building which was built specifically for this feeding center.
Then it is time to pack up and get ready for our singing time. Here is Kevin Miller helping things along.
Here is Becky, with two of her girls from the area. As you can see, it is such a blessing to work with these kids.
This is during our singing and praying time and what it is all about. Go God!
Hannah, Kevin & Becky's oldest daughter and Caden both had their birthdays this week so they sang to them and all the kids came up to give them hugs or high-5's.
Then the groups break into age groups and here are the younger ones listening to the story that Lois is sharing with them. Moriah, the youngest Miller is facing us, behind her is Lily & Maya, and across the table wearing their red shirts is Caden and his best buddy Joseph. What a great opportunity to sharing in the lives of these children even for a day. Thanks Millers for being faithful to what God has called you to and sharing that experience with us.
Fuzzy but another "only in Guatemala" experience. Obviously a motorcycle with a helmeted rider...what not might be so clear is the woman on back is holding a blanket on her lap with a small dog in it...Yup...and in front of the man straddling the gas tank is a small child. Maybe 4 years old...maybe younger. It is a different world here...but it is very comforting that God is God no matter where in the world you are!