Merry Christmas!

I’m sitting now in my new apartment, we moved in on Wednesday due to the water problems. As much as I loved the other house, this apartment is beautiful and I am incredibly thankful to have found somewhere else to live within my budget!

I will be leaving in just a few days for home, and cannot wait! Just this past week there were three new students added to the student sponsorship program. I met with the families to make sure they were getting registered in time for the new January school season. (Classes begin at the beginning of the year). When I get back in January, I’ll be visiting all of the schools to meet with teachers and principals. One or both parents are required to be in the meeting, because we want to ensure a team effort and that the parents of the child are supportive.

I was skyping with my Dad the other day, and was feeling stressed out by the things I had to do before leaving, because of the move, and the transition home. He reminded me that it is Advent, and as Christmas nears, it is a time to settle our hearts and focus on what is really important; Christ. I have been distracted lately and know that I push God aside when things are busy. Even though He is still pursuing me, I ignore Him. This season, starting today, I don’t want to do that. I am empty without Him. I don’t want to fill myself with other distractions.

With all of that being said, I also don’t ever want to cease to be thankful! I thank you all greatly for your continued support through finances and prayers. I don’t think you all will ever know how full my heart is because of how blessed I am, especially through CUMC church. A thousand times thank you! I probably won’t write until my return back to Guatemala, but I hope to see many of you when I’m home. God bless you all, and Merry Christmas!

Christmas Season...

All of the lights are going up here, the nights are cold, and the Christmas music has started. I can feel myself getting into the Christmas spirit; I even just downloaded classic Christmas music to listen too! And yet at the same time it is not the same. This is the time of year where it is hardest to be away. I would give anything to see snow, and to be able to sit down with my family around the tree and fireplace. But once again I am blessed beyond what I believe, and will be going home for 9 days on December 19. Lisa, Mateo and I are trying to finish all of the projects we can before the end of the year, and have everything prepared for when we come back at the end of the month.

School will be starting for all of the students here in January, and right now I am meeting with families to make sure they are registering students for the coming school year. They have been on break since November.

We had a nice dinner with all of the employees from the Hope Haven factory, and were able to pass out certificates saying that they have passed English Level 1. It was special; all of the ones who participated in English classes were proud of themselves, as are we! Classes will begin again next year, and for them it will be considered Level 2. I’ve started giving lessons to 4 youth in the family that received the first stove, and tutoring sessions with a girl that works at the coffee shop. All of them are interested in learning, and it is a great way for them to have more opportunity in the future if they continue learning another language.