My Sweet Friend Magaly

Well, sometimes people surprise you and give to you when you are there to give to them. I have made very good friends with a mother of three children. She works in a clothing material store in the square of the town with her parents. I visit her store probably five to ten times a week. I think I bought an iron one time but mainly I just visit with her about anything and everything. Mostly, we talk about sports and how we can get woman more involved. She loves all sports like me. We have been on the same volleyball, basketball and soccer teams together. She is such a sweet friend. I am two years younger then her and she has a 16 year old son. We had a formal wear praise and worship night and I told her I had nothing to wear. Which was very true but I was also making an excuse to not go. She asked me to come to her house and she had a red dress for me. Without hesitation we headed off to her house to try on clothes. She allowed me to borrow this pretty Latino dress. I was thrilled and helped her pick between two dresses (which were stunning) for her on the special night. I called the day of the event and asked if I could sit with her family. She of course said yes. The evening once again was geared toward families and of course I am without one. But Magaly grabbed my hand and told me she loved me very much. It was very sweet as her daughter grabbed my hand as well and we sat there as a family. She gave so much to me that night. A sense of belonging and hopefully I gave her a friendship she will always remember. She has had a difficult time with her husband and it's not been easy for her at different times these past two years. Please pray for her marriage and children. She is a wonderful person.

Let's Get Physical

My nephew started me working out while I was home. So I guess I have been working my butt off (literally)since I got back to Guat. I have been doing two workouts a day. Trying to burn fat and finding a few results. Working out here in Guatemala is interesting. In America, you have tons of people who go to the YMCA and they have a routine. Maybe not all but at least from what I remember in my days at the gym in the USA. Here, there are about five or six guys who lift for about 30 seconds and talk for about 15 minutes before doing another thing. Most of the woman get on the bike for about five minutes and then leave. Each week, I try to increase my time spent on the elliptical because I want to burn calories as well. I have toned quite a bit and lost enough weight for people to mention it. I am encouraged but it's hard to eat healthy here. I have been on a tuna diet for lunches and I love tuna so that's not bad. I guess, I am sharing with you all this to say. I am tired but still motivated to lose weight for my wedding coming up. My girlfriends are in this with me back home and it's encouraging to know they are working hard to look amazing for my wedding. I am so excited.
Side note with the title: Oliva Newton John was who I wanted to be when I was a little girl. My brother and I dress up like the Grease characters one time. I remember the photo really well of us with a Grease album. It's funning to think our mother allowed us to watch that movie. I would sing Hopelessly Devoted all the time. But her all time most hilarious video was "Let's get Physical" I think she was on roller skates in the video. Anyway, I am not roller skating around San Cristobal singing "Let's get Physical". Loved her... loved her.. but I think she turned out weird like all my childhood favorite singers.

USA ! No two more months to STAY

Well, it's been only two weeks since I have been back and yet it has been more then tough. The West family left today and Brad fields took off for the States as well. For the last few months every other night was spent watching movies and hanging out playing games with the West. I don't mind saying they had a big impact in my life and helped me so much with just everything. I will miss them very much.
Today, I just felt lost and lonely. First time in a long time I have felt lonely. I miss Scott very much but it was like I just didn't have any friends here. I know this is not the case because I have some very sweet Guatemalan friends who invited me to hang out with their families the other day. Even though I was was two hours late because 12 and 2 sounds sort of the same to me. We had a great time hanging out playing volleyball and eating together. I just don't like change too much.
Talking with a friend today, she encouraged me to keep focused on why I am here for two more months and find those I am to serve. I just feel like I don't know how to serve when there is nothing going on recently. I did help with the flood victims and cleaning our school. I guess it's just not feeling productive and yet maybe it's time to pray and praise him. I do go through stages in life. Working three jobs at once and then nothing for awhile. I guess that's how God helps me reflect. Maybe he is giving me this time to reflect and rest before marriage. Even so, I must maintain direction and seek His face.

Happy Birthday Everyone!

I guess I learned something finally. When it's your birthday, as you get older, you are the one who has to get things going for your own birthday party. Which, without crazy friends back home, I decided to do things a little differently. I keep telling Scott in order to have long lasting relationships you must serve others first. I had the best birthday because I wasn't thinking of how others could serve me but how I could serve others. Profe. Salo had a birthday on Sunday and then the flood came so.. his birthday got forgotten. So I brought tostados for all the teachers to celebrate Prof. and I's birthday. We eat a lot of tostados!!! Lunch was spent with my best friend here, Juanita. She and I ate pizza at this fun little restaurant in town. Caught up on things we hadn't talked about forever. In the afternoon, I baked another cake because the first one didn't rise very well. After church I had invited whoever wanted to come and personally invited those who probably needed and extra nudge. We had plenty of food and cake. So it worked out great!! I even served my favorite tea "Refresh Mint"! And it was a big hit!!! I realized as I was praising God this morning in my worship time. I came into this world to serve not be served. WOW!!!! And you know what it was so nice to serve others last night in my home and watch them enjoy their time with friends. So next time you have a birthday, remember your birthday day is the day you were sent into this world to serve others, so do it! It makes for a great birthday!! Christ, I think looks down on this little earth and on Christmas day and smiles! Because for a month we were thinking of others and why he came into this world, it was to serve not be served.

Rain Rain Go Away!

So it rained here for about a day and a half. Monday all the kids filled in to school and within five minutes the director changed his mind and had all the kids go home. Within an hour three classrooms were completely filled with water chest deep. It was amazing and the water was rising. School was called off and the rest of the day I played spades with the West's. But today was clean up because the waters finally reseeded. Today we found out 12 people died in Coban, (a town about twenty minutes away) and two children were missing here in San Cristobel when the waters hit flood levels. Two school families lost parts of their houses to the river that goes through the town. It's a wonder they didn't lose more. Today we cleaned from 7:30 a.m. till 12:30. It was a mess. Please pray the rain holds off for several days the town is in pretty bad shape and the waters are still high in the river.

Not wanting to let GO!!!

My sweet family here in Guatemala is leaving August 21st. I am very sad to know there won't be anymore crazy times at the WEST's HOUSE. Dean was such a blessing to me in so many ways. She took care of my every need from creams for the bugs, doctor's visits, trips to town, movies, eye drops, paper, printers, van rides for the sports teams, teaching me how to bake and so much more. Living without the WEST's is like living without your right hand. It's sure going to be different without the latest book Dean has read to Paul washing their van and amazing burritos. Their kids are amazing too! Morgan has helped out so much with Sports; sports club, volleyball club, basketball league, little kids basketball league, basketball coach and helping with Sports Night. Molly is the sweeties young lady you could ever meet. She always has a smile and keeps me laughing. Also helping out in Sports Club when she could. With the days leaving us it's so hard to say goodbye. I just want to hang out at their house until they are gone but I know I can't. Please pray for the West Family as they pack their belongings in a Crate and have it shipped back to the States. They will be living in Louisiana and trusting God will provide for Paul a job when they get back. I pray our paths will cross again and I can help them as much as they helped me feel a little like family far from my own. I will miss the sweet shows and the almost tear moments. I love you guys to death.

Heart for these people!

My heart goes out to all of those who mean the world to me. As I set at my computer this morning thinking and praying. I have come to realize how God sees things but just at a glimpse. I am trying to sell many of the things I have here and I just don't know how much money should be for what. Then I think I should give it all away because it was a gift from God in the first place. But am brought back to the reality of my need to return to the states and having money to keep going. It's a hard choice to give up the things you hold dear in the life you lead now. But it's also a reality that it's not yours it's God's and who would benefit if I gave some of those things away. Please pray as my time here is short and there are so many things to think about as I leave. Plus there are so many things to think about as I return. God be with me in these last two months.

Wild Hogs! Okay maybe not.

With a free weekend you get something in ya that wants to just be free to ride in the wind. I asked my friend Brad what he was doing this weekend and he said he wanted to go through some rain forests about 45 minutes away on Saturday. I was excited to join him because I wanted my time here to go by quicker and there is nothing slower then a lazy Saturday. We jumped on our bikes and off we went. Mountains beside us and fun curvy roads. I most enjoyed just sitting down and talking with my good friend Brad. At the ministry we aren't allowed to talk much with one another one on one if we of different gender and it was just so enjoyable to hear his heart for ministry by trying to obey God's Purpose in his life. We walked through the forest and tried every path we could find. But it seemed every path we took lead us to someone's home back gate. We thought perhaps we should enter and see how we could get back to where we parked our bikes. But as we entered two big dogs started barking at us and we quickly jetted into another gate. Which happened to be their garden or trash area. So we had a choice, Wild Hogs face the wired fence or the dogs. We first chose the fence and the thick forest. After walking along the fence in the thick forest we decided that wasn't the best choice and we needed to get back to the path we were on before . But of course that meant facing the dogs. So tough bikers we were, we both grabbed a stick and proceeded to leave our safe garden/trash pile. As we got out of the gate the dog gave us his wolf teeth and angrily barked at us. I asked Brad to stay between me and the dog. I was also worried about where the other dog might be but he stayed in his pen. We waved our thick sticks and the dog bowed out like a wimpy kid on a school bus. Oh yeah! We got back on the trail and headed back to the bikes. After a long talk we decided we wanted to head to a restaurant just off the highway. Brad was looking at all the waterfalls on the mountains and almost didn't see a cow in the middle of the road. We safely got to the restaurant and as soon as we ordered it poured rain. The owner's wife recognized me from church and she gave us free coffee and water while we waited for the rain to stop. We wanted to see a movie and sometimes they are in English with Spanish subtitles because they don't have a Spanish version. It just so happened we watched Tim Allen and John Travolta's movie where they are in a Biker Gang they made up and they ride around like they are tough motorcycle guys. It was a fun ending to a day when I felt like a biker chick for the first time. So anytime you get a wild hair to ride on the wild side do it with Brad Fields! Thanks Brad for the invite! Headin on the Highway! Looking for some action!!.......Born to be Wi......ild! Okay maybe not but it's a good story!

10 Reasons I love my Nephew Huck

#10 He never complains what game we are playing just moves on to the next one.
#9 He loves to eat cheese! (Cheese is good, people)
#8 Huck loves his name and it's not Huckleberry "it's Huck William Schremmer"
#7 When it's time for a nap, he fights it to keep playing "shows great determination"
#6 At meal times he is very concerned I have dry toast. Concern for others! yeah
#5 Can sit through a game of catch phrase and then afterwards imitate his crazy
relatives playing the game but was caught on the phrase "pizza crust" with Aunt T
#4 He loves water and doesn't mind getting sprayed a lot.
#3 When asked to smile at the camera he almost looks angry but with Aunt t he goes
natural and has a gorgeous smile.
#2 He loves the games I invent "human rocking chair", "bottoms up", "crazy legs" and
takes them back to NY so daddy can work off all Kansas food he ate.
#1 Reason I love my Nephew Huck- He is very adorable in everyway