Funerals in San Cristobel

Wednesday our physical education instructor, Prof. Solomon found out his Aunt died of a brain anerism. He was shocked by her sudden death and she was only 45 years old. She was like a mother to him and his family is in mourning. That next evening several of us teachers went to visit their family for the viewing. It was unbelievable the amount of people who came. There were probably between 50-60 people and a live band from their church. The family who hosts it prepares food for all the people who come and pass out tea to drink. Within minutes of us sitting down we had food in our hands. I found out the Guatamalans mourn for nine days. Within those nine days people come and give there respects. On Friday we went to the funeral and after the service was over we walked to the cemetary. They carried her casket two miles to the grave site. There were probably 60 people walking through the town behind the casket. Once we got to the gravesite people were weeping and standing all around the cemetary. (Some were standing up close and others several yards away.) The family past out water, sprite and coke to people who were standing around. The Guatamalans are such a giving people and are always thinking about others before themselves. It was quiet an experience. Solomon looked so sad and in disbelief. Please pray for him as he is the most giving person I have ever met. He will stop what he is doing to help anyone. Please pray for his understanding of a purpose driven life with Christ.

Stars and Fireflies

Because of the shortage of water at our house, another missionary named Joni invited my roommate (Amie) and I to help her housesit a missionary families house out in the jungle. We knew there was going to be clean water to wash our clothes and showers, therefore, we were all for it. We jumped in the truck and off we went. That night we had church and forgot to turn the porch light on. When we came back it was the most unreal thing I had ever seen. I have bragged about how big the sky is in Kansas and how much I miss the stars. But when we sat on the porch that night looking into the darkness and sparkling lights from fireflies surrounding us it was as if we couldn't tell when the sky actually began or the mountain ended. We tried to take pictures but it was something only the human eye could retain.

I still miss the storms in Kansas but I don't miss the lack of sleep from them. I watched "Twister" the other day and it was like I was home for a couple of hours. There are days I miss being home and under the big Kansas sky.

Where I live here, there is a valley and there are mountains on each side of us. The nights are beautiful when the loud music a bass playing is finally quieted. I like it here very much and people here are unbelievable to one another. I can only think of how God must see his people as little lights shining in the darkness creating beauty even for those who are in darkness.

"Miss Tinahhhhhhhhh!"

"Miss Tina, may I please sharpen my bathroom?" Oh no! What happened? I was teaching them two phrases and now they are mixed up. The first is "Miss Tina may I please go to the bathroom?" The second was "Miss Tina, may I please sharpen my pencil?" Oh well! This little boy on my lap is one of my favorites because he really gets into our songs. He asks to sharpen his pencil just so he can say an English phrase and smile at me.
The other day I walked into my Kinder class and they began singing the ABC song all by themselves. How excited was I to know they are actually learning! I have gotten many of them in trouble because when they walk to recess, PE, or to line up to leave. They scream my name really loud and wave. It's very sweet. I will miss hearing it since they have buckled down on a new policy of no talking to students when they are in line.

Happy Birthday Jonny!!!!

Happy Birthday Sister! I am so thankful for you and the sacrifices you make everyday to be a wonderful mother to my precious little nephew, Huck. I hope you have a wonderful day of fun. Thanks for keeping me updated on everything that's going on with you guys. I love you! Feliz Cumpleanos!

Easter Traditions

Amy and I woke up early and took off for the Easter town parade. We wanted to see the people doing the work on their manmade sand carpets before they were walked over. The manmade carpets are for the statues to be paraded on and people from all over come to watch. Each family has been given a portion of the street to design and they did a wonderful job. They section out parts of the street from one catholic church to the other. One is on a very step hill and the other in the park right smack downtown. Many catholics had decorated their doors for the Jesus statue to bless as they went by. It was a very interesting traditional experince they have kept for many years. San Cristobal has the longest carpet display in Gautamala. I was extremely impressed with the colors and the effort that went into each section. They had a statue of Jesus carring the cross and a statue of St. John. Now St. John was carried by four men and for some reason he would travel down the street to the other catholic church like 20 or more times (back and forth). Jesus's statue was carried by about twenty men. Everything was so interesting and it may take some time to grasp all the meaning. Some of the men who were dressed up were really not into it and you could tell. We found Edgar who is a teacher at the school and he tried to explain more to us. He was very kind and showed us more about their traditions. I don't understand why they have this tradtion. It was a great symbolism to me of watching Jesus come down the street with a big cross and knowing he didn't do it for just us Americans. He died for all of us. He came for all men so they may know and love Him.
Later, we had invited several of our Guatamalan friends over to watch a movie. After the movie, Amy and I invited them to dye some Easter eggs with us. They looked at us like we were crazy. Even called us "Loco" (crazy). I couldn't believe it. They asked us why we dyed them. All I could think to say was it's our tradition. Isn't that interesting. Before I went downtown my thoughts were of them being idol worshipers and not grasping the understanding of Jesus. Yet when we went down there several of their carpets said "Jesus Vive" (Jesus Lives). I don't think I made an egg say that even though we did blow out some of their yokes. Happy Easter!!

Journey to an Oasis

I have been here for three months and there are many things you have to do to find beauty. On the outside of families homes are walls full of exhaust and dirt stains. On the inside comes small rooms with sometimes dirt floors. Other homes have very beautifully decorated rooms with relatives pictures on the walls. As you walk through towns many people live behind the stores they own. As you go into their homes it's amazing what you find. Yesterday, we traveled to Coban and then about 20 minutes north to a little place called Sachicha. We had to walk to a bus station which was very crowded and one has to bargin for a ride. We finally found a cattle truck who would give us a ride to where we wanted to go. It's a little place off the side of the road. At first it looked like just a grass road going up to a house. As we walked there were picnic tables with straw roofs. A large stone swimming hole with crystal blue water. We started walking down a stone path and at the end of the path there among many rocks was a beautiful waterfall. One of the largest I have seen so far here in Gautemala. It hadn't rained in several days so the water was down enough for us to swim in it. It was so peaceful and there were only a few other families who came by.
After three months of learning a language, a culture, how to cook for eight, how to buy things at the market, how much money to take out, what classes to teach, how to invent new ways to keep the kids interested in English it was time to rest. There were sounds of birds I had never heard before and it was as if I had seen the beauty God had meant for this hard world we live in. Thanks God for giving rest and to delight in you once again. Sometime you have to look past the roughness of a city and know there is beauty right infront of you. As we were eating lunch, the most amazing looking tree was right infront of me and I hadn't notice it until Kara pointed it out to me. What else have my eyes been shut off from. What other beauty can my eyes find in this culture and in these amazing people.

"Do not fight evil with evil"

Thursday we were informed of a few of our students, here at the school, father was shot to death in Gautamela City. He was a Senator for our section of the country and was passing a law to enforce more miliatary to try and deal with the gang problem in the Gautemala City area. The gangs were formed in Los Angeles and have found their way to Central America. We are praying for his family as he left two sons and a wife behind. One of the boys is on our Soccer Club.

I am reminded of the the violence in a world in which we all live in. It's not just here in Guatemala. I called my father and he told me about a shooting in my home town. There was a Quick Trip clerk helping someone one and a man came in and shot him to death. Then proceeded to walk out the store and smoke a cirgerette until the police came to arrest him. People in the store started to steal things in the store. I almost felt safer being so far away. But then you realize it's everywhere.

Please pray souls will be won through these unfortunate life tragedies. May God be with us as we understand were there is justice there is misfortune. We must keep fighting for what is Right, True, Noble, Trustworthy, Praise Worthy, Loving, Admirable and Pure. (Phillipians 4:8) We must think on these things and pray for those who haven't any.

The Well IS BROKEN!

Do you ever feel like you are almost there and then something happens? Set backs, the dessert, mountains beyond reach, no time off and then there is a lesson. I wonder what God is trying to teach us as we continue to wait to hear what happen to the well. I guess 20 ft. down there is a problem. Now we are digging to the place where their is no opening. They think perhaps rock got down there and we might need to replace or weld the pipes together. Please pray for this set back. God Bless.

The Beauty of Gautemala

After a long month of teaching and giving final exams my roommate and I decided to take a friend of ours site seeing since we had a three day weekend. Our friend, Kara, has lived here for about two years and is married now to a Guatemalan. She speaks Spanish very well and knows the areas pretty good. She has a son named Evan (who is the same age as my nephew) and I have kind of adopted him as my little sabrino (nephew). She is also two months along on her second child. Her husband took Evan on a father/son camping trip and we decided to take her for a weekend away as well. It was wonderful. We swam in natural pools and hiked a few trails. We stayed in huts off of the raging river and could here it while we slept. It was an amazing two days. I hope we were able to bless her because she is need of many prayers. As an American being married to a Guatemalan life is done without many luxaries. While we were at our camp site there weren't any natives mostly Europians. She sat there loving the time away and then she wondered if her husband would have enjoy it as much as she did. She missed her little monkey (Evan) and we hurried back to her wonderful life of having him close to her side. I realized there is nothing more beautiful then the site of your own child's face. But it's my prayer she was blessed with a little time away to reflect and embrass her life as a guatemalan wife and mother. We love you Kara! I enjoyed meeting new people and sharing my adventurous life God has given me. Beauty without God's love for us is nothing.

What's New? Can you say Turkeyslayer!

What's new under the sun? Better question.... What's new under our window?

*(this next section my not be good for vegetarians or animal lovers)
Yesterday, I walked up the stairs and in a black trash bag something was moving. It scared me to death. Then without me noticing, Irma had hung a live Turkey from our window (inside the house) and one of our roommates was getting ready to kill it. They butchered it while I made grade reports at the table right infront of me. The rest of the roommates ran to their rooms. But for some reason I was fasinated by their ease of the whole process. I sat in awe of the entire experience. They laughed as they placed the dead turkey in a pan of boiling water (this was to help with pulling out the feathers). They even lit a fire on the kitchen floor to get the rest of the feathers off of the turkey. My other roommate and I were in complete shock. If this doesn't create questions of life in Guat, I don't know what would. But as I tried to understand their reasoning. They were doing this out of the kindness of their hearts because someone randomly gave our Missions family a turkey and she didn't want to have to kill it herself. Irma is not scared to do anything and she got the Turkey ready for cooking. By the way Turkey's are very expensive here. This was a very kind thing for her to do for our ministry family. I was alittle caught off guard and amazed.
I came here with very little expectations and I have found it's still very difficult to get use to the changes. Please pray as I am adjusting to the simple ways of life but very different ways. Pray I will stay Humble in my position and focused not on myself but others. Please pray I can find humor as I have in this little story to keep me understanding His ways are not always my ways. (well let me just say, very seldom).

Living without WATER!

So the "woman at the well story" has a lot more meaning to me now! I heard a sermon awhile back about Jesus having the need for water in common with the woman he met at the well. It made sense but now it makes more sense, let me tell you why.
Here is this weeks story: It has now hit dry season and if it doesn't rain we have to wait for a truck to come and fill up the well our village uses. Now, just because the well gets filled up doesn't mean we have water to use until it runs out. We have a man in charge of turning on the water and allowing us to use a portion of it at a time. If he were to let us all use the water whenever we wanted it, it would run out quickly. When he turns on the water (which is at random times) everyone races to the tubs, the pilas (outdoor sinks) and indoor sinks to fill jugs and buckets. The water is turned on for about fifteen minutes.
I am going to try and describe to you what it's like to live in humidity without water. Here it goes: First, the in morning you have to remember to keep the toilet paper out of the toilet and in the trash. Second, there is only a little bit of water in the toilet so it won't flush and the pipes and bathroom begin to smell. Third, if you want to take a hot bath you must heat up a bucket of water for about fifteen minutes. (don't forget to mix the cold water with hot when you pour it over yourself, it hurts when you forget.) Forth, laundry might take all day to get done because if the water is on for a few minutes that day you can start it but you have to pour buckets of water in the washer to finish it. Fifth, when you do get your clothes clean it doesn't mean they stay dry. One must rearrange ones clothes everyday to prevent mold. Sixth, dishes sometimes don't get done right away so you might have a few extra insect friends hanging around your dishes.
When the new well gets finished which might be in two weeks we will have an abandance of water. This experience has taught me the importance of water and community. Everyone here understands ones frustrations of not taking a shower and not having clean clothes. They know what it's like to be without water.
Bible related: The woman at the well had the need for water and Jesus said he was the everlasting water. He related to her and he understood the need. It's not easy to live without water. It's awesome to be able to grasp a glimse of hardship to understand others are without everlasting water. They are living such hard lives and things could be lifted from them with a well that will never run dry. She understood his message to her and she didn't just accepted it. She told everyone she knew about this water, this eternal well of living water. Thanks God for teaching me the importance of the call to share HIS sight through my frustration. We have been praying for water and it's rained all night and day today. What a gracious God! If you have some thoughts about this scripture and how it relates please share. God be with you.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Aughahgh. They don't celebrate this holiday in Guatemala. I wasn't even thinking about the Holiday and tonight we were getting ready to play soccer. I asked my roommate if she wouldn't mind me wearing her soccer socks to the game. She said that's fine. I walk out of the room with my green soccer socks and my Guatemalan roommate rolls her eyes at me. I was like, "What did I do now?" She said in spanish (of course) "You are celebrating St. Patrick's Day, I see?" I was like, "What?" I looked down and I was wearing green socks, of course. I laughed so hard. I was a little embarrassed but then realized no one celebrates it here so I don't need to worry. I got to the soccer field and noone said anything. Shew! I might be an airhead at times but at least I'm not a pen head. I thought you might like the story. Any stories for me about St. Patty's Day?

Joy of Answered Prayer

When I got here we had three basketballs, two volleyballs (as hard as a rock) and no soccer balls. I have been praying God would bless this ministry even if I had no means of getting equipment. I was blessed financially so we bought a few things. We bought ten soccer balls, ten baseballs and two softballs, some needles to air of the equipment, and five more basketballs.
Then a team came from Canada and they brought 19 baseballs, 6 awesome volleyballs, 2 mini basketballs, 7 basketballs, 6 American Footballs, 20 soccer balls, 8 jump ropes, 32 tennis balls, 4 frisbees, three pumps, and three football t's to kick off. I cried like a baby when I saw all the equipment they had brought. I cried with pure joy and excitement knowing our kids will have balls to play with and not be without because God cares.
Our total needs have not been totally met but I found out sending equipement (via mail) may mean we will never get it. My friends sent a 20lb box and two months ago and I have just know have been sent a telegram, which states, it's sitting in Gautemala City to be picked up. I don't know when we will be back to Gautemala City to pick up the package.
We still need more volleyballs and any baseball/softball equipment. It would be wonderful but I am not complaining because God has blessed us so much. I told the PE instructor I was crying and he said he did too. When we saw the equipment, it was just an answer to prayer.

We are starting our sports programs here first with Men's Soccer and Women's volleyball (April, May). Then we are going to transition to Basketball (June and July) and then Men's baseball and Women's soccer. I am very excited to see what God is doing here because these kids have gone without for so long.

Precious Little Children

I have the honor of teaching Pre-Kinder and Kinder. I just wanted to share with you why I feel so blessed. I get to see these beautiful faces everyday. They are so sweet and are learning so much. Even though sometimes I feel they don't understand me, most of the time they do. Today I left my water bottle sitting on a toy washing machine. Osmar (my favorite) pointed to the bottle and spoke to me in spanish. Something about "Miss Tina, don't forget your water bottle." I love them. If any of you happen to have fun songs, games, or any ideas to teach them their ABC, facial parts and numbers. Send them my way you might have something I forgot. Thanks.

Happy Birthday HUCK!!!!

Today is very special because it's my nephews birthday and he turned one! I know you have plenty of stories about nephews so send them my way. I think my nephew is the best because well he is mine! He can walk, draw, talk on the phone, smile a millions times better then anyone, he wears hats and enjoys it, he sends me e-mails (some I can read and others are ones you just know he cares), he is sweet and most of all he is HUCK! I love you sweet boy!

We have a Promise

For some of you who get my newsletters , you have heard we are in need of prayer for our well that is being drilled. We recieved money to have a well about a year ago and it's still not dug. Last season they shared with me how they had to bring water into the village just to have enough to wash dishes and clothes. As I sit and listen to the drill running it reminds me we have been promised of our prayers to be answered. They have finally been drilling now for two days straight. If the drill keeps working we will have water in the next two weeks. Which, it's just now starting dry season and it would be wonderful to have water on a consistant basis. Right now, we have water if it rains and sometimes this is not very often. Here are a few pics of the drill working.
1 Peter 5: 6-10 Humble yourselves, therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxitey on Him, because He cares for you. Be sober in spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experience of suffering are being accomplished by your brethern who are in the world. And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect , confirm, strengthen and establish you.
Amen?
I just got back from Antigua and it was such a blessing! WOW! I met my new roommate for the first time and she was great. Her name is Amy. Her and I hung out most of the trip to get to know each other. She is from Colorado and seems to have a great Mid-West sense of humor. We also coupled up with a few other girls who are missionaries and single. It was awesome to have other women going through the same thing you are and knowing God brought you together to be an encouragement to one another.

I Have Wheels

I bought a bicycle on Thursday and it broke ten minutes after riding it. Then I walked it back to our village and no one was there to help. So I rode and walked it back to the shop to ask them to either take it back or fix it, Por Favor. They agreed to fix it and had me come back in an hour. I came back after 45 minutes and they said they needed to wait until tomorrow to fix it. Needless to say, I was frustrated. I did get a car ride home and talked with a nice man who had very broken English. We spoke Spanglish most of the way home. The next day one of my friends, Irma, went and picked it up for me.
Today, I was able to ride in the mountains with quite a few of my Guatemalan friends. It was amazing. My bike broke two more times on this bike ride but luckily my friends knew how to fix it. We rode for three hours in the mountains and it was so incredible. Paula, a high school student went with us as well and fell pretty hard. Share with me a bike story because there isn't a lame one. I want details. I love my new bike and I am sure it's going to help me serve Jesus as it already has because I enjoyed his beauty today and my new friends. I think I had a smile on my face the entire ride (except those hills I had to walk my bike up because I am so out of shape). Give me a bike story... I know you have one.

Gift for the Giver

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I have been overseas for two months now. It's been interesting to see how God has blessed me with great encouragement and financial help. Even the slightest gift of love from Him through someone else. I wanted to share a few blessings I have counted. Thanks for playing cards with me one lonely Tuesday night, thanks for a sweet letter of encouragement (from a little princess who found me playing my guitar on a hill), thanks for sending one rose to remind me of my mom's prayers far away, thanks for players who have written small notes of appreciation and love, thanks to pictures being sent from home, thanks for paying extra on a phone bill so I can call home more often, thanks for being home on certain nights to receive my call, thanks for still continuing the work in Wichita by bowling for kids, thanks for leaving fun blogs for me to read in response, thanks for prayers to keep me strong, thanks for paying for a desk (I so desperately needed), thanks for sending money for athletic equipment when we had nothing, thanks for helping with my newsletters (in proof reading), thanks for sending a box from home, thanks for the flowers you found on the playground to give to me, thanks for the hugs each day you see me, thanks for medicine when I was sick, thanks for giving extra money when you felt God calling you to, thanks for keeping me in mind when getting food at the market, thanks for behaving better after I had to write you up for misbehaving, thanks for the internet so I can contact my friends and family, thanks for a letter or package I will soon receive from loved ones, thanks for people feeling comfortable enough to scare me from behind, thanks for cookies, thanks for writing a list for me to give to others so they can understand me, thanks for translating so I can laugh too, thanks for keeping me focused on HIM and most of all thanks for loving HIM for me to be thankful. Thanks for keeping the spot light off me and on HIM.

Happy Valentine's Day

Mom and Dad I want to wish you a Happy Valentine's Day! I love you and miss you very much! Huck (my famous nephew), Jonny and Troy "Happy Valentine's Day too!" I just wanted to honor you all today! My sweet little family have a wonderful day of happiness.

Reminded of the Role

Standing amongst a hundred plus parents and letting them know I am their child's teacher, is quiet an experience. Wow! We had a program with all the parents and gave them boxes to help raise funds for this next years fundraising. Everyone had a uniform except for Mel and I because ours somehow got taken off the list. Everyone looked so professional and excited. This school has grown so much and God is blessing the Lewis's with a great staff. It was a good feeling to be a participant of serving children and God at this school.