Miss Nelly

Miss Nelly ya termine! Marcelo says to me every time he finishes his work. Ya voy Marcelo, I respond and walk over to where he sits to check his work. Being a teacher in Guatemala is not all that different than being a teacher in California and at the same time completely different! Kids are kids and my teaching style continues to work with them. But the school politics change drastically when you're used to a public Californian school and are now an employee in the privatized Guatemalan school system. I have really enjoyed these two months of teaching at Kayla and Elena's school and will certainly miss it! I've learned so much and am sad to say goodbye to the friends I've made. It has been one of the hardest things I've ever done, and one of the most enjoyable!

Miss Chiquitita

For the second year in a row, Kayla was chosen to represent her class in the school's annual Miss Chiquitita (Little Miss) contest. She didn't win this year, like she did last year, but she did enjoy participating in the event. Here she is being interviewed by one of the teachers and is seen in her "casual attire". She also got to walk down the runway in her "formal attire".

Swim Meet

Recently Kayla and Elena competed in their first official swim meet that was held at the pool where they receive lessons. 240 kids participated! In their heets, both girls won 3rd place! The pool where they swim is owned and run by a gold medal winner in the Latin American Olympics and a Guatemala swimmer who competed in the Athens olympics!

K&K at the Lake

Kayla is just about to finish second grade here in Guatemala. She has such a tender heart and loves people. Here she is with her Daddy in June, enjoying a beautiful day at Lake Atitlan in Guatemala. Recently we were asked to share her "story" with some friends of ours. With tears we recalled her rough first year of life, and now, at age 7, we watch this little girl so full of life, and marvel at God's goodness. We are so blessed to have her in our lives!

¡Ciao Colombia!

Our family had such a great 17 day trip to Colombia! I am so thankful that the four of us could travel together! The OC Colombian team is a group of excellent people, whom we soon grew to love. The director and his wife, Orlando and Mariela, have become such special people in our lives. After living under the same roof with them, sharing one bathroom, and having long conversations as we sat on their bed at night, they certainly feel like family! Even Kayla and Elena were quickly comfortable in their home as each morning they set off downstairs to get their own cereal and chocolate milk! ¡Ciao Colombia¡ We will miss you!

Colombian Birthday

I am amazed at the experiences God has given us this year! I had an awesome time going out with our Colombian friends in a cool part of Bogota for my 32nd birthday! They took us to a wonderful Italian restaurant in this beautiful area with lots of nightlife. We sat and talked for three hours, just enjoying the atmosphere, great food, and wonderful friendship! I wish I could do this with all of my friends!

Elbow Issues

When Elena started to become mobile, we knew we had a tremendous little girl on our hands. She didn't learn how to walk, she learned how to run! And hasn't stopped since! She is our fearless child and we've just been waiting for the day that we'd take her to the ER. Well, that day has finally come! We are currently spending two weeks in Colombia, which is where Elena decided to fracture her elbow! She was climbing over a three foot high fence at a park and lost her balance and fell on her arm. At first we figured it was just a bruise, but when she woke up this morning crying because of the pain, we decided to get her an X-Ray. Elena was so brave in the Colombian ER! We are so proud of her!

On our way to Roatan

In April we had a wonderful 7 day vacation on the island of Roatan, just off the coast of Honduras. We basked in the sun, snorkled the reef, savored delicious local cuisine, fell asleep in hamocks, and enjoyed great company! We were joined by Jana and Bill Porterfield, Nell's parents, and Matt and Rebecca Haesecke with their children Leorah and Brayden! We were so blessed by such a fun and relaxing time!

On the Road

After two flights and 10 hours on the road here we are in Portland, OR, enjoying our beautiful god-daughter and her parents. Piper is almost 6 months old and is getting her first tooth. Mikayla is 6 years old and is losing her first tooth. Lots of firsts around here! Elena loves to hold Piper! In fact, both girls really enjoy their "fairy god-sister"! They talk to her, hold her, sing to her, and "play" with her. What a blessing to be with great friends!

Saying Goodbye

Saying goodbye has become a part of our lives as missionaries. When we left for the field in 2000, we said our goodbyes to family and friends. What we didn't expect, though, is how often we would be saying goodbye to people as they leave Guatemala. This morning we said yet another tearful goodbye to our good friends the Ellers. Kory and Laura Eller, along with their children Katie (11), Ben (8), and JoshE (6) left for the States for a year long furlough. From their they will be in Spain for the Fall of 2006. We will not see them again until January of 2007. As we hugged their kids, I thought of how much they will change in this year and a half. Driving home, Kayla asked, "Mommy, when is JoshE coming back?" "In a year and a half," I told her. "How long is that?" she asked. "Well, Kayla, you'll be seven before he comes home." I turned back to see the tears streaming down her face. When you live overseas friends become like a second family. The Ellers have been that to us: the kids like cousins, their parents like aunt and uncle to our girls, and to Kyle and I, great friends. They will be missed.

Dancing with JoshE

Not only does our six-year-old, Kayla, love to dance, but she loves to dance with JoshE (that is how he spells his name) Eller, her best friend. Although their relationship is strictly platonic at this point, a relief to both sets of parents, when asked, Kayla and JoshE admit that they have plans to get married someday and have children. In this picture they are in our house practicing a dance they learned in school to the song, "You're the one that I want" from the Grease sound track. Since we moved to Guatemala in 2000 we have been co-workers, neighbors and friends with JoshE and his family. They used to live a block away from our old house and last year they bought the house just six houses down from our new house. JoshE and his family are leaving at the end of August for a year furlough. They will be missed!

Sacrificial Living

Some people think that living in another country as a missionary is a big sacrifice. Well, I'd like to set the record straight, at least from my point of view. While I do miss Starbucks, nice highways, convenience shopping, outdoor recreation, and the Olive Garden, there is not much to want for here in Central America. Not having those things, that I do enjoy, does not really consititute sacrificial living. No, the biggest sacrifice is not WHAT we have left behind, but WHO we have left behind: Our families. As many of you know, it is hard to live far away from the ones you love. All things considered, the sacrifice that is made is not watching my nephews and nieces grow up. It's my girls not seeing their grandparents, great-grandparents, aunts and uncles. It's when Kayla is lying on her bed, with tears in her eyes, holding a picture of her grandparents, crying because she misses them, that I feel like we are sacrificing much. Jim and Ida, thank you for visiting us this month, we love you. And to our friends who made it possible, thank you!

Am I an Evangelical?

Here's a peak at our August newsletter:

Sergio piped up and said, "I used to be evangelical."
"What changed?" I asked.
He answerred, "I felt like evangelicals only follow a bunch of rules, they don't drink, smoke, or dance, but they are hypocritical, they judge others, they are envious and jealous people."
Wow, I thought, I don't want to be in that group!

Click here to read more about when religion gets in the way of relationship.

Running the race

Although she didn't win the race, Elena ran with all her might on the track at the official stadium of one of the biggest soccer teams in Guatemala. As I sat in the stand looking down on the kids (Kayla raced, too) they looked so small compared to the massive stadium. As a part of their PE grade for the year the children participated in two events, a short sprint for speed and a longer run for endurance. Hard to believe a 6 year-old and 4 year-old would be required to race! The important thing is: they did their best and loved it!
I don't really think it's about whether we win or lose, become experts in our field, own the most things, earn the most money, or even how "spiritual" we are. Maybe the important thing is how we run.

Easter Family Photo

Nell, Mikayla, Elena and Kyle

Growing up in Guate

This morning Kayla and Elena woke up in the family room and quickly realized that a strange man was sleeping in their room. "Mommy, Daddy, who's the man in my bed?" Oh, that's Uncle George and Uncle Bob is in the guest room, they slept here last night. Without hesitating Kayla and Elena went running in to talk to the guests and became fast friends. George and Bob were in Guatemala speaking at a consultation for missionary trainers, and although Kyle had only met them days earlier, they needed a place to stay and a ride to the airport the next day, so they ended up in our home. We had breakfast with them in Antigua (a colonial city just 20 minutes from our house) and took them shopping before they had to catch their plane. As we dropped George and Bob off at the airport, Kayla asked, "Mommy, why they only stay for one night?" Which really means, "Why couldn't they stay longer?"

Hosting guests has become a part of our "normal" life here. It is so fun to meet people from all walks of life, chat with them over a meal, show them a little bit of this country. For our kids, I guess it's just part of growing up in Guatemala.

Here we go...

Yes, I have officially joined the blogging world! I have no idea what I am doing, but my intent is to be able to communicate more often with you. Hopefully, you will soon be able to read little snapshots of our lives here in Guatemala! In the mean time, I thought I'd send a picture of one of the cutest girls in the world, Elena (I may be a little biased), standing in the park in front of our house. Hope you enjoy this and future updates!

[P.S. - click photo to see biggie size]