Locked out

After too much time, we are finally able o get back on our blog! Keep watching for news, updates and pictures! We want to catch up!!

Blessings!!

I thought we were immune.

Living in a dangerous country, we are constantly reminding our children to watch their personal space. We are constantly making sure bags are under seats or not seen in the car. We are always double checking to see if the doors are locked. Not living scared, just living smart. You never know who is watching you or looking in your car when you are in the store. It’s the way it is here in Guatemala. It makes you suspicious of people yes, but it makes you more dependent on God!

Immune? What does that have to do with this you are wondering? Today, almost 26 months of living here in this beautiful country it happened. I ran into the store quickly to pick up a few things for dinner then I was heading to a coffee shop to poach internet because the internet at our house has been down for a few days. Sip some coffee enjoy a little time to myself up at the coffee shop. Probably see a friend or two come in and visit for a few minutes. Catch up on Facebook, (you know I have a new nephew I need to see pictures of everyday)!! Check my never ending e-mail. You know the story, right? I called Phil to make sure he was OK with me going, he gave me the run down, told me where to sit, told me to keep my eye open for anything, told me to make sure the projector was out of the bag before I left “just in case something happens they will only get the computer and not the other things we keep in the bag” I finished picking up the few groceries I needed. I stood in line longer than I was in the store shopping. And, while I was standing there, I thought, deep in my heart something is going to happen today. Odd I thought, and pushed it aside, flipped my engagement ring around on my finger so that the diamonds were no longer visible. I checked out, chatted with that cashier for a minute found my keys grabbed my bags and left. I decided that I would make a call while I was walking to the car to have some security of talking to someone if “something” were to happen. I walked to the car, passed the guards with the guns in the parking lot, smiled and said bye. Opened my car and noticed the computer was MISSING! I was talking to Abby and I don’t know if I was calm or not at first. I think I was calm for the first moment then started shaking. I hung up and called Phil and told him. The passenger door was slightly ajar I opened and reclosed it while on the phone with Phil. Not sure what to do, I just started driving away, who do I talk to? As I was leaving the garage I handed my parking ticket to the security guard at the entrance, and break down…explaining that my computer was just stolen, what do I do? He called another security guard who came to talk with me, and he called another security guard. I get out of the car and walk around to the passenger door and see the lock has been "popped", the door is now dented as well. My heart sinks. I look at the guard and tell him, there were NO CARS parked around me. Where were the guards in the parking lot? His response to me, “the security isn’t very good here” I wanted to say “Thanks Captain Obvious” but, I didn’t. After giving the information to the guard with shaking knees and hands that can barely turn the key, I head home. 

Tears of frustration, tears of invasion, tears of relief, tears of joy. Wait, what? Yes, Joy…

As I was driving home talking to Phil replaying the scenario I thought to myself whoever did this could have been waiting for me in the parking lot, they weren’t. Whoever did this could have done this while I was getting in the car and much worse could have happened, whoever did this has our computer that we use for everything our taxes were just done on that computer. And so much personal stuff, but we have a password. Hopefully that will keep it somewhat protected. Phil’s reassuring words to me as we were hanging up the phone  “It’s just a computer, you are ok!” and for that I am thankful.

We have been called to serve this country, and for a moment I thought about how ungrateful these people are, but they don’t know who we are, what we are doing here. I am called to love them not judge them, I am called to serve them not ask for justice. I am called to be the hands and feet of Christ. Knowing that we are doing what God wants us to do, knowing that we are right where God wants us makes it a little easier for me to say “yeah, my car was broken into and the computer was stolen.” Will I triple check to see if doors are locked tonight? YES! But, knowing I am right in the center of His Will makes it easier for me not to lock myself up in the house but, know that God is protecting me, my husband and family. Just a little computer but such a BIG lesson!

As I write this, I never had my coffee up at the coffee shop, I was never able to check my e-mails that are adding up, I was never able to see pictures of my new nephew. But, that is ok!

Yo estoy bien!! Gracias A Dios!

abandoned...

Matochos, a little village on a mountain close to the neighboring the El Salvador border. It's hot, it's dry, it's dirty. There is litter all up and down the side of the one lane road going up the mountain. Steep inclines make your stomach lurch as you pass through the hair-pin turns. It's poor village, with lots of children. In that village AMG has a center. I am not sure the exact number of children who attend there. This is not your typical school, most schools we visit, the children run to you, jump in your arms and hug on you all day. They want to touch your white skin, or feel your hair that is a different color than they have. They stare into your blue eyes, amazed. Here, they stood back, played but didn't get too close to us. Didn't ask to be picked up or hugged. They watched us, pointed and played with us but away from us.

Just as curios as they are with us, we are with them. What is your name, how old are you, do you live close to school, how many people live in your house, does your Mom live with you, your Dad live with you, who takes care of you, are you loved, are you cared for...yes, we have questions too. All too often the children tell us that they don't know their Dad. They live with their Mom, and their Tia (aunt) or their Abuela (grandmother)with primos (cousins) this is typical. No Dad, no grandfather, once and a while a father figure may come around but he isn't there all the time.

      These are not my words but words that were shared with me. They will not be exactly as the first story was told, but I will do my best to retell it. 

 Yesterday we met a little boy Fernando, he is 6 years old I believe. These typical questions were asked and he answered not even timidly but, openly. It is a way of life, they know no other way. Except his case is different. His Mom left him. I don't know how old he was when she left, I do know that he lives with his aunt and cousins, his Dad works in the city which is 2 hours away on a good day with your own car. Not stopping every 100 feet to pick up or drop off a new passenger. I have no idea how long it takes when you are on a bus. But, it is not 2 hours. His Dad has been in the big city for a month now and will come home next week. Then leave again, not spending Christmas with his family, because he needs to provide for them. His Aunt works as well, leaving the 12 year old cousin in charge of Fernando and a 2 month old baby all day. When asked how he feels about this situation, little Fernando said he feels "abandoned". What 6 year old child knows that word, knows how to use that word, and feels the pain of that word? This little one does and so many others do as well. It's sad, it's heartbreaking. Knowing that there are children living in villages all over this country who have stories so similar to this. Knowing that this is just simply a way of life for these poor people, for these poor children.

So thankful for the centers that AMG sponsored children can attend. They are loved on, cared for, fed and taught. With Christ's love being the center of all their teaching. Would you prayerfully consider helping a child like Fernando attend a school? Please follow this link and make a difference today.

14 months and counting...

As I sit hear at the computer listening to the birds chirping outside. The random fireworks going off. The constant sound of horns and of course the ever present sound of sirens blaring. I think of how different our lives were just a little over a year ago. Really, the only sounds in the winter in NH that you hear are snow plows driving by (when there actually is snow) occasional sirens (when you are blessed with a house on the main road into town) birds, can't recall hearing them constantly at this time of year, I know we had them. Ahhh, the silent hush of life in NH. Here, there is an ever present "white noise" shall we call it? Funny, thinking about all of these little noises, it's calming to me for whatever reason. OK...maybe not the sirens but the rest of it. Simply put it means we are home. I never imagined living in a big, loud bustling city. But here we are, and happy to be here. Really, when we thought of Guatemala as our new home, I am sure the thoughts of loud all the time were not part of the thinking process! I mean, ok...we have a large family. Quiet is not the word that comes to mind when people walk in our front door. We are a LOUD family, and I love it! We laugh loud, we talk loud, we live LOUD!! (just ask our neighbors!)
a little view of the city

We are blessed to live in this country, to be working alongside wonderful people that God has brought into our lives. As we meet new people and forge friendships that are new but, oh so deep. We are constantly reminded of God's great love for us. Each new child that we meet in our schools, each new parent that we meet at a home visit, each new friend that one of our children brings home, each new adventure we can look and see the love of the Father. Knowing that He has put them each and everyone in our lives for a specific reason. How blessed are we!
a very special family that God has brought into our lives

What an exciting journey that God has us on. As we embark into our second year here, and now with the full time responsibility of ministry, each day brings it's new challenges. We can look at them and be afraid and run the opposite direction, or look at them full on and say "this is the day that the Lord has made I will rejoice and be glad in it".

My little friend...

I would like to introduce you to one of our sponsor children, his name is Isaias. He is 11 years old and has 4 other siblings. He has 2 older brothers, a younger brother and sister. His younger brother attends school with him at the AMG's Arca de Noah school in Oratorio. He lives in an house made out of adobe bricks, with windows that are open to anything and everything to enter and leave as it pleases. The door has no lock, the house has 3 rooms, 1 is the Kitchen and the other two are bedrooms for the family. He has no father. A very typical situation is Dad leaves to provide for his family because of lack of work in the area, usually with good intentions, but after awhile the family is abandoned and left fatherless. His older brother is 22 and is working hard to provide for the family. He is also building a new home for the family because the house they are living in is on rented land. He was able to save up to put a deposit on a piece of land. It is a treacherous walk to the location of the new house. Down small narrow paths, down the bank of a stream and up the bank on the other side climbing over large roots and rocks. I am careful with my footing, but the kids run up and down quicker than I could on a set of stairs. Using their speed as a propellant to launch themselves to the next step they have already planned out their route in their mind! We walked to the new location to see a new house built of recycled metal roofing attached with whatever nails could be found with maybe a few new ones thrown in here and there. The posts for the 4 corners are trees that he has cut down and set into the ground, and a door post made the same way. The metal is just nailed into the logs, and there is no way to keep the bugs, insects , rats and mice out of the house. The pride of ownership with the new house was evident, and they are working hard to be able to move into this new house in January when they finish paying off the land. The house is deep in the woods on a hill, with a stream cutting it’s way around the earth around the house to make a sort of moat around the front and sides. It is all I can do not to cry about the living conditions. This is the way of life for them, they know no difference. Their new house will stand up to the earthquakes better, and for that they are very excited. Seeing as we have experienced 6 or more this past week alone! But will it stand up to the things that climb in and out their windows? They have no protection. I watch the mother as she looks at us with very little joy or hope. Poverty stricken people, with little ability or means of changing their situation.
When looking at Christs time on earth we see a model of service that focused on the only thing that will permanently help which is knowing Christ as your savior, but He never ignored the physical needs of the people as well. This is the ministry of AMG. Reaching people where they are at with the love of Christ both spiritually and physically. Isaias is taught the Bible and is learning the truths of God in school everyday. I may not be able to be with Isaias and his family all the time. I am however, assured in knowing that at his school he is learning very valuable truths about his life and about the life of Jesus. And in turn he can teach others about Jesus' love for him. What a powerful tool that is!
The first time I met Isaias he was 9, and very scared of me. He had driven in a car for more that 2 hours to meet his sponsors. He thought we were going to take him away with us. We gave him a bag with some things for the family, and some small gifts and showered him with hugs, but that just made him for afraid of us. We couldn’t communicate with him without a translator, and I think that may have added to his apprehension of us! The second time we saw him was a little easier for him, he smiled and actually hugged us back. We were able to communicate with him, what a joy and blessing that was for us. All of the kids were able to meet him and now they know who he is as well. They played a little “futbol” or soccer and that made his smile even bigger! And now when he sees us, his face lights up, he hugs us without us going to him first and we are able to really communicate with him and find out more about him and his family. Can you even begin to imagine the joy that is in my heart because we have him in our lives?
This family is only one of many that live like this. Unfortunately there are people who live close to Isaias that will never have this opportunity to attend school, be educated, be able to provide for their family's because they don’t have a sponsor to make a difference in their life. What would it take to sponsor a child and make a difference in their life? You can find out about that right here at AMG I know he says we have been a blessing in his life, but he has bless us far more.

Looking Up

As we were driving to school a few weeks ago, I was struggling with a few things. I was also overwhelmed at the daunting thought of what was ahead of me that day. I was struggling with being in Guatemala when friends and family at home were having children. And, also loved ones at home were dying. I was overwhelmed with the daunting thought of all that needed to be done that day: language school, cleaning, cooking, and shopping. All stuff in a normal day but we are in the midst of a language barrier here. I was praying that I would have a better outlook on the day, and that I would not be thinking of things at home, but rather of things here in Guatemala. I was praying that I would see outside of my world, and see the bigger picture. Not many of you reading this have actually been to Guatemala but some of you have, pictures do it no justice. Let me tell you what happened when I opened my eyes. We were coming off a mountain into the city where we go everyday for language, and as we rounded the corner right in front of me was the most spectacular view of a volcano. It was just purely magnificent! And at that moment, I thought to myself, I need to keep looking up! I see this beautiful volcano everyday and many others like it. I see the natural beauty all around me every day here in Guatemala. You need to look up to see the mountains and the volcanoes. When you look down you see the trash and the filth.
Where am I going with this? When we look at the little things the “trash” that is around us every day we can (I can) get so overwhelmed that I forget what needs to be done. And I forget the purpose of why I am doing things. Is it still hard to be away from home and not grieving with friends YES! Is it still hard being away from home and not rejoicing with friends YES! Is it hard being 3000 miles from family as my Father in Law walked into the arms of Jesus? YES!! BUT, we have the hope and promise that we will one day be together again. We are here in Guatemala serving our loving sovereign Lord. We have a hope! We need to share that hope with a lost and dying world. We need to focus on Jesus and not on the “trash” that is lying in our path. We need to focus on the people around us and their souls, not the daunting daily tasks, don’t worry I still clean my house and make meals for them. But we need to look at opportunities that God places in our lives. Who do I talk to in the grocery store? Who do we talk with when our washing machine is being fixed? Who do we talk to at the market when we buy our fruits and vegetables? These are people that need to hear of the love of the Savior that came just for them. And when we are focusing on looking up I know I can definitely see a difference in how I look at the day ahead of me.
Are you looking up?

Motorcycles deliver what??

We are just starting our second month here in Guatemala. We are having fun learning new things everyday. The learning starts the second we walk out the door until we all drop back in bed at night.

Here are just a few things that we have had to learn.

Well, the language obviously! School is going great for both Phil and I. After 3 weeks, I decided to switch teachers. (which is common to do until you get the right teacher) This week has been so much better by far. A much more involved teacher who "shows" things instead of "reads" things.

Pray expectantly! As Phil prayed about making contacts last Saturday he heard a whistle outside of our gate. Thinking it was someone walking up the road to sell coffee, he opened the gate. Well, the guy sharpens tools, Phil ran to get his new machete which had no edge on it yet and let they guy do his thing. While he was working Phil shared a cup of coffee with him. He had just prayed that the Lord would bring someone to us to start making friendships with, and he met someone. Along the pray expectantly lines, we had a couple bags disappear from the house before we moved in there we a few things that were important to us like Claire's juicer (YES, she has her own juicer) we were sad that it was gone and were trying to figure out a way to purchase a new one they aren't cheap you know! Well, I prayed on Saturday morning about finding a new one. Fast forward a few hours and I went to Mega Paca with a friend (it is a glorified Goodwill for those of you who are wondering) we were talking about praying specifically for something when I turned the corner into the domestics and what did I find? A working juicer!! (it's a little banged up and used but hey, we can juice again).

Driving is another thing that we need to learn. Yes, relearn how to drive. These people drive so fast, they can whip in and out of lanes in between cars...but, merging is totally off their radar. But, we are learning. The first time I drove my legs were like rubber when I got out of the car. BUT, I did it! I actually need to do it a little more, but an still a bit too timid to be trying it.

Trusting people we don't know. In the states we would NEVER just hand out house keys to someone we don't know and say, see you in a few hours. That is just what we have to do with our empleada. Or even letting her open the doors for the workers to put the remote on the gate (today). We have many example of that from last month but, I won't bore you with those stories.

Windows, for some reason you can see right in all the windows here. Someone mentioned that it could be because they are not double pained I think that this could be the reasoning behind it. So, when someone rings the bell and you go to peek out the window to see who it is, they will see the smallest motion and know that someone is home and won't leave until you answer the door. (yes, I know this from experience)! so, we need to hang up double curtains in the windows for privacy.

Armed guards are everywhere. You actually look for them, if you pull into a store and one isn't there you probably should leave. hmmm, what would we do in the states if we were to go into a store and there was a guy standing with a machine gun ready to roll? probably leave really quick!!

Propane tanks are delivered on a motorcycle! 100 lb tanks strapped on the back of a motorcycle. I wish we had gotten a picture of it yesterday when our gas was delivered. Maybe next time!

These are just a few of the things that we have learned this month. So many more things to learn and we are excited to learn them.
We are so thankful for God's watch and care for us, and see Him at work in so many ways around us. It is so amazing to take ourselves out of the picture and see Him at work. In so many ways that we would never give credit for when we are "doing it ourselves".
Thank you for your continued prayer and support. Please let us know what we can be praying for in your lives.

"For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord plans to prosper you and not harm you"
What does that verse mean to you? As I sat on the airplane this morning preparing to take off with Abby sitting next to me and the 6 other members of the family waiting for their plane and hour later. These were the words resonating in my head. We as humans look at our lives and are excited, scared, afraid, worried, thrilled, giddy...you get the point. We have so many emotions (especially us girls). What an exciting time for our family, but as a Mom, how uncertain things are for us. God knows what is going to be happening in our lives over the next few days, weeks, months and even years! How AWESOME is that? HE has planned out our lives, we are just simply called to follow Him. Whether that means talking with someone at the grocery store that looks like they need someone to talk to. Or packing up a family of 8 and head out of the country to a poor country like Guatemala. Whatever it is the Lord has it planned. He has planned them to prosper us not harm us! This morning, this verse has really spoken to me, it has many times before but right now today, this verse holds a new meaning to me.
Thanks for taking the time to read this, and please keep our family in prayer as we settle into our new "normal" whatever that is! As we have said before, please keep us informed on your requests and praises as well. We want to be praying for YOU!

the final weeks...

As I sit here on this first Sunday in December, I am overwhelmed at the thought of what this month holds for our family.
We are now settled into my parents house, still packing and repacking bags. Looking at our "stuff" a little differently now. Realizing that so much of it is just that, stuff! It is exciting to be purging of so many things that bog us down, clutter our lives and keep us from being focused on what the Lord would have us focus on.
We are blessed to have so many friends and family who are so understanding of the confusion and chaos that is going on right now. They are so willing to help and jump right in when needed!
It is also wonderful being able to spend special time with friends and family knowing that it will be a long time before we see them again. Wonderful memories are being made, and for that we are so thankful! It's great to be able to laugh and take time to enjoy a cup of coffee with a friend in the midst of packing the 16 bags!
Right now as I type this Phil and Cabot are in Indiana with his brother and family. He started the trip this weekend by first stopping in PA to visit with his Aunt, Uncle and cousins. He then continued to Ohio for a speaking engagement at a church this morning, then on to IN for another one tonight. Memories are definitely being made!
Abby will be finishing up her senior year in just a few short weeks. She will be done her home school work this week, and the classes that she attends at our local high school will be done in a few weeks. We are very proud of her for working so hard at finishing up her work and doing so well in all of her classes! For those of you who are wondering, she will be going to Guatemala with us. She is very excited about being there, and seeing how God is going to use her down there. She will also be taking some on-line classes to get her gen-ed classes out of the way, then transfer to a school at some point. We are still working on that.
The rest of the kids are all registered for school and they are all looking forward to it. Phil and I are registered at classes as well, and yes! we are looking forward to it as well! School...who would have thought at my age that I would be going to learn a new language, it's so exciting!
Here are a few things we can have you pray for as we wind up our time here in the states:
Safety for Phil and Cabot as they travel home.
Calmness of heart and mind as things are so crazy with so much to do.
The health of our family, there is so much illness going on around us and we are trying to stay healthy.
Safety for the family as we travel on the 30th. There will be 11 of us in total flying into Guatemala. Brian Dennetts parents are flying with us as well as our niece who is helping us move.
Thank you once again for taking the time to read this, and to keep our family in your prayers. As always please let us know what we can be praying about for you, it's a privilege to be able to pray for you as well.

The time has come...

Luke 10:2 He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.

We have a date! December 30, 2010!! We are looking into plane tickets now. Phil is in Guatemala and has found our new home! He is also doing all the paper work signing us all up for our school. We are getting rid of things, packing things, preparing for our new adventure!
How exciting it is for our family as we are approaching this new phase. One that seems to have taken so long to get there, but in God’s time it is never too long is it? We have been learning about trusting in ALL things, we have seen first hand over and over and over how God has provided for us. We have been able to share with so many what God is doing in our lives. We could write a book about what He has done for us!

There have been so many changes that have taken place since we first committed our lives to serve in full time ministry. January 2007 was when we as a family decided that we were going to look into full time mission work. January 2007 Claire was 2 1/2, Anna was 4 1/2, Cabot was 7, Megan was 10, Betsy was almost 12 and Abby was almost 14. Looking back over my blog seeing what changes have taken place brought me to tears today! Moves, illnesses, new friends, deaths, and provisions. I enjoyed reading things here and it was a great reminder of some difficult times we have had. And also, of the joyous times we have had. We have grown closer as a family through things that God has brought us through. January 2011 will be 4 years later, I can’t wait to see what changes are going to take place in our lives when we are living out what we have been learning!

What can you be praying for now?
That things would fall into place smoothly for our move.

That the family unit will work together and grow as a family while we are going through so many changes.

The remainder of our support would come in.

God’s will, will be done in our lives everyday!

Please let us know of things that you would like us to pray for as well. We want to pray effectively for you as well!

Summer Time!

Summer has officially started! The kids had their last day of school yesterday. Sleepovers have begun, summer plans are in full swing and we have moved into our new and hopefully "even more temporary" housing last weekend. The Lord has blessed us with a beautiful house to be in until we are heading to Guatemala. It is right on a lake on the other side of town from where we were and the kids have enjoyed swimming here almost every day! We are very thankful for Gods provision in this area. These next few weeks are going to be busy with different VBS programs and missions meetings. We would cherish your prayers for all of this and that the Lord would use us each day for His glory.

Below is a letter that we have sent out via e-mail, if you are not on our list you would not have seen this.

Dear Family & Friends
I would like to take a moment to update you on our progress and to solicit your support of our ministry. While we have made considerable progress in our support raising we find ourselves short of the amount that we need to be able to finalize our plans and establish a moving date to Guatemala.
Earlier in the year we had communicated the desire to establish an objective of May for having our support established. During that time we have had significant momentum in our efforts at reaching our goal, but have not reached the amount needed for our family to survive in the field.
It has been truly humbling to see the Lord at work and we are consistently amazed at His hand in this entire process. His timing is perfect! God has graciously provided the funds we need for one-time expenses like our move, establishing our home in Guatemala and other set-up costs. We are now praying fervently that God would provide for the rest our family’s regular monthly support needs in order to finish well and get on our way to Guatemala.
The bottom line is that we are ready to go “in spirit”, but must wait until God has provided the funds for us to do so! Our faithful teammates in the field are working hard and need our help. We are anxious to come alongside them and begin working in this amazing ministry… provided by God and serving so many in need. Guatemala has recently suffered the effects of a major volcanic eruption and a devastating tropical storm. The damage to the country´s infrastructure, the loss of life and displacement of thousands from their homes has created an entire new set of needs there…needs that we are excited about being a part of meeting! In the past AMG has operated with the assistance of 3 or 4 missionary families and is currently operating with just 1. Will you help us to get on our way by agreeing to be a part of our financial support team? We need your help! Please contact me right away if you need any additional information, or if you have any questions. Setting up a regular monthly gift to our family is as easy as picking a monthly amount and then calling 1-800-251-7206 or visiting "www.amginternational.org" and clicking on DONATE.
Thank you so much for the interest you´ve expressed in our ministry. Thank you so much for your prayers!

Update Update!!

Wondering what is going on with the Wilson family?
What have we been doing?
Well, we have been busy people!
Phil and I went on our whirlwind trip to Indiana, Ohio and Tennessee in May. We were able to spend time with his brother Bob, his wife Deb and their children (we also were able to visit with our great niece's and nephew's) What a great time we had with them the time was much too short! We did make the best of our time! That Saturday we were able to go to Ohio and meet with the Pastor and wife of the Pleasant Grove Church of God. What a wonderful time we had sharing stories, and enjoying a wonderful lunch with them.
"Uncle Calvin" and "Auntie Carla" as we have dubbed them were such a joy to be around. Their love for the Lord is evident in all they do! They are a blessing to all who they meet I am sure! We were able to spend "quality" time in the car with Bob and Deb that Saturday because we had them join us for the day! We were able to share the ministry that God has called us to at Bob and Deb's church on Mother's Day. It was a beautiful day, I only wish we were able to have the kids with us. I have not been without my children on Mother's Day since Abby was born! what an odd feeling! We had a great day with Bob and Deb's family though! Their children and grandchildren were great stand-ins for us!

Monday morning came very early and we were out the door driving to Tennessee. It was nice driving and seeing a different part of the country. Flat corn fields, soy bean fields, then big cities, and beautiful mountains! We went from one extreme to the other while we were driving! It was beautiful seeing the different things out there. We arrived in Tennessee a little later than we were expecting to, thanks to the GPS that brought us a "little" out of our way! But we arrived safe and sound, so that is good. We were able to visit quickly with Dee and Ken who work with AMG in the home office. We met them when we went to Guatemala in December for our Bundles of Love trip. It was wonderful seeing them! We have seen Ken on skype a few times for meetings but real life is so much better! We had a wonderful time staying with Pete and Kim, also from the home office. They gave us the true feel of "mi casa es tu casa" (my house is your house).
While we were in Tennessee Phil had a few days of meetings. Learning more about the country God has called us to. We came home and hit the road running!
Abby had a prom that she attended at a local high school with a friend. She looked stunning, if I can say that as the mom! Betsy was winding down her softball season. Megan has been playing soccer, and keeps us running from practices to games, never a dull moment. She had a tournament over Memorial Day weekend and her team won for the U13 girls! We were so happy for them! Abby also attended her own school's prom that weekend. If you knew what my calendar looked like, you would wonder if I had learned how to have myself in 4 places at once! God saw us through our very busy weekend! Cabot and Anna are winding down their school year, with lots of field trips and special days at school. And last but not least Claire graduated from kindergarten! A bunch of changes for our family have taken place, and will continue to take place. We are so excited to see what God has in store for our family and look to each new day as a blessing from Him! We are still in need of support for the ministry and ask that if you feel led to partner with us through AMG to please ask us how if you would like. We are still looking at leaving in August, but our financial goal has not been met. Would you consider supporting us? It could be a one time gift, or monthly support. And as always prayer is always needed!
thank you for taking the time to read this very long overdue post of our happenings this past month! I thought you would like to know what the family has been up to!
Blessings!

Coffee

We are excited to tell you that we have added a new element to our blog
"It's Coffee" We love coffee, and have thought of how many of you do as well. We found this great site to help us raise support! Would you look at it and feel free to help us in this way? Thanks for looking!

hitting the road...

Or at least the air!
Phil and I are packing up to head out on a whirlwind trip next week. We leave on May 7 to fly to Phil's brothers house in Indiana, then drive to Ohio on Saturday to meet a Pastor in Ohio. We will head back up to Indiana and spend Sunday at their church to share the ministry that God has called us to. Then we are getting in a car and driving to Tennessee for meetings. We head home Thursday May 13th. We are so looking forward to this time that God has set up for us to spend with family, friends and even new people to meet!
Please pray for us while we are gone, that our time would be fruitful while we are away. Please pray for our children that we will be leaving with various friends and family.

We are excited to see what God is doing in our lives!

Thank you for being part of this ministry with us! We are excited to see how He is always working all around us!

Where are we?

We have had many people ask us in the past few months where we are at with our support? We are at a solid 60% with more coming in daily! We are so thankful for all of you who are supporting us financially. We know it is a tough economic time right now. We know that many of you are making sacrifices for our family to be on the field. We are ever so grateful for that! How exciting it is to see our ministry team grow in ways that we would never imagine. God is providing wonderful people to partner with us, and we are very serious when we say to you that you are just as much part of our team here as you will be when we are there. We couldn't do it without our supporters.

Please keep praying with us as we continue to seek God's will, and work on getting our family to Guatemala. We are so excited to share with you things that God has been teaching us and revealing to us in ways that we would never have expected. That is what He does though isn't it!! Just ask us we love to talk about it!

A few speaking engagements that we have on the calendar right now are:
(there are more in the works these are the ones that are already set on the calendar)

April 18 Souhegan Christian Church (Family)
April 24 Higher Ground Baptist Church Ladies Missions Tea (Jen)
April 25 Christ's Church of Amherst (Family)
May 2 Fellowship Bible Church Men's Breakfast (Phil)

Challenge!

Are you up for it?

Here it goes!

Have you been on a Missions Trip? Short term or long term, in country or out of the country? Have you thought about a Missions Trip? Have you had the thought that you would love to someday go on one but now isn't the time? Did you know how many different types of Mission Trips you could go on? You could go to your local nursing home and pray with the patients. They love having visitors! You could go into schools and work with Good News Clubs. You can't get much more local than that! You could plan a VBS in an area that is in need of someone coming in and sharing with the children. Near or far! You can go out of the country and do something. You can build a school, you can paint a school, you can have a VBS, you can pass out Bundles of Love, you can serve in a church somewhere.

Are you seeing what the challenge is here? Get out of your comfort zone listen to what God is saying to you, see what He wants you to do. I am not saying pack your bags, sell your belongings and move to the most remote jungle you can find. Well, unless that is what God is calling you to do! It just may be the biggest challenge of your life and I would dare to say that it would be the most rewarding thing you do as well!

Think about it...

Haiti

The earthquake in Haiti has been devastating. It has touched lives of people all over the world. We can never know what they are experiencing but we can pray. We are all consumed with knowing what is going on minute by minute. We are sitting watching the news continuously, rejoicing when someone is rescued and mourning when they find another person who has lost their life. The news reports are mostly showing the devastation in Port-au-Prince, not in the whole country. Where there are orphanages that are gone, missions that are destroyed people who will forever be changed because of this day January 12, 2010.
AMG has a project in the northern part Haiti and the reports are coming in. Here is the "link" to get information about AMG and what you can do to help aid this country.
Please continue to pray for the Hatians and for the workers that are being sent there to help in any capacity, whether it is digging, handing out food, handing out medicines, sitting with people who are in utter confusion, praying with the dying and so much more. These are all real things that are happening and these people need our prayer.

Bundles of Love

What an amazing time we had in Guatemala. We met some wonderful new people who will be friends for a lifetime. God brought a bunch of total strangers together from Canada, NH, PA, DE and TN and we made memories together that will not soon fade from our memories!






We were 11 people who went down to be the representatives for the sponsors all over the world who were not able to be there and hand out the bundles to the children. Just 11 of us for so many children. We were able to meet our sponsored children on Monday. Edwin and Isaiah they are such sweet boys. Edwin wanted to make sure that we knew what he was doing in school, that he won the spelling bee (that they do in English) he is excelling in his Math studies. he is a bright young man. Isaiah was a little more shy, he drove almost 3 hours to see us, and had never been in a car before. He was a bit timid, and was a little nervous when Phil said he was our "son" I think he thought we were going to try to bring him home with us. He has just started school this year and loves it! What a blessing these two boys are to our family!!









We greeted many children who were so thankful for their bundles, and couldn't wait to hug us. Their parents making sure that they said their "thank you's" to us, or should I say gracias.
The parents making sure that they had their picture taken with us. And snapping pictures of us with their child on their cell phones.









We visited 5 projects, most of them were in the city. We went to some pretty tough neighborhoods. Where the only safe haven for those children is the project. They have a small area to play inside the school and loving teachers who are showing them God's love everyday! Teaching them about Jesus and what He has done for them. Caring for these children in ways that their parents are not for whatever reason. The love for the children is so evident when you talk to each and every one of the teachers, they care deeply for all of these children. Their faith in God is so evident as well. It is so overwhelming when you hear testimony after testimony of what God is doing in each life, or in each project.

One of the last projects we went to was in a gang driven area. There is beautiful soccer field just on the outside of the school, and it is unsafe for the children to play there. They are in these walls and love it in there. One little girl (she is pictured to the right of Megan in the picture below)in this project walked up to me and asked me if I knew her sponsor? I told her I didn't, and she looked very sad about that, she then started to tell me that she has never heard from her sponsor. I hugged her and told her that was from her sponsor. It made me realize, we go down and see our children. We just met our new kids this week. But I have never written a letter to them to let them know who we are. That is something I need to do. They have birthday's too, and celebrate Holidays, or just like to get mail. What child doesn't??

So, if you sponsor a child anywhere write to them, let them know you think of them, that you pray for them, encourage them anyway that you can. I know they would appreciate it. I know mine will!!

With this all written I am going to end this with then need to let you know there are MANY unsponsored children in Guatemala, and also where ever AMG has schools. Would you consider taking one for your family? It costs $28 a month and that is for food, clothes, and an education! Pray about it please! Maybe for this Christmas you could even start, what a gift it would be for both you and the child.

Heading South!

Phil, Megan and myself are heading to Guatemala on Friday for the annual Bundles of Love trip. We are very excited to be heading down there and share the love of Christ with them! We are going to be handing out the "bundles" to the children at different school projects. What are in the bundles? Well, their uniform for the next school year, and school supplies, shoes, backpacks, candy, sometimes a small toy for the children. Just the basics! They are so excited to receive these gifts. I am sure there will be much excitement from the children (and their parents) as they receive their gifts. But the greatest gift we can give them is the Love of Christ. As we are preparing to go we are praying for their hearts to be open to the gospel that we will be sharing with them. Will you pray that with us as you think of us please? What greater gift is there than the Gift that came as a tiny babe, the Gift that came to die for us, the Gift that gives us an eternal hope in knowing Jesus as our personal savior. That is the gift I want to share with these children, parents and whom ever else we may come into contact with while we are in Guatemala. That is the purpose of our trip, that is the purpose of our desire to serve in Guatemala full time as well.

Plans...

Next weekend Phil and I are attending the AMG annual banquet in New Holland, PA. We are excited to be able to go this year, we have not been able to attend in the past so this is going to be a new experience. Bob Hastings will be speaking, it is always a joy to hear him speak, and we are looking forward to what he has to share with us while we are there. We are also very excited to be able to spend some time with Pat and Traci Ragan while we are there. And many of the other AMG staff that will be there!

After we get home from that trip, we will be getting things ready for our trip to Guatemala in December. We are going on the Bundles of Love Mission Adventure. We are taking Megan with us. She has not yet been to Guatemala and we would like her to see where it is we will be living and not have it be a complete unknown to her. Phil took Abby and Betsy down with him a few years ago. I am so excited to see what will be happening while we are there. I know that we are going to be blessed beyond measure with the people that we will be ministering to. Humbled and amazed at how God works in lives of people all over the world, no matter what their situation, knowing that God is in control of ALL things.

Please pray for safety of everyone in our group that will be going down. The three of us will be flying from Boston and meeting the rest of the group in Atlanta then flying to Guatemala from there. We will be there from Saturday to Saturday, with a lot of work to be done.
Please pray for the health of all of us in the group going, it is not fun being sick in a different country with out the comforts of home. I know this first hand!
Please pray for unity of the group that we would all be focused on what the Lord would have us do. Be aware of what it is the Lord wants us to say, do, share.
Pray for our families that are at home. I know that we will be leaving 5 members of our family with various people, I am not sure about the rest of the people going down with us.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and see what it is that God is doing in our lives! It is an awesome adventure!!