The At Long Last Friends

Oh what a different life we live. I was just sitting down getting ready to write a deep blog entry when we heard a noise and Ken went off on a "Is it a cockroach or a rat" hunt. Shudder. I stood on the coffee table for a while, but now as he is discovering evidence of a mouse (at least I hope it is that small) I am simply keeping my feet up as he searches. I'm not sure - OK, sorry, had to get up on the coffee table again. It has been discovered. And lost. Those little buggers are fast. Now I'm probably not going to be able to sleep tonight, since apparently our dog doesn't have a clue when little critters are on the loose. I thought cockers were supposed to be good hunting dogs. Hmpf.
I officially now don't like flying creatures, or fast running ones, or snakes. The jury is still out on the dog.
Now I shall try to be a little more serious.

We just had an amazing weekend! Every year in Guatemala there is a missions retreat weekend. This year it was hosted up at the lake, which is amazingly beautiful. (It was nice to get out of the congested city and see some beauty for a little while.) We basically took over two of the larger hotels in town, and used the missionary retreat center for children's camp. The whole thing was amazing. A "servants team" flew in from Pennsylvania, and another from Texas, and still another from Scottsdale (I assume Arizona) to make the weekend successful. There was a speaker and worship team provided by Green Acres Baptist Church (a 15,ooo member church in Texas.) There was a complete children's program, we really only saw the kids at lunch and after 9 pm. Programs for singles, high schoolers, married couples, you get the idea. In addition to all that, get this - people fly down to give us free hair cuts, manicures, pedicures, and massages. Free - that's crazy. These teams not only pay their own way, they raise $500 each towards offsetting the conference fee for missionaries. I still can't believe that - it was amazing.

Beyond all that, there was one really important thing we gained from this weekend. A new friend, that is a girl, for Abigail. She has, unfortunately, had a really difficult time transitioning as many of you know. The clique situation in her class is quite bad (at least for Kindergarten) and she is the only new girl, we think the only girl MK, and the only American girl. Odds sort of stacked against her there. Anyway, we have been praying for some time (and we thank those of you who have prayed along with us) that God would provide her a friend like her. This weekend that finally happened.

The story actually starts before we even arrived in Guatemala. We were at CTEN orientation with a few other couples that were heading to Guate, and one in particular we really enjoyed being around. We sort of kept in touch, but had only seen each other once (very briefly) since we moved to the country. They live a few hours away from here, and honestly we just hadn't tried very hard. All that will now change.

After the first night of camp we had reconnected and were standing around waiting for the kids to come back. I think I had already told our colleague, and friend, Don of the hard time Abigail was having. Talk had also happened about how his kids were struggling being the only Americans in their school. How excited I was when the kids came back and they had all played together? Not nearly as excited as I was when Ali leaned in on the way back to our rooms and gave Abigail a giant hug. You know, I think that is the first hug she has had from a girl her age since we left the United States. I, of course, started to cry immediately. Then Ali, Aidan, and Abigail all linked arms and walked together. It was a good weekend indeed.

Now we look forward to making the drive up to Chichicastenango (that's a mouthful huh) where the Logan's live so that we can all spend more time together. We have intentionally planned Abigail's birthday party for a time when the twins can be here. Please join us in praying that this will be a lasting friendship.



I am including a link to the Logan's blog about the weekend so you can see thoughts on this story, and the importance of MK friendship, from another parent. Don writes really well, and has captured the essence of what we often feel as parents in this strange world. Please, take the time to read it - and take the time to check out their families ministry as well.

http://loganjourney.blogspot.com/2010/03/messed-up-kids.html

Off to attempt to sleep, with the covers around my ears, the night light on, and the mouse traps set.

And then it was done...

As I sit here this morning (Sunday) enjoying time with the girls and catching up on life I realize what am amazing accomplishment it is to be done.

I'm very proud of my wife for all the hard work and countless hours that went into the musical. The final product was truly amazing and was enjoyed around the world.

I'm also proud of her students for how hard they worked to memorize the music and dance moves. I'm proud of Jordan, Andrea, John and Pablo for how much work went into the music. Not having a musical bone in my body I can only imaging how many hours of practice each committed to it. Thank you!

Last night Mark and Joy mentioned how amazing the stage and costumes were. I don't know how well that came across on the camera but let me tell you something -- amazing doesn't do it justice. Mandy, Rhoda, Dina, Kim and Jana did a FABULOUS job! Thank you!

The drama crew (Dina) nailed it! The kids came together and just did an excellent job. Thank you all!

Liz was a constant help with the tickets and program. Thank you!

Greg stepped in last minute to run the camera and webcast. Without him folks in the States, Canada, Slovenia, and other would not have been able to enjoy it. Thank you!

I also want to say thank you to CAG: the administration was awesome in accommodating us in the weeks leading up to the show. Jose was running errands for us on the very last day to get some last minute equipment. Richard was repairing the left curtain hours before opening night. Mynor was there to setup chairs and clean up. Thank you!

And, the teachers -- the last week I was busy enough that computer problems not including fire, smoke, or virus' were put on the back-burner.

Many people were lifting us up in prayer. Thank you all too!

I'm sure I'm forgetting someone... If I did, I'm sorry and thank you!

Well, that is all for now.

-knme

Upcoming Musical

As many of you know Joy and her choir students have been working very hard in preparation of the Broadway Musical, "The Life We Knew". The performance is this Friday, 19 February at 7pm Central time (8pm Eastern, 5pm Pacific) with an encore performance Saturday night at the same time(s).

We are planning to webcast both performances in a similar way as the Elementary Christmas program. If you would like to tune in you can point your favorite web browser to the following link:

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/cag-thelifeweknew

You will need to know the super-secret-password: broadway. You may need to enter it twice.

We had only minor technical problems with the Christmas program so we're praying for similar results.

We'd also ask that you continue to lift up Joy and her students in prayer as for some of them this is their first major production.

Thank you all!

-knme

Happy Anniversary (8)

Eight years ago today Joy and I were married. As we ate lunch today we looked back on each year and we were both amazed how fast the time has gone by. There have been many good memories over these years.

Now, as of today we're tied one to one for "kidnappings". For Joy's birthday I kidnapped her and took her away. Today was her turn. We enjoyed a nice quiet lunch at a nice steak restaurant.

I love my wife -- the mother of my children -- my one-flesh mate.

-knme

Youth Group all Over Again

How exciting to be able to go to a Super Bowl Party even here in Guatemala. It really felt like we were on youth staff again. (Of course, teaching at CAG every day tends to feel a little like that.) Our friends TJ and Dina, he is the school chaplain, hosted the shindig at their house right around the corner from ours. We even had a GaGa court in the garage. There was one huge difference from other Super Bowl parties we had been to...everyone was either watching the game, or hanging out outside. Not too hard to do here considering even after dark it is currently 60 degrees. We are wondering if a lot of the kids watch it so intently because it is a connection to their home country, even the girls who had no idea what 1st and 10 meant were intently watching and trying to learn the game. We had a very fun evening!

It was great to have that fun and relaxation in the middle of the last two weeks before our big musical. I (Joy) had a six hour rehearsal yesterday, at which I never sat down. Things are going all right, but they need to be going better at this point. The choir sounds great, but boy does their choreography need help! We have 6 rehearsals left as the students are all going away to various parts of the country for Servant Days this weekend. Pray for my sanity, and for me to continue being able to be gentle with them. The most frustrating thing lately has been that they double scheduled the gyn (where our stage is) and I have been forced to yell over the sound of the volleyball teams practicing in the afternoons. Argh! I am losing my voice, and just made it worse by cheering at the party. Guess I should set a better example for the kids huh?

We will post information on how to see the show as soon as we have it. The dates are the 19th and 20th, and the show will air at 8pm eastern time. Hope you will be able to join us!

Thanks for your prayers and support, for us and for our students.

A Day Long Awaited

Years ago my friend Becky and I began dreaming about the day when our family would move down here, and I would start teaching music at the school that they run. Well, that day has finally arrived! Although God called us to a different primary ministry - which we absolutely love - we feel that he still wants us to help the school however we can. So, today I began teaching Theater and Music to their 8th and 9th graders.
For those who don't know, the school Escuela Integrada por los ninos trabajadores is a no cost to the students program. Most of the children who attend leave school at 3 and go to work, even many who are in the elementary program. Some of them shine shoes, some of them clean houses, some of them take care of their siblings while both of their parents are working. They literally do not have enough money to go to public school, where you must pay for books supplies and uniforms. We love the program because it not only offers them a wonderful Christian education, it also feeds them. Without the feeding program many of the students would not be able to attend because they would be out earning money for food.
We began working with them back in 2003, and I am positive that some of the students who were there then are now in my classes. Scary to think that the kids who were in 1st and 2nd grade are now in my classes. Scary and wonderful, because they have made it this far. Many students stop in the 6th grade. I will have to look for old pictures from the 2005 team to post so people can see the differences.
Anyway, the day went really well. They originally had me scheduled to teach all day, 6 periods, every Thursday. Thankfully they found a different teacher already on staff for the 7th grade classes and I now only have to teach in the morning. (This means that we can have our nanny come in the morning and stay with Emma, because our attempt for her to hang out in the Kindergarten class today was short lived. So, Maribel is going to start teaching her Spanish on Thursday mornings, we even went and bought her special Spanish school books this evening.) My day will still be plenty long though as the classes are taught entirely in Spanish, and of course I don't know all the necessary terminology for Theater and Music in Spanish. Last night was more of a studying the language than prepping my lessons time for me - but it went off really well.
Now if I could just get the girls to talk in front of their classmates....

Bye bye Mom + Dad

Wow, we had not realized that it had been nearly a month since our last post. That means Christmas was almost a month ago.

On the eve of Mom and Dad returning to the States we realize just how fast time can move. It seems like only yesterday Dad, Joy and I were standing on the roof of the condo watching the New Years Eve fireworks. It seems like only yesterday Mom defied us all by climbing to the top of one of the highest Mayan temples, Templo IV, in Tikal. It seems like only yesterday that Ken won the two week long Rummi cube game. It seems like only yesterday that Ken off-handedly commented that Mom could be in the Smithsonian... oh wait... that was just the other day.

Ah... good times.

But it went by so very fast. We'd ask you join us in praying that Mom and Dad have a safe trip back to New Hampshire. They have a somewhat short connecting flight in Houston. We'd also ask that you pray for us and the girls as we now transition back to "normalcy".

For those who are curious, Ken was the only one of us who felt the earthquake the other day. Given the recent quake in Haiti it made everyone a bit nervous. But we're all fine.

Thanks to all who continue to support us in prayer and finances!

In Christ,

-knm/jr/ac/ebe