Well - I do not believe I have ever bought a ticket from Guatemala City to Boston for $80. Really! Go United Miles Club!! 17,500 miles and $80 later I have a ticket waiting for me.
I will be flying on June 8th, arriving near midnight in Boston.
It is truly bitter sweet as I will be leaving, again, my wife and kids behind. Please continue to pray for them. It is going to be a very difficult adjustment for all of us.
Blessings,
-knme
Thursday, May 7, 2015
Friday, May 1, 2015
Choir, Climate & Biometrics
So there is nothing in common - choir, climate and biometrics.
Last Sunday Joy and the C.A.G. choir embarked on the journey to a rural area called Nebaj. The journey took them a number of hours. They arrived and went right into their first concert. After the concert the power went out and did not come back on for a couple of days. They had to do a number of their concerts without power and thus without their keyboard accompaniment. Yet they did not let this discourage them - and the Lord was glorified by their determination and hard work!
A number of the choir members had opportunity to share their personal testimonies. These ended up being powerful to the communities and to each other. The choir even had an opportunity to perform live on the Ixil radio station - which averages over 100,000 listeners in and around the area.
Everyone returned safely but tired on Wednesday evening.
Over the past two or three weeks the climate has changed here. Gone are the cold mornings and highs in the mid 70s. Enter the 80% humidity and the mid to high 90s. Just in the past couple of days the rains have started. Not much yet - but it is coming.
Our passports are done! The last part included sending them to the Guatemalan Immigration to transfer our residency stamps. Took about two weeks.
This is just in time as I now have movement on my citizenship! I have received the request for biometric capture, June 10th, 2015. We are going to attempt to have them captured here at the US Embassy. If I cannot get them done here then I'll attend my scheduled appointment in New Hampshire.
God continues to work miracles here. We ask that you continue to pray for us during this time. With the end of school, our move and pending separation things continue to look challenging. God is always faithful and He can handle this.
Thank you to all who have been and continue to pray. May the Lord bless you all!
-knme
Last Sunday Joy and the C.A.G. choir embarked on the journey to a rural area called Nebaj. The journey took them a number of hours. They arrived and went right into their first concert. After the concert the power went out and did not come back on for a couple of days. They had to do a number of their concerts without power and thus without their keyboard accompaniment. Yet they did not let this discourage them - and the Lord was glorified by their determination and hard work!
A number of the choir members had opportunity to share their personal testimonies. These ended up being powerful to the communities and to each other. The choir even had an opportunity to perform live on the Ixil radio station - which averages over 100,000 listeners in and around the area.
Everyone returned safely but tired on Wednesday evening.
Over the past two or three weeks the climate has changed here. Gone are the cold mornings and highs in the mid 70s. Enter the 80% humidity and the mid to high 90s. Just in the past couple of days the rains have started. Not much yet - but it is coming.
Our passports are done! The last part included sending them to the Guatemalan Immigration to transfer our residency stamps. Took about two weeks.
This is just in time as I now have movement on my citizenship! I have received the request for biometric capture, June 10th, 2015. We are going to attempt to have them captured here at the US Embassy. If I cannot get them done here then I'll attend my scheduled appointment in New Hampshire.
God continues to work miracles here. We ask that you continue to pray for us during this time. With the end of school, our move and pending separation things continue to look challenging. God is always faithful and He can handle this.
Thank you to all who have been and continue to pray. May the Lord bless you all!
-knme
Tuesday, April 7, 2015
Half a Year?
One of the hardest things about being an expat family is family. We constantly miss our family that we left behind. We, however, are one blessed expat family. For three months my dad (J) has been staying with us. Sadly, tonight is his last night here. It's always hard to say goodbye, but I think it is harder when your parent is aging (though gracefully I must add - especially since he reads our posts faithfully.) I am SO thankful that he came and stayed, and it was so nice this morning to hear other teachers say how blessed they have been having Dad around. Maybe in the future we can convince him to spend half the year here.....
Anywho, please pray for our family tomorrow as we say goodbye to Grampa - it will be hard on all of us, no matter how tough I try to act about it.
Anywho, please pray for our family tomorrow as we say goodbye to Grampa - it will be hard on all of us, no matter how tough I try to act about it.
Friday, March 27, 2015
Que le vaya bien!
Citizenship application is being picked up by the international courier today. Next stop - Seattle, WA and the law offices of my lawer, Mrs. Gretchen Korb-Nice.
Stress level: high.
Stress level: high.
Wednesday, March 25, 2015
Plan A or Plan B?
A lot has come to pass since my past posting. Abigail and I both have snazzy new passports! This turns a new page in this journey - but one still exists. We have to get our Guatemalan residency stamp transferred from the old to the new before we can leave the country. Given this is the week before Semana Santa we will begin this the week after next - just to be safe.
The new van has been working great! The mother of a friend of ours kindly brought down a few parts we needed so the van is back in the shop for what we hope is the final round of work.
Abigail and Emma both did very well on their 3rd quarter report cards. We're proud parents!
We're moving.
Now for the biggie. Immigration. I have been working with my immigration lawyer to compile all our needed evidences. She has drafted our letters requesting expedited Naturalization services. This is where we just do not know what will happen and why we have Plan A and Plan B.
In the perfect world we'll use Plan A - File the naturalization application on 01 April with a request for the interview and oath ceremony on 01 July. I will remain in Guatemala through the end of the school year, move, and then fly back to the States on or around 5 or 6 June and then remain there until the end of the process. If the USCIS accepts my petition for expedited services I may be clear to return to Guatemala as early as mid July. Should USCIS not accept my expedited petition then I have to wait out the process - which my lawyer says may go through September into October.
In the less than perfect world we'll go with Plan B - File the naturalization application as described above, however, also simultaneously file my green card (I-90) and travel document (I-131) renewals. Once the I-90 has been accepted and I receive my I-131 I should be able to travel. This is avenue is much more costly, however, I could theoretically return to Guatemala around the early part of September.
So there you have it. The Plans as we see them. So I'm sure you all are asking, "Uh, Ken - enough about that - what about this move you mentioned above?"
Well, in part with this separation in mind, the kids growing up, and Joy's difficulty with night driving we have decided to move into a neighbourhood which is walking distance to C.A.G. Right now the slightly higher expenses in the new neighbourhood should be offset by the gas savings and wear-n-tear on the vehicles.
The new neighbourhood is gated and has about 35 homes. It also has loads of C.A.G. families and children. This should be a positive move for our children. Joy should be able to do her private lessons at home which should cut down on some of the extra hours at school. The new house is off the beaten path so I can still be a hermit when needed. It is truly walking distance to C.A.G. - about 3/4 mile and the area in between is pretty safe.
From all this verbose information we are asking you all to join us in these prayer points:
Blessings to you all,
-knm/jr/ac/eb/sje
The new van has been working great! The mother of a friend of ours kindly brought down a few parts we needed so the van is back in the shop for what we hope is the final round of work.
Abigail and Emma both did very well on their 3rd quarter report cards. We're proud parents!
We're moving.
Now for the biggie. Immigration. I have been working with my immigration lawyer to compile all our needed evidences. She has drafted our letters requesting expedited Naturalization services. This is where we just do not know what will happen and why we have Plan A and Plan B.
In the perfect world we'll use Plan A - File the naturalization application on 01 April with a request for the interview and oath ceremony on 01 July. I will remain in Guatemala through the end of the school year, move, and then fly back to the States on or around 5 or 6 June and then remain there until the end of the process. If the USCIS accepts my petition for expedited services I may be clear to return to Guatemala as early as mid July. Should USCIS not accept my expedited petition then I have to wait out the process - which my lawyer says may go through September into October.
In the less than perfect world we'll go with Plan B - File the naturalization application as described above, however, also simultaneously file my green card (I-90) and travel document (I-131) renewals. Once the I-90 has been accepted and I receive my I-131 I should be able to travel. This is avenue is much more costly, however, I could theoretically return to Guatemala around the early part of September.
So there you have it. The Plans as we see them. So I'm sure you all are asking, "Uh, Ken - enough about that - what about this move you mentioned above?"
Well, in part with this separation in mind, the kids growing up, and Joy's difficulty with night driving we have decided to move into a neighbourhood which is walking distance to C.A.G. Right now the slightly higher expenses in the new neighbourhood should be offset by the gas savings and wear-n-tear on the vehicles.
The new neighbourhood is gated and has about 35 homes. It also has loads of C.A.G. families and children. This should be a positive move for our children. Joy should be able to do her private lessons at home which should cut down on some of the extra hours at school. The new house is off the beaten path so I can still be a hermit when needed. It is truly walking distance to C.A.G. - about 3/4 mile and the area in between is pretty safe.
From all this verbose information we are asking you all to join us in these prayer points:
- Immigration, immigration, immigration - above all that God's will be done and He be glorified. We'd love for this to happen in July as described above, but His will - not ours.
- For Joy as she single parents over the summer and possibly into the start of the school year.
- Moving is a pain. We hate it - the very thought of it. But it is necessary. Pray we can prune wisely and make the move before I leave for the States.
- Airline tickets... pray that I can find something economical. Our lawyer is also recommending I fly to Seattle to do the USCIS interview. This way she can attend the interview with me.
Blessings to you all,
-knm/jr/ac/eb/sje
Monday, March 9, 2015
Happy Monday!
This happened but maybe once or twice since January - we had two working vehicles today! W00t!
Very happy.
We're very proud of all our children. Yesterday Abigail sang and played in church during the offering. She did an amazing job! We're very proud of her.
Very happy.
We're very proud of all our children. Yesterday Abigail sang and played in church during the offering. She did an amazing job! We're very proud of her.
"Oceans" - performed by Abigail
Last week we survived the ACSI/AdvancED re-accreditation visit. Their strong recommendation is for a full five year renewal. We're very happy and very proud of our school!
Thanks again to all who continue to support us (financially and prayerfully.) We really couldn't do it without y'all!
-knme
Saturday, February 28, 2015
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