Wow. End of November. Life has been totally crazy since we returned from Guatemala in August. I've neglected this blog, and I'm sorry. Most days, I get home from work, and I'm exhausted. Don't even think about posting.
So this is what's new. We are staying with my mom, and helping her get the house and shop ready to sell. She has lost her renter, and therefore she lost half her income. Time to move on is what she's decided. She's lived in the house since 1970. The renter was in my dad's mechanic shop, and after 12 years, has decided to buy himself a building. He got a good deal, and so as of Dec. 1, he's gone.
Bill and I are working. Bill is working for a farmer, and I'm at a school. I do feel I'm making a difference in the school, and it's helping me build ministry with staff and students. We are saving all we can to ensure we have enough money to pay for school in Texas in the fall (tuition for the year is over $5,500, not counting utilities and food). We had a choice between renting an apartment on campus for $380/month plus utilities, or staying in an RV for $120/month plus utilities. We chose the RV route, and have purchased a 22 ft. 5th wheel to live in for a year. For those of you who know us well, you're probably laughing at the thought of the two of us in such a small space. God's grace is all I can say.
I know we've lost some supporters since we've come back to the States. I get that. You want your funds to help with active ministry. Please realize that the support you send to us is being banked for us to pay tuition and living expenses while we're in Texas since we can't work when we're in school. We're not living high on the hog, I promise. No extra goodies are being purchased.
Please continue to pray for us. I have to have surgery in Dec. to remove an overactive parathyroid gland. Bill tells people I'm going in to have my throat cut. Silly. But it will definitely look that way. :) We covet your prayers for us to continue to minister while we are here in the States. We are actively involved with the local CMA as well as doing ministry in the community.
God Bless y'all, and I'll try to do better on posting!!
Lisa
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Wrapping up and moving on....
We made a quick trip to Antigua today, one of the last we'll make. It's always an adventure going to Antigua. Right now they are repairing the road leading out of Antigua back to the Pan-American highway, so it's two way traffic on a very steep and windy road. That's all good, until you get behind someone who is going at or below the posted speed limit of 15 kmh. That's about 9.5 mph, and since the road to Antigua from San Lucas is 9 miles, and the portion that is "doble via" is 6 miles, you can imagine what the trip is like.
We love Antigua, the people and the places. Everything from the farmers' market to the artisan market to Burger King, from mochilleros (backpackers) with dreads and flip flops to ladies with traditional Mayan dress and a huge basket on their heads, to the ruins and buildings that are older than the US has been a country. The church we attend in Antigua is bilingual, and they are on the move. A feeding center to feed 300 children at least 3 times a week is being built, along with houses and water filtration systems.
We've made so many friends here in Guatemala. It'll be hard to say goodbye. I've already lost it a couple of times as we've told people our plans to return to the US and go to ministry/language school. I'm sure I'll cry more in the next 10 days. We have a few more things to pack, a few more to give away, and we'll be physically ready to go. Mentally and emotionally, I am not so sure.
Please, pray for us as we make this transition back to a very different US lifestyle. We need to raise funds for tuition and housing in Texas, so we'll be working. We want to do what we feel God has called us to do, and so we're making the move back to learn more so we can go out again and carry the Good News to all those who haven't heard.
God Bless y'all.
Bill and Lisa
We love Antigua, the people and the places. Everything from the farmers' market to the artisan market to Burger King, from mochilleros (backpackers) with dreads and flip flops to ladies with traditional Mayan dress and a huge basket on their heads, to the ruins and buildings that are older than the US has been a country. The church we attend in Antigua is bilingual, and they are on the move. A feeding center to feed 300 children at least 3 times a week is being built, along with houses and water filtration systems.
We've made so many friends here in Guatemala. It'll be hard to say goodbye. I've already lost it a couple of times as we've told people our plans to return to the US and go to ministry/language school. I'm sure I'll cry more in the next 10 days. We have a few more things to pack, a few more to give away, and we'll be physically ready to go. Mentally and emotionally, I am not so sure.
Please, pray for us as we make this transition back to a very different US lifestyle. We need to raise funds for tuition and housing in Texas, so we'll be working. We want to do what we feel God has called us to do, and so we're making the move back to learn more so we can go out again and carry the Good News to all those who haven't heard.
God Bless y'all.
Bill and Lisa
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Thank you!
We want to thank all of you who are supporting us while we're stateside on furlough. Housing, food, transportation...I can't imagine paying for it all. We are blessed beyond belief at what our friends and family have done for us. We are passing those blessings along wherever and whenever we can.
Three more weeks and we'll be returning to Guatemala for a short while to close out projects and pack up all our gear. Then it's returning to Idaho, and fundraising/working to ensure we have enough funds to pay for our tuition at Rio Grande Bible Institute. We need to raise about $5500 for tuition and books, and the same amount for housing.
We've been told by our mission board that we have 5 different locations that are asking for us to join them just as soon as we finish school in Dec. 2013. We could be working in Peru, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras or Mexico...we'll leave it up to God and our mission board to make the decision.
No matter where we go, we need your prayers and financial support. We receive no salary from our mission, and we have sold almost everything we own. Please consider helping us pay for our schooling so we can go and be even more effective on the field, working with the people of Central or South America.
I know, and I've heard it as recently as last week..."Why can't you do what you do at home rather than in a foreign country?" My response is that God called us to work with the Latin American population, not the North American population. He has called others to work here in the US, and our place is in Central or South America. The estimate is that only 1% of people called actually go and serve on a mission. That means that 99% of the people are "senders", providing resources for those who go.
Will you consider being a "sender" and supporting us, either financially or through prayer. If we were to add 50 people at $25 a month, we'd have our tuition paid for. What is $25 equal to? A dinner for two once a month. A week's worth of small coffees at Starbucks. We're really praying for that extra support, so we can go to school. The Bible Institute will not allow its students to get part time jobs, as the focus is on learning and on ministry with the native people. We will be in class, in ministry, or in the middle of homework. There won't be any loafing around.
Praying for y'all and God bless!
Lisa and Bill
Friday, June 29, 2012
Wooooo! Life changes fast!
Just a short note to let you all know that we have changes upcoming. Yes, we'll still be in missions. Yes, the focus is still Central/South America. Before we go back to the field, we're going to school. A language/ministry school in Edinburg, TX called Rio Grande Bible Institute. Anyone have a travel trailer we can borrow for a year? It'll be much cheaper to live in a trailer for a year than to rent an apartment on campus.
Our plans for the rest of this time in the states haven't changed. I borrowed a bike from a friend to ride. It's a Kawasaki Vulcan 900, with super loud pipes. It's for sale, so let me know if you're interested in it. After spending 3 years on a 1500 Vulcan Classic, riding a Vulcan again is like coming home. Now Bill won't have to deal with me falling asleep on the back of his bike. Thank goodness he has armrests, which keeps me from falling out! :)
We leave early Saturday morning (June 30) to ride to Mackay, ID for a bike rodeo. For those of you who have no idea what a bike rodeo is, think street motorcycles in a rodeo (dirt) arena, doing barrel races, slow races, drags, and anything else they can think up. After Mackay, we're headed to Salmon, ID tomorrow night to prepare for a Sunday morning presentation at Calvary Chapel Salmon. Sunday afternoon, we're headed to Twin Falls, ID for a few days with family and friends. Then Thursday, July 5, we'll return to Pocatello, ID. Friday is a trip to Idaho Falls, ID to see a good friend and get some help on installing a trailer hitch on Bill's bike. Sunday, July 8 is presentation day at Calvary Chapel Pocatello, our home church. We'll hang out in Pocatello most of the next week, and on Friday, July 13, we'll head to Price, UT for the CMA Utah state rally. It's time we see our Utah friends. From Price, we'll ride back to Twin Falls, and on Thursday, July 19, we'll head for Boise, ID, and on to Cascade, ID on Friday the 20th to the CMA Idaho rally. Then it's a ride back to Pocatello, where we'll spend the week, attending the 10th annual POW-MIA rally July 27-29. On the 29th, we fly out to Denver to spend a couple of days with my sister, and then it's off to Guatemala on the 31st.
We want to thank you for all your prayers and financial support, and we ask that you pray specifically for an increase in funding to cover the costs of our language/ministry school. If you'd like to make a contribution, or if you want to become a financial partner, please click this LINK and check the field coordinator box, placing "Rileys" in the blank.
God Bless y'all!
Lisa and Bill
Our plans for the rest of this time in the states haven't changed. I borrowed a bike from a friend to ride. It's a Kawasaki Vulcan 900, with super loud pipes. It's for sale, so let me know if you're interested in it. After spending 3 years on a 1500 Vulcan Classic, riding a Vulcan again is like coming home. Now Bill won't have to deal with me falling asleep on the back of his bike. Thank goodness he has armrests, which keeps me from falling out! :)
We leave early Saturday morning (June 30) to ride to Mackay, ID for a bike rodeo. For those of you who have no idea what a bike rodeo is, think street motorcycles in a rodeo (dirt) arena, doing barrel races, slow races, drags, and anything else they can think up. After Mackay, we're headed to Salmon, ID tomorrow night to prepare for a Sunday morning presentation at Calvary Chapel Salmon. Sunday afternoon, we're headed to Twin Falls, ID for a few days with family and friends. Then Thursday, July 5, we'll return to Pocatello, ID. Friday is a trip to Idaho Falls, ID to see a good friend and get some help on installing a trailer hitch on Bill's bike. Sunday, July 8 is presentation day at Calvary Chapel Pocatello, our home church. We'll hang out in Pocatello most of the next week, and on Friday, July 13, we'll head to Price, UT for the CMA Utah state rally. It's time we see our Utah friends. From Price, we'll ride back to Twin Falls, and on Thursday, July 19, we'll head for Boise, ID, and on to Cascade, ID on Friday the 20th to the CMA Idaho rally. Then it's a ride back to Pocatello, where we'll spend the week, attending the 10th annual POW-MIA rally July 27-29. On the 29th, we fly out to Denver to spend a couple of days with my sister, and then it's off to Guatemala on the 31st.
We want to thank you for all your prayers and financial support, and we ask that you pray specifically for an increase in funding to cover the costs of our language/ministry school. If you'd like to make a contribution, or if you want to become a financial partner, please click this LINK and check the field coordinator box, placing "Rileys" in the blank.
God Bless y'all!
Lisa and Bill
Monday, June 11, 2012
three weeks already?
Oh my. Time has really flown since we arrived in the US on May 19. God keeps sending us messages to "slow down" and smell the sagebrush, so we have. The first week we were here, we were delayed by snow. I think we needed to spend more time with our friends Tim and Merg. Besides, I had been complaining about no snow in Guatemala, so God provided it for me!
I also had made a comment about leaving rainy season behind. You know God's sense of humor. He sent the rain to me here (no matter where we are). The sun is finally shining today. Even in Idaho, freezing temps and wind are not extremely common in June.
Our first church visit was at Eastside Baptist Church in Twin Falls on the Sunday of Memorial Weekend. What a wonderful group of people! They were warm and welcoming, and made us feel right at home. Pastor Paul Thompson is just amazing. We shared the time Sunday night with a young man who quoted the first five chapters of Romans. I have a hard time memorizing a verse or two...he did FIVE chapters.
We went to Boise just after Memorial Day. We were supposed to be there for 3 days. Hah! New back brakes, a new battery and an electrical malfunction on the bike later, we were back on the road. Frustrating!! Actually, we spent the time seeing friends and family, and so every last minute truly wasn't wasted.
This past week, we spent in Twin Falls with my family. My dad passed away about 18 months ago, so there were chores my mom couldn't do that needed to be done, and my brother (who is busier than we are!) needed help painting his house. It was a great week and lots got accomplished!
We rode to Pocatello on Saturday. Actually, I could say we flew, because we had a COLD 40 mph wind at our backs. That was all well and good, though cold, until we turned south to ride to Malad (40 miles away). Then life got interesting. A side wind of that speed isn't fun to ride in. We spent the weekend with our friends from the Cache Christian Crusaders. They are the CMA'ers from the Logan area. It was so good to sit with good friends, and sing Christian songs around the fire. We were able to provide a good example to those camping on either side of us, as they came over and listened to the music. Yesterday, we did two presentations. One was totally unplanned, but God provides opportunities when we need them. Our first visit was to Victory Baptist Church in Malad. That was the unplanned visit. Then we packed up camp and came back to Pocatello, where we presented at Blazing Grace. Blazing Grace is a "biker" church, and we know lots of people there. It was fun to see the looks of surprise when we walked into the church. We wrapped up last night with a visit to our home church, Calvary Chapel Pocatello. I had to laugh, because no one knew we were coming. It was great to see everyone, and we'll do our formal presentation on July 8 there.
We have a couple of days of just relaxing and running errands, and then we head for Elko. The Elko Jamboree is always a blessing, with lots of opportunities to minister to people. We've decided to rent a car and drive to Elko and then on to CMA Nationals at Hatfield, AR. Bill's shoulder is not any better, and the stress from riding will not be good on it.
Please continue to pray for our safety, and for increased financial support for our ministry. Without you, we wouldn't be on the mission field!
God Bless Y'all!
Lisa and Bill
I also had made a comment about leaving rainy season behind. You know God's sense of humor. He sent the rain to me here (no matter where we are). The sun is finally shining today. Even in Idaho, freezing temps and wind are not extremely common in June.
Our first church visit was at Eastside Baptist Church in Twin Falls on the Sunday of Memorial Weekend. What a wonderful group of people! They were warm and welcoming, and made us feel right at home. Pastor Paul Thompson is just amazing. We shared the time Sunday night with a young man who quoted the first five chapters of Romans. I have a hard time memorizing a verse or two...he did FIVE chapters.
We went to Boise just after Memorial Day. We were supposed to be there for 3 days. Hah! New back brakes, a new battery and an electrical malfunction on the bike later, we were back on the road. Frustrating!! Actually, we spent the time seeing friends and family, and so every last minute truly wasn't wasted.
This past week, we spent in Twin Falls with my family. My dad passed away about 18 months ago, so there were chores my mom couldn't do that needed to be done, and my brother (who is busier than we are!) needed help painting his house. It was a great week and lots got accomplished!
We rode to Pocatello on Saturday. Actually, I could say we flew, because we had a COLD 40 mph wind at our backs. That was all well and good, though cold, until we turned south to ride to Malad (40 miles away). Then life got interesting. A side wind of that speed isn't fun to ride in. We spent the weekend with our friends from the Cache Christian Crusaders. They are the CMA'ers from the Logan area. It was so good to sit with good friends, and sing Christian songs around the fire. We were able to provide a good example to those camping on either side of us, as they came over and listened to the music. Yesterday, we did two presentations. One was totally unplanned, but God provides opportunities when we need them. Our first visit was to Victory Baptist Church in Malad. That was the unplanned visit. Then we packed up camp and came back to Pocatello, where we presented at Blazing Grace. Blazing Grace is a "biker" church, and we know lots of people there. It was fun to see the looks of surprise when we walked into the church. We wrapped up last night with a visit to our home church, Calvary Chapel Pocatello. I had to laugh, because no one knew we were coming. It was great to see everyone, and we'll do our formal presentation on July 8 there.
We have a couple of days of just relaxing and running errands, and then we head for Elko. The Elko Jamboree is always a blessing, with lots of opportunities to minister to people. We've decided to rent a car and drive to Elko and then on to CMA Nationals at Hatfield, AR. Bill's shoulder is not any better, and the stress from riding will not be good on it.
Please continue to pray for our safety, and for increased financial support for our ministry. Without you, we wouldn't be on the mission field!
God Bless Y'all!
Lisa and Bill
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Oh, the adventures we've had in the past couple of weeks! We spent the time up to the day of departure from Guatemala packing, repacking, packing, sorting...trying to get gifts for family and friends, 30 lbs of coffee, and needed clothes and bike gear for 10 weeks was a PAIN! But it was accomplished, and we came back to the US for furlough with 2 computer cases, 2 carry-ons and 3 suitcases. I plan on taking the same amount back.
The day we left Guatemala, our favorite volcano, Fuego, erupted quite violently, and it has continued since. These are pics borrowed from friends in Antigua, about 8 miles from Fuego. Our house in San Lucas is about 20 miles away.
Pretty wild! Along with the rainy season beginning, it seems as though Guatemala is really active right now.
As for us, we are actually sitting still for a day, and it seems so weird. Since we hit the States last Saturday, we haven't slept in the same bed more than 1 time in 8 days. We started with arrival in UT, went to NV to take care of some business, to Twin Falls, ID to see our families, to Pocatello to pick up some of our stuff, to Georgetown to retrieve Bill's motorcycle and that's where we ended up staying for 2 nights because someone told Mother Nature that Memorial weekend was coming and she provided snow for entertainment! We decided that riding over Fish Creek Summit outside Lava Hot Springs wasn't a good idea when it was 34 degrees and snowing. So we put things off for a day, and returned to Pocatello on Friday. Yesterday, we rode in the pouring rain from Pocatello to Twin Falls. It rained hard on us until we hit the I-84/86 split. Boy was I cold!!
We've spent the last 24 hours with friends, and helping my brother while my niece's soccer (futbol) club is in tournament play in Boise. Tonight, we presented to the Eastside Baptist Church in Twin Falls. Pastor Paul Thompson and his church are amazing. We felt right at home there, and spent about 45 minutes sharing with them about our mission and what has happened in the last nine months.
Tuesday, we'll head to Boise to see more families and friends. Then it's back to Eastern Idaho for the weekend and another church presentation. This one is at Blazing Grace in Pocatello. For those of you not familiar with Blazing Grace, it's the "biker" church. Great people, and we can't wait to see them. Then it's back to TF to help my brother paint his house, and Father's Day weekend brings the Elko Jamboree!
Thank you all for believing in us, for praying for us, and for providing support, whether financial, prayer, or just plain love! Without you, this mission wouldn't be possible.
God Bless y'all!
Lisa and Bill
The day we left Guatemala, our favorite volcano, Fuego, erupted quite violently, and it has continued since. These are pics borrowed from friends in Antigua, about 8 miles from Fuego. Our house in San Lucas is about 20 miles away.
Pretty wild! Along with the rainy season beginning, it seems as though Guatemala is really active right now.
As for us, we are actually sitting still for a day, and it seems so weird. Since we hit the States last Saturday, we haven't slept in the same bed more than 1 time in 8 days. We started with arrival in UT, went to NV to take care of some business, to Twin Falls, ID to see our families, to Pocatello to pick up some of our stuff, to Georgetown to retrieve Bill's motorcycle and that's where we ended up staying for 2 nights because someone told Mother Nature that Memorial weekend was coming and she provided snow for entertainment! We decided that riding over Fish Creek Summit outside Lava Hot Springs wasn't a good idea when it was 34 degrees and snowing. So we put things off for a day, and returned to Pocatello on Friday. Yesterday, we rode in the pouring rain from Pocatello to Twin Falls. It rained hard on us until we hit the I-84/86 split. Boy was I cold!!
We've spent the last 24 hours with friends, and helping my brother while my niece's soccer (futbol) club is in tournament play in Boise. Tonight, we presented to the Eastside Baptist Church in Twin Falls. Pastor Paul Thompson and his church are amazing. We felt right at home there, and spent about 45 minutes sharing with them about our mission and what has happened in the last nine months.
Tuesday, we'll head to Boise to see more families and friends. Then it's back to Eastern Idaho for the weekend and another church presentation. This one is at Blazing Grace in Pocatello. For those of you not familiar with Blazing Grace, it's the "biker" church. Great people, and we can't wait to see them. Then it's back to TF to help my brother paint his house, and Father's Day weekend brings the Elko Jamboree!
Thank you all for believing in us, for praying for us, and for providing support, whether financial, prayer, or just plain love! Without you, this mission wouldn't be possible.
God Bless y'all!
Lisa and Bill
Saturday, May 5, 2012
2 weeks and counting....
At this time two weeks from now, we'll be having an early dinner at Texas Roadhouse in Houston with our friends Steve and Launa Barrett. I've missed Roadhouse! Launa also makes fantastic cakes, and I've heard that she is going to have some for us. Woohoo!! I have to say that cakes and pastries definitely are different here in Guatemala. Not bad, just different. You can get some of the best chocolate here though. :)
It looks as though we have firmed up our schedule for furlough. Rather than us try to see all of you, I thought I'd list out the places we're going to be, and hopefully you can come see us! Our intention is to fund/friend raise during our furlough by sharing about our mission work here in Guatemala.
We are arriving in the US on the 19th. On the 21st, we have meetings in NV. We'll return to Twin Falls that night, and then go on to Pocatello. We'll spend the 22nd-25th in Pocatello, returning to Twin the afternoon of the 26th. Friends are throwing a get-together for us that night. Then on Sunday, May 27th, we have two presentations at Eastside Baptist Church in Twin Falls. We will be at both the morning and evening services.
We'll be in Twin Falls and Boise through June 14 except for a trip back to Pocatello for a presentation June 3 at Blazing Grace Pocatello. June 15-17 means Father's Day weekend, and our annual trip to the Elko Jamboree. From Elko, we are riding to Mena, Arkansas and the CMA nationals June 19-23. I'm really looking forward to seeing Iron Mountain! We then return to Twin Falls, and our next stop will be June 29-30 at the Mackay Bike Rodeo. July 1 we will be presenting at Calvary Chapel Salmon.
We are returning to Pocatello from Salmon, and we will present at both services at Calvary Chapel Pocatello on July 8. I think we will be in Pocatello most of the week of July 9, and then we will head to Price, UT for the CMA UT rally July 13-15. We will return to Twin Falls when we leave Price, and then go to Cascade for the CMA ID rally July 20-22. One more stop in Twin Falls, and then back to Pocatello for the POW-MIA rally on July 27-29. We will fly to Denver on July 29, spend a day with my sister and brother-in-law in Blackhawk, and fly back to Guatemala on July 31.
If you want to see us, we'll be on FB and Skype. Please message us and let us know how to contact you so we can set up a time.
God Bless y'all!
Lisa
It looks as though we have firmed up our schedule for furlough. Rather than us try to see all of you, I thought I'd list out the places we're going to be, and hopefully you can come see us! Our intention is to fund/friend raise during our furlough by sharing about our mission work here in Guatemala.
We are arriving in the US on the 19th. On the 21st, we have meetings in NV. We'll return to Twin Falls that night, and then go on to Pocatello. We'll spend the 22nd-25th in Pocatello, returning to Twin the afternoon of the 26th. Friends are throwing a get-together for us that night. Then on Sunday, May 27th, we have two presentations at Eastside Baptist Church in Twin Falls. We will be at both the morning and evening services.
We'll be in Twin Falls and Boise through June 14 except for a trip back to Pocatello for a presentation June 3 at Blazing Grace Pocatello. June 15-17 means Father's Day weekend, and our annual trip to the Elko Jamboree. From Elko, we are riding to Mena, Arkansas and the CMA nationals June 19-23. I'm really looking forward to seeing Iron Mountain! We then return to Twin Falls, and our next stop will be June 29-30 at the Mackay Bike Rodeo. July 1 we will be presenting at Calvary Chapel Salmon.
We are returning to Pocatello from Salmon, and we will present at both services at Calvary Chapel Pocatello on July 8. I think we will be in Pocatello most of the week of July 9, and then we will head to Price, UT for the CMA UT rally July 13-15. We will return to Twin Falls when we leave Price, and then go to Cascade for the CMA ID rally July 20-22. One more stop in Twin Falls, and then back to Pocatello for the POW-MIA rally on July 27-29. We will fly to Denver on July 29, spend a day with my sister and brother-in-law in Blackhawk, and fly back to Guatemala on July 31.
If you want to see us, we'll be on FB and Skype. Please message us and let us know how to contact you so we can set up a time.
God Bless y'all!
Lisa
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