Our First Christmas....

We're always up for a new adventure...and I think I'd consider Christmas as one for us. It was our first Christmas in Guatemala, the first since we've been together that we weren't with family and friends, and honestly, I wasn't sure what to expect. We'd heard of the massive fireworks displays at midnight Christmas Eve, but didn't realize there was another set at noon on Christmas Day! Surprise!

We were able to Skype with family, so that did help. What did missionaries do before the Internet, email and Skype? Mail here in Guatemala is iffy...so letters could get through...maybe.

We started the holiday on Christmas Eve at our church in Antigua. Iglesia del Camino is a multi-cultural, bilingual church where everything is presented in English and Spanish. They will speak in one language a sentence or two, and then it is translated, rather than simultaneous translation. The children presented a pageant on the birth of Jesus Christ, and then sang for us. Sounds typical, right? NOT! The power went out three times during the presentation, and the kids performed without microphones, without lights (who knew that so many men had flashlights in their pockets?) and still provided us with an absolutely blessed rendition of the birth of our Savior. Oh, and in a totally Guatemalan touch...the pastor rolled his KLR 650 into the sanctuary, and turned its headlight on so there would be light on the south side of the sanctuary. Gotta do what you gotta do...

The sky was lit up from the time we left Antigua at 8:30 until well after midnight. It isn't just the big, pretty mortars they shoot off...lots of firecrackers and what the SWAT team might call a "flashbang", a mortar that produces a bright white flash and lots of noise. Our windows rattled more than once Christmas Eve!

Christmas Day started out with a bang as well...I swear the people in our neighborhood don't sleep. The music and fireworks started at 6 am. So we were up and moving early. We had a nice dinner and watched some old classic Christmas movies on TCM. King of Kings in Spanish was interesting...I am actually learning quite a bit.

God is good, and we were blessed for our first Christmas in Guatemala. I pray that your Christmas was blessed as well.

Dios de bendiga!

Lisa

December or is it Diciembre?

Wow. How did we get to Christmas already? Wasn't it just Thanksgiving last week? We've been busy this month...and we've not had any teams. Christmas is usually a time when all the missionaries who host teams get a bit of a break from the hustle and bustle of hosting...well, except for the YWAM (Youth With a Mission) hosts. They'll have a team come in on Friday the 23rd.

Bill and I are adventuring out on the bike more. We've gone for one long ride with our pastor and his wife. They have a KLR 650 but it's a 2006 instead of 2008 like the one we ride. Knowing that mornings are cold here at 6,800 ft. I dressed in layers. By the time we got to Alotenango about a half hour later, we had dropped 3000 ft and I was ready to start peeling. The closer we got to the coast, the warmer it got. I haven't seen such beautiful country since we left Idaho. Here are a few pics...the volcanoes Agua, Fuego and Pacaya, clear creeks, lava outcroppings, and then some sugar cane.

The week of December 13, Bill and I were privileged to attend a three day seminar sponsored by Freedom Ministries from Gateway Church, Southlake, TX.  http://gatewaypeople.com/ministries/freedom-kairos/about   It was a very moving and inspirational three days. It definitely made me rethink some things I was believing!  Here are some views from the mission complex we were staying at...including the almost full moon shining over Chimaltenango.

The rest of this month (and most of next) is scheduled for maintenance projects around the mission house. We have painting, repairs...(any volunteers?)  We are so enjoying our time here. God has placed many teams on the schedule for next year but there are always openings...if you or someone you know wants to take a mission trip to Guatemala, please contact the MVI office and ask for Amber. She's in charge of team trips. www.mvi.org or 407-859-7322.

GOD BLESS AND MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Lisa and Bill