Looking Ahead

Hey there, reader! Guess it's been, like, a looooooooong time since either of us has written anything here. Sorry about that. To be honest, we went through some really tough stuff, so we kind of circled the wagons as a family until we had clarity about our next steps. Turns out - they're very similar to our previous steps, or at least will happen in the same place. God still wants us here in Guatemala! Hoooray!!  He still wants us to share the gospel and teach and disciple people, and prepare them to share the gospel and teach and disciple others as well. We couldn't be more pleased. He's just oh-so good to us!

When we originally came down, we committed to a minimum of two years here. The end of last school year brought us to the end of that commitment. God made it very clear that He was leading us to make some changes in the way we ministered here. Some of those changes were more challenging than others to walk out, but we trusted that God would open new doors even as He closed old ones. He is faithful, indeed, and we are excited to be starting our third year of full-time ministry here in Guatemala.

So, what's going to be the same? Well, Mark will still be working at the Bible school. He continues to be there five days a week to do, well, whatever needs to be done. Grading home work. Answering questions. Fixing toilets. Doing clerical work. Mowing the lawn.  Teaching the occasional class. He is really getting to know the teachers and students, and being able to more and more involved with helping with the important work that goes on at the Bible school with each passing day.

Also, Rachel will still be taking classes (in Spanish) at the Bible school for four hours each Monday, and helping out in the office with administrative work, answering questions, making photocopies, etc. Her (volunteer) work schedule will slow down, however, to two or three days a week. She will also continue to home school, which she's done since January of 2016, and is looking forward to a loaded and rigorous school schedule as she starts her junior year.

What's going to be different? Andrea and the younger girls are also helping at the Bible school now! We will join Mark and Rachel three days per week, and love that this has become a ministry we can do together as a family. Everyone helps out in one way or another. We are also so grateful to all be home schooling again this year. This will be the start of our 10th year doing so, and it feels great to be teaching, learning, and growing together once again.

We've got some new friendships, which we're excited about - including a new secretary at the Bible school and some other home schooling families in the area we're getting to know. There are also many friends of ours who've returned to the States, and we miss them dearly. Xela is not the same without them. However, we are coming to understand that this is the transient nature of life on the mission field. It (along with our once-per-year furlough) makes us enjoy and appreciate every moment we get with loved ones all the more.

So, that's what life will look like for us in the days, weeks, and months ahead. We have no idea how long we'll be called to Guatemala, or what other opportunities God will open up for us, but we know we are His sheep, and we hear His voice. He is so good to lead us carefully, and we feel so blessed to be right at the center of His will here in Guatemala. We're looking forward to what's ahead, and are glad you are sharing this journey with us.