Goin' Guatemalan

2011-12-16T03:57:00.001-08:00

This is an apology post and a catch up post all together... i think that in respect to all women in general just the mere fact that we are in "holiday " season is reason enough to slack on posting although maybe I slack more than many...don't know :) HOWEVER...moving forward right ? ... So... with that being said... some things that we've been up to ... they are MANY and so for DAYS you will be getting some of the sights around here in our neck of the woods in Guatemala.. for starters :

Moving into Antigua has given us a NEW lease on life... we truely feel like our hearts were just made to be living here for this season of life...it just feels good... obviously God has us planted here and we are able to really able to dig our heals into culture... our neighbor mentioned that he had a house at the beach and that we could rent it if we liked... without another mention of it ..we loaded 3 of our 6 children into the car and traveled 2 hours towards Monterrico to check out "the house" ... what a GREAT adventure it proved to be...

It started by parking at this outside resteraunt. The floor was made of black sand and all sorts of fun play things lined the room. We hung out here and waited for our "ride " to cross the water.

Eli spent his time checking out the water for "critters" .... some of which were little fish with their eyes ON TOP of their heads... no photo... sorry ... don't know WHAT I was thinking in missing those fish...

And then... our ride across the water arrived.

the engine continued to not start... off it went and into the neighbors yard it was left... our driver walked away and was gone for aobut 30 minutes and came back with a new motor... humm.... :) attached it and off we went across the waterway...

the men wondering where are we off too......we seriously LOVE adventure.... and not knowing where we were headed in this little boat certainly fit the bill :)

we landed in an amazing little spot that turned into the most perfect get away spot.... so secluded and tranquilo...

our own little pool for the stay

yep, we'll be back... thank you Mr. Jean..... we give it 5 stars and two thumbs up !

Leavin' on a jet plane !

2011-10-13T14:16:00.000-07:00

I'm outer here . Brazil bound . No photos no hoopla. I left my house at 3:30 am this morning ....not even tropical storms stopped my sweet husband from getting me to the airport. The past 3 years have been a journey of massive proportions at time....no. Just massive change. The gift to be with other women who have the same "job" as me is going to be wonderful...spending two weeks loving on my friend who is serving the Lord with her family of 13 will be incredible over the top fun...yes, I said 13 and yes, I will post a photo when I come back. They are beautiful people! I am so pumped to pour into her so much that has been poured into me these beginning years living over seas as missionaries. Our support team is amazing ...basically , several people supported me financially to be here and our home church saw me the rest of the way here......the Lord has already blessed my time in the waiting "place"here at airport and I was able to engage in a gospel conversation with a man who is an orthodox Jew and from Israel.I think we both left encouraged...no place for ugly confrontation .... truth will always remain truth....that 's why it's true and we should not be ashamed of our heritage as Christians and the truth of the resurrection of our Savior.

I want to assume that my plans are Gods plans .That God also desires me to arrive,rest,worship in Brazil and the return home but assumption is all that it is :) I am grateful that my eyes are open today to the hurting and lonely around me....is a " heads up" sorta thing...

So...I'm leaving on a jet plane...headed for Brazil..."heads up" people :)

Courage....parents please read before your young children do..but I have to post this

2011-10-12T05:49:00.000-07:00

Courage.
As I pack and prep for my little vacation to Brazil ...a women's conference for wives of missionaries ....well, to say I am excited is a total understatment. A place to be pampered, counseled, sleep late, 50 other missionary wives from countless parts of the world, and to top it off I get to spend 2 weeks with a very dear and close sister in Christ. Pinch me PLEASE !this was a gift to me prompted by my husband.... Thank you David!!!!

But... A little nervous too. 27 hours , flying alone, 4 different airports in 3 different countries....3 different languages....even as I type this I have to ask , is this MY life?pinch me again please :) Anyway, I am keenly aware with butterflies in my stomach that I lack courage often...REAL courage.

Monday night , I was blessed to hear a man speak from Internatiomal Justice Mission.wow...I have to share a piece that rocked my little chair of the world.

Injustice in Asia...young women / teens sold into sexual slavery, Uganda.Injustice ...the man of the house dies of aids and leaves behind wife and several young children. His brother or family member from his side gains control of the squatting ground that is their home and litterally forces often with violence women and children out of the home...they starve to death..literally. India...injustice. Children being sold into work slavery as young as 8 and 10 years of age being made to roll 2000 cigarettes a DAY or else....one example and in our country where we are serving ..injustice...sexual slavery among children.

Courage. In our country a 12 year old boy losses his father in death. He and mom have no way to eat. A successful business man who is a leader IN their CHURCH offers the young man to work for him at his place of bussiness. Mom and son jump at the opportunity . First day of work , 12 year old is asked into the office, door closes, boy is raped !

Courage. Someone pays attention at church and confronts 12 year old.courage.

Courage. 12 year old breaks down and shares.

Courage. 12 year old agrees to prosecute church leader for sexual crimes against himself...in person...in a country where if the trial goes south he WILL be killed for this act of courage.

Man is found guilty, PRAISE God,as mom sits beside her son on the stand along with IJM missionary and church leader is sentenced to 18 years in prison . Not a US prison , but a prison where heads of guards have been reported to be used as soccer balls amongst inmates...yes, I am serious!

This boy has sooo much courage. I just want to applaud him in my little quite blog space for looking his accuser in the eyes and saying ,"you did this..........to me. What you did was wrong.I am protecting every other child that you would ever have violated and my mom and I are risking our life for them....WE! Your victims, are worth it !

12 year old hero....you are COURAGE to me. You are courageous... YOU are my hero today. I will be just fine in the airport. My language needs will be provided for and YOU will nudge me on because if YOU can do ThAT....I can do ANTHING too....thank you courageous....MAY I always rise up to do the RIGHT thing ....justice...courage...MICAH 6:8

2011-10-10T14:52:00.000-07:00

the IPAD 2

This is my amazing friend ... i'll call her "Sunshine". She serves the Lord here in Guatemala too and she . makes. me . smile. I love her.

Sunshine loves me and Sarah Joy. She forwent a gift for her minister in order to gift Sarah Joy with an Ipad prayerful with us all that this will be a huge part in Sarah Joy learning and receiving the tools to speak. The couple, I'll call them "Precious" gave from their hearts an incredible gift to our daughter and we are forever grateful ! Even GREATER is the action of GIVING that they have planted DEEP in our hearts to pass this giving on .... deep, sacrificial giving .... the kind that speaks to the hearts of the hungry... Sunshine and I have been in conversation , fasting , prayer and email with Apple in regards to this being provided for Sarah Joy...... we were hungry for results..... Fed, we are.. we have been given an Apple and hope.... Merry Christmas everyone... ! And we love you Precious !

Oh ! I must add... Precious ALSO gifted my Sunshine too ! They surprised her with an Ipad also ! Does this make you want to dig DEEP in your pocket and search out the ways to BLESS THE SOCKS off of someone !!!! Man, they left BIG prints on our lives..... and they WERE total strangers... NOW ... a part of our lives and Sarah's journey.. until we meet in person Precious... our love~

Twas the night before Christmas....sort of :)

2011-10-04T06:10:00.000-07:00

Don't your love how just seeing October on the calendar makes your think of hay and pumpkins? I can just smell pineneedles ,hay and wet leaves. I could easily nod off to sleep with visions of camp sites,tents and fire rings dancing in my head :)...all just due to a turning of the page that says OCTOBER ....and as if those were not delicious thoughts all on their own...

We were just gifted a "Christmas in the Fall" ....can't wait to share....tomorrow :).....I want to create the suspense of the "night before thing"..... You'll LOVE this story and it's worth waiting for! We were just a part of an amazing act of generosity and techno goody giving...hint: I use the word "we" very loosely, actually it is a goody prayerfully to bring words to our sweet Sarah Joy....deliciously amazing...can't wait!

Ok...didn't see that one coming

2011-10-03T06:29:00.000-07:00

Hummm...have you had those moments that come from nowhere and punch you in the gut ? It takes a while... A while to pull all of the energy back,your focus,purpose, direction and largely your PERSPECTIVE . Well, that's where I've been. September the 12th I typed out a mission to become current and photographically delivering again on our blog. With fresh vision that I had lacked for quite a while , I was committing to turn over a new leaf ...probably in respects to it being fall now in the states...I dutifully typed out my beginning post,hit the send button and received a skype call. The call was actually typed out and so there I was ....coffee,committed to better communication ,feeling pretty good about myself for follow through and read.....Have you heard about "dear friends" (names absent intentionally) ? No...! My first thought was the great ugly "D" word.. Divorce...no...not them too...Man!seriously Satan! .......typed back was..... " dear friends daughter was killed yesterday in an ATV accident....no details yet . Can you HEAR the pause ? Can you FEEL the vomit ? Oh God... Seriously?

A very generous gift was given to me... Two actually...My husband shewed me out the door for the next week to act on the other gift that was given me which was the ticket to be a part of......a piece of a family forever changing. Equally as beautiful but in the middle of the most intense pain I have ever witnessed personally. The LAST word they would ever chose would be "beautiful" ....I know...but they were and are. I don't know how two people and their son could give someone back to God more beautifully than they have.

Perspective piece : I can hear some now.... THIS is your Jesus? Who takes the life of a 15 year old girl only hours after arriving home from CHURCH ? Yes. THIS is who you radically and emotionally give your life over to ? This is the one you trust your children to?yes.

Sitting on the porch for a three day gift of time was sitting with Jesus for me.yea,yea...but HE killed her. He, your Jesus, snuffed a life of only 15 years...that's not fair! On ANY level.....to which I say," you are EXACTLY right! There is not one fair thing about it. But my decision, I will only speak for myself....I can and will stand on that, my decision to follow Jesus was a committment birthed out of rescue, redemption. It was not birthed out of a misguided idea that JESUS will rescue me from " life".... I make those decision...the "life" choices .... But who will carry me through this vommit causing,anger inducing ,head swimming madness of a life no longer here but there? Who? Everything else in front of me expired....my ticket to get home.... expired.The day light hours to sit at the feet of my precious friend.... expired, the coffee pot with it's false sense of energy.... expired,the time that I could allow being away from my children and husband.... expired.......ALL of it! Every earthly "out" of the hurt expired on me. A sweet friend gave me a CD by Ann Graham Lotz called Just Give Me Jesus. Water. Spiritual,eternal,thirst quenching ,madness raging squashing WATER......rescue.my answer for the furry...JESUS. Yes! Just give me Jesus ...." you can have ALL this world...just give me Jesus.". RESCUE.

Precious one reading this post....are you aching? Vommiting? Trying to function amongst the most intense pain you have ever known...known to man? I beg you to find a spot and say out loud....someone...ANYONE.....Give me Jesus! The beautiful thing is...well, ONE of the beautiful things is....you don't physically have to search out the "someone".just call out and he will come... I put my life on it AND the lives of my children. Precious person....you simply can't go wrong with JUST JESUS.

My love to you all and in regard to every hurt being endured today, may you find the pain being caressed,massaged ,stroked and cared for the one who answers to.....just JESUS.
M.E.

Going Back in Time....

2011-09-12T05:55:00.000-07:00

Good morning ! I'm going to go "back in time" for the millionth time and get caught up on all of the going on's of our family of 8 living in Guatemala. Grace and Jacob just went to a 50's party and so I thought.... PERFECT place to start ~ enjoy your day.... enjoy your week.

I LOVE their spirit for life ! inspiring ...really .

I DO....

2011-08-18T13:27:00.000-07:00

I DID , I DO and I'd do it again ....... Yes, I take this man to be my lawfully wedded husband ... to have and to hold.... for better , for worse, in sickness and in health ...until death do we part ~ Forever is a long long time and I couldn't be more grateful !

2011-08-17T06:21:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Jacob !

I can't believe that I have a 17 year old !!! Or .... maybe , it's that I can't believe that I have a 18 year old AND a 17 year old... hum.. maybe, it's that I can't believe that I have a child who is 17 today and giving "adoptional" ( is that a word :) birth to a 3 year old in 8 months or so..... life is funny.....NEVER dull and ALWAYS changing... Go out and change the world Jacob ! ~ God created you "for such a time as this". Can't WAIT to see who you become.

#7... We are beautifully blessed to share our newest ....

2011-08-02T15:05:00.000-07:00

miss Zheng Yu Xiang

you have a new name..... Naomi Rose __?__Evans

Meet our newest addition... in our hearts she is already ours ! We are madly in love with our little white headed, blue eyed, pale skin angel waiting for us on the other side of the world ( talk about total torture!)

Naomi is 3 years old and has albinism. That is why she is missing the "typical" dark hair, skin and eyes and instead has been given pearly white . We are just really learning about this genetic disorder ( blessing in our case ) . She captured out hearts literally the moment that we laid our eyes on her. Honestly, my heart stopped. I don't know how you could ever capture the voice of God and put it into words but without trying and simply putting it... the moment that I saw her.... she was mine. God said so. I've never needed to know about albinism (obviously we are learning so that we can give her the moon and back that she might need) , I never stopped to question that she is 3, I don't need to know what her correct vision is and the other things that come packaged with this box o treasure.... she's just mine... born in this mama 's heart the moment that I saw her. Our love for her allows us to wait until we gather money, paperwork, plane tickets and political approval.

Naomi Rose,

Our deepest love to you tiny angel .... you are no longer abandoned but found. No longer alone but part of a family. You have been given a daddy, mama and brothers and sisters. You have amazing grandparents who can't wait to spoil you rotten. You have a home instead of an orphanage..... you have the heart of a father placed inside of you and we can't wait to watch it all unfold... to watch you blossom into who you were intended to be... may you rest well tonight, have plenty to eat and be warm. Hang on.... we're coming for you honey.

love you to the moon and back,

Daddy and mama.

Hilarious! and We're growing !

2011-07-29T18:24:00.000-07:00

Okay... gotta crack up ... apparently I am the only one plugged in here and that's okay... :) lol

Soo... word on the street is true! The Evans are growing. We are expecting #7 via adoption sometime this Spring. We are humbled that the Lord has pulled us out, sat us down and given us the chance to inhale the reality that he is trusting us to "grow" again! We received this little one's photo about 2 months ago and on my mama's birthday China sent us word that we have their permission to move forward and bring this little jewel into our home ! There is more to come but I'll leave it there for the weekend... Photos to be posted of our little one on Monday ( Lord willin' and the internet up ... )

I'll leave you with a photo of us currently ..... and then our little gift on Monday :) Ps... we are giggly thrilled to be parents again...

2011-07-08T06:38:00.000-07:00

In regards to blogging, I am wondering lately where to go with it. This began as a blog of our family entering the mission field and what that looked like..

Our ministry is no longer what we are here to "do" but who we are here doing what we do.

...and so, I'm looking to you Lord. I want this place to reach into the hearts of the people who come across it. I want to challenge, encourage, expose you through the journey that you have us on.

As I sit here today,

loving how you love me Lord....

falling crazy in love, every day more, with crazy people :)

who do crazy things ( ie, my father in law strapping up for the zip line)

our posture is to wait with open hands for your direction in all that we do... even in the bloggy world. This blog has always been a blog for life..not to expose our ministry so much because of who we are reaching out to ... I have a huge desire to not put on display or lift up our own work to be "out there" so to speak... instead, to just photo, journal and laugh at life...

Lead us Lord.... ,even in the bloggy world, ... what is your direction... our journey can be at times ...

wet, rocky, harder to discern, but there all the same...

Lord, let not those that come by my way leave this place untouched by you... but instead, encouraged to look out their car window and get a better view... to stop and glean all that you have for them today, tomorrow and the day after that....should it come....

Soo.... homeschool, adoption, children with special needs, wife to an amazing missionary man, raw foody lover, cross cultural weirdness, crocheting (yes, my newest obsession... along with raw food) , mom with teens and littlies at the same time( a weirdness unto its own - no kidding) ... Any thoughts on direction would be appreciated...new blog title anyone? These are my thoughts on where we're turning... are you in?

posting NOT for the faint of heart... only Passionate People who Crazy love Jesus and those who think that we're INSANE because we love Jesus

2011-06-08T14:37:00.001-07:00

Two years and two million ways closer to Jesus today. Yep, we've just crossed over our two years of service mark here in Guatemala serving our Lord in a "foreign" country. For this family of 8.. it has been foreign... I'm not even talking about Guatemala ! I'm talking about getting on a plane with 21 rubbermaid tubs, 3 hiking backpacks, 3 people who are teenagers. Having sold our home, our business, cars, appliances, school books.... there was no going back. I can still remember the look in Davids eyes as ours met at one point on the plane... both of our eyes were FILLED with "what have we done?"There we were feeling so EXPOSED to our own emotions... we couldn't even discern between giddy joy of starting a new journey and shear fear of the unknown on so many levels. We DID HAVE the faith of a million people who sent us out and the word of God that he would NEVER leave us NOR FORSAKE us and so here I sit typing with all of my soul that GOD IS faithful, friends are worth far MORE than money, I have a spirit of I CAN and WILL do this (whatever it is) and come out STRONGER, my husband carries out his role of protector with a zeal that is entirely new and husband with romance that we just had simply misplaced in the business of our "former" life... We are NEW . We are different. We have CHANGED. I feel closer to "alien" as my heavenly father calls me in His word and .... it feels GOOD . I have new SKIN. I have almost lost a son to illness, I have almost lost my husband (:) .. not many know that one ) to VERY sudden and praise God swift illness that nearly took him home to be with the Lord almost a year ago this summer.. I have hiked a volcano, I have carried a dying child partially down a volcano on a home made stretcher made from sticks and a warmup jacket..my PRECIOUS and FAITHFUL friend Marty praying right behind me giving me the strength to keep up with 3 other men who were "totin' " too.... I have eaten soup with bugs in it and drank juice with DEAD flies for floaties in it, I have gone embarrassing amounts of days without a shower, I have taken a hotel room just to stand under a HOT HOT shower without worrying about running out of it or it costing me a fortune, I have fed a family of 8 in a home without a stove for 2 months time, I have been almost a year 1/2 getting up at 4:30 ish to spend time with Jesus because I have been CRAVING his voice, DESPERATE for his delight in me, STARVED for the warmth of his breath crawling up the side of my face as I lie to him saying that I STINK as a mom of teens, ( smile :) ... we've all been there - pretty sure) , I have witnessed killings, had to drive past guns going off inside closed cars with people in them... I have gone from not being able to ask for a bathroom, to being able to share my faith and the gospel of Jesus just 2 weeks ago for the first time with a shop owner !!!! ( BIG stuff) ... wow... I could go on but I 'm pretty sure that some of you are still stuck up there with almost losing Cooper or David and me not sharing it... and it's okay... this is a place for me as much as you and for the gal who stumbles across here wondering where is God for me? Who is God? Why in the WORLD wouldn't you just come "home" ... and to myself I say... well done girl ! Go BIG or Go Home... If God is going to pull me and my family into this upside down state of living at times then let's go... I'm committed, I'm trusting, I 'm UTTERLY and DEEPLY in love with you Jesus ... CRAZY for the goodness, hurt , disarray that following you can bring... sometimes this place leaves me standing in the dessert and then when I think my skin is going to peal back from the depth of the burn I can quickly go to the place of remembering it is SON BURN>>> you hover me Jesus . You burn bridges before me Lord... you pursue, hunt down, devour my enemies and though they are about me..they cannot TOUCH me ... you Lord alone bring the rain amongst dry desert dirt... you cause my face to SHINE Jesus! Yeshua ! And for the gal who just stumbles across this post and you're hurting , lonely , lost and/ or discouraged.... Go Big or Go Home ! Your world is small and your neighbor or person sitting across from you in the coffee shop where you may be reading this PROBABLE knows God, has a Bible for you to read, maybe a church to plug you in to sift "stuff" , haha ...i dare say that they may be wondering how to approach you and you would turn their world upside down to mention to them that they appear "different" to you... so basically, ask...leave your place in this blog and find someone to ask.. ask them if they think you're crazy for questioning. If God can bring me to a place of losing fear to a truck full of grown men totin' machine guns while laughing histerically from the back of a truck to a place where tomatoes from my market with little teeth marks make me shutter in far more fear... he wants to lavish you with the luxury of resting in a bath of truth ... our God reigns, your world is temporary and the day you are having MAY happen again tomorow but grabbing someone to pray for you ... with you ... oh , sweet soul... it's like lemon-aid on the the forth of July , a big shade tree in the middle of a summer day.... Go ahead... go... Go Big !!!! God did.. he gave the only son that he had ... for you sweet friend~

Birthday Bashin' ...

2011-05-06T07:12:00.000-07:00

Beginning with Tyler who turned 8... a Pirate Party ! Too fun

Friendly Pirates

Girly Pirates

Mommy Pirates

and...... humm.... we're still out on this pirate ! Handsome though don't you agree?

In our family we have a season known as "birthday season" .... there is a time between March 14 and April 5 where we have 4 birthdays. It is truly wonderful ! and somewhat exhausting... this is the first of more to come.... next post... Grace turns 15!

Short and Sweet ( but a bit frustrating)

2011-02-09T05:56:00.000-08:00

I'm totally at a loss for lots of words .... our insurance company ( for the second time) has said that although our daughter has severe hearing loss and is 8 YEARS OLD they will decline paying for new hearing aids for her.... CAN SOMEONE EXPLAIN THIS TO ME??????? She's EIGHT ! because she was adopted from China at 5 and didn't receive the proper hearing aids she is just beginning to SPEAK.(at EIGHT years old.).... without these hearing aids ...... ugggggggg...... now I have to work on forgivness to the insurance company ! This is going to be MUCH harder..... please pray for us as we walk through this .....

Grateful,
mel

PS ...there is no cute photo today... i don't have one of me GRITTING MY TEETH .... sorry for the poopey blog.... you are our support team... life just happens and God is good ... i KNOW there's a plan.

A Letter to my Robber.....

2011-02-05T12:42:00.000-08:00

Dear Robber,
I am a mother of six , married to an amazing man of 20 years. A little over a year and 1/2 ago I was invited to join my Father in ministry here in your country. When I had first received his invitation I could not even tell you where Guatemala was. Honestly, I thought it was inside Mexico and that all Latinos were Mexican. A year and 1/2 later not only can I locate your country but I have come to call it home. And so, yesterday, late in the afternoon, I was at "home"( geographically speaking) relaxing in a favorite chair, watching my amazing children play, anticipating being joined by an awesome friend and somehow you came into my "home" and kicked up dirt - no, you did not come into my literal home- it was far more personal than that - Inside my physical home you would only have walked away with things that eventually lead me to work- ugggg .....like dusting, reading , note taking, toy stashing work. Today, when you came into "my place" , a place that I frequent to relax my brain, to let down my guard, to practice my Spanish and engage in friendships that are growing ... you STOLE from me...yes, you intentionally entered my bag, removed my wallet, took all of my money and every key I owned but the largest and only TRUE crime you committed of me was what you stole from my child - My precious daughter who's world just became more quiet, you stole her confidence in speech, you stole her trust in people. She is hearing impaired and YOU stole her HEARING AIDS! My daughter is very forgiving and my Father is very committed to his children ... He is forever watching over she and I both. He saw you take what was not yours. He saw you take what was hers. And yet, I woke up this morning to hear him say...I love you...I love them. You see Mr/Mrs Robber, I too was a thief. I stole from someone also when I was younger. I stole a ring from someone who trusted me dearly and 21 (aprox) years later that very same ring was given back to me by my mother who came into possesion of it and I was able to return that which I had taken. Mr. Robber, I have been forgiven of much ! I forgive you too - May the God who chased me down to aquire my love and passion for him above all THINGS find you desperate for him also... YOU are the reason I have accepted my Fathers invitation - YOU are who we are .... we struggle, we have been hungary, we have been exhausted and we have looked to ourselves for answers. There IS grace and forgivness. You are NOT alone ! I am grateful for your presence in "my place" yesterday. You have given me a new deeper breath for our purpose here. Mr Robber, I am watching for you ... May we meet when I return to my Fathers house , free at last of the distractions and temptations of this world. May we meet in a place where we will be at peace together..... you, I and my daughter.... in that place.... she won't need those hearing aids anymore !

Mr. Robber..... I love you -

To love life.....

2011-02-02T06:21:00.000-08:00

Good morning blogging world ! Although it is Wednesday , it could easily be a Monday in regards to attempting to begin catching you up on our travels the last two months. Frankly, I couldn't even begin... honestly, I'm not sure that everything in my heart has been completely processed and ready to blog and simply..... it's just to much. Basically, we've traveled back to the states for the holidays believing that it was for R&R ..we were wrong.... ! I DO say that with a smile on my face and zippidy fingers as I type.. why ? because through and by the weariness that the trip carried for us so many of those days we have landed in Guatemala on a new page. I can't explain what has happened in our hearts other than to summarize a conversation that I recently had with a dear new friend here... The first time that I met her , we were at a mutual friends home for dinner. Someone asked her if she "liked" it here in Guatemala. Her response was , quickly, she LOVED it here! Talk about trying to process something... wow... later, in the car on the way home I commented to David that I REALLY "like " it here but to LOVE it here ? ...nope , didn't get that ! She 's obviously one of those (which I ADORE ) kinda "the glass is half full and not half empty ) gals ! ... maybe I'd get that LOVIN' feeling one day....... when I caught up with her at church last Sunday I took her back to that conversation and let her know how I'd been carrying it in my heart .... so thankful to share with her that by means I can't even see, hands that knit that I never saw and words whispered to my spirit by the only SPIRIT that I desire to respond to , I LOVE IT HERE!!!! In fact, my comment to her was that God has placed a spirit of love so deep in me that I CHOOSE to face the adversity here, the "adventure" here.... bring it on.... I choose to fight, thrive, embrace , cherish, hold tight to but not holding to myself the story that God is weaving for our family as we serve in a country starving for justice , functioning in a state of oppression and violence YET God is on his throne....he's got the game plan..... I REJOICE that I WILL NOT perish .... nor is my breath in vain to spread the gospel here .... my life is is a vapor .... a rose that God himself has called into beauty,life and perfection... and for that reason ALONE I WILL carry on STONG , I WILL...... what ever and for how ever long.. I WILL live my life LOVING serving in a country where you pray as you walk, drive and sit in public places.........my days count ! My days are given to me for a reason as are YOURS.... who ever YOU are.... I challenge you to roll up your sleeves. To do the "HARD" stuff, go out into a community where you consider whether your purse is safer in the car or on your shoulder and you to decide that it's a toss up, give a stick of gum to someone who is hungry...not because they're hungry but because SUGERLESS gum leaves a sweet taste in their mouth that will cause them to linger on the confusion of why did you choose them? What was THAT about? Leave them with a different day .... I challenge you to get out of your car at the carpool line and speak to the mom who has the child that EVERYONE talks about and encourage her that she is loved and that EVERYONE has difficulties but EVERYONE has access to the way out and over her challenge found in petitioning and calling out to Jesus corporately in prayer with a friend (you).... I challenge you to eat differently for today so that your body taste what it misses and that your hunger will drive you to strength found in Christ alone.......... where are you? who are you? where do you live? Do you LOVE IT or just "like " it?????????

Happy Birthday Coop! 18~ wow

2011-01-30T16:08:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday Cooper.... I cannot believe that we have enjoyed you for 18 years ! What a joy you are to us all ~ Have a wonderful day and a blessed future. Keep seeking after God, keep your camera going and take others on your journey with you and God through Guatemala and wherever else your road takes you. You have all of our love and blessings!
~mom

Let the baking begin....

2010-11-24T06:51:00.000-08:00

last years goodness minus the chocolate chips... as divine as these were , I must say that chocolate makes "goodness" heavenly ...

Living in a country where gift giving can be a little limited... there is only so much indigenous material one home can hold. Actually, I LOVE the material from here and as touristy as it can be at times my home is full of it too. And so.... with the holidays here ...what better gift to give than the inevitable gift of pounds ..( no one wants to come away from the holidays being the only dieters in January ) and so , as we did last year, we (I ) mostly , will commence to bake our 40+ loaves for gift giving. My absolute favorite topping is a combo of chocolate chip and roasted walnuts..... divine.... and so, let the baking begin !

Happy baking !
M

Pumpkins, fireplaces and travel .... beinvenido Novembre(welcome November)

2010-11-03T06:57:00.000-07:00

I feel like I should start off saying... " Good morning America !"...why? I have NO idea. It just feels like it should be a chilly day, leaves on the ground, smell of a fire in the fireplace, pumpkins, fall festivals, oh...the list goes on and on and my "Fall feelings of home in America are pungent today. BUT today it's a sunny 80-ish day, no signs of pumpkins and for sure , NO leaves ! Too funny ! Therefore, I am demonstrating with my own protest to lack of fall weather and listening to Christmas music ALL day ! It's just Grace, myself and the "little guys" here anyway and they all love Christmas music as much as I do and so it won't be a violent protest, just my own to say that I 'm so thankful to be here but pumpkins and leaves and a little chilly weather will always have a place in the Southern girls heart at the first part of November..nothin' wrong with that right?

Speaking of those of us here in Guatemala listening to Christmas music... the rest of my crew , plus my father in law and (according to Tyler's prayer the other night) the "grey headed people" (I'm sure they would love that..I'll leave their names out to protect the innocent. They ARE from our home town) ...anyway, they are headed home today from installing 50 homes with water filters. Some of the homes were as much as a 5 mile hike up into the woods of the mountain. I can't wait to hear their stories. For now and today I just wanted to see if while I am "protesting" with music celebrating Jesus's birthday (with GREAT JOY) I wanted to see if anyone who stops by here today would pray for travel safety for the team as they drive back. They are in our family car and while the brakes definetly work they are also definetly not the best . They ended up having to take our family car literally at the last minute and therefore, it had not been tuned up. Those of you who have made that trip are probably between shocked, fearful and cracking up......between animals, people, bicycles, motos, tuk-tuks all driving amongst each other ..and I do mean "amongst" in an each man for himself style unique to Latin America, they could use, and I would so love you standing in the gap with me for their safety today !

Muchas gracias de Guatemala !
Mel
* please graciously overlook my spelling ... my spell check is apparently on the fritz and possibly protesting with me today (smile) ...it doesn't appear to be clocking in for duty!

2010-10-14T06:30:00.000-07:00

This morning I woke up at the VERY early hour of 4:45 -ish. This has become a regular thing for me for about the past 8 or 9 months. I get up every morning drink coffee, read the Bible , journal, pray and generally get my brain collected before my 3 " tornados " rise (smile) .... Usually, I have my water that I drink before my coffee (FYI : it takes 2 cups of water to hydrate yourself for every 1 cup of coffee..important info for us high altitude gals addicted to coffee) and I didn't do that last night. So , this morning I wondered down stairs , in the dark, eyes VERY much still closed... took a mason jar (couldn't find my water bottle in the dark) and filled it with water...in theory it should have been clean... it was sitting with the clean dishes anyway.... Slowly, I am drinking my water, sitting under my comfy quilt, warming myself by my lamp (smile..it's cold here in the morning) , my eyes are opening.... i've drank all but the last inch of water in my little jar and YIKES ...there is a WORM IN MY WATER ! YUCK!!!!!!! That'll start your day off weird... I was rushed with thoughts of....was he alone in there? what kind of worm is he? We generally have to deworm ourselves from the food here but we NEVER have to see the worm ! ... YUCK!!! Well, tornado #1 wakes up , aka Tyler, I told him about my worm.. he checks it out....(long pause)..... hummm..... long pause again.... " i think your okay mom for 2 reasons.... he's just a baby and i think he's only sleeping" .... oh!!! okay..... boy, i wish i'd spent the last 2 hours thinking of it like that Tyler.... my stomach would have settled long ago....

No wonder God ask his children to walk in faith like that of a child... if a worm in your glass can be justified because of size and stillness... just think what our REALLY BIG issues in life would look like if we just took a long pause and saw them through the eyes of a child.... we'd probably end up with a really DIFFERENT perspective....

Here's to" baby" worms and only "sleeping" insects in a jar full of potential for your day ,

aks.... the 3 tornados... they appear very calm don't they ?

Mel

Touching base... we're having a blast and staying busy !

2010-10-11T08:35:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to touch base for a quick second. This past Thurs. our family welcomed two different groups of people staying in our home.

Anna is a precious new friend that we picked up at the airport on Thurs. We had met her this past summer on a team trip with Food for the Hungry and she has returned to Antigua for a term of language study . We were blessed to have her in our home over the weekend which at last minute turned out to be a girls weekend... very quiet and lots of chocolate and salsa... David was traveling in the community with our friends Matt and Eli. Since Eli was our boys age , Dave loaded up our two little guys and they headed out with the "big boys" to Nebaj. Although a little nervous ... they were hiking up the mountain to look at a future water filtration project , the future of David being able to work with our boys more often kept me smilin'. (Pics coming )

Today, we are off to check out a childrens museum and a wood oven pizza place in the city. Tommorow Matt and Eli travel home to the states . What a joy to have been able to host them in our home... wanna come?

2010-10-07T05:32:00.000-07:00

Just a quick fly by to tell anyone who reads this that you are SO loved by me today ! Honestly.. i just love you ...don't need to know you. Everyone needs to hear that first thing in the morning... in my opinion... Have a great day .... ours is incredibly busy today and should be filled with much joy and i hope that yours is too....

Love and sunshine from Guatemala !
m

Yes ! Here Comes the Sun....

2010-10-04T08:05:00.000-07:00

Here comes the sun, here comes the sun,
and I say it's all right

Little darling, it's been a long cold lonely winter
Little darling, it feels like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
and I say it's all right

Little darling, the smiles returning to the faces
Little darling, it seems like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
and I say it's all right

Sun, sun, sun, here it comes...

Little darling, I feel that ice is slowly melting( the mud is finally drying and damaged highways are being repaired)
Little darling, it seems like years since it's been clear
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun,
and I say it's all right
It's all right..

That's right... it's a little bit o' Beatles this morning here in Guatemala. Celebrating the beginning of summer here.. yep, that's right .. schools are out for summer break this Friday. Just in time to celebrate "All Saints Day" ( story for another blog) , Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years .... kinda weird huh for those of us who are used to fireplaces, winter coats and the flu shot about right now.... Unashamedly , I leave you with this song in your head for the rest of the day to please remember our country as we recover from our "rain season". We have had the worst season in the recorded history of Guatemala. SO MANY have lost their home, lively hood, hope, etc. David was telling me over the weekend that it has been so damaging that Food for the Hungry is looking into restructuring our outreach to the communities because SO MANY of our families simply will not be able to provide food to sustain their families,...ie, children and elderly will suffer the quickest and most tragically.

So... coming to the Lord with great JOY for what has been done here in Guatemala, what he is doing in Guatemala, and what is to come here in Guatemala... I leave you with a little diddy from the eight track days... if you don't know what an 8 track is ....well, find it on I Tunes and enjoy!

* pink is my paraphrase in attempt for it to apply to Guatemala* all in fun....

Sunbathing in Guate (spiritually speaking anyway...i'm actually fixing to start a little CRAZY LOVE Bible study with my older guys... it's gonna be a great day ! )~ M

Welcome to Paradise......

2010-10-01T07:19:00.000-07:00

ok... so, we're probably NOT in paradise (that , in my opinion actually will come after life here has fleeted) and every hour is NOT all happy BUT it is with great wonder, joy and awe that TODAY this sign felt appropriate . When I found this sign in a little quiet spot in the middle of nowhere, life to me at the moment was far from paradise and every hour felt like 10 on a treadmill going much faster than my legs could ever move. Today, is exciting! We have nothing going on (that's exciting) ... it's FRIDAY( that's exciting) ... Cooper is no longer in the city but instead only a mile or so from our house now with friends who love Jesus (that's exciting) ... Cooper loves to be independent and loves Jesus (that's exciting )... Jacob is training and stretching his body to lift and be incredibly fit before he leaves for school very soon. He looks great and his dicipline with food and training has left me speechless at times PLUS he loves Jesus (that's exciting ) ... I dyed Graces hair a redish -brown color the other day. This was my first time to even crack open the box of hair color and I didn't ruin it.. her hair looks amazing. She loves Jesus (that's exciting) .... David is dying to have a moto here in Guatemala and I was able to lean over in church this past Sunday and in an instant share with him that I no longer held that in fear.. If he wanted a moto (motorcycle) have at it ..with JOY (that's exciting).... and so , as usual, it is in the little things that God is moving like rushing water in our lives... his grace and vision for our family comes down the river and hits the rocks of doubts , splashes and flies up into the air with a great hushing sound and when it comes down it lands on our lives with a resounding crash of accuracy and intention...... we serve no small God amen? ! And so I leave you with this cozy little sign that I found in the middle of nowhere .... WELCOME TO PARADISE..WHERE IT'S ALWAYS HAPPY HOUR ~ at least in the perspective of eternity and isn't that what this is all for anyway ? !

Rain... and more rain

2010-09-28T08:38:00.000-07:00

David, the children and I headed about 2 hours south of our home about 2 weeks ago. The damage to the roads and homes was really aweful then...now, we are just coming out of Matthew and it is only being magnified. Lots of folks are dealing with trouble reaching ministry sites on the outer skirts of the city due to horrible and non existant roads that were fine just 2 and 3 months ago. Please keep the country of Guatemala in your prayers as we stay "a float" for the next 2 months of rain season and then the journey of repairing.

this is the drive into the place we were traveling to

can you see the chunk of road missing to the right of the road... this is far to common on the outer skirts of the city right now due to all of the rain that we are continuing to have. Please pray for the safety and refuge of the Guatemalan people as we still have 2 more months of our rain season.

this is a road and homes about 2 hours south of us. There was so much water in the homes and yards that almost everyone had canoe type (dug out tree) style boat in their homes to use.... we can only imagine the illnesses that are harboring there...misquitoes, snakes, rats, leeches , etc that are multiplying where so many elderly and small children (the most likely to suffer) are playing and resting.

A Great Visit

2010-09-27T17:39:00.000-07:00

last day together.... San Martin...home made bread, black beans, eggs w/ green peppers and onions and lots of coffee

Grace .... quite silly for so early in the morning.

NO! Don't go !!!!

okay... you're family is patiently waiting ..... have a safe flight Steph and a wonderful week... Thanks a ton for the visit !

Friend Stephanie was just here for a long weekend and we had a blast ! There are no photos because basically we sat in front of various fire places scattered along at our hotel, ate amazing Guatemalan food, drank tons of coffee and TALKED a TON! We topped off the long weekend by taking Jacob and Grayson to a movie, Frozen..Death on a Mountain. Grayson and I had our heads in Stephanies shoulders for most of the movie as it was really graphic and bloody... (basically 3 skiers get stuck for a week on a ski lift and have to fight off hungery wolves..why did we choose this???????? because we live in Guatemala where if it snows it will be with the Lords return or something and so why be scared very long over it) while Jacob who wants to pursue a medical career in orthopedics and Steph who has served time in the ER profession never missed a beat of it... this morning we drug ourselves to the local bread store for coffee and yes, more delicious food ..this time our company was Grayson and Sarah Joy. We then scooted off to the airport , said our good byes and took a deep breath realizing how much God smiles on friendship .... I loved it God ~ thank you !

A Great Night

2010-09-20T05:24:00.000-07:00

Last night we hosted 3 other families who are serving here in Guatemala in different capacities. These are all fairly new families to us. The Lord has brought them all along our path more closely in the last month or so. We all have older kids the same ages. What a huge thing this has become and we consider it even sweeter because as parents we are all building wonderful friendships to. There were also some children here from families where the parents couldn't come and so in total we had about 30 people for lunch and the last of the crew left our house about 8:30 and we'd started at 1:00....needless to say, we all were a hungry bunch and the food was very secondary.... I had prayed , as did David , that the Lord would begin to use our home here for hospitality and encouragement for anyone and everyone... what a blessing for us to see this begin to happen. We have been serving here for 16 months now and one of the other couples had been here for 16+ years (the husband has been here a little longer...but as a couple 16 years) ... they have so much going on ministry wise and it was amazing to hear of their vision and the tools the Lord has used to put it all together.... For those of you who have been praying for , especially in the area of connecting and receiving support from around us, Thank you !

So, with all of that being said ...i'm off to start our home school day. We are entering in our second week and things are going so well.... we are so blessed ...to blessed to be stressed yes? yes!

(Sorry , no photo of the group... meant to the whole afternoon but it didn't happen)

So Proud of David

2010-09-17T06:47:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to pat David on the back here amongst friends... David had the opportunity to speak at the UN (yes, the United Nations) on combating world hunger on behalf on FH Guatemala. SO PROUD of him !

Apologies (again) and updated photos

2010-09-16T07:14:00.000-07:00

Again, I must start off saying ...so sorry ! Better late than never with our anniversary photos. We had a wonderful time in Antigua, Guatemala. David treated me to a two night stay there in one of my favorite places in the world...so far (smile! )

The happy couple ...yes, we're officially 20 years old together. Gracias Senor para mi esposo. (thank you Lord for my husband! )

coffee...beautiful AND tasty !

loved the artwork INSIDE my soup..almost to pretty to eat but hunger won out and it was just as delicious as beautiful.

I really should have taken a photo of the rig up I had to do to take this photo. I had my camera balanced on creamer and salt shakers , camera on it's tippy edge..me hoping not to breath to hard and hence the camera would have fallen onto the tile floor. Obviously, it all worked out.

Some pretties from the hotel grounds

All of that beauty for 65$ a night.... gotta love it !

This was taken at a coffee plantation where we had breakfast. This precious lady makes tortillas to order...Divine... can anyone with a gluten allergy shout out AMEN with me for CORN tortillas freshly off the grill ....devine!

our beautiful sauces and those delicious tortillas housed in a little canvas baggie to stay fresh and warm....making you hungry?

This was my SWEETEST, LOVEY present .... i bought this sweet puppy off the street from a vendor using some "sock money" that I had put aside for our family to use when the Lord prompted me....for anyone who really knows me , you would know that it was the Lord because I have a deathly fear of dogs.... !!!!! can't say it strongly enough... however, i have now turned over a new leaf and not only own a dog but she is with us all day long in our home.... we named her eslobon . in Spanish that means "missing link" ....who knew that so many of our aches of home could be quenched by a friend with 4 legs ! ...

Have a blessed day! There is so much more to fill you in with....stay in touch~ M

20 YEARS!!!

2010-08-18T06:55:00.000-07:00

Today, my wonderful, amazing husband took me for his bride..... never has a greater gift been given to me ! So, what do you do for a 20 year anniversary when you've only lived in a new country for one year... I have NO IDEA and am so excited . The day will be a total surprise. I 'll let you know though with lots of photos hopefully.

Have a wonderful day... i know that we will. Also, it should not go unsaid, thank you for everyone who prays for our marriage as we serve overseas. We are stronger, better and more in love than ever and are certain that we have many to be grateful to for considering our marriage in their prayer time ! Let's all keep it up for each other !

Happy Anniversary David !

Happy Birthday Jacob !

2010-08-17T07:44:00.000-07:00

Happy 16th Birthday Jacob !

You are dearly loved !

Jacob, you can wear dreads well...

you are handsome....

you are loving....

you are an important part of our family and ministry here in Guatemala ...

and so talented .... thank you for sharing your gifts with us and others.... Dad and I are looking forward to what God has for you this next year....something tells me .... it's going to be GREAT! Happy 16th Birthday Jacob... we love you !

Grass cutting 101

2010-08-13T10:37:00.000-07:00

Jacob cut the grass for me this week... he does such a great job and is so patient. We don't own a lawn mower and our yard is so small that we are able to cut it with yard shears. Gotta love that !

Honesty ....

2010-08-12T07:23:00.000-07:00

Today, I am sending flowers to myself. I'm sure that I'm not alone in having seasons in life where you hurt deeply, feel lonely and just overall insecure in who you are and what you do as a parent, wife..in my case ... overseas servant of the Lord. I have battled blogging, posting , calling, writing anyone who could give an ear and honestly, sometimes some things in life are just to deep and personal for such a broad scope of expectation on people to understand... David tells me that people are still reading our blog... i wonder who those very patient people are (smile) ... I am grateful for you all...

And so today I am sending flowers to myself. My flowers represent the beautiful in life. They represent the hope that rises from ashes. The beauty of color that contrast with dark days. They represent life to it's fullest and most profound days that we are given. I am certain that there must be a reason to be in a new country with new EVERYTHING and to recline alone in the arms of those you've been with everyday and the arms of Jesus alone. As I type that .... I have to wonder why would I desire to go anywhere else?

For so long I think that I have not been able to really cry for the growing pains that we have walked , run , hiked and drudged through. I can't help but think that if I start I may never stop and where is the beauty in that? I read this morning of Jesus crying out to the Lord to let his cup pass from him and yet if there was no other way then so let it be... Lord, I want that to be my greatest victory in trial.... that I would come to the place in life where even though I am dreadfully discouraged, afraid or alone I would find solace and comfort in the hour that you bring me to total surrender ... that in realizing my cup does not hold for the moment the things of great joy, energy and excitement that i would still accept, drink and rise again to say with confidence .... i don't want this Lord. I don't like this Lord...but if it has to be... so be it. Knowing that my sweet Jesus has flowers and victory waiting for me... and since he is the cultivator of life, the gardener of all roses... I can be confident that EVERY flower in Guatemala has been given to me... How much more beautiful they will be also if I receive them the very day that my savior returns for me and this life is vanished and I am surrounded by the beauty of Jesus that this life has not yet depicted to me ...even in the most beautiful of nature.

I would covet your prayers for strength in difficult days, rest from the aches of sadness, energy and focus to continue to serve my family when I'd just rather sit down and cry. Thank you for not needing the "what in the world are you talking about " from me. You are all family to me and to us all. It takes a great deal of love, believing and appreciation for honesty to go before the throne for a brother or sister. Therefore, my flowers are for you too today..... if you are aching and needing Jesus to sit with you and hold on to you so that you are not able to run I am praying for you today. If you have been asked to drink from a cup that you know is bitter and unwanted by others and with great confidence you know that your father has asked this of you... drink and know that you aren't alone... loneliness, discontentment, pain and insecurity are not ours to hold onto.... but instead, confidence, strength, contentment in trial and companionship are ours . Choose it! I am ... thank you for your ears today. May we all see life today as a beautiful bouquet of flowers...the good, bad and the unwanted.

Love to you all from Guatemala,
m

I've found an art store ! Hurray

2010-08-06T06:17:00.000-07:00

This is what I painted to go over Tylers bed. I promise, it's not crooked on the wall. I must have been tilting my head ...luckily it was only while I took the photo and not while I was painting...

This is the one that I painted to go over Eli's bed. I really loved having some projects to work on while David was traveling and am looking forward to throwing some more paint on the walls !
Keeping you "posted",
M

Jumping Around..August Birthdays...so far

2010-08-05T07:34:00.000-07:00

Eli wanted a lunch at McDonalds and a McFlurry instead of a cake.. at 7 years old, can you blame him?

everyone came out to sing..Shrek is the huge, new thing here..hence, the Shrek hats

birthday hugs

they guys..minus Cooper who was dearly missed and in the states

Me and Grace

Me and the Birthday Boy...so handsome!

Funny story... last year David turned 40 and had a horrible (no kidding) birthday. This year we were determined to redeem the day. Things did not go as planned and the first part of the morning was a challenge...to top of a rocky morning for the Birthday Boy our van overheated on the way to church and therefore crash and burned on the side of the road (it died on us last year for David's birthday) on our way to church. It did come up for air and managed to get us home. We joked about putting on a sign on the road saying that it was a gift for whoever could afford to keep it bandaged and we were off to get a new car....we jumped all 7 of us into our trusty Civic and headed to the mall... here it is... the car that David got for his birthday.... well, not exactly... but it was parked in the mall where we had lunch, David pulled out his keys for a photo opp. It was a much needed comical relief.... while we were doing this the 3 little guys thought is was super cool and Jacob and Grace disappeared only to be found once the camera was back in the bag....to funny ! We ARE getting old !

Jacob and Birthday boy #1

more Shrek ears....

the Evans men (Birthday Boy #2) posing...... the Shrek ears in the back really set the photo.... don't you think?

Catching Up...starting with our trip to the beach for Fathers Day.

2010-08-03T18:40:00.000-07:00

Ahhhhh......a face lift for our blog AND photos ! Not just any photos either but ones of our amazing time getting away for Fathers Day to Monterrico on the Pacific Coast.
photo: David in his MUCH deserved lounge chair totally chillin'

another shot of the beach... we loved the pool.. you could just look over the edge and there was the Pacific Ocean

the kids loved swimming up to the counter and getting FRESH , JUST SQUEEZED OJ 's ....

looking up at the sky with coconut eyes...

isn't the sand beautiful ! It's very rocky and HOT.... seriously used caution with the kids ..sun screen and SHOES

the pool man found this little guy in the filter...hummm....wonder how he got into the filter? I guess he was on the bottom of the pool with our toes !

how strange.... round three.... it was just not that long ago when our FIRST three were making the same jump from the side of the pool .... adoption is an amazing journey ...a blog for another day.......hope your day is sunny and full of righteous waves !
love,
M

It seems like I say...

2010-07-29T19:59:00.000-07:00

It seems like I say that we're "coming up for air" a lot on here... maybe I just think that a lot. But tonight, it truly feels that way. The summer months have been both a blessing and a fury of things to do and places to go....at least for David and our older children anyway. David has traveled almost 4 weeks out of the 10 we've had since June. (whew!) Jacob and Grayson have also. They have been to the states on a mission trip and then traveling some here in country with FH. I can remember our pastor having dinner with us and saying "it's wonderful to have company but are you guys sure you're up for all of this ? " At the time I had NO idea what it would feel like to say so MANY hello's and goodbyes. The actual act of everyone being busy was fine but my goodness .... our heart strings resemble something a cat has gotten hold of ...especially after saying goodbye to parents (David's ) and his family's home church the week before last and then our home church last week. When we attended our missions training in Colorado before heading here our leader said this, "you know you've loved well if saying goodbye hurts." .... I pray that everyone who has come our way this summer has felt the love that we indeed have for each of you , your husbands, your wives, your children ...anyone who has come our way OR been sent our way. Our hearts have had so many bandages applied in these last weeks that we could hold up a building (at least in Guatemala - jk) with them all.... Praise the Lord we have our memories to tied us over until we all meet again...either somewhere in God's world or in heaven one.... Eli was praying tonight and made a truely simple but profound statement... Lord, I love you...I've always loved you....and so... I love you Lord..
I loved this because it's just that simple most days... Lord, you have our love because it's just there..it's who we are ..who we were created to be....

From Guatemala...goodnight with love,
Mel
Ps...our signal is still so slow that I cannot post photos.. I'll keep trying (promise)...

Trouble Posting Photos

2010-07-09T20:29:00.000-07:00

Uggg... I would feel REALLY horrible that I haven't posted in a month but I'm thinking that summer is like this for everyone.. especially us mom's. Here in Guatemala we are CRAZY busy... David especially. Since the beginning of June , David has had many teams and been gone for several weeks. We are having two teams come these next two weeks and he will be gone again. This is all very new for us and I am struggling at times to keep us with it all... counting it all joy but still adjusting to ALOT of change !

I can't seem to load some of our photos tonight . I had thought that it would be fun to share some of our photos from July of last year when we'd first gotten here but I'm not having success tonight . I will continue to try to post our current photos .... we took David to the beach for Fathers Day (we are just 2 hours away ) and we had a blast... nothing like a trip to the beach in the states but then again, why should it be? We're in Guate. Black beaches, crabs in the pool filter and hammocks in the shade... great time !
Hoping to share photos soon,
m

Checking In...

2010-06-09T14:36:00.000-07:00

Just staying true to my commitment...not much new is going on here... well, that's NEVER the case but I have nothing new w/ photos....BUT I'd thought you'd get a kick out of funny things Tyler and Eli said the other day :

Tyler : (back ground: Papayas are in season and so I am buying them by the pounds and pounds. They are cheap and you need to acquire a test for them for sure but because they are super easy to grab and cheap we're eating them A LOT! ) Tyler comes into the kitchen the other day and puts his bowl down on the counter ,walks over to me and sighs (BIG sigh..) mom, did you know that small, white, American boys do not like "applepaya" ? .... cracked me up.... don't know where the apple comes from but he puts it in there !

Eli: comes into the kitchen ( can you see a pattern with me being in the kitchen for BOTH stories? -smile) ... he says...mom... i love (pause) i love money. I say : oh, you do? ... Eli: yes, but I can't serve two masters ... (pause...my jaw is flopped open ) .... so , ..... (pause) I will choose Jesus. WOW ! I say: Eli... I think you are going to be VERY rich !

Too funny !

* We have just celebrated 1 one of service here in Guatemala. Sooo thankful !

* We are in for a CRAZY whirlwind of a summer and would be grateful for your prayers and thoughts . David is traveling A LOT and LOTS of folks are coming here... can't wait.

Havin' a great day and hope you are too.

m

What a WEEKEND!

2010-05-31T12:46:00.000-07:00

We have had quite the weekend ! On Thursday night, the volcano closest to our home erupted . It had been raining for a few hours (not unusual.. it's rain season here ) but then neighbors were outside and everyone is looking into the sky.... pebble like stuff was coming down with the rain. Turns out it was volcanic "ash" ( more like finely made black gravel to me)... very bizarre. It had the feeling of a snow storm in the states but it wasn't cold at all and instead of wet clothes there IS black stuff all in our home and in our hair... little tiny pebbles of sand like material... really WEIRD ! Then we received a tropical storm on top of that with no time to recover from the damage caused from the volcano. Many people have died and many have lost their homes. Large pieces of land have disappeared into the earth below surface level... very bizarre.... Most all of this kind of damage has been far from us. We are grateful however, because this storm was being told to us by the Embassy on Friday as a potential cyclone... we really could have received far worse than what we did... I can't imagine needing to evacuate our country but found myself wandering just how that would even happen... our airport was shut down due to the volcano the day before. We have only had to deal with the "ash" from the volcano but then there was massive amounts of water too. Fortunately for us we are on an incline and our home nor the others in our area were damaged. We are grateful to everyone who even had one second of a thought towards our family this past weekend... we actually were able to have a very peaceful weekend among a country that suffered much while we were dry, together and unharmed. Hard to understand how we deserved to be spared from so much so close to our door but except the truth that we just weren't meant to understand it all.....

Much love from the beautiful country of Guatemala... Serving Jesus with you ~ m

How Embarrassing !

2010-05-29T14:41:00.000-07:00

How embarrassing that I haven't posted ANYTHING in almost 3 months ! Yikes ! Has that much time possibly gone by ?

Just for the sport of publicly saying how sorry I am , I'll throw out some completely EMBARRASSING stories on myself ... just to bring total humility to the table and then I'll get back to posting often and with photos again. A long one (but hang in there ...it's embarrassing) and then a short one and one super quick one !

EMBARRASSING story #1: David and I went to a local hotel in the city for a Sat. morning date. We were going to have breakfast together and then hang out and swim for a couple of hours...no big deal right? The ONLY thing that I had to do is to switch from breakfast clothes to swimsuit..WELL,.... I headed up to the locker room for my quick switch and noticed at the front of the entrance that there were boxes and "tools".. I thought,... strange... but kept on going... a little sheet rock dust was wafting in the air..is that a saw that I hear? bizarre. But starry date eyed me went through the doors and out popped (seriously) a MAN from the showers ! Relax, I saw nothing... he had heard me coming and popped out his head from behind the divider wall to say in Spanish that he was so sorry. The locker room was under remodeling and he would walk me out...NO NO NO ...no necicito senor ! gracias ! OH MY !!! should have read the sign that was probably posted at the bottom of the stairs...yikes ! My first thought, as I was dying laughing inside, was ...wow! I'm finally feeling culturally adapted because it was funny instead of violating that a man was naked and in the girls locker room... I'm sure that he had no water or shower in his home and hey... i'd jump in there too if I were him ..covered in sheet rock dust... yep! I'd have done the same thing... THIS GETS BETTER..keep reading ! So, I go to the registry office to let them know that men are in the locker room and I need to change for the pool. Where should I go? He hands me a room key looking thing and points with AMAZINGLY rapid Spanish. I nod in total assurance that I COMPLETELY understood what the card was for and walk in the direction of his finger realizing that the direction was the ONLY thing I was sure of ...what in the world is this card for ... I check out the first restroom..no place for a card ...I found an employee who was cleaning the bathroom and asked what this is for... noticing my pearly WHITE skin , she didn't even try Spanish but took me by the hand and pulls me down the hall ( very politely) to the elevator and POINTS inside... OH, I go in there ? .. so, dumb me did... at this point, I'm beginning to wonder if more coffee and conversation would be just as good as sun and water with mi esposo? hmmm.. once on the elevator I take advantage of another WHITE skinned person assuming that she spoke English (notice the HUGE amount of assuming that is going on in this story..hmm) She did speak English.. we compared cards and yes ! this was surely a room key... my word ! They are sending me to a ROOM !!!! I really don't know about things now. At this point David is FAR from me and I don't know what else to do but push through my situation. The elevator stops and opens and I think I had my eyes squeezed shut in fear to what I might see ...yep, just as bad... it was a floor being renovated...naked men? ...possibly...serial killers? ...possibly... Dumb me... I braced myself and kept going....it was almost as scary to turn around. There surely must be someone following me...at least a goofy tv show saying I was on camera..this doesn't really happen to people. I went to my numbered room on the card, popped it in..light turned green, opened the door and ALL of the furniture was covered in white sheets ! I threw the locks on the door and pushed every piece of furniture against the doors, jumped in the shower. I was so scared that I decided to scrap the rule to shower before entering the pool and throw my suit on... I jumped out of the shower and NAILED my rear end on the shower edge, jumped up and threw my clothes on , asked the Lord to forgive me if I killed someone if they walked in or popped out of somewhere and SCRAMMED..... once I met up with David again, I was laughing sooooo hard that I think I added 10 years BACK to my life.. it is so good for me to laugh at myself and in this culture I pretty much am doing it daily ! ...... lesson : read ALL sign when in a foreign country and assumptions can lead to sore rear ends !

EMBARRASSING story #2... David and I needed to quickly shoot into a copy store.. photo copy some things before David needed to catch a plane for the states ... we were in a hurry to say the least. We pull into a shopping center, I glance around, thinking that I've found a copy stored based on two familiar words in the sign..laser and copier.. I dodge in , CERTAIN that they can photocopy Dave's work... When I approach the desk she tosses me a laminated sheet of paper. I am giving her my professional , self assured look of yes, I speak Spanish and it is a pleasure to be in your business space today..glance down and notice that she has given me a sheet of MANY naked people !!!!!! WOAH

Embarrassing #3 .. We were having Internet installed FINALLY after not having it recently for 2 months (hence, the partial reason for not blogging) . The company has a HORRIBLE reputation for taking forever and so when they phoned to say that they were on their way... I was beyond EXCITED!!! I answered the phone and the man said, "is this the home of David Evans ? (meaning to say yes, this is his wife ) I practically screamed... YES! this is YOUR WIFE!!!! Grayson about croaked ! MOM!! You just told that man that you were HIS wife ! .....lesson : breathing and thinking will ALWAYS be one of the most important things we do .... especially in that order and when done BEFORE speaking !

Wishing you all a day filled with much joy and the pleasure of learning to laugh at ourselves.. ,
m in guate !

Work and Play

2010-03-08T12:28:00.000-08:00

These are the beautiful women of Nabaj proudly displaying their new business. This is a new experience for them as they develop into small business owners and their families become sustained on their God given talents. David and I have the privilege of walking them through the development of their business and teaching them to recognize this , the fruit of their labor and most importantly their talent, as the work of the Lord .

Candles being made by the women. It is a group effort and everyone contributes.

David spending a day with these ladies teaching them biblical and practical principles of small bussiness.

This is a display that the women made to store the candles before shipping them to markets here in Guatemala and your homes.

Our friends, Matt, Beth and little Eli were able to travel and see the ladies recieve their first income from their hard work. It was wonderful to see their reaction when they realized that not only had they made a profit but they had also paid for their equipment and now own it....free and clear. They sounded like birds chirping..everyone talking at once

Then we were off to the zoo for spotting ( no pun intended) really cool animals. We love the zoo here. It is so clean and the animals are really healthy.

Next, we traveled to a birthday party where we cooked meat over coals and had rice with cheese.

And lastly, we traveled to Panajachel. We jumped in a boat and headed across the lake for a 30 min ride. This is one of my favorite things to do.

The lake is very dangerous to swim in but completely beautiful to look at and to ride across. You head

straight for a volcano and then.....

a wonderful little village where all kinds of goodies are sold ...you have to be in the spirit of being shark bait though... EVERYONE has a great item and a special price that day...

Thanks for a great day Matt and Beth. Also, we couldn't have found our way without the kids friend Dan. This was a really special day.

Enjoying the breeze from inside the boat.

David , lovin' the sun...hanging out with our little guys...precious. Days like this gear us up to get back in the grind of things and we are grateful for the chance to see other parts of the beautiful country that we serve the Lord in.... taking others with us is always a huge perk too.

Scrambled Thoughts Leading to Perspective

2010-03-01T09:00:00.000-08:00

It is humbling to be serving in a world relief ministry while standing side by side with countries such as Haiti and now Chile enduring such difficulties by way of natural disaster. I don't even know myself how to fully process the numbers that I hear and the photos that I see...the children .... The hungry and discouraged.... Due to the processing still going on in my brain , my thoughts are simple... today is today and God is God... simplicity is a sweet gift. When you peel all of the tragedy away, the Christ follower is left with the tangible.. God's truths in his word and the love of brothers and sisters, the hope that we have in the second coming of our Lord and that all of this is temporary.

Watching the theologically sound ( NOT) movie Kung Fu Panda with my children the other night, I was struck by a profound statement that they make...it's a quote I assume... the past is HISTORY, Tomorrow is a mystery and today is a gift...that's why it's called the PRESENT. There are so many walking out their "present" with a foggy perspective of enduring tomorrow... in light of what they are seeing today...who could blame them? What would I do ? What would it look like in my life? ... On Monday morning of this past week, David and I woke up to our bed swaying like a hammock for what seemed like 10 seconds or more.... Then we had a second tremor at aprx. 9 am. This one was more aggressive as the children and I watched the books moving about on the book case ,the couch thumping around and feeling literally our house swaying back and forth. I think the scale ended up being a 5.4 . I called my mom and checked in... did all of the wrong earthquake evacuation things with my children... thought swiftly of my children that are away in a school building realizing quickly that if my house goes down what will that look like? How do I get to our children , assist my expecting neighbor, what do I want to grab if we are evacuated? ........ still processing ...and grateful for my salvation and the honesty that our organization here proclaims :

Food for the Hungry embraces an intensely personal and biblical response to God's call to end physical and spiritual hungers worldwide. This intentional walk with the poor mirrors God's walk with each of us, recognizing our own brokenness and His transforming grace that brings out our God given potential...

Praying today that the foggy and brokenhearted will be fed with physical and biblical food that will expose their God given potential and therefore children and families will begin to flourish like never before in these hurting places of the world today..... Haiti and Chili , you are in our prayers today. To our financial supporters and prayer partners... you are AMAZING and what God is doing through you is ...difficult for me to express....You are VERY loved !

Peace,
m

Where's the Camera Cord??? Cooper is 17 !

2010-02-20T12:17:00.000-08:00

I finally located our camera cord that tends to float around here and am able to share Coopers birthday with you. Cooper is our oldest and clearly the Lord is paving a way for him to move into ministry opportunities with his music in the very near future. I don't know about other mom's with 17 year olds..but for me, this was a really hard birthday. I am so excited for Cooper and yet grieving for our family. I feel like we are closing in on the last year that it's just a given that our family will be together. Living as overseas missionaries and realizing that our children will more than likely not live states away but countries away... i have had many tears , both from pain and great amounts of joy... The pain coming from letting go a little more everyday it seems and the joy from realizing the God is doing something so beautiful with my child that there is no way for me to have imagined his future..
Cooper, you are a beautiful person ..inside and out... i love you. You make my heart sing. Mom

Cooper, Nancy (his girlfriend) and me.

Lots of friends came and helped us celebrate Coopers birthday.

Some things don't change no matter where you live... pizza is still a favorite food and a must have for birthday parties. yum!!!

Also, a favorite for birthday parties... a translator for the birthday cards when you live in another country! Thank you so much Michelle !

Coopers birthday cake BEFORE his head went into it......

First, they sang to him......

And THEN his head went into the cake... we had no idea that traditionally the birthday "person" gets their head dunked into their birthday cake after they blow out their candles . Therefore, Coopers friends really got him good ! He was a great sport about it too!

Jacob consoling him with a python hold ... not enough that poor Coop couldn't see from so much cake in his eyes... I wish you could have heard how hard we were all laughing and yelling in Pizza Hut. We were definetly the show for the evening !

The sweet sweet girl on the right is the one who pushed Coopers head into his cake. She was standing so quietly behind him while the group of people sang... Teska..we should have known that you were up to something sneaky.... hhheeeheee

We love you Cooper ! Can't believe that you're 17 !

Finding Gold in Goo!

2010-01-29T11:52:00.000-08:00

What a crazy few days I've had.... living in a foreign country can leave you wondering ," how long will this feel foreign " more times than not... it seems like every day you see one more thing that you didn't know was here, a new word (hopefully in correct context) , a new challenge ..often spiritually that leaves you feeling like you're looking from the outside in. It always amazes me how the Lord, who has clearly called us here to work with the people here in Guatemala, is so faithful to give us "gold" with the "goo". For example, last week precious friends were here with us ..that's the Gold ... the Goo being that I felt like I had the flu all the way up until the last day that they were here. Then, a nagging tooth ache led to 2 fillings yesterday that are suspicious as to whether they will need root cannal (S) done on them. That is GOO ... The Gold is that God provided a friend to drive me to the appointment , she waited for me despite her dislike for drilling and brought TONS of laughs to my really uncomfortable and HUGE mouth ! Then (yes , there is more~ smile) ...GOO....I had a reaction to the novacain (sp?) and felt like my heart was going to jump out of my chest ALL night long... TONS of anxious thoughts that were really messing with my head. The GOLD was that I was able to struggle with some areas of my life that clearly need attention and I have been SLEEPING through them long enough... today, they feel dealt with.....there's more... GOO, today I backed into a motorcycle that was parked behind my car..(LITERALLY) almost right behind my car at my neighbors house... he had a propane tank on his bike.. As soon as I tipped it ( ok ..backed into it) .. Grayson and I watched it fall over at a SNAILS pace...terrified of the propane tank i ran to the neighbors house... DON"T know the Spanish for ..hey ! I've just hit your bike and will the gas tank explode??? ... therefore, I drug him out and showed him the bike .... all of the sudden the whole bike didn't work... he wanted to take it to the shop and get an "estimate"... he had several pieces duck taped on ..seriously.... The GOLD...Frantic , I ran and got Cooper who tinkered around on it for about 30 minutes. He got the oil leak to stop and the guy on his way for the price of a new helmet and front light... I was sooo grateful... here and in other countries where it is every man for himself... I probably would have ended up having to buy him a new bike... thankfully, Cooper threw out an amount of money to replace the items..the man took it... and rode off... I only have to work through knowing that he knows where I live now~ smile~ somehow, looking back on the last few days...I am certain that God holds me in his hands and that his work will be done... I am safe dispite the obstacles.If nothing else comes of this.. my neighbor who was there watching the whole thing knows that David and I will not run from our responsibilities. I hit him and I was able to pay him for the damages and Cooper probably has his bike running better than it did....I am trying to remember that God wants to reach people around me with me being me. Whatever comes my way... bringing glory and HONOR to my king... it'll always be one thing to profess Jesus and another thing to LIVE Jesus... in my opinion, the really beautiful stuff is when people can hear and see both. In perspective of that... it's all GOLD!

Making Friends

2010-01-21T13:36:00.000-08:00

This is my sweet friend (in the pink) and her family. She also works with Food for the Hungry. Her family lives in Nabaj and she took me by her family home. This photo is her mother (in green ), two sisters left and right and both of her nieces. The baby is hers.

This is her father. What an amazing man. He lost is left eye to cancer and literally has no eye and yet gardens. He grows the most beautiful flowers. I asked him which were his favorite and these are the ones he chose...beautiful huh? !

This is a wood burning stove. They only cook bread in this and only during certain times of the year. At Easter they share this stove with their community of people and women bake bread socially together as part of their Easter celebration. I'm in for this Easter and can't wait !

This is their family stove. Myself and two other people showed up at their home right when they were finishing cooking their meal. I was so humbled as this elderly couple gave the food that they had cooked for themselves to me and my friend. They were so proud to have guest. They sat us at the table and then stood at the wall themselves while we at. I don't know if you can tell but inside the pot is a black trash bag. Inside the bag is a corn meal with HUGE kidney type beans rolled into a "roll" type food. Under the trash bag is some water and it acts as a steaming pot. They also served us coffee that was so delicious it tasted like chocolate milk!!!! Divine !

Part 2 ...after the break

2010-01-19T16:22:00.001-08:00

Everyone managed to be held "captive" by the snacks and fellowship. We all gathered around to see the candle come out of the mold.

This is the lady who is taking on the leadership in this project. She was so very excited to be the one to pull the candle out of the mold.

Ta- dahhhh

I was so proud of Odellia who taught this class in Ixel after only learning herself the day before. She is amazing ! They were ALL so amazed that this "really " worked and that they could DO THIS Project !! I wish that you could all have been there... what a great moment for me. I've NEVER witnessed something so simple to me be so life changing for another. very humbling experience.

This is David on the right. He is an FH staff person in the field. This is his community of people that he works with everyday. At the end of the candle making class we drew names to see which two women would get to take the candles home with them. This is one of the women on the left who won a prize that day...personally, I think we all came away with something new and beautiful.

This is a group photo of everyone of the women (and their children) who participated in the candle making class.... aren't they LOVELY!!!!

How and Who Made the Candels ?... Part 1

2010-01-11T12:43:00.000-08:00

Many of you have received candles made from the women in Rio Azul , Guatemala. This is our first project through Food for the Hungry in economic development this past year. David has worked very hard in getting together these beautiful candles to scent and bring joy to your homes BUT not near as much work as the women of Rio Azul . This has been a great eye opening joy for us both as we ventured out to learn how to make candles ourselves and then taught this to other women and men in the Food for the Hungry community. Then they traveled to out skirt communities and taught this to women in Ixil. (E-shil) . I thought that you would enjoy a photographic journey of the presenting and creating of these candles as well as photos of the people and land where they are made.

Before teaching others how to make candles David and I headed into the kitchen to figure it our for ourselves.

Art in progress.....

Next, I ( Melinda ) traveled to an area Nebaj where I met with regional workers of Food for the Hungry and taught them how to make candles WITH a TRANSLATOR (on the left). These are all Guatemalans who have a heart for combatting poverty in these outer regions...especially with the children.

Everyone lined up to see how the color and fragrance was added. The very next day, 2 of these people would take this candle making class to the people in the village area and teach it all in Ixel (E- shil)

This is the woman who took this on and did a beautiful job. She taught this class with one other person who had attended the class the day before. She is dressed in traditional clothing that is worn everyday by the Rio Azul women. We also took this time to share about the Lord and his plans for people every where and the provision of talents that he has given and the fruitfulness that can come from knowing and serving the Lord as well as living out the talents he's given each of us.

the women and children could not believe that the candles smelled as good as they did. It was amazing to watch their faces light up as we dyed the wax red and added the fragrance. They each took turns smelling the candle and rubbing the wet fragrance on their hands and arms...

No child care for this class.... no age limit.

After setting the candle we knew that it would be a while before we could remove our finished product. So many of the women had doubts about whether the "stuff" would harden and smell... We knew that we needed to hold their attention or else we would loose them back out into the community so..... we ran out for snacks!!!

Part 2 coming.... check back in and see how the candles turned out and photos of this beautiful people group here in Guatemala that we are blessed to be serving.

Cuties !

2010-01-07T14:29:00.000-08:00

These are two excited boys

Looking so big ! Ready for school .

Food For Fellowship

2010-01-04T18:25:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite blogs to read is Bobbie and Jessie Gill. They are busy in another part of the world , raising a family, embracing a new culture, etc. Bobbie must be a wonderful cook. She often will post photos of meals they have shared with family and friends. Her food always LOOKS sooo beautiful. Anyway, we are here in our new country and it can be hard to find ways to get to know our neighbors. On Christmas eve night, while all of the fire works were going off, I met a precious girl who is my neighbor on another street. She is expecting twins which is VERY unusual here. I thought ..hmmmm... I love cookies and I can say that in Spanish (smile) so I decided to bake her some and carry them to her home. Well, several dozen cookies later she still has not gotten her cookies. Apparently, she and her husband are very busy and seldom home. However, I have never come back home with my cookies. There is always someone out in the neighborhood to say hello to and pass them off to . One of the neatest things was one night (late) carrying these cookies to her house ..to find that she wasn't home... Grayson and I decided to carry them to our KOREAN neighbors. The cool thing was there was no way for them to know that our finances were tight that week( like everyone else right at Christmas) and when I gave her our cookies she wanted to give me a gift. She quickly ran inside and came back with potatoes.. a basket of them.... I was THRILLED !!!!! There I was giving her something sweet and of all things she came back with POTATOES...something that I can stretch and enjoy for SEVERAL meals ! Only the Lord... so, David has had a coffee ministry when we lived in Antigua and now , maybe I will start a cookie ministry !

These are the turtle cookies that I made many times over the holidays.

Take your favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe and make balls on wax paper. Stick a pecan in the top, sides and bottom of the ball of dough. Bake at 375 for aprx. 10 min. Wah - lah !

These are the wonderful potatoes that our neighbors so generously shared with us.

Happy New Years !

2010-01-02T07:38:00.000-08:00

We were given a grill for Christmas from David's parents. Words cannot describe the joy in finding barbeque sauce, chicken, black beans, tortillas, grilled corn on the table.... divine ... Southern Food !!

I just thought the chicken was so beautiful ... weird ...I know.

For anyone who lives in Rome... we also got RESA'S SALSA for Christmas ... thank you Theresa !!!

We're a bit obsessive about her salsa too... had to post one more photo of it... she sent us 4 jars and we cleared them out in a weekend.

Then, there were fireworks... not small fireworks.... HUGE ones !

They were shot off right in our street... we were cracking up.. no fire code or department approval required... they were so loud that all of the car alarms were going off just from the jolt of the boom !

I really should have taken video so that you can appreciate the joyful caos that was going on at midnight until about 2 or 3 in the morning in our neighborhood. There were so many fireworks that it looked like a war scene... down this street are about 10 houses... can you find them?

They started off small at 6 am .. they were just firing the cracker type..at 6pm... they fired off small street fireworks.. then at about 10 min till midnight the huge ones began.... FUN!!! Wishing you all a wonderful 2010 as exciting as fireworks at midnight in Guatemala ! Peace .

How many photos does it take for a Christmas card ????

2009-12-27T08:35:00.000-08:00

Let the photo caos begin...whoo hoooo.....

Jacob ....

Cooper.....

Grayson......

Grayson again.......

moving on...just the guys

the girls....

can you tell who the class clowns are??......

no words....

can we get a serious shot PLEASE....

moving on...again..mom and the guys... LOVE IT!!!!

Daddy and his girls.....PRECIOUS...

FINALLY....Merry Christmas from the Evans !!! a little goofy but I'll take it ! (Wish you could have seen the trafic driving by as we took all 200 (aprox) of these photos... we were standing on the sidewalk by our house ....tooo funny !! )

Christmas with Papa and Nana

2009-12-22T09:23:00.000-08:00

our fearless leaders for the 9 days ... David and Papa Sam

It was so great to see family for the holidays... huge hugs for everyone !

Ahhh.....Nana !

Let Christmas begin.... it's been to long since we've hugged family !

We were able to have a Christmas morning with Papa and Nana .... these are the "early birds"...some dressed and some still in PJ's ..Jacob was given the award for spending the LONGEST time on his hair.

Great news.. update on Cooper

2009-12-10T13:06:00.000-08:00

Cooper is back and was given a very good report. Turns out that whatever he had (Typhoid...maybe mono) has left his body and now he just has to heal. His body had gone that far downhill with whatever "it " was that any time he would get up and about he was having major "issues" ...enough that it warrented a trip away with dad and a doctor. Now he has to stay resting.... yikes! Cooper resting! Anyway, please continue to pray and praise with us. We are so glad that although he has a long way to go... he's in a very good place ...no more cooties !

The Day of the Devil

2009-12-07T17:43:00.000-08:00

We have been seeing these pinate looking things around town. In hind sight I should have taken a picture of them so that you could see what they look like. If you can imagine a mexican santa with a handlebar mustache ... Anyway, that has been my impression of them. HOWEVER, it turns out that they are DEVILS. (Who would have known?) ... what? Christmas is coming ... devil pinates??? When I picked Jacob up from school today he told me that we should get home before dark because people are burning "devils"....ahhhhh.... so that is what they do ... they don't hit them for candy ...they are burning him...them.... Anyway, my neighbors put their "devil" on a concrete block and lit him up. I was so curious that I begged Grace (who is very non confrontational ) to go with me for better translation. She did end up going but cracked me up with her initial response... she looked at me very seriously and said," mom... do I have to .. what if they get angry....they ARE BURNING HIM... I THINK THEY'RE WITH US...tooo funny... but my begging won her over and she finally obliged my curiosity... turns out that the devils being burned is a way to clean out their old sins and clutter ti make way for Jesus in their homes. By burning him they are saying that he no longer has a place in their home ...at least for this season.. this is called the day of the devil.

FYI..

2009-12-07T08:21:00.000-08:00

Just a super quick note to ask for prayer for Cooper and David today. They are traveling to a town about 2 hours from here to have medical testing done on Cooper. After researching records we discovered that Cooper has had a Typhoid vacine not only once but TWICE. Most likely his sickness is not Typhoid and not we are desperately needing to discover what is causing him to be sick. Through a TOTAL provision of the Lord and under circumstances that only he could orchestrate we met an American surgeon who is housing them and running test. They will be gone for about 4 days and prayerfully we will have a direction . As you can imagine Cooper is becoming very tired of being tired and sick. We are petitioning the Lord for answers. Our next step will be to fly him home to the states for medical treatment and don't want to do that unless we are left with no other option. I know that may sound crazy but we are on the verge of reaching "normal" .. not quite but we can see it coming... and a trip home will only upset the apple cart in regards to that ... Not all of us can travel home...Christmas apart... well, you can see how great it would be to get to a place of medical attention here and I believe it is completely possible. Guatemala is very equipped to handle even crews with issues much larger than ours ! ( honestly ! )

Grateful for you all...
Melinda

No Wasted Days

2009-12-04T10:11:00.000-08:00

I have gotten sooo far behind ! I am going to make an an intentional effort to get caught up...one day at a time..smile.... bear with me.

The night before thanksgiving I was sitting in my den...all of the sudden very aware of the fact that this Thanksgiving would be VERY different for us. Hmmmm....WHAT am I thankful for? What could I NOT be thankful for? So, I started to jot some things down. I feel very compelled to share this with you ..not to upset or cause anyone to be nervous ...only to inform you that our lives are different and we are given so many gifts that look different than they ever have...actually ...well, here it is....

Psalm 27:13
I am confident of this : I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

Why have you called us here Lord? What gifts do we poses to make even one difference in this place? Are our days wasted or lost on the stumbling and shocking sights that we encounter often? Will you carry us all- each one of us to America to begin a "new life" in the future or will our last days be here in Centeral America? What is this stirring that goes on in my soul at that thought? What is it that could only be from you that causes my husband and I to go to bed at night feeling discouraged at our work here and yet we rise and except a new day ...a new opportunity? How do I find freedom in tinted windows and and constant locked doors? Freedom in guards and walls at the childrens school , the inability to walk down the street by my home, the responsibility of distracting small children in my car as we approach a random group of people for fear of the ugliness of a harsh life taken and the messiness of violence in or beside the roads that we drive on everyday? I cannot resist the temptation to often ask why Lord ? Today, after sifting through my own superficial junk, I have come to the conclusion of this on thing that I am most thankful for today... Psalm 27: 13 ... I WILL see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. And in your goodness and divinitity alone, you Lord, have apppointed me, my family , here in Guatemala for such a time as this. A time of violence and confusion, a time of oppression and yet a great time of opportunity. If I speak into the life of one on your behalf ...who speaks into the life of another hoping and waiting on your goodness Lord...then in THIS land of the living I will have truely lived, my confidence is retained...no days wasted ....and for that Lord, I am VERY thankful .

As you consider our lives and our days here in Guatemala ...please consider not our plight of adjustment but the beautiful lives that are so harshly effected by culture. We count it a rare priveldge ...only extended to few..who are called to look a "cannon" square in the eye at times. We would not exchange these days or our lives here for all of the gold in the world...unless we could use it to improve the lives of those we serve in hopes of seaping the gospel of Jesus Christ DEEP into the souls of those we are coming to love here in Guatemala. Happy Thanksgiving to all of you from all of us.

Marty came for a quick visit..you gotta read the whole thing!

2009-11-18T12:01:00.000-08:00

Marty flew in for a VERY short weekend in Guatemala. We had a tour of a local coffee plantation, got caught up , enjoyed lunch at a resteraunt looking out at sweet, tiny birds..lemon and bannana trees, took some quick photos and then we were off to hike volcanoe Pacaya.

I felt so badly for Marty. There are many entrances to hike Pacaya and wouldn't you know that they carried us to the LONGEST and HIGHEST point for our hike. There is no way to know where you will be let off when you hire a tour company (well, ...if you have exceptional Spanish and an exceptionally honest tour guide) and so in the van we go ..up to the starting point we went. The hike starts at about 6000 ft. and you climb about another 2500- 3000 ft (NORMALLY)... it appeared from the point where we stopped that they were going to go another 5000 ft possibly. Anyway, the altitude was very taxing on Marty. Sweet thing.. she had NO time to adjust and off we go to hike this thing. Anyway, after much debate with the tour guide he agreed to allow Marty and I to wait half way for the group to return back down the volcano. I petitioned him for a male of any nature to stay back with us..it's dark, we're white...we're girls...anyway since chiverly doesn't naturally exist here but me begging DOES he provided us with a young guy to "stay back with us". No sooner has he pointed this guy out to Marty and I and this "young guy" disappears. We think that maybe he has gone to get a horse and take us down the volcano....I mean , was he really going to sit with us for several hours while the hike finished???...He came back alright and he must have been a little nervous too because he was carrying a sawed off shot gut and NO horse...we were staying!!!!!!! He patiently and faithfully watched us the rest of the evening ! This picture cracks me up because of the spacial distance between me and the gunman and Marty and the gunman. In a weird way it warms my heart because apparently I'm getting use to being up close and personal with amo which could only mean that God is allowing me to see the person and not all of the paraphanelia that they come with !! You gotta laugh!

We did have a great view and beautiful horses to watch (which Marty loved -smile) the whole time. As soon as night fell the teams were returning back down the volcano. A man came to the point where Marty and I were at and collapsed down to the ground carrying his 14 or 15 year old daughter. She was bearly breathing and in dire need of medical attention... PROBLEM (1) we're in Guatemala (2) we're on a volcano!!! We layed the girl out on the ground and the I had the opportunity to pray over her. Excitedly, her father joined in saying that he was a Christian too!! As SOON as we finished praying , the young girl opened her eyes enough to communicate that she was having major pain under her breast at her heart and then she fell out again. Keeping in mind that we have just prayed alound in the name of Jesus with many witnesses ...many with unbelief...and a GERMAN SOLDIER comes up and has a thermal blanket and special drink for victims of altitude and thermal shock issues( My backpack had chocolate, camera and ONE water bottle in it ) What a miracle ! She continued to shake but did warm up with the blanket on her. We were all very concerned that she would not make it down the volcano alive. Her father had called for an ambulance and no one could come except for somebody that they found in an old pick up truck. The cost for them to come 1/2 way up the volcano was 150Q = aprx. 15$ and the father did not have it. **Miracle*** Because of the young guy watching over Marty and I ...I had 150Q in my hand to give him for watching us and was able to pay for the pickup truck to arrive*** For every person who financially supports us ..YOU ALL carried her down the mountain for help that night... I have NO money except for that which is given to me to be here ! THANK YOU! Anyway, due to the condition of the volcanic sand the truck had to have us carry her down to them. We took two walking sticks and several jackets...ran the sticks inside the sleeves of the jackets , zipped them up and made a gerny(sp?). Myself and 5 other people carried this young lady down the volcano and put her in the back of the pickup to be carried away for medical care. We prayed fervantly that she lived. Back in the van on the way back I was asked many questions about responding to crisis and prayer and being "religious".... Lord, may I never be "religious" but instead zealous in seizing any opportunity to be your hands and feet.... and to have a partner in prayer up on that volcano with me... I had NO reason for shame or timidity because I KNEW that my sister Marty was praying without stopping for me...for us all...ministry here has taken me by surprise so many times. It never looks like the photos in mission magazines or the adventurous missions videos that I watch....it finds me in my normal day doing the things that I do...my Christian faith is the greatest thing that I posses and it carries me out on the wildest adventures !

Typhoid Fever?..we don't get THAT in Guatemala...or do we?

2009-11-17T11:47:00.000-08:00

What happens when you contract Typhoid Fever ? ..... lots of creative networking....you don't want to go to the hospital if you can help it. We were provided a doctor by the Lord who was willing to treat Cooper at home and so after 3 rounds of antibiotics, possible kidney / liver damage issues, fever, gallbladder type pain we decided to get him on an IV and run his antibiotics/ pain meds through that. The doctor and I toured our home and came up with " a coat hanger attached to the light socket" method for dispensing the IV. A sweet friend informed me that she was a 12 year vet to nursing and could change out IV came and spent her Friday with us ...... provisions and more provisions.... (is it Thanksgiving yet??? ) ..... I am thankful for the gifts and talents of brothers and sisters as well as the spirit of coming together in times of need that we have experienced. Cooper is getting well but has a long way to go. He is sleeping a lot and we continue to petition the Lord for complete recovery. This has presented us with scary moments and we are forever grateful for the people who pray for us without knowing "the details". Thank you to every person who supports our endevors to be here in Guatemala living out this crazy life. We are witnessing his prescence and powerful work daily ! We love you all ~

2009-10-26T07:07:00.000-07:00

Education is so important. It broke my heart to be at the zoo and to see these girls sitting in filthy water...especially the one who is drinking out of one of the fountain spouts. The Lord has been so gracious in keeping our eyes exposed to the millions of needs that exist here ....I am thankful to have my heart broken when it is in control of the Lord... I never leave these situations the same...I am always changed.

A quick post to catch you up to speed....

2009-10-25T18:21:00.000-07:00

Yes, time has once again flown by and returning emails and keeping our blog current is a challenge. We are grateful for this busy season. It is keeping our minds off of the weather changes at home, upcoming holidays, football seasons, camping, fires in the fireplace.... well, you get the idea. Life is so different these days in this place where we are serving but we are beginning to go deeper with our ministry vision and it is exciting.

Tomorrow, I (Melinda) am going to be traveling 6 hours into the mountains to an area of Nabaj. I will be meeting with other FH missionaries and support staff to present them with David and I's first business development plan on making candles. It seems like a small task to say the least. We're all so accustom to running to the local craft store, buying our "kit" and throwing in some long, enjoyable hours probably with friends making early gifts for the holiday season. But that 's just not in the scope of the days for the women of the Nabaj region where we will travel and assist them in this wonderful business plan. This is a plan that they have to "buy " into. The only thing that they are "given" is the plan and 2 day class on making the candles. From there on out , they have to decide whether they want to invest in this business plan and make it their own. This gives them incredible incentive to begin this work themselves. As their product begin to sell and they experience "success" and a return on their investment, their hearts are open (prayerfully) to relationship and exposure to the gospel as we pour ourselves into relationships that will grow over long periods of time. This way we are all "buying " into something.... for the women it is the candles and for David and I and the entire FH staff we are buying into the lives of the people of the Nabaj region. There are no guarantees that the women will pursue this trade, no guarantees that they will receive even one days wage from their efforts. All that we have to claim as truth is that God loves his people. God has a plan for his people. ALL of us involved in the huge efforts of next week are desiring change. Will you consider praying right now for the men/women and children of Nabaj. Would you pray that their hearts and minds would be clear...which is physically a challenge for malnourished people... that they will have a vision and that God would use me to cast that out to them.....I'll be posting lots of photos so keep an eye out...

much love from Guatemala,
Mel

2009-10-17T08:08:00.000-07:00

fishing boats in Lake Atitlan ..notice the corn husk. Corn is a huge thing here. Lots of street vendors sell it grilled.

this is a group of kids that were flipping off of the post on the docks.

I love this perspective of the water. When I look at it I'm often reminded of the task that God has called us to in regards to vastness and the faith that is required to step out at get the work done. As I post this morning I am also reminded of how refreshing it feels to walk out in that faith and experience all of the goodness that comes with that task.

2009-10-17T07:45:00.000-07:00

we made it ! It helped that Stephanie reminded me that this was a 2500 ft. hike and we'd hiked 10,000 ft in China at Jade Dragon Mnt.... no matter how high the hike it ALWAYS is such a rush to realize that you made it to the top... and God's work in places that are uncommon to the eyesight...AMAZING!

you may notice that there is always an arm in the photos of just Stephanie and I (except for maybe 2) ... gotta get the photo and NEVER let go of your camera .... NEVER ~smile

Stephanie and I carried our luggage on our head too. We just forgot to get that photo...Just kidding ! It's amazing how much these women are able to carry on their heads...

Checking In...

2009-10-16T19:21:00.000-07:00

Checking in.... I think that it is the same for everyone with children. This time of year seems to loose itself in a list of to- do's a mile long. Games, projects, festivals, ....life... where does the time go? I can hardly believe that it is almost November. We have been in Guatemala for 5 months now and life is zooming by....Stephanie was in country here a few weeks ago and I thought that so many of you would like to see some of the beautiful people and areas of Guatemala that we were blessed to get a glimpse at. I have no idea why..but I am not able to load lots of photos at once and so if you'll go to all of October's entries you can see the photos from her trip. I need to add more that I think you'd really enjoy..especially if you're a boating /water person however, my connection is SSSSooo slow tonight that I am going to have to continue tomorrow. Enjoy these for now... love to you all from Guatemala.

'night,

2009-10-16T19:02:00.000-07:00

humm..wondering why we are inside the rocks and so far inside the curb??

some of the beautiful country where we are serving the Lord these days. This area is about 2 1/2 hours from where we are located.

To much fun !

2009-10-16T18:18:00.000-07:00

Stephanie at our language school . We traveled to Panajachel and left from here.

In Antigua...a dearly missed place for David and I

Can you see the nuns getting into the car to the left. This building is actually a VERY old catholic church.

needs no words..

Our First Visitor !

2009-09-30T07:43:00.001-07:00

It's a big day for the Evans here in Guatemala. We have our first visitor from the States coming to see us for a few days. We're going to be staying busy and I'll have lots of photos to post so stay in touch.

Love to you all from Guatemala,

2009-09-29T07:38:00.000-07:00

My language teacher and her niece came to my house to teach me how to cook a typical Guatemalan meal. For one of the dishes we needed to whisk egg whites. My teacher handed me my whisk and a bowl of egg whites telling me to get at it. For 5 minutes I was whisking away and my arm was beginning to go numb (okay..exaggeration but it was exhausting for sure) . I mentioned throwing them into my electric mixer and she was floored! She said that she whisks her egg whites until they peak by hand ! Thank you Lord for the electric mixer and the electricity!

This is a typical salad here. They do use lettuce but more often around here you would find cucumbers for the "bed" of the salad. They throw in onions, tomatoes and lemons (limes). Some people toss it in a little oil (of course... this is Latin America-smile)

The meal was delicious. We had black beans that Cindy boiled for at least 2 or 3 hours.. standing over them and keeping them stirred. (whew!) The beans were then thrown into the blender (electric -hallelujah!) mixed with garlic, onion and....oil (very delicious! ) There was white rice cooked with a little...oil. The food item on the left is a corn tortilla that was dipped into the egg white mixture and then deep fried ..in oil... and cover with a tomato salsa.... very delicious... Did you notice the pattern with the oil though???

2009-09-24T14:07:00.000-07:00

We attended the graduation of one of our fellow FH staff here at one of the universities. Nothing is "on time" in Central America. The graduation was to start at 12:00 and so we were assured that we could arrive at 1:00 ish and be fine. So, we took our friend to the airport and then got stuck in awful traffic ! We received a call at 12:30 saying that it was OVER. At that point we were at the university entrance so we drove through the campus anyway to loop back out and to be on our way home. As we were leaving the campus sitting in the graduation traffic I looked over to David's side of the traffic and there sat Nadia (our graduate friend) and her parents RIGHT BESIDE us in traffic ! The rest of the story is that we were able to eat with her and her parents and a couple of friends from Bolivia at a pizza place - mmmm my favorite!!!! Great time!

This will make you laugh.....

2009-09-23T20:32:00.000-07:00

So sorry that I haven't put time into catching everyone up but I had to share some really funny things that both Dave and I have had happen:

1) the driving is DEFINITELY dangerous here. However, even more dangerous may be sitting randomly in a parked car for an hour by our mission office on any given morning. So, this morning David and Cooper were in the car waiting for someone to arrive and unlock the doors to the office at 6:30ish and a man walks up and looks into the car window. You would have to see our car ....but for safety reasons we have our windows tinted soooo black that you couldn't possibly see in. Therefore , this fellow was all up on the window trying to see in. David wasn't quite sure how to shoo (sp?) him away and so he turned on the windshield wipers ...while the guy was peeking into the window... Maybe you have to see how carefully we have to travel to think this was hilarious .....but personally , I thought David showed some quick thinkin' reflexes.... don't know what I would have done. Something much more lady like I'm sure...like laying on the horn to say ....HEY >>>SOMEONES IN HERE>>>tooo funny !

2) one of our PRECIOUS little guys dumped bobby pins in the toilet and then tee tee'd in the potty. David was convientely at work, Cooper was as well ....Jacob and ...even Grayson (I was desperate) were at school . So, with no one around to help me and not knowing how to say "plumber please" in espanol.... I , yes, had to grit my teeth and reach into the tee tee to fish out all of the bobby pins - yuck !

3) Same day..... I took the little guys to a grassy spot near our house for a picnic. The woman who lives around the corner from me comes over clicking large tablespoons together and makes scooping motions with them. I couldn't make out what she was saying and thought she was telling me that there was poo poo under my blanket. I moved the blanket, tried to make dog ears ..saying " poo" ...there's poo here?" ... FINALLY ... I understood that she was inviting me to her house for some lunch... I was so humiliated that I told her no thank you ...we'd already eaten and held my breath until she was out of ear shot. Then , I laughed so hard sitting there all by myself.... I'll probably never get another invitation to eat with her again....she's probably thinking...wow! loco gringo !

So, there you have it .... culture adjustment can be down right hilarious at times.... I never realized that my face could turn soo many shades of red.... Anything from trying not to explode on short patience to getting a dinner invitation confused for poo poo under my picnic blanket !!!

Hope you're laughing with us ,

Mel

Catching Up!

2009-09-07T16:50:00.000-07:00

Grayson and I went to an old Mayan graveyard. The crazy girl had the courage to crawl up into an old grave. Where does that come from ?

This fellow was her inspiration. He was still in his grave.

Grayson and Jacob walking to meet their ride for the first day of school.

SERIOUSLY...this is how David cuts our back yard right now. He honestly cut the whole thing with pruning shears. Notice the Three Rivers shirt ? Some habits are hard to break. (smile)I should mention that our yard is only about 20x13 . It only took about 3 hours. hilarious.

Grayson and I scrap booking in our home in Antigua. We love to get our photos out and stick them in our books.... love it

More Catching Up!

2009-09-07T16:04:00.000-07:00

The little guys were able to get their faces painted on a trip to our " pay by the day" pool. Great fun !

precious!

We are usually able to catch glimpses of parrots when we're out. These were at a museum in town.

Gracie, myself and Olga, my language teacher visited a local coffee plantation. I have never drank coffee in my life. HOWEVER, during language studies I have learned to love it !

We also visited a Mayan museam. The man in the background is a "god" that they worship on particular occasions. They light the cigar in his mouth and leave him wiskey and rum, flowers and food.

More Catching Up!

2009-09-07T15:31:00.000-07:00

Jacob is painting his room.... this is the first time in his life that he has his own room. It is the size of a walk in closet- smile- but it's ALL his and he's great with it !

Grayson is trying out her bed that Cooper and a friend Darby made. They made of these beds/couches for our house. Grayson loves hers. It has so much room on it. Check out the walls!!!! She is all pink and orange! I love her room . You just feel perky walking in it.

Grayson ....not sure if her walls were getting painted or just her. Either way...she had a great time.

This is Darby on the right. He has been our Guatemalan angle !!! He drove us down to a "zone" or area of town where we can't go by ourselves and helped us with his truck to get our "goods" home. This was a day of MANY adventures ! We are grateful for the awesome deals that we got with his help!

We've found bulk buying in Guatemala!

2009-09-02T14:05:00.000-07:00

This is only going to be appreciated by families with many children or lots of visitors one. My news of the week is that we have found bulk buying for our groceries in Guatemala! For the last 3 1/2 months we have been buying items for 1 or MAYBE two meals at a time. One reason was because of the tote home. In Antigua the walk was ridiculous for lots of groceries and tuk - tuk's were...well, unsafe to say the least. You generally travel in those on an empty stomach and with an adventurous spirit...not several children and food. (smile) . So, over the weekend we found a "Sams" style opportunity here and we took it. Much prep work had to go into this adventure and it would have cracked you up to see us. First, we had to do a trial run through the store to see what items we would be purchasing on our "real" trip. Second, we had to intrust our children to someone while we would be gone for potentially three hours even though the store is only 5 or so miles away. Third, we mad a RUN for it. We quickly and "eye -sorely" went through the store filling up two buggies to the brim. NO ONE else in the store even had 1 buggy full of stuff ...much less 2 buggies. We are feeding a crew here and everyone is packing lunches for school and work plus as people know me won't be surprised ...we have had a couple of folks staying with us off and on...lots of food. HOWEVER, we know a family who had someone follow them home from this store and intended to steal their car and ended up stealing the car AND their child... so, David was VERY serious about safety FIRST. He parked our "get away " car at the end of the parking area.. right next to the exit lane and in we ran.... out we came. David stuffed 2 buggies of groceries into our sedan and I held a stake out looking for anyone who might look suspicious hovering around our vehicle. Next, David cranked the car...locked all of the doors... I ran and returned our buggy and JUMPED in the vehicle as it rolled out of the parking space. I was somewhat stunned at my husbands "get away " reflexes... we've never really used those much in our married life. Then again, we 've never encountered Central America as a living option before. smile- Only minutes from the store and several miles down the road I loosened my grip on the seat and sweetly suggested to my husband that we could probably slow down now and that surely his speed was an adrenaline rush. He quickly replied that this was our "get away " method and I just needed to get used to it.... He reminded me soberly that we had just spent in a few hours on two weeks worth of groceries what most Guatemalans make for a two month salary.

Somehow, I think that God wants us to see the prosperity that we have in our little part of the world that he has us in .... we ARE seeing ever so clearly that we are blessed and nourished to pour ourselves out for the sake of the poverished and broken. Our story of restoration into Gods right perspective on necessities may be the greatest story we bring home from Guatemala.

May we NEVER be the same,

Mel

WE'VE MADE OUR MOVE ....and survived !

2009-08-27T21:01:00.000-07:00

That's right ! The Evans have a new home in Guate. I still do not have the photos to upload YET but will do that soon. I have to figure out for our security purposes the best way to do it so that you can share visually in our joy without causing possible headaches later. So, please bear with me as I make our security transition as well as our physical transition - gracias !

Well, where to start ! We have been spinning around like a tornado (although we don't have those ....that I'm aware of here in Guatemala) since we made our move and David and Jacob returned from the states. Which brings up a good point to mention...we now have a new driver in our family. Yes, Jacob has received his LEARNERS license while in the states and now we have potentially FOUR people in our family who could be killed in a car accident while DRIVING a vehicle now. smile- it's a morbid statement but all I can say is ....ya just gotta live here to get it ! Life has little to no value and art of patience is like out of date milk.....no one wants to touch it. The driving conditions here are awful and we would be grateful for your prayers in this area . One thought that I had is making a coupon type photo in our newsletter for folks to cut out and tape to their dash boards of their own vehicle to remember our safety daily while driving the streets. Our children are going to have to be on the road as well. David and I just cannot get everyone around that needs transportation so this is a risk for the children as well. What do you think about that? Do you think that people would cut it out and use it ?

David and Jacob had an amazing time in the states. They were exhausted when they returned here. Another note of prayer....When David arrived back in Guatemala he dropped Jacob off at our church for a concert that he was playing in. David was VERY tired and had some small issues at the airport (visa related) .. small but stressful... and he had been up since about 3 or 4 in the morning. This was about 2 in the afternoon that he was traveling home in a friends van. The traffic was moving VERY slow which is a common occurrence IF it is not giving the impression of a ride at SIX FLAGS and so as he tinkered along until he eventually pulled up next to the cause. A man had been hit by a car and was lying dead in the highway. Due to the traffic being at a dead still David was caused to be sitting next to what he described as a man looking like " a dead animal " in the road. I say that so graphic so that you can understand David's emotional state when he arrived home. For several days he had this image. Please pray for him and his rest these days. He is sleeping fine now and although we are unsure of what purpose it served for him to see that ...we know that God WILL use it. Peace will come. Only days later, near our home a woman was killed in the same manner. She was also hit by a car after returning home from ministering to her pastor who was ill in his home. Please pray for the gospel of JESUS alone to rapidly spread in this nation and in particular on Rosevelt Hwy....

Life can be gone so quickly ! There is such an urgency.

I have so much more to add but I want to have you check in again.... OH BIG NEWS..... I am IN MY HOME AND ON LINE at the SAME TIME!!!!!! I haven't had to buy time, a coke or a meal for you to receive news from us. So, hopefully a newsletter will be out quickly and our support and prayer team informed very soon ! We (I ) have had some very sad days here with some adjustment issues. Our life, as expected , is very different in the city. Praise be to God !.... I am feeling so much better these days and expect things to continue to be on the up hill! Thanks for lifting us up to the Lord! We FEEL the presence of your petitions at work in our lives!

Melinda

Not Your Adverage Trip to the Furniture Shop.....

2009-08-14T18:58:00.000-07:00

The photos are from our recent trip to the "furniture shop". There is probably an easier way to load these. I am just unaware of it. Therefore, make sure that you look at the last several post for the new photos. They are like being in another world.... which, most of the time is quite acurate- smile-. What an experience it was !!! I have way more photos to share but to spare some time I decided to split them up . These photos are of the trip to hunt down some sofas and a kitchen table for 10...with chairs...So, enjoy the trip to San Juan. I sure did !!!!

2009-08-14T18:54:00.000-07:00

2009-08-14T18:48:00.000-07:00

More photos and funny stories of our trip to the furniture shop are coming so check back in soon... it was not your adverage trip to grab some sofas and table for sure !

2009-08-11T13:39:00.000-07:00

This woman is weaving a typical cloth that is used on tables. She will also use this loom to make bed covers, table clothes and skirt material on this loom. She has is tied to a post and will sit in this same position for 2 hours at a time to work on her project. This is her means of income for her family.

We were at a local hotel the other day with the children. They have a "pay by the day" pool that you can swim in. We often use this for excercise with the little ones because we have no yard to mention and it is very dangerous for them to be outside of the house to play. If you can see the dark cloud in the background... that is a volcano and the dark smoke is it preparing to erupt.We can often hear it brewing but only a very few times have we seen one erupt. It is really a sight to behold. David asked his language teacher "What do we do if one erupts and spills into the city?" I think he was looking for an evacuation place -smile- she simply told him without flinching "We all die". I CRACKED UP!!!! How's that for a evengelical message ?.... the volcanoe could errupt at any time...are you ready? heeeheee .... It is a good question though? Are you ready?

This is my language teacher. Her name is Olga. She is the typical size of a "healthy" Guatemalan woman. This is the first time in my life I've been considered "tall".

Big news for Jacob...........................

Jacob is coming "home" to the USA for his 15th birthday. We saved some sky miles and he and David are traveling home for Jacob to take his driving test for his learners license. This is pretty necesary if he wants to drive at 16 years old. Here in Guatemala the legal age is 18. However, if you have a license from the USA or other country it is honored... so we've heard anyway heeheeh...... So, two of us from Central America will see you very soon.!

Love to you all and THANK YOU for the encouraging messages... THEY ALWAYS come at the RIGHT time!!!!!!

mel

2009-08-11T13:26:00.000-07:00

Cooper and Jacob having a "sweet" moment...totally posing for the photo.

We celebrated David and Eli's birthday Aug. 1st. Eli turned 6 and David TURNED 40!!!!!!

Sarah Joy was brave enough to try drinking from a coconut that I brought home from the market.

David was NOT brave enough... he too is only posing for the photo!- smile-

These are some of they typical fruits here in Antigua. I specified Antigua because the climate varies greatly here and what is grown in Antigua would not be found in other parts of Guatemala. The red fuzzy fruit is called a "leech". I thought that the older guys were going to fall out of their seat when I told them that my language teacher took me to the market and we were going to have leeches for dinner- toooo funny!!!

H-E-L-L-O !!!!

2009-08-07T12:39:00.000-07:00

Wow !!!! If you are reading this please take a moment and thank the Lord for your internet connection -smile- I am right now!

Seriously, I am sooo sorry that it has been so long since we've updated anyone on anything. Our connection at home is non existant now and I am up to my collar bone in Spanish trying to finish up my first book in language school by the end of next week. Yes, collar bone is a strange analogy but that's where I'm at. I have a tiny bit more space until I'm up to my neck in work for Spanish....at that point I may truely stop breathing from the weight of my vocabulary cards...( laugh if you must but you'll really crack up when I am able to post the photos of ONLY my voc. cards) not to mention the book work.... So, moving on ....

I must say that the emails and PRECIOUS notes left for us on our blog were a beautiful gift today. This morning AT THE CRACK OF DAWN I was standing in front of my kitchen sink looking out at our flowers in the back "space" - calling it a yard is a stretch (smile) ... but it is very beautiful. I struggled to not have tears. We are moving again at the end of next week. Although I am thrilled at the chance to FINALLY unpack ( we still have ALL of our stuff packed in tubs because our rental home is furnished) it is ONE MORE adjustment that we are having to make and it's hard. Getting off of the plane and "landing " in Guatemala caused us to cling tightly to our new surroundings in an attempt to figure out "home" and now we will do it again. The difference between living here and living in the city is almost like getting on the plane again and re- landing. Here is a quick list of the things that my heart will greive when we say goodbye to Antigua : the sound of horse carriages, the reality of poverty lived out in very approachable people, children running through the city park giggling at the top of their lungs, greetings of "hola " and "Buenas Dias" on my way to school at 6:30 in the morning, motorcycles, busses stuffed with people flying by , the smells of bread baking (it's everywhere here), the butcher shop that makes me gag every morning because of the naked meat hanging in the doorway, the man who has no legs and sits in the breesway cleaning the bricks everyday, the women who sits with her daughter painting with her feet because she has tiny, tiny, arms that almost don't extend from her shoulders, the little boys who dress to a "T" in the park shining shoes, my friend Mary who sells necklaces made from beans and sits with me every morning teaching me new Spanish words when she could be selling her goods, my sweet friend Florie who is only 12 and makes an income selling hair weaving and braclets for her family each morning...she sits with us too. We are all quite a sight in the park at 7 am ... one gringo and 3 women from the village who are clearly outcasted from the "social " scene ...we hug and kiss like we've known each other forever.... I LOVE it... I feel like the Lord himself hugs and kisses me through them each morning. They embrace me like they are clinging on for life. I LOVE it and need it so much.I will miss our security guard who watches over us closely, the cobblestone streets that kill my knees, the volcanoes that are either errupting or smoking quite often.... Ahhhhh, how can a life so strange feel so comfortable so soon? I can't help but wonder how the Lord will make the "city" feel like "home". How will a billion people everywhere, tons of busses, crime, smoke and smog, no walking , very little "fresh" air ever be home? .... only because the same Lord that we followed to Antigua will carry us to the city. After all ...home will always be where your heart is right? .... King Jesus, I ask that today you would hold our hearts in your hand, carress them Lord that we might know that in this foreign land your have us tightly. Amen

Thank you for reading the thoughts of this teary eyed missionary - tears of great expectation for things not yet to be known or seen but CONFINDENT that it will ALL be good and well used,

Mel

2009-07-19T13:13:00.000-07:00

We have NO internet connection and so that is where we've been or not been as the case may be. I have stuck my head into a hotel here and paid for 2 hours of connection but as things would go it took 1 hour for them to assist me in getting a connection and then I am only left with about 30 minutes of battery.... thank you to everyone who was used by the Lord to send us to our field training. Without all of the hours of instuction and leadership on frustration managment I think that I would have turned a back flip ...instead I am thankful for a comfy chair, a cool place to sit and my precious 30 minutes!

I wanted to share with you an entry that I was SO impacted by that I wrote it down to blog at my first chance. These events occured last Monday but I would love to encourage you to pray as you feel led for us as if it were today. These are only a small glimpse of our days and can be quite challenging to digest. I have also found out that a friend who is as close as a sister is expecting a baby. While I am thrilled beyond anything that she is being blessed so sweetly by the Lord it is our first "big" event to miss and I am left in tears. I can't even email her to congradulate her.My heart is truely aching ! Seriously. So, Carolyn, with all of my love I pray for you today and trust that you feel my love from all the way in Central America. My tears and aching are only because you have given me such rich friendship for the last 11+ years. My hearts desire is that many will get a glimpse into the joys , gifts and struggles of serving our Lord overseas in an honest and real way. Frienships are so valuable. Motherhood is so precious and the life of "this" missionary is anything but boring and complacent.Today my heart aches for missing out on such celebration of wonderful news.....tonight the Lord will lift me up I know ! He always does!

Confession of a Handicap Christian

Monday was a difficult day. I am only now feeling like I can begin to move past the many bizarre things that I took in on one day alone here in Guatemala. The most horrific and difficult was leaving the market today. The streets are very crowded and you really must stay on the sidewalk unless your desire to be hit by a vehicle. So I am walking in this very crowded condition and I come to a much older man who is lying face up, mouth wide open , against a wall and hands on his waistline. I can't describe the peace on his face but as I leaned as close as I was brave enough to get there was no air being projected from his lungs. My mind was racing - this man is lying here dead and all of these people... NOT just Guatemalan people... ALL of us - we're just walking over and around him. Ashamed to say it but honest enough to admit it I completely locked up in fear. I gave him a a little boost with the toe of my sandal and there was no movement. Panicked with what do I do ... I did nothing. I walked with a heavy heart...not 100% sure that he was dead but FAR from 100 % sure that he was alive. I could use my being a white, woman, very little Spanish, etc as excuses but truthfully it was only that the hands and feet of this servant girl simply didn't respond. In shock of my new country and the sad realities that we face daily I buckled in shock that this man was most likely dead ... what in the world do I do ??? who do I tell ? There are no shops here .. no policmen.... getting a policeman could have been more dangerous for me personally. So, with my spiritual body wounded I walked on. I had been to the market and normally carry all of my things in my backpack. Today I filled by backpack and carried my jug of milk home in hand. Two miles (aprox) with back pack and a gallon of milk is draining some days. The longer /farther I walked the heavier the eyes became that just could not stop glaring at my milk. I could see it in the mothers eyes how they wished for my milk, the young teenage boy on his bike just starred at the jug as we waited for a bus to pull away and cross the street.... it went on the whole way home. I could have collapsed at the reality of my prosperity that I posessed in my one jug of milk. If only I had a bag of cups I could have stood on the corner handing out my cold milk. But I had no cup- no means of sharing my wealth. So, ashamed I lugged my milk home. At this time, it no longer felt like a 1 gal. jug of milk....it felt like 10 . Large enough for everyone to have some with no way of sharing it. The last stretch of my walk home is the only " more dangerous" part that we have. It's actually safe enough. It's just not as public and lined with trees. Anyway, an older teenage boy was passing by on his bicylce and I greeted him. I always do to the people who pass. It's my way of saying - I'm not afraid of you. I'll speak first-smile. So I did. He passed. then out of no where he is riding beside me again. A little nervous, I try to play it cool. He continues to ask personal questions. I tell him that I don't understand ( and I didn't-smile) but did get the idea of what he was saying. He asked me how old I was.... I stopped, looked him in the eye and said (in choppy Spanish) that it was not neccesary for him to know. Good bye! He continued on as I began to walk again. I repeated w/ Good bye (on the verge of a very ugly tone ) once again for the walk home bearing no possesion of the Spirit of God that lives in me. Yes, I know God can provoke our emotions to respond correctly to the situation at hand. True. And I agree. At this point in my walk however, I had lost all love for my "enemy" and just wanted to be "home"- done with the day. How much more saddness and challenge could I take? I was just going to go home and lye down and cry for the hurt of the people we're here to serve. And then I remembered a woman I had passed just that same morning on my way to school. She was maybe 50-60 years old and carrying on her back her 20 something year old invalid son while shaking a change jar with her

hands. What a difficult picture she was for me. In an instant I realized that if she can carry her "handicap", her "burden" , her "load", her life as a mother of an invalid child in an underdeveloped country than so can I! the truth of the day for me was to realize that I am the crippled one. I am the grown child incapable of nothing without the aid and care of my heavenly father. ALL day long he had me on his back ! ALL DAY. He never set me down. I simply chose the harship of holding on instead of the blessing in having a ride.

So, this is my confession. As a beliver in Jesus Christ, as a follower of the gospel, as a child of Jehovah God I missed out. I chose to see the rawness of the world instead of the righteousness of God. In his mercy I will be given a new oppportunity tommorow. By his grace I was given today!

Much love and abundant joy for the pain of being stretched !

Mel

A Day For Treats

2009-07-07T13:15:00.000-07:00

Today was a day for being treated by the Lord. Yes, everyday is a gift but somedays it seems like the Lord throws in a brownie ! Today was one of those days! Starting off with where I left off (literally ) on our blog...we no longer have to scale our wall to get on the roof to view the volcanoe( I totally agree Tam...very cool fun), escape some of the misquitoes or sit and be quiet. WHY? because the gentleman who ownes the house that we are in sent some nice people over to build us a staircase!!!!! Scaling the wall was awesome and so is our new twisty staircase! Just one MORE thing that the Lord has extended us that we don't deserve....

So that was exciting but by far the greatest thing that the Lord did today was bring us our pastors daughter to Antigua !!! She is part of the World Race missions team( you should google it- incredible) and they are making their way through parts of Guatemala and I bumped into her at a YWAM coffee shop here ! So Friday night Grayson and I went to a worship time that they had and then tonight she came over to our house for DOMINOES pizza... yes, they deliver in Guatemala too only they use motorcycles instead of vehicles with little boxes on the back to keep the pizza warm and in one piece-smile- Kelly plays the guitar and sings amazingly well and so we had some praise and worship time where she and Cooper played and sang for us. We also shared some chocolate chip cookies because although we're in Guatemala..cookies are a social southern thing that just make you feel like your HOME (wherever that may be) .

And then......drum roll..... we have (ALMOST) got a home. David paid the deposit today BUT since we are in a foreign country and things are a little different here a deposit only suggest that you interested in some cases and so we are going to see an attorney and sign papers tommorow. Signing papers with an attorney is very customery here and the owners idea. TOMMOROW I may can reveal to you our place to rest our heads for the next 3 years..we are all VERY excited and again...it's one more thing that we don't deserve and the Lord has extended to us great favor in it.

And as if life was not comical enough at the moment...sometimes funnier than others for sure...the man that is finishing the staircase just came to me with his ball hat over his heart and I THINK (think being the key word) I THINK he was telling me that he has hit my car - I just have to crack up!!!! Praise the LORD we didn't pay much at all for it !!!! I thought that it was a good idea to stay with a very cheap car incase it got stolen and now I will add to my list of possiblities... incase someone drives past your driveway with plenty of access to the rest of the road and drags his tires across the side of your vehicle-smile!!!

lovin' life from a new perspective,

**** Sorry. You'll have to check back in for the photos. I can't get them to upload at the moment. And by the way, we are LOVING you leaving us comments. Keep em up. They really do give us fuel for the journey.

2009-07-03T06:21:00.000-07:00

I have loaded a ton of photos from our adventures so far in the month of June. These last two post of photos has taken me almost 10 hours to load so please read and enjoy like your either eating an expensive piece of chocolate or your LAST piece of chocolate for a while(smile) Just kidding about the chocolate part. I do hope that you enjoy a peak into our adventures ..... living life in awe of God's grace and mercy in Guatemala,

The Evans

I couldn't resist taking this photo. The other day I walked out of my bedroom and Jacob was scaling the INTERIOR/EXTERIOR wall of our house. Cooper was already up on top of the roof and due to the ENORMOUS competitive side that I have ...yep, I ended up scaling it too. The same way that Jacob did. You wouldn't believe the incredible view of the volcano Aqua from up there! Very cool!

This is David loading up his phone with pre paid minute. Very expensive and frustrating.

This is the same "home????" that is in the photo below. Below is a photo of it in the daytim. This however is a photo of it on a Friday night rented out as a castle for a birthday party. Unbelievable ! Someone was turning 40 from the states and they rented this place for his party and everyone came dressed in midevil dress. So, if you've gotten tired of all of the "regular" birthday places and you've got a big one coming up.... why not visit us in Guatemala , rent a castle and really throw a birthday party. No blow up toys here needed !!!!!

These are some of our FH staff from the Nebaj area of Guatemala. They came into Antigua for a vacation and so we had a dessert/coffee night at our house. Very fun!

Same Day ...More Photos from June in Antigua

2009-07-02T17:03:00.003-07:00

Youth Sunday at our church here in Guatemala. Yes, even Grayson was SINGING! The kids are getting involved in the youth group. Their youth pastor is on the left with the guitar and his wife is sitting down playing the bongos. Our pastor is in the suit singing.

Cooper played the guitar and Jacob is playing the piano.

David has started what we are calling "a coffee ministry". Every morning he is taking coffee to our guards and trying to build relationships with them. There are close 25 different dilects of Spanish in Guatemala and so there is no assuming that a person speaks " regular" Spanish when you are talking to them. This morning I passed an older man on a bicycle and I said "Buenos Dias" and he answered me "Ocha" (O- chhhhhaaaaaaaa) . okay...that was different (heehee)

At our language school we celebrated a students birthday. Yes, they really do use pinatas for celebrations here ! This is the courtyard of our school. Every student is with their own teacher and our tables line around this courtyard. Beautiful isn't it!
This was the straw that broke the camels back so to speak with our lack of car situation. This was the LAST taxi that I put our kids into. I have no idea who this wonderful man is but his vehicle was sketchy at best. The ride to the city should have taken him about 1 hour and I think that he made it in 4o min. You can tell by the look on the kids faces that they were asking " are you kidding mom?! " They were crammed in like sardines. The photo really doesn't do the situation the humor or un- nervingness (is that a word? ) that it deserved. Anyway, the Lord provided us an 11 year old Honda van only about 3 days later. It has a small water leak in the radiator and I couldn't feel like I had been given a bigger piece of gold. This would have driven me crazy in the states but here I take GREAT JOY in loading up the car and checking for all 8 kids, backpacks, snacks, water bottles and the jug of water for the radiator. I love it !

And So It Continues.....

2009-07-02T14:47:00.000-07:00

We have found the Guatemala version of Las Palmas- even more delicious than at home believe it or not.

Las Palmas is a "by candel light " resteraunt here. Lots of ambionace.

Some days you need LOTS of team work. Jacob and I found this group of ants carrying a corn flake. We just had to crack up. There was one on each side of the flake. Somehow it makes you feel better to know that it takes 4 ants to carry a corn flake and it takes all 8 of us to do MANY things here also.

Grayson braved getting a hair cut with a salon where they spoke NO English. I was so proud of her !

The voting was a great success ! Thank you to everyone who lifted us up in prayer regarding this decision and for the gals that sent comments. EVERYONE was in agreement to option #2 and so staying with democrocy (and GREAT revelation from the Lord-smile) we are going with AN option #2. We are so fortunet (thanks to many prayers) that we have been put into contact with a REAL ESTATE agent here in Guatemala. He is the gentleman who found our friends home (the neighbors that we would have in opt #2). I didn't want to tell you that the North Americans in option #2 are some dear friends that the Lord has brought our way. Thier kids are our kids ages and along with one other couple who we met when the three of us get together we have a party of 27 !!!! The other couple has 10 children (actually 9 but they have one who is hanging out with them for the summer from the states ). This has been amazing to be with them. They have all been here for the exact amount of time as us and we are all "adjusting" together.We were at the home of one of the couples this past Sunday after church and both of the women prayed with me regarding finding God's perfect home and could so relate to the importance of needing it to be SOLELY from the Lord ! You definetly don't want to conguer up a great home in a new country.... the best option is always God's option and thanks to the prayers of many I believe that we are on our way. We meet with the real estate agent to check out about 4 more places (which is amazing that we have the chance to see SO MANY homes) THIS Saturday. And so it contnues.... the house hunting. I'll keep you posted.

One other request before I get on with lots of photos for you *** Could you please pray regarding our newsletter mailout. Our internet connection is HORRIBLE. I have had the computer on for the last 4 hours waiting for a connection to type this and check email. I am really feeling awful that I cannot update our support family . I simply have only a few minutes with either a connection or very little TIME to walk to the cafe to work on it. Our kids can get away with leaving for hours and hanging out up there but it is almost impossible for me to get away at all right now. So... would you pray that I will recieve the time to work on this very BIG task ( our addresses have aparently gotten jumbled up and so it will take time to sort them out) and second that I would recieve the burden lifted from this issue. I'm just really having a hard time releasing it to the Lord. THANK YOU!!!!

So, some photos of our time here in June . I can't believe that we are 6 days away from being in Guatemala for a month. Amazing !

Just for fun...what do you think?

2009-06-29T06:41:00.000-07:00

Just for fun.... we have started to look for the house where we will live for several years (prayerfully so anyway. Contracts are pretty losely written in any foreign country I believe) Anyway, so for the fun of it and due to the enormous stress of it all I thought that I would throw out the question to you all and share some of the STRESS that this is causing me (sort of kidding but mostely NOT) :

house option 1 : huge house, needs LOTS of work , has a very small yard , a gate , no guard , no neighbors but a school on one side of it

house option 2: smaller house, very tidy and new, neighbors are close enough to sit on a VERY TINY balcony and share a meal with us without ever coming over to our house... we could just sit and pass food, N. American neighbors, guard

Wait you say... we need photos to help make such a decision.... I opted for no photos because that is a little of our life here. You see a home that you like after you've tracked down somebody that knows somebody so you could get in to see it and then you've found another somebody with a house and so on.... after two or three houses you get them all mixed up but there is no "agent " to get you back in , etc..... and so you're left with your mind all crazy because you have so many other things to consider other than the actual house... I could go on but for the fun of it WHAT DO YOU THINK? ... opt 1 or 2

This could have been sooo much worse ! ......

2009-06-21T14:14:00.000-07:00

How many times as parents do we walk away from a situation gasping for air and thanking the Lord for his provision of mercy .... we declare outloud ... "oh Lord , this could have been so much worse ! Thank you for your mercy on my child and us as parents and our family??? To many to count (atleast in our case -smile) . I wanted to share with you a little boo boo that Eli received the other day when he fell from HIS BUNK BED (yes, these beds save space but are they REALLY worth it ?! ) . Friday after classes (when my brain is dead) I had put the little guys in their bed with toys and books for some "independent" time. I use this time to get my home work done, catch up with the older kids, get stuff ready for dinner ( which is a HUGE deal here - no complaints- just the way it goes) .... anyway, I heard Eli crying and remembered that he was in his room alone that day so WHY would he be crying ? ???? hmmm.... I went to check it out and when I got to his room he was back up on his bunk and so goes the following photos. We are grateful for Gods' mercy that he has poured out on us while we are here. Our dependency on him is INFINETLY greater and we are seeing him be POWERFULLY clearer as he goes before us, over us , around us and behind us making way for himself to be used and clear in our lives. SO.... while we grieve that Eli has had to have this fall we are greatful for Gods protection and the testimony to share with others of Gods' faithfulness. Would God have still been faithful if he had chosen a different outcome for Eli. ABSOLUTELY ! ,So many times already we have thought through this fall of Eli's and the fact that we have no vehicle yet and no real means of hospital that we have found yet so a simple fall seems to have a greater sense of protection when you make it through with no major results. We are still in training to serve the people of Guatemala on a deeper relationship level. How can we have a heart to serve these people when we have not had to walk in the rain, have water splashed on you by vehicles/motorcycles on the way to school, shopping from the market(NOT a super market), almost no language which equals illiteracy,Eli's fall from the bed with moments of hmm...what should we do right now(quickly)....the list could go on forever.... our training goes on forever and our opportunities to relate to the Guatemalan people will go on forever! We are SO GRATEFUL ! How blessed is this life that God has chosen for us. On days when things go nuts and I can't tell the difference between a bannana and a much different funky fruit(photo for another day-smile) I still KNOW that we are so blessed to have THIS life with THESE people !

Praise be to God for his protection for Eli ! Praise be to God for his protection from the things that none of us ever see !

Love you all-

Mel

2009-06-19T13:52:00.003-07:00

I am having trouble uploading photos today and so you just get a bunch of words-smile. I will definetly post some photos as soon as I can. While I'm on the subject of internet challenges in a foreign country, I wanted to say that I am SO SORRY that I am not sending out a newsletter yet. We are swamped with the challenges of full time (4 hours a day + aprox 1 -2 hours of homework), walking, walking,walking(smile), market, cooking, washing, washing, getting to know our people group by being out and about WHEW ! its TONS of transition. My newsletter list of emails has gotten all scrambled up and finding the 3 + hours that I need to work on it is not appearing as of yet but I am HOPEFUL that I will have it soon. We are finishing our two weeks of being here and everyday things seem easier and more "normal". Unfortunetly, there are just so time consuming as well. Anyway, PLEASE be patient with us and we will have a newsletter very soon !

Some neat things that have happened :

* I am starting to hear some of the language that I am learning in school being used on the streets. I know that sounds crazy but the Guatemalan people talk so fast that it is hard to catch really even one word ( people say that we talk fast in the south- whew- I don't know about that anymore)

* I only cried to myself (in the school bathroom) twice this week because I just get exhauseted trying to hear and speak Spanish for 4 hours everyday. I even go to bed hearing my vocabulary list going on and on in my head. David woke up the other day and asked me if I kept hearing Spanish words all night so I must not be crazy.

*Grayson and I were in a shop yesterday and I recognized the words Hallelujah being sung in a song. I asked the lady in VERY choppy Spanish first What is your name( atleast that was my intention) After she answered me Good I realized that I had asked her How are you (tooo funny ! ) Anyway, somehow by the Lords grace I was able to ask her if it was Christian music on the radio and she said yes. I asked her if she was a Christian and she said yes. Before I knew it there were 3 girls standing there wanting to hear/speak English. One of the girls said that she knew English because she had been adopted by North Americans when she was younger. She has now moved back to Guatemala and misses her family. I left the store so excited ! I feel like these girls are some young ladies that I can reach out to and encourage using my Spanish in a way that can really bring glory to the Lord.

*some challenges that we have:

1) traveling around: Yesterday, Grayson, myself and the three little guys were walking to meet David after language class. It is about a 2 mile walk one way. We headed out and the weather was fine. Not long into our walk (but to far into it to turn and go home) the bottom fell out of the sky. YEP! All of us were drenched ! We never made it to David. We had gone about a mile and then turned to go home (still pouring down rain) . We reached the house and realized that the only two keys to the house were with David and Cooper. (That was not a being deal before the rain because we were meeting up with both of them ) There is no porch here. Not even on anyone elses house to get under so we turned and headed back towards town. All of my frustration was put into perspective though when we reached the road. There were men in business suits and briefcases, women on their husbands handlebars of bikes, children soaking wet(like mine) but ALL of this put together that this is their life... We will eventually have a car... they more than likely won't. So.... all of the sudden it was just okay to be walking in the pouring down rain soaked to the bone. We weren't alone..not physically or spiritually. God is with the weary, down trodden and soaked to the bone. Even on days that just seem to give us rain and more rain we can be sure of two things.... the sun WILL come out and God IS with us!

Love to you all from Central American (during rain season-smile),

Melinda

2009-06-17T12:35:00.000-07:00

This is the "outside" in the "inside" of our house. It is very peaceful out here at night. There are a lot of lights out there and it is a great place to just come in and sit after the CRAZINESS of LANGUAGE SCHOOL.

These photos do not do the McDonalds here any justice at all. This bench is in a garden that is groomed by an employee that wears pleated pants, a starched shirt and tie. Why? because GOOD jobs are VALUABLE here and this is considered a top notch job for sure!

One of the many cozy areas at the McDonalds. It still cracks me up to think that I retreat to Mickey - D's to catch up on the day with David and the kids when they pick me up from language school. It is honestly SO peaceful and beautiful ! You'll just have to come and see it for yourself -smile

La casa .

This is our home temporarily while we study our Espanol through the summer. This is a very peaceful place to retreat to as well after the craziness of the crowded streets .

Antigua is surrounded by several volcanoes. This is the volcano Agua. Our van driver drove is to this lookout spot Sunday after church. I thought that you would enjoy seeing it because it looks out over all of Antigua. I love this picture and have dubbed it my "prayer pic" because it covers the people that God has sent us to for the days ahead.

2009-06-16T14:39:00.001-07:00

This is a tuk - tuk (took -took) that we used to get home from the market. It was VERY HOT on this day.The flowers that Sarah Joy has in her hand were a huge bundle (3 dozen roses) . We are able to buy these fresh on market days. They are VERY inexpensive and Sarah Joy's FAVORITE thing in the world ! (flowers and ice cream that is).

A typical street scene. These women carry anything from food to babies in their bundles.

Cooper, Darby(our van driver for church on Sundays) and Jacob at one of the many volcanoes that surround us here in Antigua.

Poverty and its effects always catch my breath.

The umbrellas in this photo are little mini market booths set up to sell everything from local food items(we haven't tried anything yet...but you should smell the grilled corn - yummm! )to little trinket toys and newspapers. Market day on Saturdays are always exciting. This is the same day that we took our tuk tuk home. It has the feeling of being at a festival every Saturday.

So sorry...still no photos !

2009-06-12T16:23:00.001-07:00

We have gotten internet connection in our house which is sketchy at best as to when it wants to work but it is here and we are thankful ! I STILL have no photos to post and I am so sorry. Tonight David , Cooper, Jacob and Grayson went on a search to find something adventurous to do since we are without a car and have pretty much the same routine this week. So, they are all hiking a VOLCANO ! Yep, for 6$ a piece they have gone on a "guided" tour of one of the MANY volcanoes here. When we leave our home in the morning we use one of the volcanoes that is behind our house as a marker and way to find our way home. Anyway, Grayson has my camera. I couldn't send here that close to LAVA and her not get it on film. The little guys and I had a pretty calm afternoon opting for something fun but not THAT adventurous (yet). They played outside (but were inside) our house. I unpacked and sorted my SCRAPBOOK tub. It felt like Christmas. Amy and Cristin , thank you for all of the extra goodies ! I'm working on one of my albums tonight and can't wait ! It is so hot inside the house (no A/C ) this afternoon but tonight it will be awesome.

Some funny things about our new culture :

*when shopping in the Piaz (Guatemalan Wal Mart) you MUST open your boxes and make sure that everything that you are paying for is in the box. Seriously, we bought chocolate squares. I got to the register and felt the box shake...one of the squares was missing... hard to be frustrated though. Three bars or four , I was thanking the Lord that I had found the chocolate to start with. Then, we had to purchase a dvd player for the TV and got it all of the way home and there was a dvd player but no CORD .... (who wants just a cord ? ...well, us now I guess- smile) .

*motorcycles DO NOT stop or yield to people walking !

*cars DO NOT stop or yield to the motorcycles or the the people !

*BUSES will run over ANYTHING here - people, bikes, motorcycles, cars, dogs, (you get the picture ) .. They are HUGE and FAST ! The term "public transportation" should be used loosely)

*McDonalds is a five star restaurant including a formal garden, coffee shop that puts the swankiest Star bucks to shame, and pergola with outdoor dining to classical spanish music.Quite the ambiance.

*stray dogs and cats are no where to been seen here (hhmmm).

* it is dark every night and all year long at aprox. 6:30 -7:00 and the sun comes up at about 4:30-4:45 and SO DOES ELI!!!!!!! (yuck). Since our house is open in the middle it is sort of like a glorified tent and you wake up to the sky. Beautiful but early !

* one wrong turn to the market can cost you a 4 1/2 mile walk(instead of 1 1/s or 2 miles) but WITH groceries and CHILDREN !

Things that we LOVE about our new culture:

*the people, the people , the people

*our new home

*the language

*God's amazing art work that surrounds us.

*our team members

*the CONSTANT confirmation that God sends us to remind us WHY and by WHOM we are here !

*the weather (a constant 70-79 degrees all year -at least here in Antigua)

So, there is a lot of information but still no photos so I will go to work on that this weekend. We start language school on Monday which will bring us a whole new twist to doing things here. Should be interesting !

Love to you all from Central America,

Mel

First news from Guatemala

2009-06-08T17:34:00.001-07:00

THANK YOU for your PRAYERS ! Our family has NEVER taken a flight with 32 pieces of luggage and 3 1/2 hours of flight time ...(of course...who would be crazy enough to do that for fun -smile) and we KNEW that many people were praying because it was SOOOO smooth. Things were a bit crazy feeling trying to get that many pieces of luggage checked but we survived thanks to Stephanie (an old pro at that ) and both of our parents who watched little ones for us while we taped and weighted everything. Our field director met us at the airport when we landed and it took us two vehicles to get everything to our house.... no, I don't have photos of our house yet. But I will get those out quickly. The Lord has blessed us so much and our temporary housing is no exception. It is so unique. It is a square shape house with big wooden "castle" style doors in the front. It is attached to other houses on the sides. You go in the doors and instead of being inside the house you are standing in a courtyard that has the other rooms lining up around it. I will try to make a video and post it because it is a far cry from a southern style house - smile- Also, yesterday it poured rain ( this is the rain season for us) and because the middle of the house is open .....YES it rained in the center of our HOUSE ! I will also try to video tape that .

* I am so tired from doing everyday things that take FOREVER to do ....ie, groceries.... Cooper and I took aprx 45 minutes to buy aprox 10 items and had to carry them back to our home on foot for about 1 1/2 miles. (whew) ... It was not a quick spin to Kroger or Walmart. But I wouldn't trade this for anything! I sat for a few minutes today and tried to think back to when the exact time was that God must have called me individually into this role and foreign country and I couldn't . There are so many things in my life personally that have given me the faith to do this amazing work ! I am humbled. David and I both feel like our entire marriage journey has been in preparation for this country. I have never felt so immediately at "home" and been so far from "home" all at the same time. Please forgive me for not emailing anyone individually yet. It is very difficult to get to the cafe and then due to safety and night curfew we must leave in a minute. (We are very safe where we are living but need to be aware just the same.) The children are doing well and there adjustments are coming at a different speed than David and I . We are encouraged that God is covering us in both protection and plan. We would gratefully and humbly ask that you continue to pray for us all. Especially our children. We are easily homesick and the reality that we are not on vacation is present but the truth of God's call is so much louder in our ears. We are in love with the notion of being here with the Lord and waiting on the difficulties to pass ... confident that God will bring great measures of peace and grace.

Thank you to each person who is a part of our team. Even if you are simply reading this blog you are on our team. Thank you for your prayers and comments. I was so encouraged and my spirits lifted at reading them.

Good night from Guatemala ! You are all dearly loved by us -

Mel

2009-06-06T20:39:00.000-07:00

We're off to Guatemala in the morning. We are still packing at a very late hour and will leave for the airport before dawn SO .... not much time for details but we WILL be blogging from Guatemala as soon as we can get a connection.

Please pray for safe travel and for all 18 of our bags to make it with us.... Thank you very much !

'night !

*next post from Guatemala ! WHoo-hooo!

Rosemary ....Part1

2009-05-25T10:03:00.000-07:00

We have had so much fun and we are home again. Since we are in official CRAZY mode trying to prepare to leave the country in 2 weeks I'll post a few photos and then some more at the next post. Enjoy!

Sarah Joy is fishing and believe it or not..she actually caught some fish. They were only .5cm but they were fish none the less. Regretfully, they did not live for the photo opp.

Where are all of our older kids? ....somewhere out there having a great time.

Dave and Melinda .....by the pool

Tyler is showing us his muscles that he's been building at the Sugar Shack (smile)

Eli...not a bit crabby in the pool ! (his float is a big red crab )

We love you all.... Thank you for checking in and joining us on this crazy ride. Tomorrow 7 of us are getting vaccinated ! There should be some stories with that ! Poor Doc. I think that they intentionally scheduled us for the end of the day ... Somehow , with traveling this past year, I am free and clear ...no shots for mom ... so David is giving me the afternoon off... hmmm...what will I do with 2 hours ....

2009-05-18T06:40:00.000-07:00

These are for you ! David's grandmother turned 93 before we left and these are from her party. She is one of the loveliest women that you would ever meet and if you have loved us she would love you and want you to be a part of her party. So enjoy the flowers !

Leaving for the beach . Little did we know that once we landed there that we would be at 100% and able to celebrate this HUGE life event in such a BEAUTIFUL place ! We are humbled and amazed God. Thank you !

Cooper is becoming quite the photographer. I'll have to post some of his pictures in a blog. They are soo good !

Tyler is going to miss collecting shells. We have a ton of them. David and I are going to carry them all home and make picture frames with them. Thank you for our collection Tye !

Where does the time go ??? It seems like only a few short years ago and the back row was the size of the front row and there was no sign of a front row . God is so full of surprises and adventures. I can't help but wonder what the adventures and surprises are for us in the years to come.

2009-05-18T06:23:00.000-07:00

Some fun photo time with everyone ! I have to grab it while I can.

Eli is turning darker by the second. Check out how white his hands are with sand on them. I think that my legs are this color ! Is he Chinese or African ? HANDSOME !

Our guys flew home with their youth pastor who is also a pilot for the weekend to play music for a youth event. We were so excited that they had this opportunity and so glad that they are back with us. Someone asked us "Are you not scared to send them home on a tiny plane ?" Our answer, "No way. Having them drive in Guatemala ... that is scary....a plane ride over the ocean ...not scared at all. " Does that put the driving in Guatemala in perspective for ya ? (smile) I'm sure that it will seem like no big deal in no time ! right?

These sweet children became great friends with our little guys quickly while we've been here. They invited the children over for popsicles and surprised us by giving us ALL of their leftover groceries and laundry detergent ! only God.... amazing!

Speaking of miraculous things that God does.... Grayson had one of her dearest friends here at the same beach at the same time with no planning on our part... Just God working out a great goodbye time for Gracie. Precious ! We're all going to miss you Corey !

We (you) Did It !!!!

2009-05-12T19:10:00.000-07:00

We have all done it ! Together, the Lord has brought us to 100 % ! We , the Evans , are goin' to Guatemala!!! We have a date. We actually have tickets. I'm a bit speechless on the subject so I'll keep this brief while I digest it. I must say that even though we could see this coming for a few weeks now..today ,when we received the word that our tickets "are in the mail", I had to catch my breath. We have so much to do all of the sudden and PERFECTLY the Lord has us in a place (literally) where we just can't do a whole lot. We are trying to rest, re -coupe and "pleasure plan" because we're really down to the very last of details. Before we left and headed on vacation Sarah Joy and I re - sifted our boxes and actually got rid of a few more things and then I gave away 2 more bags of clothes. I think that at last count we have 9 boxes going with us. Maybe we'll have about 3 more by the time that we're done. Very weird !

I just want to say Thank You to each one of you who have read this blog, prayed for us and sent us encouraging notes, etc. We are pinching ourselves that this is really our life. It is a life that is not very easy (only at times) but a rich life full of each others company and the making of memories....heavenly treasure ! That's what this time in life is !

Diggin' for gold,

What's Up ?

2009-05-05T15:13:00.000-07:00

What have the Evans been up to since arriving home and ' sleeping in our own bed'? We have been up to our eyeballs in PAPERWORK. Why ? Because we're at 98.5%%%%%% !!!!!!! This is so exciting and energizing. Please continue to PRAY ^PRAY^PRAY... Pray that God will interject our paths with the people that he desires to sow fruit into HIS ministry to the people of Guatemala. (Gracias) Then, we are all climbing back into the car for another 2 week trip on Monday and so there are a lot of last minute goodies to take care of . Mostly, we are trying to gain this 2.5% by this Friday so that we can book our PLANE TICKETS for the first part of June. I can't believe it.... God is really carrying us to Guatemala..... so very soon ! ....(amazing) Thank you Lord !