Life and times in Chichicastenango

1
Jun

Saying good-bye to the 2011-2012 School year…and for Jenna, it is good-bye to Elementary School!  Leah and Jenna are growing up so fast and we are enjoying them very much!  This year has been great for homeschool and we have enjoyed our time together.  It is hard to believe that we now have an 8th and a 6th grader.  Wow, time is flying!  I know that they miss their friends back home terribly and want to say ‘Hi’ to all of you.  Congrats to Becca Greene and many others who have also finished Elementary and are heading to middle school…crazy??!!  Love to all of you.

~Kristen

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26
May

In just a bit more than a weeks time we have garden goodies sprouting!  I am truly amazed at how fast we are getting results.  I’ve noticed the neighbors chickens scratching around and dogs wandering through the garden.  Now for a bit of chicken wire for protection.  The guys here also love to use heavy pesticides.  Anyone know of any home-brew organic pesticides for gardens?

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25
May

Manos De Jesus Staff Retreat on a beach in El Salvador.  Wow!  What a beautiful part of God’s creation.  We all had a great time this week enjoying the surf, relaxing, and exploring an amazing cave all just down the steps from where we stayed.

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19
May

Gardners gardening?

I bought a bunch of seeds when we were back in the states recently.  My hope is to see what will grow.  It’s an experiment of sorts.  It’s an experiment that may grow into a large greenhouse that I hope will providing locals with an income and a food source that they may not otherwise be able to start themselves.  First we will have to see what will grow.  It’s exciting, this little garden.  I hope it realizes that I have big expectations.  :-)

Last week I casually mentioned that I was thinking about planting a garden next to my house to our official gardeners on staff here at Monte Flor, Juan and Sebastian.  Juan came to my door this week in a rain storm and asked to show me something.  He led me outside to show me his and Sebastian’s handiwork.  I am amazed!  These two guys are incredible.

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10
May
Presentation counts when just eating fruits and veggies for 10 days.  So, we decided to get a little creative Jesse Cash style.  I know, pine nuts are not a fruit or a vegetable but it’s a delicacy to us here in Guatemala just to jazzy things up a bit.  Enough about salad.  Time for more ministry stuff.  Stay tuned to: http://www.facebook.com/PrayAmericaMDJ for continual ministry updates.

Presentation counts when just eating fruits and veggies for 10 days.  So, we decided to get a little creative Jesse Cash style.  I know, pine nuts are not a fruit or a vegetable but it’s a delicacy to us here in Guatemala just to jazzy things up a bit.  Enough about salad.  Time for more ministry stuff.  Stay tuned to: http://www.facebook.com/PrayAmericaMDJ for continual ministry updates.

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10
May
Day 5:  Washed fruits and veggies from the market here in Chichi.  We’re making alot of shakes, grilling alot of veggies and eating alot of salads.  I know the word “alot” is not supposed to be used alot.  However, it’s alot of washing and cleaning and cooking.  Kristen has been doing great at being creative with what is available to us here.  You may see a few things in the photo that you don’t recognize.  Don’t worry, neither do we.  We couldn’t even begin to try to pronounce their name either :-)  The green guy, middle right, looks like an old man without his dentures.  We’re having fun trying new things. Peace to our friends and family State-side.  Thank you for your prayers! ~Bill, Kristen, Leah and Jenna.

Day 5:  Washed fruits and veggies from the market here in Chichi.  We’re making alot of shakes, grilling alot of veggies and eating alot of salads.  I know the word “alot” is not supposed to be used alot.  However, it’s alot of washing and cleaning and cooking.  Kristen has been doing great at being creative with what is available to us here.  You may see a few things in the photo that you don’t recognize.  Don’t worry, neither do we.  We couldn’t even begin to try to pronounce their name either :-)  The green guy, middle right, looks like an old man without his dentures.  We’re having fun trying new things.

Peace to our friends and family State-side.  Thank you for your prayers!

~Bill, Kristen, Leah and Jenna.

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2
May

My amazing wife made Kale Chips today!  Yes, Kale.

Just cut the rough stems off & cut leaves into chip sized pieces.  Place on a baking sheet in a single layer.  Drizzle or brush with olive oil (original recipe called for coconut oil).  Sprinkle with sea salt.  Bake at 250 degrees for 45 min.  Enjoy!

It is Jeremy and Jill’s fault that we are even eating Kale.  We might get brave and show you a few photos of our recent morning “green” smoothies of which Jeremy and Jill are also to blame.  :-)

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29
Apr

Home again

After a long day of flying, grocery shopping, and traveling the Gardner Family is home.  We are all bleary eyed from a quick stint State-side but we are safe and sound in Guatemala.  It was great to see family and friends considering the reason for our trip.  Thank you all for your warm welcome home, sharing your stuff, and your homes with us.  We enjoyed seeing most all of you.  Sorry we weren’t able to see everyone.  It was also a good reunion with the Tandy’s, Ron, Andrew & Hannah, Tammy, and Kevin. 

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28
Apr

Came to States in sadness - Leaving with Peace

2 weeks ago we made a quick decision to come to the States as we learned of the sudden passing of our step father, Al Martorano.  We spent the first week here with Bill’s mom in Statesboro, GA.  It was sad, at times, and happy, much of the time, as we got the opportunity to spend time with family.  The out-pouring of love on Bill’s mom from her own family and from her church and neighborhood family was so great to experience.  Bill’s mom is in a great place with her faith and her friends and is being carried by the Holy Spirit in a way that is bringing us much peace right now.  We all miss Al very much and all that he brought to our family.

The second week we spent in Fort Mill - catching up with some dear family and friends and on some much needed work on our home in Baxter.  As it has turned out, we are grateful to God that we are in the beginning stages of a lease to purchase on our home.  It is bittersweet as we all have made a decision to say good-bye to 626 Lena Way over the next couple of years.  It doesn’t mean that we won’t ever return to Fort Mill; however, it does mean that we will live in a different house when the time comes for us to return.   And, we are all ok with that.  :)

So, tomorrow, bright and early…well, maybe not bright, but definitely early - we head back home!  We are excited about what God has for us in the coming months.  In the very near future, next week, Bill and I will celebrate 15 years of our marriage!   God has been so good and faithful to carry us through many good times, hard times, job losses, cancer, 2 beautiful young ladies, short term mission trips, and our move to Guatemala, along with so much more.  Through all of it, He has been faithful and has grown our faith in Him.  And, now, we celebrate this time as the best of friends with a three-cord strand that will not be broken. 

So, what the world might have meant for sadness and grief…the Lord has brought peace to our hearts.  And, so therefore…we will “…not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.   And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 4:6-8)

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26
Apr
Even trade?  I used to call Alex “Q-Tip” and he called me “Box Head”…until today.  :-)

Even trade?  I used to call Alex “Q-Tip” and he called me “Box Head”…until today.  :-)

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