Passing of the Torch...

Last Wednesday I traveled back to Bakersfield so that I could be a part of an epic event... ERIN O'DANIEL got married!!! It was a very quick trip, but it was nice to go home after a few weeks of getting settled in here.

First I got home around 3AM and hit the hay because the next day, Thursday, I was to make an appearance at Rosedale Bible Church's VBS. It was a great time of catching up with people but it went by waaaay too fast. I love my church family and the support they give me!

Then Thursday afternoon the trip really began. Layne got off work and we picked Denise up in Fresno and got to Nor Cal just in time to check into the Motel 6 (yes, they left the light on for us) and head out for a fun last night on the town.

The wedding was gorgeous and my best friend looked amazing. In fact, all my best friends looked amazing and it was so wonderful to share that time with all of them since we all four know it will be a while until we are together again.


At the end of the reception Matt and I had a very touching moment when I passed the torch onto him. I don't know if you are familiar with the relationship I have with Erin but many people have asked us if we were a dating couple in the past- we are that close. So now with my girl going off with this man, I had to make sure that the torch was passed and that he knew that she would now be under his watch.

It was a wonderful time with family and friends and I am so thankful that I had the chance to be a part of it- I wouldn't have missed it for the world!!!

Getting Settled...

I have been here over two weeks now and it feels like I have lived here for half of my life. Things are going really well and I seemed to easily fall into the flow of things around here. Most of my time during the week is spent doing ministries with children but I also have some time in the kitchen and have put in some hours cleaning up around the base.

I have been adjusting fairly well so far. I did have a hard day last Thursday because my baby sister Sara graduated from high school and I was not there to see her. I know that this is just one of the many things I will miss living a missionary life, but that does not make it any easier. The bright side is that I get to go home in about a week and see everyone again.

I had not planned this trip home so soon after I arrived on purpose but after I bought my ticket and planned my return to Guatemala in May I found out that one of my very best friends, Erin O'Daniel, is getting married in June. I could NOT miss the wedding so I decided to make a trip home. I am excited to see everyone again, even if it will be for a very very short week. I already have a list of things I want to bring back with me when I return- especially certain snacks that I am already missing. It will for sure be a great time of celebration!!!

When I first arrived here I was put in a room with a girl named Aury who is from here, but they told me not to unpack everything because I would be moving as soon as another staff member left. Well that staff member left and now I am semi-settled into my new room. I now share a room with Ale, another Guatemalan girl, who is planning on leaving the base soon as well to move on to other things. For now I have the top bunk, but hopefully after she moves out I will be able to move myself down to the more accessible bottom! It is a very nice room, though, with enough space for all my things.



Some things you can be praying for specifically are:

-That I would continue to adjust well to my new home

-That my stomach would adjust to the food...again

-God's passions to continue to be made known to our base

-For the children that come to our weekly ministries

-For my Spanish to continue improving (I am one of the only English speakers here!)


Thank you all so very much!

LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!

Update on Guatmala City

It has been pretty crazy around here the past few days. I posted the pictures of the sand storm in my last blog. I think I still have some sand in my hair and there is definitely sand all over still. After the sand rained down it began to rain actual water. We were glad at first because we thought that we wouldn't have to clean much sand up since the water would wash it away. Then it kept raining and raining and raining. It rained for at least 2 days without stopping. We are not talking a little bit of rain here and a sprinkle there, either. I went outside on Saturday night and began looking for Noah and the ark because the streets were just flooded.

As a result of the sand and the rain there have been many people in need. We went out to a village on the outside of Guatemala City and walked around looking for problems and ways we could help. We found a woman named Leslie who lost her husband about a year ago. After he died she took over his work as a carpenter to support her young family. The problem was their business and home were built on a hill that was not sturdy to say the least. When the sand came down and the water flooded it caused the building where she does her carpentry work to collapse completely and she lost all of her tools. Her house that was build next to the building survived but has part of it hanging very precariously off the side of the hill. The problem is that she doesn't want to move too far away from the area because that is where all of her business comes from and it is also where her family lives. We are going to do our best to help her out in whatever way we can as she tries to get back on her feet again.

Another tragedy that happened because of the storm actually happened to one of our own Youth with a Mission staff families. They live in a house off the base and as the sand feel it put extra weight on their roof. Then the water began to flood in and the roof could not handle all the weight so their house began to flood. Thankfully we have extra room here on the base and they were able to stay with us until the roof was fixed. There are so many other families, though, who are dealing with problems like these. It is overwhelming to see and to just imagine losing your loved ones and house to rain and floods.

Thankfully it is sunny and warm now so the process of restoration can begin but it is still rainy season- and just the beginning at that- here in Guatemala. I know that God is in control so we just have to trust in Him. Please keep everyone who was affected in your prayers. Thank you!!!