Saying Goodbye

Saying goodbye has become a part of our lives as missionaries. When we left for the field in 2000, we said our goodbyes to family and friends. What we didn't expect, though, is how often we would be saying goodbye to people as they leave Guatemala. This morning we said yet another tearful goodbye to our good friends the Ellers. Kory and Laura Eller, along with their children Katie (11), Ben (8), and JoshE (6) left for the States for a year long furlough. From their they will be in Spain for the Fall of 2006. We will not see them again until January of 2007. As we hugged their kids, I thought of how much they will change in this year and a half. Driving home, Kayla asked, "Mommy, when is JoshE coming back?" "In a year and a half," I told her. "How long is that?" she asked. "Well, Kayla, you'll be seven before he comes home." I turned back to see the tears streaming down her face. When you live overseas friends become like a second family. The Ellers have been that to us: the kids like cousins, their parents like aunt and uncle to our girls, and to Kyle and I, great friends. They will be missed.

Dancing with JoshE

Not only does our six-year-old, Kayla, love to dance, but she loves to dance with JoshE (that is how he spells his name) Eller, her best friend. Although their relationship is strictly platonic at this point, a relief to both sets of parents, when asked, Kayla and JoshE admit that they have plans to get married someday and have children. In this picture they are in our house practicing a dance they learned in school to the song, "You're the one that I want" from the Grease sound track. Since we moved to Guatemala in 2000 we have been co-workers, neighbors and friends with JoshE and his family. They used to live a block away from our old house and last year they bought the house just six houses down from our new house. JoshE and his family are leaving at the end of August for a year furlough. They will be missed!

Sacrificial Living

Some people think that living in another country as a missionary is a big sacrifice. Well, I'd like to set the record straight, at least from my point of view. While I do miss Starbucks, nice highways, convenience shopping, outdoor recreation, and the Olive Garden, there is not much to want for here in Central America. Not having those things, that I do enjoy, does not really consititute sacrificial living. No, the biggest sacrifice is not WHAT we have left behind, but WHO we have left behind: Our families. As many of you know, it is hard to live far away from the ones you love. All things considered, the sacrifice that is made is not watching my nephews and nieces grow up. It's my girls not seeing their grandparents, great-grandparents, aunts and uncles. It's when Kayla is lying on her bed, with tears in her eyes, holding a picture of her grandparents, crying because she misses them, that I feel like we are sacrificing much. Jim and Ida, thank you for visiting us this month, we love you. And to our friends who made it possible, thank you!

Am I an Evangelical?

Here's a peak at our August newsletter:

Sergio piped up and said, "I used to be evangelical."
"What changed?" I asked.
He answerred, "I felt like evangelicals only follow a bunch of rules, they don't drink, smoke, or dance, but they are hypocritical, they judge others, they are envious and jealous people."
Wow, I thought, I don't want to be in that group!

Click here to read more about when religion gets in the way of relationship.