Good Grief

I know, I know, it's been more than 2 months!  Certainly unforgivable, I'm sure.  I can't even lie and say I didn't have 15 minutes in the last 2 months to update.  I can say that I have been pretty busy, but alas, that's no excuse.

Let's see...I last updated February 19...the week after that, I went to a missions conference with other missionaries in Guatemala.  It was a refreshing time of worship and getting to know other missionaries.  However, on the way home as I was driving with 2 other friends in my friend’s car, we came upon some construction and ended up with a flat tire.  Praise the Lord we were safe for those 2 hours on the side of the road; 3 white girls and a carload of valuables!  Praise the Lord also for Randy and Brenda who saved the day and came to help us!  2 days after I returned from the conference, I moved out of Randy and Brenda's house due to some safety concerns, and into a house with 2 other teachers from CAG.  It was hard to move out, as R and B have become like my parents while I'm here!

Tabitha and me in Panajachel for the conference

The following week, (March 7) a dear friend, Rachel, from Indianapolis passed away from leukemia.  The Lord provided a very cheap ticket and the ability for me to come home for the funeral.  It was nice to be able to be home and see family, as well as spend time with Rachel’s 2 young daughters.  Through it all, God has shown himself faithful, even in the midst of these trials.  I even had an incident recently with the gas stove in my house that caused an explosion so powerful that it blew the kitchen rug off the floor!  Never a dull moment with me. 

My students are doing so well.  I know that God gave me the perfect class for being a first year teacher here.  They were so kind and flexible as I left in a hurry to go back to the States for Rachel’s funeral.  My class had been praying for Rachel since she was diagnosed in October.  When I told them she had passed away, they were pretty upset.  It was a really neat opportunity for me to explain that though God always answers our prayers, it’s not always in the way we’d like it to be.  I am amazed at how much they’ve grown spiritually this year and continue to ask questions about the Lord.  I can’t wait to see their precious faces everyday and know that this is why God has me serving Him in Guatemala. I will also be moving up to 3rd grade next year which I am SUPER excited about!


Spring break was great!  Here in Guatemala it was Semana Santa (Holy Week) which is the week before Easter.  It was a busy and exciting week!  We painted one wall in my classroom and I love how it turned out.  I spent some time  in Escuintla (where it was HOT), Rio Dulce (beautiful), and Peten (gorgeous).  There's nothing quite like standing at the top of  a mountain in Guatemala and seeing the beauty of God!  Let me tell you ladies, if you're looking for volume for your hair, I have your answer.  An 8 hour trip in a van/bus with all the windows open and humidity is approximately 90%.  When we stopped to go to the bathroom, I almost screamed when I saw myself in the mirror.  My hair was the biggest tangled frizz poof ball you've ever seen!  Alas, the trip was nice.

Peten

Castillo de San Felipe in Rio Dulce

That pretty much sums up the last 2 months.  Here are some random pictures of my little loves!

 Hat/Scarf Day-April 8-one of our 4th graders, Leah, had brain surgery and had to have her head shaved.  So, when she came back to school, we all wore hats and scarves in her honor!

 Gaby and me on Hat/Scarf Day

 Spring concert-April 8-ADORABLE!!!

coloring Easter eggs-April 15

Book Character Day- March 2

I won't even promise this time that it won't be forever long until I write again.  :)
Have a wonderful day!!