What happens after zero?

What happens after zero? Interesting question you say? Allow me a moment to explain. Last year Rachel and I got engaged on July 16th and then I left for my first "tour of duty" in Guatemala four days later. Almost immediately upon my arrival here I was counting until the first time Rachel would visit. Counting until I would come home for Christmas. Counting until I would come home for the summer and the big countdown, counting until the Big Day. Now, I suppose the question naturally would be, what happens after zero? Well, if I may, I believe I have the answer: Life! This semester has flown by. Between Sophomore retreats, Sunday nights at the Gathering, Parent-Teacher conferences, visitors, and the latest fiasco from CAG, Harvest Fair (we'll get to that later), weeks can be seemingly clocked by an egg timer all of a sudden. I think Kenny Chesney said it best in his nostalogic country song when he said "Don't blink, time goes faster than you think." I agree.


So Harvest Fair. Each year the secondary puts on a carnival as a fund raiser for each classes' Senior trip. This year's theme was "Alice in Wonderland" but don't let that limit you to the amazing creativity of each of the grade's and their booths. All the classes showed astounding creativity, but putting biases aside, I would say the Sophmores had the best booths. The first booth was a pool-noodle Fighting Booth, fully-equipped with a balance beam and gym mats to cushion the fall. Our second booth was the less lethal Fishing Booth. This booth included all the perks including a toddler size pool, magnets, and more candy than you can shake a stick at. Even with those two great booths, the show stopper was the Pie Toss. Basically pie tins, whipped-cream, and some of the most "popular" teachers at school and you've got an award-winning humiliation booth that couldn't get a moments rest! Students came out of the woodwork to satisfy revenge on their teachers, including the recently married Mr. and Mrs. Underwood (we must have made an impression!)





Rachel and I are doing great. We have our arguments but that's where the real growth happens I think. Harvest Fair was a blast working with the kids but I can honestly we're both looking forward to a little rest and relaxation over Thanksgiving Break. Only four weekends away...






PS. Stay tuned for the URL for the CAG musical "You're A Good Man Charlie Brown" coming soon!

A Tourist

That's how I felt. Just a plain ole tourist, stopping by for a visit. It's like I was a bumble bee, flitting from flower to flower or rather town to town. Never slowing down, never stopping, never meeting people longer than a flash in time. I felt a constant ebbing, "Come on, we need to see it all, we need to do it all!"

Yet as every tourist's vacation continues on, they begin to long for home. "Well," they think, "this has been fun, I've seen lots, but I am ready to go back." Vacation cannot last forever. They told me, at about 3-4 weeks in, it would hit you. Homesickness. I whispered to myself, "Nah, I'm LOVING this tourist life! Why would I miss home? Miss home? That's for weaklings, simpletons, not newly married wives on the bring of a brand new adventure!" Ask Jordan how I was doing at Week 3...

By then, I found a reason to complain or cry about anything, to avoid thinking of my blessings, to avoid the hurt. It's cold. It's rainy. My heart is still at 'field Zone and walking the halls of Birney. This is definitely NOT the land of eternal spring... helllooo, I signed up for tro-pi-cal! Kelli is going to Detroit, it's the first time ever that I haven't been there, I need to be there, too. How come the year I come down here, it is the rainiest season in all of Guatemala's history, topping at 7 feet so far and not expected to stop anytime soon? I hate doing laundry, because I hate hanging clothes! I loved Christmas before, it really is the best, but now that it means I get to go home, is it December, yet? November?

And then, I heard it. Myself.

The ugly black crawled in - albeit, I let it - and took over my poppy red. (Seems like a good enough color for me.) I let that door slip open a tiny millimeter, I complained it was cold, and Satan slipped right in (he didn't even warm me up, geez, how rude). I need to apologize to my husband, and more importantly, to my Lord.

And now, I can hear it. Him.

Stop. Wait. Look. I've put you here. I have put you here. You see that little girl, the one who's mother passed away? She needs you. You see those students, they are teenagers literally caught between two worlds? They need you. See your husband, waiting patiently for you to come around? He needs you. You see my creation? You serve in it. I can tell, you're a bit mixed up. You have prayer warriors all over and you have Me, that is all you need. Wait and I will renew your strength.

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As I sat down to write this post, I remembered an Oldie that I heard on the radio when I was little, about a "traveling man." So, I opened YouTube and searched and Ricky Nelson popped right up. I thought to myself, "Oh yes! That's it! I'll use the words from this song to describe how I feel." I'm not sure how many of you know and remember the words to Ricky's sweet crooning tune. If you do, you are probably laughing at me right now, because you know that leaving the heart of a different pretty girl from town to town does not quite describe my situation.

Last weekend, we went on a retreat with our tenth graders. The wonderful hosts shared this with us and I make it my prayer for you and I ask that you make it your prayer for me... That Christ may reveal in us the ability to see through His eyes.

Before I sign off, stop by and visit Ricky Nelson on YouTube.

Much love, Rachel

P.S. We are so excited as home is coming to us. Brie is coming down the October 13th for a long weekend and Mom and Dad (Underwood) come down the 22nd! We're waiting on the rest of you, let's go, time to get on that!

P.P.S. For those of you who read our blog to find out about the dog, Risa is fine :)

Risa's Guate

It's Risa, the dog (best in the world). I know, I know, a little anticlimactic, you wanted to hear from my “parents” - not me. But, listen, they're a tad busy and so I thought I would do this for them. Ya know, try to help out a little. Basically, you either take what I'm offering or leave it. That's right, you can click the little X on your screen anytime, but truly, I think you'd be interested in what I have to say.

It's been quite the crazy few weeks – my parents are always coming and going. To get them back for it, I try to wake them up every morning at about 6, it keeps them fresh, plus, they feed me to get me to leave them alone. Works every time. Then, at night, I'm brave now, so I go up on the roof and bark at all the dogs. I always hear my parents calling my name, I think they miss me when I go up there. Absence does make the heart grow fonder.

When we first got here, after my encounters with scary airport people and loud engines, they had Teacher Orientation and they would leave me in my kennel. Those days were the best, because they would come home at lunch to play. I overheard them talking that they learned a lot of new teaching techniques, I'm glad it was useful. Now, their lunch break is shorter and I've proven my maturity, so they leave me in the family room instead of the crate. I pretty much tricked them into letting me out of the kennel by chewing up one of my crate pillows and, boy, were they unhappy. But, boy, did it work...humans. And when they are home, I don't get on the furniture, but, when they leave or go to bed, I definitely only sleep on the couches. They made me a bed of hard pillows and scratchy quilts! Couch versus pillows and quilts, couch versus pillows and quilts; like I said...humans. Now, they come home right after school to let me out or take me back with them. I prefer to stay at home, school is a little scary, especially during basketball practice.

I know my “mom” is teaching K-2, Middle School, and High School Physical Education and English 10. They keep her pulling her hair out, but I know she is enjoying them. As for my “dad,” he's even busier than mom... he's teaching the same classes as last year (Bible 9, US History 8, Economics - 2nd Semester, High School Physical Education, and Weights Elective), but he even picked up a sixth! He's also doing Bible 10, my parents enjoy the 10th graders.

I met a few of them this weekend. 11 of them (half of the whole class) came over to help paint our bedrooms. I didn't have much fun that day, they were all loud. I kept trying to get under the bed, instead, I accidentally ran into the wall and covered myself in paint. Mom spent the better part of the next few days picking the paint out of my fur... oops.

Dad is still doing piano lessons after school, volunteering at the youth group and leading worship on Sunday nights at church. Mom signed up to be the assistant basketball coach and she loves it, but she will be excited for the end of the season. I'm the mascot, they even named a play after me!

Pray for my parents, they need it. Mom's been a little sick and really hurt her back after painting. And dad, he's just so busy... he does play with me every night though, don't worry. They are going to cut back because it's too much. There is always work to be done in ministry, but they can't tackle it all.

Shoot, gotta run, they'll be home soon and the roofs are calling me. We love all of you!

PS: Tell Bella I'm learning some Spanish, I'll share it with her when I come home. Te amo, chica!

Adios 3rd Quarter!

The 3rd Quarter is officially over here at CAG and there are plenty of emotions that it carries along with it. The biggest one, of course, being that there is only one quarter left before my return home and wedding! All that to say, so much has happened in this third quarter that it would be impossible to share it all with you. That being said, I thinks Elementary Sports Day deserves some recognition. I don't know about you, but I definitely looked forward to this day as an elementary student. A day filled with competition and games against fellow classmates was the pinnacle of fun. I had never thought, however, of the strain and craziness the P.E. teachers feel! Sports day at CAG can be best described as controlled chaos. Of all the hilarious stories I could tell, I think the Dodgeball Showdown must be told. All other players were out except two on each team. I forth grade boy with an arm and determination to win, and a third grade Korean girl, who maybe weighed 50 pounds soaking wet in a snow-suit. There showdown lasted an exciting 8 minutes! Back and forth they went and the electricity flowed through the gym. The boy not wanting to lose to a girl (and understandably so at that age!) and the girl wanting to prove that girls were just as good as boys.
Both were tiring fast and the throws were becoming lazier and lazier until the boy made a fateful mistake. Moving to close to the girl without a ball for protection, the girl summoned all her strength for one last lob, nailing him right in the arm. Girls win! I've never seen so much excitement run through a group of kids like that and it was probably the most entertaining sight in a long time.

Servant Days!

Does over thirteen hours in a 12 passenger diesel van (without power steering) with half of my Freshman class sound like fun? Oh yeah! Servant Days was last weekend and we, the Freshman class, went into the mountains of Nebaj to build a sidewalk, paint, and work on a construction site. The family there has an awesome ministry. They train Guatemalans who want to minister to the Muslim world! How amazing is that? In the mountains of Guatemala, where there is so little already, they are concerned with reaching OTHERS for Christ. The weekend was frustrating, exhausting and completely rewarding. For some of these kids, it was the first time outside the city and the first time handling a shovel as well. Our work started slow but after a little bit of encouragement from myself and our other sponsor we really focused and accomplished a lot. Praise God for our safety as well! There were incidents just that week of our trip of robberies and things like that, so thank you all for your prayers!! (View the slideshow here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlJuUPzEETA)
FOR THOSE WHO ARE CONCERNED: This Friday and Saturday at 7 P.M.(central time) CAG is putting on our musical "The Life We Knew" and it will be available for viewing online:

Please direct your web browser to http://www.ustream.tv/channel/cag-thelifeweknew

They will be asked to enter a password, perhaps twice (just for fun). The super secret password for both nights will be broadway.
Enjoy!!!!!

5k Fun Run

January 30th marked the 5th annual "Fun Run" here at CAG. I'm not sure where they got the title from but I assure you, racing for a little over 3 miles in the hills of San Cristobal is anything but "fun".I definitely should have thought a little bit more about everything I had to loose by choosing to run in this little race. First, I'm the P.E. coach. Secondly I'm the weight training coach, and third I'm the soccer coach. Basically I'm the one person on campus who SHOULD win this race! (not to mention the one everyone wants to beat!)So there I was, the day of the race and definitely a little nervous. The countdown began and I was loading up a pump-up jam on my iPod while some of the other soccer players are talking trash about leaving me in the dust. The gun goes off and 20 minutes later I crossed the finish line, maintaining my reputation as a credible coach...for at least this year.(definitely thinking of retiring!)
This weekend CAG is doing something pretty cool. Every year we take a weekend and serve the community in some way, shape or form. The Freshman class this year is going to Nebaj, which is more than a hop, skip and a job away. It is a 5 hour car ride on dangerous roads but the family that lives there has assured us that they've never had problems. Please pray for us as we make this journey to this community. Pray that God would use this time for us to bond as a class and for the kids to grow in the their walk with Him. I will be sure to let you know how it goes!
Photo: Heather and I after the race. Heather is the 2nd grade teacher from Caledonia. Small world!

Semester 2: Back with A Vengeance

History, Bible, Economics, Physical Education, Weight Training, Student Council, Worship leader, and accompaniment for the winter musical. I think it's fair to say that this semester is kicking off with a vengeance. Economics (the class I picked up) has been a blast. Finally teaching in my majored in college definitely helps too! But I need to tell you all this story. Have you ever heard of the game "Bigger or Better"? It's a fairly simple ice-breaker game where teams are given a paperclip and sent out around a public area to trade for something bigger or better using no money and playing for keeps. Well we were covering exchange in economics and I thought "What a great game to play?" Now, I didn't exactly ask the powers-that-be in the school if this would be alright, I just simply chose to live by the saying it's better to ask forgiveness than permission. So out they go, 4 groups of 4 students each out to scavenge the school for things bigger and better. Now students did come back with some interesting things (phones, boxes of tea, aloe vera) but bar-none, the winner goes to the group that brought back a computer monitor! A real-life, working monitor. It was unbelievable and, I thought, a great start to a crazy semester!

A Very Merry Christmas

This semester has been full of first for me in so many ways. First year teaching, first Thanksgiving away from family, and my first time creating finals (although oddly satisfying!). For me this has been a year of firsts but for our Director and his wife, Joe and Sharon Rosa, this is a year of good-byes. Joe and Sharon have been here at CAG for 15 years and on the mission field for 27 years. Personally, I have known them for three years this March and they are a big reason I am here serving in Guatemala. This past Saturday was our faculty Christmas party/lunch and Joe and Sharon made it an absolutely delight. Joe dressing up like "Joe the Elf" and delivering Christmas gifts to all the faculty is just a perfect representation of his care and devotion not only to CAG but to all us teachers as well. I am so grateful for everything they have meant to me over the time that I have been here and I hope you will join me in praying for them as they search God's calling for this next stage in their ministry.

Happy Thanksgiving to me!

Missing a major holiday (especially one so "American") is hard to make up for, no matter how exciting the trip. I would have to say that by the end of the trip, I had forgotten what Thanksgiving even was! This was SUCH an amazing trip. El Salvador is gorgeous but that is not the coolest thing. Although there was surfing, reading, kayaking, swimming, laying by the pool, and all those other wonderful things about a getaway that we love, the awesome thing was the impact on the community. I went with the Osborn family from school. Dave and Many are teachers and their kids attend CAG (Spencer (18) and Nicolas (14) are in the photo). They have chosen to vacation with a purpose. El Zonte, our destination, is just a spot on the map. It has a few hostels (very basic!) but has amazing waves for surfing so this family has chosen to combine their love of the water with their desire to serve God by serving this community. Watching them interact with the people they now call family was so encouraging to me and shed a whole new light on their idea of ministry. So please remember the town of El Zonte in your prayers because they are really a great community and have so little.

Four Months and A Membership Card

This past Thursday marked four months that I have been living in Guatemala. It's amazing how time flies...but also how easy the money does as well! That's why many people here (as I'm sure many of you do as well) participate in membership shopping such as Costco, Sam's Club, etc. Well I've been going to our equivalent of those American stores known as Pricesmart once a month since I've been here. It has always been a hassle though because I am always needing to time it with someone else and make a day of it. This Thursday though that all changed with the acquisition of my very own Pricesmart card. Now some of you may be wondering "Why does this matter at all?" Let me explain: with the simple act of purchasing a membership card here I really feel as though in a small way I'm putting roots down here. I'm investing in the country, in the way of life. I'm not simply trying to "survive" anymore but really learning how to "live" here. It's a funny thing how much a little card with your face and name on it can mean. Take it as you may but after only four months it's amazing the familiarity I feel with this country.

When you and I have a birthday, a few people remember and maybe some even call. When the Marine Core has a birthday, everyone knows about it! November 7th was the celebration of it's 234th year being established and let me tell you, your tax dollars were never harder at work. The US Embassy spared no expense in throwing the biggest and loudest ball that Guatemala will have all year. And here's the best part: I was able to surprise Rachel with a ticket to come and join me for it. It was an incredible night. The ceremony was one of tradition and honor and it was a privilege to witness the history of the marines and the testimony from marines current and past. After the ceremony came the dancing and it was a blast. I felt truly blessed that Rachel could come and visit and look forward to Christmas when I'm able to see the rest of my family.

El Dia de los Muertos

Being in Guatemala and working at CAG is an interesting combination. There have been many times where I get so encapsulated with work I seem to forget that I'm actually in a third world country. That is why when days like Dia de los Muertos comes around, it really makes me appreciate and understand where I am. November 1st was Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) and there is a traditional kite-flying fair that takes place in a few different places. A few other teachers and myself went up to Sumpango and witnessed the great hand-made kites there. The message of the kites was quite interesting themselves. Many spoke about the drought that Guatemala has had this year, man's destructive impact on nature and the loss of their Mayan heritage. Needless to say, riding in the back of a pick up truck on the highway to go to a festival celebrated mostly by Guatemalans is a scene I won't soon forget.

The Long Awaited Update...

My apologies that this update has not come sooner but I was without the proper photo that describes it (blame Rachel...). Yes, Rachel visited at the beginning of October and needless to say the time together was much needed. The photo is a picture of us in Antigua on the roof of one of the MANY popular restaurants. Having her here and meeting all of the people that I work with and now call family was great but having time to really connect again without internet interference or other distractions was so refreshing. This being her trip to her future home I don't think we could have asked for a better weekend. Although when you go to all the five-star places you can make any place look good! If nothing else I think we both were just encouraged more of the plan God has for us here in Guatemala and most importantly, together. It is going to be a long year until July but I know through this waiting God is doing great things.

Harvest Fair

What is Harvest Fair you ask? Well, if you as elementary students, it's a fun-filled evening with games, activities and candy galore! If you ask a middle/high schooler, it's a week's worth of work raising money for your senior trip. If you ask one of the two Student Council advisers (see photo above) we would answer this: an insurmountable amount of work that SOMEHOW comes together at the end to put on something truly memorable, but only after 48 hours of pretty much pure work. This actually was my first rodeo as they say and it was a blast. The hours were long, the days seemed endless but it was definitely worth it at the end. I was really proud of all the kids with their ingenuity and optimism when some things really didn't go their way. I wish you all could have experienced the excitement and thrill of the fair. It was truly a site to see. (Did I forget the theme was Dr. Seuss and somehow I dressed up as the Grinch? I guess self-respect and being a teacher aren't reconcilable...ha!)

Spectacular Soccer Season...

Well this past Friday marked the end of the First Quarter of school which meant two things: report cards and the end of middle school soccer. For those of you who didn't know, I was the middle school soccer coach. That's right, me, a soccer coach. What can I say except that beggars can't be choosers! Although we didn't win as many games as we would have liked (actually we went 0-2) it did have it's bright spots such as getting to know some of the boys in a different context other than their boring history teacher! Needless to say, I am excited to have some free time now with which to take the school up on their offer for free Spanish lessons for new teachers for a semester. I could definitely use some more practice. As for the boys, as they say, "there's always next year!"

Pray for Guatemala

It's a normal day when a few kids are running through the door when the bell rings. It's an odd day when half of your class is missing and teachers still haven't shown up. Something isn't right when your typical seven minute commute turns into forty-five minutes. Today is "Columbus Day" in the States but here it is something quiet different. Here, today is the Day of the Spanish and there are always demonstrations but today was different. Today there were deaths and injuries caused by an unsatisfied country and a stagnate government. I pray that tomorrow would be better and that this unrest may come to an end. It was hard today hearing the truth about things that are and are not being done in this country. It's the little things in democracy we take for granted the most...

Happy Two Month Anniversary!

My parents had left the airport already and now I just had one more good-bye to give. It was four in the morning and my fiance and I were standing there staring at each other. Both of us unsure about what the next year would hold and neither one of us wanting to say "good-bye" first. That day I wrote in my journal that leaving her and everything I knew was the hardest thing I have ever had to do. Now, looking back on the past two months, I have never been more certain of my purpose here in Guatemala. My time here as been so challenging and frustrating and heartbreaking it's hard to describe. But now I rest in the hope I have in the future. That is something I'm learning while being here. God is in control and my hope is in the unseen future and I carry the conviction of God's providence through it all.

Welcome to The Gathering

My home church pastor defined the Church where God is readily visible and amplified to the world. The Gathering Sunday night service is the embodiment of that definition. On the fringe of yet another week I am just so excited to see what God has for us tonight when we go to meet and just to glorify His name. Last week I had the chance to help lead music and it was just a Spirit-filled time. I feel so blessed to have the fellowship of believers here in this place. At the church we have been doing a study of how to manage God's money and it has been very eye-opening and challenging. It's an interesting perspective to view God's money while being completely dependent on support. My first thought was "Why do we need to hear this? We're missionaries! I doubt that money is our big downfall." But as this series goes on I've come to realize that money is exactly our biggest distraction from God. But God is good, giving us just the Words that we can handle and providing the faith to hear it, especially when I am faithless.

Another week...

Week two of teaching completed. Thank goodness! This weekend I had the chance to go to a natural hot springs about thirty minutes away. It was a great, relaxing time that was definitely needed. Although being there and having my muscles messaged by the extremely hot water, a few things struck me. The first is the stark contrast between the "haves" and the "have-nots". The funny thing is, unlike in the States, here there really isn't any effort to try to separate the two. They live side by side. The Springs are a perfect example. Here we are, sitting in an oasis of bliss with the sun on our faces, soaking up all the relaxation possible yet it only takes looking over the wall to see the tin-shacks with no electricity or water.There's something very wrong with that to me and I hope I don't get used to it.
The second thing I noticed is how good it felt to drive somewhere. Guatemala is very restricting. The US Embassy ranks cities on a danger scale from one to ten and Guatemala is a ten. There are not many places it is safe to go and coming from the states with the freedom of travel we have, being here is very confining. It felt great to break in my car with a little road trip, even if it did burn up my breaks something awful!

Say "Hello" to my little friend....

I struggled to hand over the most enormous check I've written since I've been down here. Once it's gone, it's gone and there's nothing I can do about it but I had to take a leap of faith. I bought a car. Yes, I bought a red, four-door, 1998 Ford Escort (trying to help the Big Three out...) Now let me tell you, this was no easy thing. In the States you buy a car there is a mountain of paperwork, you're able to talk with the mechanic, talk with your mechanic to find out what's really wrong with it, etc. Not so in developing countries. Forget about long, drawn out paperwork. Speaking with a mechanic? Not likely unless you happen to know slang-Spanish (and he tells you the truth). What are you left with? Prayer. And that's what I've been doing since I've been down here and God has just answered enormously. Thank you all who have given to this cause/prayed for this to come to pass. It has truly been a huge answer to prayer!