Don't Judge A Book by Its Cover

1. The creme filled cookies here have about as much creme as an Oreo AFTER I have licked out the creme.

2. Some restaurants here look sketchy, and then you enter in and there are beautiful courtyards with year- round outdoor seating and delicious food.

3. Some TV shows aren't good in spanish either.

4. The doctor's office looks old fashioned and very third world, but the Dr. was professional, well-informed, spoke enough English and charged me the amount of my co-pay at home.

5. Just because something was good the first time you bought it doesn't mean it will be good the next time you buy it.

6. The ruins and landscape around here are beautiful.

7. Clouds can hide a whole volcano.

8. Worship is just as meaningful in Spanish even if you don't know the words.

9. Mamas everywhere love and worry about their babies.

10. The areas of my old home town that I thought were sketchy don't seem so scary to me anymore.

11. For many people, hot water is a luxury. And so are dishwashers and washing machines.

12. Most of the red and white "do not enter" bars that you find at a toll booth, are manual here.

13. I think all mayonnaise and corn oil should come in a bag with a spout on it, like I get it here.

14. Most people in the world eat to stay alive, in the States, many of us eat for pleasure. This fact changes my attitude about left-overs and repeatedly eating the same foods.

15. People here consider themselves Americans! So you don't say, I am n American, you say I am from the United States.

16. You should bargain in the artisan's market, but it is not really about the best price. This is their livelihood.

17. Motor Vehicles... drive it like you stole it (thank you Ricky Bobby).

18. Pedestrians....imagine you are playing Frogger.

19. Subscribing to the blog Antigua Daily Photo is a must.

20. I don't want to go home but I desperately want people to visit.

Don't Flush That!

Most of Guatemala has poor plumbing. Our house has good plumbing, thank God, but we are the exception. In most bathrooms here, you cannot put your toilet paper in the toilet. You have to put it in the trash can. Jamie the very worst missionary talks more about this subject on her blog too.
So recently I was somewhere where I could not flush the toilet paper.  I don't know exactly how to say this, but on the way to the trash can some "stuff" got on my pants. I literally thought, this cannot be happening to me....
I tried to wipe it off, but it was not working...
after using paper towels and soap, I got my pants cleaned off.
Now, I am sure you are wondering, "Why is she telling us this horrid story?


1. So you can laugh at me.


2. So you can thank an american plumber.


3. So you can see that sometimes when we go where God wants us to go and do what God wants us to do, it gets messy. But God didn't promise that it wouldn't be messy, He just promised to be with us.


To be honest, often my Spanish is messier, but I'm working on it. 


1 Corinthians 1:28-31 

"He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."

Oreos or Chiky Cookies

The other day, Todd and I were walking around Antigua. The streets are uneven cobblestone, everyone speaks spanish, there are all kinds of people, many poor, some well dressed, some who approached me in the streets wanting me to buy their goods. I passed one store with unrefridgerated slabs of meat hanging from the ceiling. There are no street signs, no street lights and cars do not stop for pedestrians. There was nothing I could see that made me think of home.

I told Todd, if I were here to visit I would say, "It is an interesting place to visit, but I don't think I could live here."

But guess what, I do live here.

I've been thinking A LOT the last few days and I have come to this conclusion: If I look at my Guatemalan house, the view, the yard, the people, the steets, the food, etc... I can be very satisfied. If I compare it to where I lived in the states, which I must remind myself was my home for many years, I am not satisfied.

Why do Oreos have to be expensive? Why do women with children have to beg?

And then the questions get bigger. Why would God call me to live here and let my friends stay in Northern Virginia?
Why do more churches not feel called to minister to the poor?
Why are there so few schools here that kids can only go to school 1/2 day with another group going the other half?
Why do they have no textbooks when Loudoun County has 2 sets for every kid?
Why does Coke Lite taste different than Diet Coke?

In one week, the biggest thing I am learning is to keep my eyes on where God has me, not where he HAD me. I'm learning to enjoy the Guatemalan things in front of me and not think about the Northern Va. things behind me.

What is God calling you to be satisfied with? Your current house? Job? Spouse?

My prayer for my own life is Philippians 4:11-13 "I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength."

Just as a side note, in Virginia I slept in a queen sized bed, here I have a king.
In Virginia, I had a tiny bathtub, here I have a jacuzzi bath tub.
In Virginia, I wanted to learn to speak Spanish, here I am.
In Virginia, I had a not so great view out my bedroom window, here I see a volcano and landscape that can take my breathe away.
In Virginia, I wanted to have to rely more on Jesus for the day to day, here I can't get out of bed with out Him.

School Supplies Needed

This time of the year many stores are having sales on back to school supplies. While you are shopping for your family, would you consider picking up a couple of things for our kids as well? We need scissors, crayons, markers, small calculators, sharpies, gel pens, tape, notebooks, pencils, erasers...basically if your kids needed it, these kids probably could use it. 

Another thing is black, navy or tan pants for boys up to size 12. (Used is acceptable) or money to purchase things 

here. Our school year runs from January to October. So now is the time to start thinking about collecting things. 

You can contact: Barry@Servants4Him.org who is one of our board members and he lives in Purcellville, Va. 

He'll figure out how to get it and then will send it down with a team. Or if you know Randy Barrett from Destiny church, he can find people to bring stuff this fall. 

Student Sponsorship Program- from the Servants For Him Newsletter

Servants 4 Him has had a very successful Student Sponsorship Program for several years in San Pablo la Laguna, now we are ready to begin one in Santiago Zamora. The cost at this time is: 

$100 per child to start to provide the school uniform, materials and the basics to begin the 

school year in January 2011. 

Then, the cost is $15 per month per child & a year commitment. 

At this time we are unable to assign a specific child to a sponsor, however, you will receive updates on the children. 

We have a list of children waiting to be helped with their schooling. We want to be able to provide for 

as many as possible. The children will attend a private Christian school. (I, Maureen, had originally said it was a public school but i was incorrect)

We also have a couple of High Schoolers that would like help as well. Their costs are about $100 a month. 

Would you prayerfully consider helping our children stay in school? Send your donations to 

Servants 4 Him- attn. Scholarships: Santiago Zamora 

PO Box 597 

Hamilton, VA 20159