On the ground

Baby Elvin is our new friend with Spinabifoda.  When he was born, he was removed from his mom and taken to the ICU, and she lost her milk supply.  This month, folks from across Canada and the US came together to cover his formula for the first year!   

He has a huge fight ahead of him with frequent 5+ hour trips to hospitals who can monitor his case.  His family does not speak Spanish, so even with a translator they face discrimination by the healthcare system.   

As we visit, we talk and encourage.  Situations like this can destroy a family.  Or, it can unify them.   

We physically bring formula, and we emotionally encourage our new friends, but most of all?  Our goal is to spiritually enrich them- to point them back to Jesus.  And baby Elvin might just be the tool God uses.  How incredible that a baby who can’t speak yet shares such volumes about God’s love for us.   

I thought you might be interested in:

Traveling in Guatemala is always interesting!  See, 4 hours driving here is more taxing than 8 hours in the states.  Imagine how you feel in that moment passing a new city and you don’t know which exit to take, and traffic is merging in from both directions while your kids are fighting in the backseat—that’s kind of how the whole drive feels here!  

Maybe slightly exaggerated, but you get the idea!!   

Saturday, my usual 4 hour drive took a few more when an unannounced road closer sent the line of cars on a fun little side quest off-roading in some mountains.  

See, we were waiting for the way to open until the construction guys talked to the ambulance, and he turned around.  

That’s never a good sign!  

They would apparently open the road again at “noon or 4”…  

that is also not a good sign!!!  

So off we went bringing more excitement to the tiny mountain town than they’ve had in years.  They confirmed that the road does go somewhere.  

Just… not for everyone!  the red car in front of me slid off the side and got stuck!!  I’m pretty sure the whole community as chachearing me on as lil’ blue climbed the dirt curves.  She did great by the way!   
 
This was a lot more fun than the way home…  Sunday took 6.5 hours and I passed 5 accidents.  

Driving is a serious thing.   

I’ve been encouraged by:

We’re in the home stretch- wedding weeks start tomorrow when my family arrives from the states, and in under 2 weeks, we will be Mr. and Mrs.! 

What will come as a surprise to no one is that there has been a lot to do!! 

The good news is, Daniel is sort of the community event planner!  Things are coming along well as we combine our cultures.  

We navigate challenges unique to our blending culture, and challenges typical to all weddings, such as managing expectations.  All told, we feel ready.  So ready.  Yes, for an event, but we are so ready to begin our life and ministry together. 

Despite challenges, God brings joy in this season too.  He gives us so many moments of peace in prayer, and laughter in conversation. 

God has given me this week several moments to just look at the leaves above my head, see, hear, and feel the wind, and just breath.