Photos are good but I'm frustrated

Trying to blend

It's mid week since we came back and I am resuming my role as mom, teacher (a conference next week to prepare for), friend and relative, etc. it's good to be back but I must confess most of my thinking is spent on Guatemala and how I'm going to live my life integrating my experiences there with my day to day life. "Blending" is a good description or perhaps "seeping". Both of my worlds are seeping into each other in ways that I don't always expect. For example while in Guatemala I thought continually of Sam, my 14 year old son and how he would have loved to play with the boys and how he would have felt so comfortable being with kids. Now here I am constantly thinking of Tamar and Andres and Yuli ... it's complicated. I know God is working on my heart and my desire to spend more time learning about Jesus' journey and personal life has blown the doors wide open on my own path to a higher understanding of who Jesus was and is. Unexpected is another word to describe where I'm at...

Coffee

At Home

Hola mis amigos,

It is 9:20am on Monday, we arrived in Pinckney last night/this morning around 1:30am. This was after being in airports or on planes since around 12 noon Guatemala time/ 2pm our time. The most exciting part of the day definitely was the run through the airport to catch our connecting flight from Houston to Detroit. Our first flight from Guatemala City to Houston was late so we had to sprint through the airport, get our luggage, go through customs, get our luggage back to our plane and then run to the airplane on the other side of the airport. They actually held the plane for us and I have to say I never would have thought I would hear my name being announced over the loud speaker in an airport, " Needed at gate E5 for boarding... Janine Comella, John Comella, etc".

The previous day (Saturday) we spent in Antigua and it was a terrific way to simply enjoy the culture of Guatemala and relax with eachother and shop in the mercados (markets). There were many comments about how it would be wonderful to visit Antigua again for longer and they were followed by "and then spend a week at the home" or "after we spend time in the home". (the home is the Dvorak home with the orphanage).

As I sit at my computer drinking my INCREDIBLE Guatemalan coffee I realize I can now write more because I am at home and not using the miniscule keypad on my iphone or the crazy networks that sometimes work and sometimes don't. And I reflect on the fact that it will take weeks, months and perhaps even a year for us to process and digest all that has happened in our lives over this past week. This is good. It is in God's timing and with his vast wisdom that he will unfold his plans for us regarding our role in this week and his work in us and with us resulting from our time spent at the Dvoraks.

For those who have been following our blog, thank you for taking an interest in our lives, for praying for us or just peeking in to see what our trip was all about - to share our experiences with others as part of the human family is important. If you see us please be patient as we process all that has happened, we have been involved in the entire process of this trip for about 7 months and now experiencing the actual trip, it will take us a while to recover from the enormity of what we did. Also some helpful tips on asking questions, because we do want to share, would be to ask something along the lines of "tell me about one of your experiences" "Tell me about one of the children you connected with", "Tell me about one of the projects you worked on" It will help us to focus in as our brains are very full right now.

God Bless you all and we hope to have you come with us on our next adventure...

Antigua

Yesterday we spent the day in the beautifful city of Antigua. It is
one of (or may be the first) the earliest settled cities by the
Spanish in Guatemala. The houses were painted gorgeous yellows and
pinks and oranges. After entering openings or doorways for the markets
you would find beautiful courtyards with all kinds of individual
stands specializing in jewelry or textiles or leather goods, etc.

David, Miguel & Humberto

It is before bed and pouring rain. We have been so blessed to have dry
weather. Excellent day with the fencing completed, Woodie working
well, upstairs & downstairs of childrens home all painted, a beautiful
bench in the school courtyard finished and most importantly lots of
LOVE with all the children! God is really doing some powerful work
here but I think all of us are contemplating how much more there is to
do in the way of service projects & ministering to the kids. The needs
are many but As Dave Dvorak, who runs the home with his wife Becky
says, "God is sufficient".

Re: Country church

Sent from Janine's iPhone

On Jul 8, 2009, at 10:55 PM, Janine Comella <jcomella@chartermi.net>
wrote:

> We went to church service tonight in a tiny, pink country church.
> The music was incredible, John said it was like Mexican polka praise
> music. Drums, bongos, guitars and an accordian. The most touching
> part of the service was when Jason, Jeff,Marie & David gave their
> testamonies-what a powerful to praise God. We also played a mean
> game of spoons tonight and just for the record, don't sit between
> Jason & John when you play.
>
> <photo.jpg>
>
>
>
> Sent from Janine's iPhone
>

Sleeping baby

Yesterday was a long day but full of many accomplishments. The
highlight was the children yelling "caliente!" which means "hot" when
the hot water heater was hooked up. They filled water bottles with hot
water just to carry it around with them. This is a photo of David at
naptime.

Payless

Payless opened early AND gave us a discount. We were also able to buy
socks! What a blessing. It was a 45 minute drive to the city so I very
much understand why they don't travel out of the home very often. The
shoe of choice was the transformer light up tennis shoes.

Guatamalan ladies

These ladies were walking on the very rural road we drive on to get
out of the home. We are going to buy shoes (zapatos) this morning.

Crafts

Another busy day of work and play! This photo is Marie helping kids
with coloring their Guatemala shirts.
There are 9 little boys, 9 older boys, 9 girls and the family that
runs the home has 5 kids. We do work projects in the morning and
crafts with the kids or play with the kids in the afternoon. Tonight
we heard an amazing testamony about Gods hand in the life of one of
the boys here named Marcos. There is a spirit filled presence in this
place.

Oh my gosh are they precious!

Miguel, Madge & Maria at the parque

Lunch

Humberto, Miguel & Yostin having lunch

Sunset Tuesday Night

Woodie the hot water heater & his amigo Mark

There has been so much happening in just one day. On the project side
we painted bedrooms in the orphans house, put up chain link fencing,
dug a trench for a bench in the school courtyard and worked on
installing Woodie. On the heart side we have fallen head over heels in
love with the children here. When you walk into a home or the little
play park and five or six children run to you just for hugs, without
ever having see you before how can you not fall in love? God is in
this place and he is working in our hearts, it's a privelidge to be
here. We will be going to the shoe store Wednesday:)

Buenos Dias

View from our team house

Saying goodbye and handing out goodie bags as kids leave the VBS

Skit with Madge (in mask with David), David, Kristen& Marie

Haley with kids, Janine in background

Kids from the village at VBS

It has been an incredible day here. There were about 175 kids here
today for the VBS, we played soccer, had bubbles, sidewalk chalk and
taught 2songs in Spanish - there's only one door To God and this
little light of mine. We also presented some wordless skits to show
the message of Christ. Prayers have been continuosly answered
including no rain today and safe travels.

Church service in Guatemala

We just got out of church and sang "Amazing Love" in Spanish! So far
tje rain is holding off for the VBS-praise God. All is well, even
though the roosters woke some of us early.

Sent from Janine's iPhone

Team Dinner Guatemala City

Water Volcano Guatemala City

Sight seeing around the city.

We made it!

Hola,
God has blessed us beyond measure AGAIN! I am not surprised, I am full of praise for his plans that blossom when we are obedient and trusting. We arrived in Guatemala City and so did all our luggage! David Morales and his sister Karen, her husband Froilan and son Steven met us and rescued our "American selves". I felt like a deer in the headlights stepping out of the airport into the Guatemalans waiting for their friends and family. We drove through Guatemala City where there were many stores with iron gates on the doors and windows and occasional men with guns who are private security guards hired by the store owners. There were people selling flowers and snacks along the way also. We headed out of the city a bit and into the city of Mixco, where we are staying a few houses down from Karen and Froilan.

Our place of residence for tonight and next Saturday is a beautiful Haven where our hosts are missionaries here at a local seminary. They are gracious and kind and there is a wonderful presence of peace and spirit in their home and our accomodations. The guys are housed in quant qaurters like a bunkhouse in a resort out west and the ladies in a brand new, we are the first to stay there, resort like building area where there is a soft breeze that comes in the open aired living room. It will be wonderful to return here at the end of our trip to share all the other amazing things God will be doing in our lives while we are here serving him. I will try to send photos and many thanks to all of those praying, "do not be anxious about anything but with thanksgiving present your requests to the Lord" I'm paraphrasing here, don't have my Bible right with me. God knows.

Buenos Dias

Wow 4am comes early! Off to the airport...

Woodie Made it to the Orphanage!

David Morales says Woodie is at the orphanage. We are all packed and ready to leave at 4:30 am tomorrow. We will get into Guatemala around 1pm our time (it's 2 hours behind the US). We will spend the day in Guatemala City and attend church on Sunday with David's family then off the to the orphanage to facilitate the VBS with children from the local village.

Packing Meeting 7-2-09

Help, let us out of here!

Luggage for trip

God showed up #4

The great big shoe! One of the earliest requests for items that the kids really needed was shoes. We were told that it is a tremendous treat for the kids to be able to pick out a new pair of shoes themselves. Every child is unique and being a shoe devotee myself I can understand the thrill of picking out just the right pair of shoes, increase the excitement with children who RARELY get anything new let alone a pair of shoes. God is never greedy with peoples talents and gifts and when he offers opportunities get on board 'cause it's always good. A phone call to Glenda Recker and the shoe project was on it's way. She and Angela Kanerva combined forces and kids from Promise Connection started to gather "coins for kids". The church family joined in also and with that momentum we now have all the money needed to go on a special shopping trip with children from the home. That is God showing up in his mighty way:)

Where God showed up #3

Woodie the hot water heater is where God showed up. Mark worked his magic along with other helpers, such as Mike Sheldon and put together this amazing piece of work called Woodie that does what it is supposed to do. Much time and energy was put in and a lot of early morning "visions" from what Mark has said. We had many people also volunteer their time and money to get Woodie packaged and shipped all the way to Guatemala. All 600+ pounds of him. Woodie is now in Guatemala awaiting customs and we hope on his way to the LIFE home soon. I'll keep you posted.

Where in the World is Woody? and Where God showed up #2

If you have not yet heard our hot water heater, aptly named Woodie - it burns wood. Is now in Guatemala awaiting customs and delivery to the LIFE home. Thank you for all your prayers on transportation getting it down to Guatemala.

Back in January we met with Dave Dvorak who runs the LIFE home with his wife Becky. His pressing need was for a water heater that could heat with wood, as they have wood as an available energy source, and could heat water quickly and for a short period of time so that during bath time the children could have warm water for bathing. Personally, I thought he was asking for the moon. I kept picturing these great big EXPENSIVE water heater "things" and then getting one to Guatemala?! We asked how much money he had to work with ,"none" was his reply. I did what I knew best and deligated this on to Mark McGinn and David Morales. I'm not silly, I know God puts people in our lives for a reason and I love to see how he will present opportunities to them. Here was an opportunity...

Where God showed up #1

Hard to believe our first meeting was back in February! Brrr it was cold and we were not sure what we were getting into. One of our biggest concerns was how we would pay for the trip, including needing low airfare. I started praying for a $300 flight and at the time flights were around $500-$700. NEVER underestimate the power of prayer. We were able to book flights for $318.00 (before taxes) I should have prayed to have the taxes included. And we are 100% fully funded, each of us, thanks to the generous donations from friends, family, church members and even anonymous donors. God has no boundaries.

Enrich the world

"You are here to enrich the world and you impoverish yourself if you forget that errand." Woodrow Wilson

Thank you to the many who have enriched the world in prayer, donations, encouragment, physical labor and support as we prepare this final week before we leave on Saturday.

Janine

The kids we will be serving

Here are a few pitures of the Kids.

Team Building

Howell Nature Center Team Building "The Balance of Life"

Sunday Dedication

What a great privilege & blessing to be prayed over this morning by
our church family. God's presence in our trip has already been so
apparent from the needs of the water heater being met to every one of
our monetary prayers being answered.

Sent from Janine's iPhone

What about now