Greetings from Guatemala!!

Hello family!
Just thought I would update a little bit while I have the time! : )
Guatemala is awesome! : ) I am so blessed to have the opportunity to be here! My 6 week adventure is coming to a close, I only have until June 3rd until I come home! I wish I could stay here longer! (Sorry mom! ; ))

Originally I was only supposed to be here for a week, but God let all the pieces fall together for me to stay longer and get to see Tash, Paula, Andres and Carlos in Honduras as well as work here now with another organization!

My first trip here was to Chichicastenango (have fun trying to pronounce that! lol) with Res from Grand Haven to work with Ron Morin and his ministry Pray America. The week flew by, but we ministered to hundreds of people! We built three houses, helped build their new mission base--paint, plant, pray, etc. work feeding programs where we would help with the food as well as do a church service for the parents and kids. I had an amazing time there!

The Saturday that our team flew back to the States, I stayed back at the airport and was picked up by Debbie and Alvaro Flores--Grandpa/ma's friends. (It is such a blessing to reap the seeds sewn by them!) I spent the rest of the day with them, then the next morning, I took a bus from Guatemala City to Tegucigalpa, Honduras to see my family there! : ) The bus ride went surprisingly well! (not that I am complaining haha) I have to say that the bus ride was a bit of a stretch though! lol

The next ten days I spent with Tash, Paula, Andres and Carlos at their home. The first time Andres saw me he put out his arms and wanted me to hold him. That was awesome b/c I wasn't sure if he would remember me! : ) I went to Paula's church and went to the orphanage she volunteers at sometimes as well as went to the Honduran Natl. Penitentiary with Paula & some girls from the church with the only prison ministry for the 18th St. Gang. That was an amazing experience, both for being a future police officer as well as being able to hang out with them and minister!!

After Honduras, I took a bus back to Guatemala City where I stayed with Debbie and Alvaro again, then the next day met Dan Smith with Paradise Bound Ministries--based out of Hamilton--at the airport to work with him and construction groups for the US for the next month. Here, Chimaltenango) I met some incredible people!! Notably the employees of Paraiso (paradise in spanish : )). Estuardo and Hermano Jesus are amazing men of God, and it is great getting to know them. I met Hermano Jesus when I was here 2 years ago.

Last night, I got back from Bendicion. It is a very remote village by the Pacific coast--and it was very hotttttt!! lol While there, our group was fixing up an old plantation house from the 1800's for the rest of the summer teams coming to build houses here. Because the village is almost 3hours away from the current base, it was decided that teams should just stay at the village where they are building at and not waste valuable man hours driving! : ) The village is so incredible. You can feel the presence of God and I cant wait to see what is happening and what will happen in the future. I met some awesome people there, and it was great getting to spend the time getting to know them and build relationships!! It was VERY hard to say goodbye!!

However, while there we received really bad news. Estuardo and Hermano Jesus were robbed after going to a bank here in Chimal. Estuardo was shot thru the back, and the bullet took out his lung and lodged in his shoulder. HJ was beaten and the thieves got off with about US $3000. HJ is fine now, but Estuardo is still in the hospital. I ask that you all lift him and his family up in your prayers!!!!! The robbery took place right in front of his 9 year old sons school, and he witnessed the whole incident. Estuardo is paralyzed from the chest down, but stable. It is amazing to see God working though! We have been able to transfer him from a quite bad hospital to a private one which is much better!! Also, there is a Physicians Asst. from the US who was here from the team at Bendicion, and she has been able to stay and be with him and make sure that he is receiving the care he needs. Also, just today Estuardo started feeling tingling in his legs! I know that God will use this incident for His glory and that thru it all, people will be saved!

No worries though, I am fine! I am safe, healthy and cannot wait to start working with the next team that is coming tomorrow! We will be working on the new mission base being built here and landscaping.

I know this is a long novel, but I thought you would all like the update!
God Bless and keep praying!! : )
Much love,
Luke

Velderman News

Hello Everyone! Here's some recent pictures that are long overdue! Sorry about that! I'll start with the oldest news and then work my way to the present. The one with Isabelle & Makayla was taken during Pike & Pals weekend. For those of you who don't know, the men decided they needed an annual fishing weekend so us girls decided we'd all get together with the kids that weekend too! The lake they decided to camp on happened to be about a half hour from here so Lindy and Megan came to my house. It was a blast....not such great weather for the boys but they toughed it out until Saturday afternoon when I recieved a phone call from my hubby saying they were on their way to our house and would arrive in about 20 minutes! =) FABULOUS!!! So we had a few more "pals" than anticipated but it was fun anyhow. (Don't feel too bad for the boys, they re-scheduled their weekend for the end of June) I love having company so I was in heaven!

Makayla recently had her 4th birthday and just to make it extra special we invited Elli to come up for a few days. MY GOODNESS were those girls excited to get together! We had a blast and managed to check off everything on Makayla's list of 'things to do when Elli came'! It's so fun to have cousins close in age like that to grow up with! Most of the pictures are of Makayla's birthday festivities!

Cam continues to get bigger even though his mommy has told him he's not allowed! =) He's actually been mastering the art of crawling and standing up on things over the this past week. Amazing how much they learn in the first year of life! I KNOW (not think) that I'll be a busy mama once he's actually up and moving. I'm still trying to get used to having him this mobile....the 'baby proofing' is in full swing around here! =) He's a hoot though and him & Makayla are already great buds!

I'm sure there's more to report on but Cam's in my lap and getting restless so I need to cut it short. Probably a good thing because otherwise I'd write a novel. Enjoy the summer months...I know we will. Love you!

The Veldermans

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY MOM!

THE THELENS

Hi everyone, thought i would try this blog thing again since i have my new laptop and digital camera.!! i will try to send some pictures of the kids. some will be of evans 1st birthday(may2) and some of our house( since most of you havent and probably wont ever see it) and some just of the kids. evan isnst walking yet but he is pulling himself up on everything. hes just a little chuncker!! caden is being his crazy self. brent wants to geet him a dirtbike with training wheels for his 3rd b-day.(july 24) i am alittle nervous about it but have relaxed alot the older i get!! gavin is loving school and just being outside to play hoops, explore, and ride his dirtbike. brent is busy with work and sidejobs, which is good, it was a long winter. i am still doing daycare- i have 3 full time and 2 parttime along with my 3. i would say thats plethera of kids!!!!happy mothers day to all the mothers out there!!!!!!!!!! love to all, brenda

Happy Birthday David!!

Congratulations Jason!!

Jason has his Masters Degree of English!
He graduated on Saturday from Northern Michigan University.
I couldn't be more proud of him.
One degree down.
Two ore more to go!!!
Congrats!

Hello All

An up date from Orlando Florida! Hello all its Andrea I had noticed that no one had posted in a while so I thought that i would give everyone an up date!!! Well things are going well tim is doing amazing in school he has a 4.0 yeah!! I got a job I am working in an office doing office things its not that exciting but its a pay check so I'm happy for the experience. I have been doing well with the home sickness but i think that this week its has officially hit me but I have been using skype and talking with mom and Stacey and my best friend from home It is a huge help just to see someone face to face... or more like computer to computer! We are glad that we made the move already we can really see a difference in our relationship but I'm pretty sure that 15 months will be just enough though. We have been enjoying our weekends by taking day trips to Daytona or to coco beach we have a list of things to do before we go home so were trying to mark them off one weekend at at time. All is well I will update again soon love you all Andrea Joy Speyer!!

A lovely spring day

Ah, I am sitting here at my desk at work and I have a window right behind me and right now it is open and it is absolutely BEAUTIFUL outside and it smells like fresh dirt and growing grass. I love days like today, it makes a long winter worthwhile to look forward to days like today.
Well, its been a while since I wrote last and I just wanted to update everyone on the going's on's at the Adam TerBeek household.
We are blessed and God is great. He provides beyond all we can ask or imagine...sometimes he just asks us to wait...and we did....and he has blessed us richly. Last I blogged Adam was up in the air as far as employment goes, well, he ended up being offered a good position at Integrity so he took it...of course a few days after he told them he would come on full time Buist called for an interview, but Adam prayed if he was supposed to stay where he was that they wouldn't call back after the interview so he would'nt have to choose...and they didn't . So it was clear that he is where God wants him for now.
Isabelle is so fun..learning all kinds of stuff. She's a silly little girl...she must get that from adam.....or not.
Next week myself, Isabelle and Megan are going up to Interlochen to visit Kim/cam/and Mck while the boys do their annual "Pikes and Pals weekend. Lisa and Tasha you will be missed this year.
Other than that just enjoying being outside in the sunshine with my little "Tootie" playing with the dog. Perhaps kim can show me next weekend how to download some photos so I can post a few of my little "tootie" until then....God Bless

a boat update . . . .

Excited about a new load of Philippine mahogany!

EISEN FAMILIA

HEllo Family of many great people,

I thought I would write a little tid bit about the Eisen house hold and what has been going on in our lives. We have been getting busy on the house again, finished Eli's room now onto Lily's room our room is done well as done as it will be till more money flows in. BUT God is always faithful to provide. Lily is almost 2 growing in leaps and bounds, makes me smile as i see her grow and see more of how God created her to be. Her and I had a rough start but God has been molding and shaping me. It's hard when change needs to happen but our flesh says no and God is in the corner saying yes my child it is time. And sometimes change doesn't happen over night or in a week it takes long amounts of time maybe even years, which is not what to Lord wants but as humans we try to fight and do everything on our own. I have been on a character journey since i got pregos with lily and she has been helping me so see who i had become and don't want to be anymore. funny how there are times when we can't see things and God gets creative and uses his children, our children who he's given to us to look over and teach. Eli loves school and asks every one to be his friend. He has such gifts a servant always wanting to help always asking if your ok, always looking at how to fix things. such a young man. When i watch him sleep sometimes it amazes me how fast they grow. how much they change in so little time. To know that you as a mother carried them in your womb for 9 months birthed them, fed them raised them and then let them go. To know how little we really have with them to invest in their lives. I am finally realizing to FIND joy in being a mother and watching my children grow, it has been a long journey. Jason and I are doing great. God has called Jason and I to the mission fields in Mexico. we're excited to see what he wants us to do there. We don't know when we'll go but he has burdened our hearts for Mexico and the poor. We feel he is telling us to get things in order so when God says go we can go. So our main focus is on getting the house done and getting as much of our mortgage paided off as we can. but in time we will know 2 years 5 10 years we don't know we are just waiting. so that is exciting. Praise God.

Welllll it is lait and i should get some sleep while i can before morning comes and my eyes will not open.

Jason

Audrey

Elijah

Lily

our dog shayla :)

hello from the Shrontz's

Hello everyone!

I just thought that I would update everyone about what is going on in our lives.

In May Jason will graduate with is Masters of English, and so with the completion of his degree, we needed to think about our plans for his next degree.

In January we started sending out applications to different colleges. Jason's application process was a ton more involved than mine were.
He had to prepare a statement of purpose, his teaching philosophy, writing samples, and applications to the school, the English program, and for a teaching position. So, like I said a ton of work went into these applications.
Unfortunately getting into a Masters of Fine Arts program is VERY competitive, and the schools only have so many spots that they have available in their programs.

Jason was accepted into a couple of schools and most importantly to Northern Michigan.
Northern was very excited for Jason to stay here and offered him a teaching position with pay and full school tuition.

We are so excited that we will be able to stay up in "God's country" a little bit longer.

Right now we are just finishing up this semester and wishing and hoping that we will get one last snow day! Yes, you heard right. Another snow day possibly tomorrow.
They have been upgrading and downgrading the storm system coming our way for the last two days, but when last checked....it was a blizzard warning....IN APRIL! It will be a great April Fool's joke!

I don't know about anyone else's husband, but Jason has been counting down the minutes to the opening day of baseball! GO TIGERS!!!

We love you all.

Stacey and Jason

He is risen!

Happy Easter tomorrow to all my precious family! Thank-you Jesus for the cross, and everything that it means! He is risen!

It has been awhile since we've posted as well, so here's the 'quick' update over the last few months ;). As you know, we moved back to Honduras at the beginning of Jan. after a brief visit with Leah in DC. To be very honest the first month was difficult, very difficult- but thankfully everything has gotten much better. Paula decided to stay in Jan as well, which was a huge answer to our prayers for Andres. He is so loved :). Carlos loves being back, and its wonderful to see your husband happy and comfortable.

Here a few highlights since Jan.
School: I loved coming back to my 'old' students. We have a great relationship and it has been a joy being back in the classroom again, especially with them.

Home: Carlos is working as a substitute teacher, assistant AD, and helping with Visa's and housing for the North American community here. He doesn't necessarily love what he's doing, but its a perfect job for him while he goes back to school. Speaking of school, he starts classes in a few weeks for his marketing degree. He is a great help around the house and with Andres, he's been changing so much since we've been married (me too)- I'm so proud of him! Andres is such a blessing. Watching him grow and change is indescribable. He has just started crawling and since our floors are tile, he slips a lot and can't move very fast. But all the same he tries so hard to get where he wants. He has figured out how to stand in his crib as well, which was scary the first time I walked in after his nap...we need to drop the mattress so we sleep better at night. Andres has been very healthy, thankfully, and is realizing when we walk by and don't pick him up...which he doesn't like very well. And I must admit, I love having him close to me. He loves going for walks/being outside and literally cries when we come back inside and he's not ready...lol :). Really, the Psalm about children being a blessing and a gift means so much more to be me now as a momma :).

Church: We just started going to a new church, Impacto, that seems to be a great fit for us. It is a bit more established which means there are a lot of opportunities to get involved during the week with marriage classes, and bible studies. It's also a lot closer to home so we CAN get involved too. God is faithful!

Birthday: I have the chance to brag on my husband a bit...he made sure my birthday was so special! I woke up on Sat morning to Andres' smiling face and 'Mommy, I love you' written on his chest in dry erase marker along with breakfast in bed. :). My day could have ended there and I would have been happy. Then Carlos surprised me with a spa day at a beautiful hotel...I was pampered! He made me dinner at night and did all the cleaning too! Overall, it was a wonderful birthday, I felt loved! Oh, and my actual day he surprised me with dinner and friends over, and Paula made me a cake and they all sang to me...nothing like the traditional Terbeek birthday song, but lovely all the same :).

Semana Santa: 'Holy Week' here in Central America is when everyone leaves the city for the beaches...we decided to stay in town and it has been so relaxing. I made bread, cookies and took naps :). There is hardly any traffic and everyone is 'tranquilo' and happy...can't complain! We've taken a few short trips to visit Carlos' family in the city, but other than that we're happy to be home. I love waking up with Andres and taking walks in the morning, before it gets too hot. We bought a little kiddie pool and have put Andres in in a few times...he loves the water! Vacation is wonderful!

Family: We were able to have a video conference call with the fam (Dad/Mom, Grandpa/Grandma, Joel and Megs, Trav, Leah and Luke!) who were all over at my parents house for Leah's birthday...I loved seeing AND talking to everyone. Andres put on a great show complete with giggles and crawling, which I know tickled Grammie and Grampie pink...we all loved it! Gotta love technology! I can't wait until July to see everyone!

Paula: She's doing well, and has been gone for most of her vacation too. She has been helping with a medical brigade from church, translating and seeing the much poorer side of Honduras. She loves translating and does an excellent job, she even got to meet a former NFL player who came down with the brigade. Sorry, I don't remember his name...she'll have to post later with the details :). She goes up to the orphanage every other weekend where she has a good friend there, plus I think she likes getting away from the house :). She recently started tutoring for a little boy in the neighborhood so she's earning a little extra cash as well. I love having her here, and if you know Paula at all, you know what a blessing she is! (She told me to update for her, I'm not stealing her thunder ;))

Ok...I think that covers the highlights...I always seem to write a novel :). Just a few prayer requests and then I shall leave you...1) Continued prayer for our marriage, its hard, but rewarding :)...2) For the finances to be there for us to all travel home in July...and 3) Carlos- he starts school soon and his plate will be full!

The pics are us in DC, Andres in his pool and in the laundry basket, which he loves! Enjoy :)!

Alright, I love you all- Happy Easter, He is risen!

The Valladares' and Paula

He is risen! (tomorrow ;))

Hi family! It has also been a while since I've posted, so here we go :)....We moved back to Honduras in the beginning of Jan, after a brief stop in DC with Leah. I have to admit my first month here was very hard, BUT- thankfully things have improved! In that month Paula decided to stay with us until July...Thank-you Jesus, huge answer to our prayers for Andres. Carlos and I both started working at International School again. I am teaching 10/11 English and Carlos is doing several things, such as substitute teaching, athletic director assistant, and working with the housing and Visa's for the North American teachers. He also starts classes towards a marketing degree starting in the beginning of April- he's busy! I love my students and enjoy being back in the classroom again!

Paula watches Andres during the day for us and recently started tutoring for a student in the neighborhood to earn some extra cash on the side. She goes up to the orphanage every other weekend and has made some great friends there with a teacher/ some of the workers. I love having my sister around and if you know Paula, you know how much of a blessing she is!

This week is 'Semana Santa' (Holy Week) here in Central America, and EVERYONE has the week off. I love vacation!!! We stayed in the city and things have been really tranquilo (calm) around here since everyone is gone...traffic is light, people are relaxed, and the sun is HOT :)! Some of the highlights this week are using the kiddie pool with Andres, who LOVED it, making homemade bread and cookies- yummy, taking naps in the afternoon, waking up every morning and sharing breakfast with the fam, and taking walks in the morning with Andres, before it gets hot! Gotta say, I'm not looking forward to getting back in the swing of things on Mon ;).

Carlos and I recently started going to a new church, Impacto (Impact), which we really like. The church is a lot closer to home and seems to be very established. What sold me were the services during the week...I really want to get involved with a church and Impacto has mens/womens studies and marriage classes every week. Overall, it just seems to be more established and stable. Carlos likes how much we save on gas and that we have already met a few young families. We both think this is a good fit for us these next few years. Paula is still going to Tabernaculo de Sion so we still have that contact there as well.

We are looking forward to coming home in July and please be praying for finances because we really want to travel as a family, in other words...to have Carlos come home with Andres and I :). Other prayer requests are for Carlos and I and our marriage...God is faithful and we've both seen lots of changes in ourselves, but there's always more :). Andres has been so healthy, thankfully, and I pray daily for that! He just started crawling and continues to bring us so much joy! Children really are a blessing! Please pray for Carlos as he goes back to school as well, he will have a lot on his plate!

I hope you are all enjoying the first signs of spring, I don't miss winter ;). We have hit the middle of the hot season, and its HOT! Andres is usually in just a diaper by the time I come home from work :), and I don't blame him. We miss you here, and recently enjoyed a 'video conference' with the fam for Leah's birthday...we all loved it and Andres put on a great show full of giggles and crawling...Grammie Ruth loved it! (as did everyone else :))

Have a blessed Easter Sunday, I'm so thankful for the cross and what it means! He is risen!

The Valladares' and Paula :)

Hi!

Hello all. Remember me. Sorry I have not been posting but I had not done it in so long that I forgot the login info. But don't worry I got it from my momma :o)

So I was just saying hi if you wanna see what is going on in my life just click here.

Have a great day!

Our first 'empty-nester' project! Here is David cutting a hole between Ryan & Ross's old room and Stacey's. The french doors behind him are what will go there because the girls had this fabulous idea to combine the two and I think the exact (and very motivating) words were 'for future grandbabies when we come home for a visit'!

The Speyer Update!

http://ttt-ranch.blogspot.com/

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AUNT BARBARA!

WE LOVE YOU!

More of the Stickneys!! :)

Just more pictures of us! :) heheheee I always like looking at everyone's pictures so I thought I'd update mine.

Things are going well in our world. Graham is such a joy and is getting SO BIG! Ava is so helpful, SO smart and just makes me laugh everyday! Graham and Ava are shown having a picnic, in case you were wondering. We feel sooo blessed to have been entrusted with two incredible children!!

Love you all!
Tina, Cory, Ava and Graham Stickney

Hola from the Dominican

Just returned from a great Dominican Republic trip. The first night there, our friend asked everyone to consider three things during the week; was this a vacation, mission or vision trip. . . for David and I , it was the perfect blend of all three.
Someone else has the pictures of Grandma's shawls getting passed out at the nursing home so we will post those later.
David is helping this boy fix his bike tire with string. It worked! and David said that he learned something from helping him. He also left his Leatherman (after making sure it was ok with his mom) which he had taken quite a liking to.

From upstairs at the school overlooking the barrio.

This isn't such a great picture, however you can tell how small the 'library' is and that it is now a Dominican green!

A reconstructed home that is built higher so that when it floods (the barrio's name translates to 'black water') it is now higher than the sewer water.

I was the dumb one who raised her hand and asked where they bought the kiln (before we went on the tour). . . . of course, it was built by the Dominican who is in charge of making these ceramic water filters, a different filter that we were introduced to on this trip. . . . more on that later.

BELATED & EARLY BIRTHDAY GREETINGS!

Happy Belated 24th Birthday to Ryan! - February 14
Happy Early 26th Birthday to Stacey! - February 17