Glimpse In My Door

I wonder if someone that hasn’t been given the talent of cooking well, whether they can become a chef?! I do know that walking into the kitchen here at the compound didn’t transform me into one. I was an up-and-coming pro at cooking rice in the states with instant rice but that all flew out the door when I attempted it here because it was not instant rice. The ladies here have fluffy fried rice that tastes amazing. I tried my hand at fried rice, mine miraculously turned into porridge. It was to late to try another batch. Everyone dutifully ate some but it wasn’t the top favorite of that meal. I find it difficult to choose recipes that I have the ingredients for. My mom gets many messages from me asking, can I skip this ingredient in this recipe and it will still turn out, okay? How do I cook a whole chicken? How many cups is 2 cans of mushroom soup? Do you have a recipe for mushroom soup? I don’t know what I would do without her. Being with some other missionaries this past weekend I w...

The phrase "the art of thankfulness" keeps rolling through my head. I was sitting at the breakfast table and it dawned on me why it is called an art. Sometimes it can be difficult for me to see things as blessing. I love having a space to call home. I was settling into my new home at the mission base and I was finally getting suitcases unpacked when I needed to re-pack for a week in Antigua for Spanish school. Living out of a suitcase can be hide-an-seek. I know I packed my shampoo but where did it go. I then find it at the bottom of the suitcase cause it fell out of the pocket. I find myself getting frustrated and it comes out on my dear husband. I think that has been one of the hardest adjustments recently other than school. I love to have stability. Knowing where everything is and the kitchen is mine and I can control the house. Instead, I am the guest and everyone is serving me and I want to rebel. This past week was a holiday, something about them celebrating Mary ...

Guatemala trip 11/27 – 12/6/23  The trip of perpetual unknowns.  We left on a Monday morning from 8450 Rice Road. It was a dark dreary morning with wind and light rain. Tristan and Bethany had spent the night at our place and Bethany’s family was there to see them off. After hugging my family goodbye, we headed to Mt olive church to pick up a bus that was dropped there by Eldwin Martin and needed driven to Belize. At Mt Olive we met Tristan’s family and they also said their goodbyes. From there we continued south on I-81 to Mt Jackson Va. There we met Brent Eby and fueled up the buses and grabbed some coffee. From there we continued south. Tristan’s bus could hold 63 mph on the flat and the 2012 Bluebird with a 6.7 Cummins was governed at 65. We kept the Bluebird behind Tristan’s bus which was a 2001 Freightliner with a 5.9 Cummins and a Manuel 5 speed. The Bluebird also had cruise, which was nice but the engine fan was bolted tight and was roaring constantly and the only heat...

I find it intriguing; when the guys were informed I blog, they liked to point out incidents I could write about. So far, I can only remember one. It goes to show we are impacted differently or maybe some things just don't get shared in my mind.  As I write this we are sitting in a parking lot waiting for a bus to get fixed up. Today’s goal was – I don’t even know. Often I don’t get informed. I’m one those people that follow the schedule. Why else have one? I have come to realize schedules for trips like these are fluid. I was not impressed when I was informed I had to buy a new phone. This wasn’t part the budget after all. Well, you see, my phone provider didn’t allow me to switch providers. Sigh! You see, this all ties into my previous comment. It wasn’t in my plan. I have been working on incorporating “flexibility” into my life. It has been a painful but needful journey. I also have come to realize life is so much more beautiful when I am. I’ve been asked multiple times in differ...