The last month and a bit we have been busy with working at Shadow of His Wings; Steve doing construction/maintenance projects, while I have been organizing and planning teams. We had our annual party to celebrate the 9 girls who turned 15 years old, called "Quinceanera"!
It is a huge traditional celebration here in Guatemala to celebrate girls turning into young women. At Shadow, we give them a ring to symbolize purity and share with them the importanace of seeing themselves as valuable, precious, and pure, no matter what thier pasts have been. There is also a ceremony where their House Mom takes off thier old shoes and puts on new ones to symbolize becoming a woman. It was an incredible night of celebration and one night that many of the girls thought they would never have before coming to Shadow. Such a blessing and gift from many people who helped contribute towards the night.
A few weeks ago our family (including my parents)went out to a community we love just to visit and spend some time with them. We love the people and they are our friends. We brought with us three puzzles and the kids just loved them. The last time I visited was with the CLA Women's Team who did a VBS there and I remember seeing the kids do puzzles for the first time ever-even a girl who must have been 14-15 years old who had never seen or done a puzzle. This place, Flor del Cafe, is where Steve helped build a roof for the school and also where CLA's women's and men's teams have visited.
Flor del Cafe is doing great and they mentioned that a church from a nearby City, Jalapa, has begun some Bible classes with them which they are enjoying very much, a (connection thanks to Betty Merida and those from her church in Guatemala City). Great news!
Since January we have had a Guatemalan girl living with us as well. She is 19 and in her last year of schooling to become an elemantary school teacher. She is like one of the family and we are just loving on her and trying to be good examples to her of Christ and His love for her. She is a very special girl to us. Her past has had many changes, challenges, and big adjustments, but we are praying and hoping to see God continue to heal, restore, and fulfill His promises in and through her life! With Christ all things are possible!
At the end of February I was invited to speak at a Missions event at my home church, Christian Life Assembly, for a group of about 200 women. This was my first speaking engagement, which was stretching but such a great blessing to me. I love to share about what God has done in my life and how He brought my family and I to Guatemala. It was a great opportunity to share about what God is doing in Guatemala, some of what we've learned, and to challenge the women to seek out God's purpose in their lives, that they each have gifts and talents, and to do something about it! It was a quick trip, busy time, but such a gift to me to be able to visit with our families, my friends, and church family too! Thank you CLA!
Just wanted to touch base and keep you updated on what we've been up to recently! Blessings to you all and thank you!
Anna and Steve (and the kids)
