July 2020 Newsletter

Restriction Update Another month has come and gone.  Not much has changed since our last update. Our State of Emergency was recently extended until August 5.  Our current restrictions now include only being able to get out in your vehicle based on the number on your tag.  Odd numbers can get out three days and even numbers the other three days.  There is a total lockdown on Sundays.  We still have our curfew from 6:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m.  There are to be no gatherings of any size and still no crossing department (county) lines.  That leaves us at home most all of the time unless we get out to buy groceries or supplies.  We are managing well but we most definitely have restriction fatigue.  Pray for us to not grow weary in waiting and that we would all be more content during this time.

One Day At A Time While it is more of an inconvenience for us, the restrictions have been severe for the average Guatemalan.  Many have been out of work since mid-March.  Schools are still closed.  The school year in Guatemala runs January- October.  They were just at the start of the year when everything shut down.  At this point there has been no word on if or when they will be allowed to open back up.  Airports and borders are still closed.  Guatemala depends heavily on tourism.  Many hotels and restaurants have already had to permanently close.  At the rate we are going it will take years to recover and there is no end in sight. Please pray for the people of Guatemala.  Pray for wisdom for the leaders who are making difficult decisions.  Pray for the health care system that is struggling and the healthcare workers who are completely exhausted.  Pray also for the hunger needs that everyone is experiencing.  Without work many have no means to buy food.  Guatemala has always had a high mal-nutricion rate.  This virus has just escalated that.  Many organizations are working hard to combat the needs.  We are trying to help do our part as well.  Through funds given to Send Relief we have continued to do feeding projects during the month of June.  Because of your giving, many Guatemalan families have had food on their tables.  Thank you! Below are a few photos from food distributions done this past month.  We plan to continue that work throughout the month of July.

Family Update We are thankful for good health these days.  Pray that we would continue to avoid the virus and stay well. We long for the day we can return to church locally. In the meantime, we are enjoying online worship each Sunday morning.  Getting to have weekly English worship has been a blessing to us and one of the positive things we will remember about this time. I am making plans for our upcoming school year.  With no volunteer teams allowed to come in that has made me have to look for other options to get my books brought down.  I have been stressing about that since early April.  We ended up having them shipped.   We are hoping they will arrive mid-month.  Please pray that that box arrives safely and on time!  If so, I plan to begin our new school year sometime within the last two weeks of the month.  We have been on break since May 8 and barely left the house.  My creativity is running low and hopefully school will give us something to help pass the time.  Starting early will give us a little extra time to take off later in the year when hopefully things begin to open back up and we can travel again.

David and the boys celebrating Father's Day.

Freedom While we ask you to pray for Guatemala, know that we are praying for you all as well.  There is so much sadness and unrest happening in the U.S. right now. It is hard to watch from a distance. If living outside of the United States has taught me anything it's that we are so blessed to have been born there.  We take so much for granted.  I know the U.S. has it's problems, but in spite of them, I am proud to be an American.  We look forward to celebrating our home country later this week.  Happy Independence Day, everyone.  Our hearts will be celebrating with you.  Thank you for praying for us!