Moving on…Our 3rd Country...We are in Malacatan, Guatemala!!

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Sunday (6/10) We worked on cakes again! Of course, Salvador had us in class again. He talked to us about marriage and made comparisons about our relationship with Christ. He reinforced what we had learned earlier about 3 types of love...phyisical (Eros), brotherly (Philos), and godly (Agape)...a marriage needs all three of these.

Sunday afternoon we went to the river to celebrate Frida's birthday, but she and her family didn't go because it was raining...they stayed out at the ranch. We were sad that she wasn't there, but we hung out for a bit at the river anyway!

Sunday night, Taly wanted to read the Bible with all of us together. We had an awesome time of worship...reading and discussing. Then we prayed together...let me tell you about how the Holy Spirit refreshed us all. We didn't go to bed until 2:30, but none of us even realized it was that late! Calin (Esther's brother and Frida, Karla, & Juan Carlos's dad) was there as well...he stayed the night instead of going back to the ranch because he wanted to pray and study God's Word too! I felt like we should pray for him too, but the door didn't open that night.

Monday (6/11) We worked on cakes again! We also went with Samy to deliver them to the other stores in Arriaga and Tonalá.

Monday evening we finally got to celebrate Frida's birthday! The kids were really pumped up! We all sang...because those who don't sing, don't get cake! Then we had cake and then played with the cards that we gave Frida for her birthday. We taught the kids to play Old Maid and War. (in addition to Spoons that we taught them earlier) It was tons of fun!!

Tuesday (6/12) No cakes today...Chris and I thought we were leaving today, but the Lord had other plans. There wasn't a lot of work, so the family decided that we should all go out to Calin's ranch. Right as we were all about to load up, I felt like I was going to be sick on my stomach. Then I could hardly walk...the family was really worried, so they made me go to the doctor...my blood pressure was really low 70/40...I don't know what that means, but I don't think it's supposed to be like that. The doctor was nice, but not Dra. Dulce! He gave me some vitamins to help with the issue. When I got back to the house, I did get sick. I almost immediately felt better.

Esther, Chris and I started talking, and we realized that it was spiritual warfare. (Salvador was feeling really sick too, but with allergies.) Frida really wanted us to go to the ranch to pray for her parents. They are really struggling in their marriage and in their relationship with Frida as well. So we decided that we would go out to the ranch.

It ended up being a special time of sharing...we sang together and prayed together! Praise God for victory!

Wednesday (6/13)

We knew it was time to go...so we worked on cakes one more day. They were trying out a new recipe for the cake and icing. The icing was a little runny, so Salvador thought that he would try toasting it with a blow torch. Not successful, but it was still really tasty (and pretty funny to witness). Then Chris and I went with them once more to Arriaga and Tonalá to deliver cakes. In between Arriaga and Tonalá, we had flat tire. We finally used the leatherman that we brought along with us. And Esther even sold a couple of slices of cake while we waited for the guys to change the tire. From there, Salvador and Esther put us on a bus to go to Tapachula, Chiapas. We were soooo sad to leave them and the family, but we all knew it was time! We look forward to when we can be back with them again!

As we rode the bus, we were hoping that we would find a church...but it was late when we got there. We ended up staying in a hotel.

Thursday (6/14)

Neither of us was 100%, so we decided not to move on...we worked on catching up on e-mail and rested a bit more.

Friday (6/15)

Time to walk...we were about 12 miles from Talisman, and the border Guatemala. We walked about 4 miles before we took a bathroom break at a gas station. While I was waiting for Chris, Betsabe came up. When she came out of the bathroom, she started talking to us. We learned that she is a Christian and a lawyer. She was headed to the border and wanted to give us a ride. We enjoyed chatting with her...she gave us several pointers for our travels in Guatemala...talk about God's perfect timing.

When we crossed into Guatemala, we were both pretty nervous because there were tons of men crowding around offering us their services--taxis, help with our paperwork, buses, money changing...dollars for quetzales (the currency in Guatemala), etc. It was really overwhelming. Thankfully God guided us through quickly!! We walked on!

A couple of miles later, we saw a sign for a church...we turned down the little stone path in hopes that we would find that the had a service. As we walked down the path a ton of people starred at us, but no one really talked to us. We got to the church, but they haven't finished constructing it, so it's wide open. We went in so that we could read and pray. (and have shelter from the rain...we are going to have to continue modifying the schedule of when we walk...early in the morning is looking like the only time...it rains now almost every afternoon.)

After we had been praying for a while, a man came up to us with his machete tucked under his arm. Apparently Eriberto (he would let us take his picture) is part of the community watch, so he was coming to find out exactly what we were up to. As we explained, he relaxed and began to share a little as well. He doesn't go to that church, but he does go to church. He also shared that they've had problems with people coming to their town to rob them or to kidnap their children. So they are very cautious now when outsiders come into their town. After we talked for awhile, Eriberto brought us some food to eat and then went back to his house.

Tons of the kids were out and about...they were very interested in us and what we were doing. So we started talking to them and sharing with them. We played soccer with them and talked to them about Jesus. While we were playing we noticed that Eriberto came out as well. After 30 minutes or so, he told me that he thought that the best idea would be for us to stay at his house. Apparently two of the adults who came out while we were playing are known to be thieves. Eriberto just wanted to protect us. Praise God for watching over us!

We played some more and shared some more with the kids, and then Eriberto introduced us to his neighbor. He and his family gave us corn on the cob to eat. (They grow a lot of corn in this little ranchito.) I've never eaten corn and ketchup before, but it was pretty tasty. The dad also gave us some quetzales (the currency in Guatemala) Praise God for His continued provision as we cross another border!

As it was getting dark, we headed to Eriberto's house. (It's made up of 3 rooms of wall to wall beds. 17 people live in the house...Eriberto & Victoria and 5 of their 7 kids plus Eriberto's sister-in-law and her 9 kids. Apparently Eriberto's brother is working some where else...maybe he's in the US...they didn't talk about it very much.) There's no electricity in the little village, so we sat around and talk to him family by candlelight! We read the Bible together and sang some hymns as well! (Eriberto doesn't know how to read, so the only time he can learn from God's Word is if someone reads it to him...Praise God that the Holy Spirit teaches even those who can't read!)

Saturday (6/16)

We got up and had breakfast with Eriberto and his family. He escorted us (with his machete again) back to the main road to make sure that no one bothered us!

We walked on...at one break we met a teenage girl and her brothers...she was anxious to practice the little bit of English that she knows...it was so sweet. (God used this interaction to calm me fears a bit about being in a new country.) Then we walked on...the view was absolutely beautiful! Two of the tallest volcanoes in Central America were on the horizon in addition to the Sierra Madre that continues to accompany our path. We also crossed a ton of rivers...this one you can see the women washing their clothes!

We kept walking...we could tell we were coming into Malacatán (the next city) but we had no idea where to go. Just then Rony pulled over and asked us if we wanted a ride into downtown. We agreed, and he showed us around a bit. He took us to the bank so we could change some money...you can't spend pesos or dollars in Guatemala. Then he dropped us off at the plaza in the center of town. I was in desperate need of a shower, so we went straight to a hotel. When we were checking in, I asked the lady about a church. She gave us directions for Sunday morning, and we headed to our room.

I was still feeling pretty anxious about being in Guatemala...we've heard a lot of stories about how unsafe it is...but God spoke really strongly to me. The power went out at the hotel on Saturday night. I was starting to get scared...then I remembered where fear and worry come from...the devil! NOT God! So I surrendered my burden again to my Lord...oh, such peace...God still has His mighty hand on us! I realized that Salvador had just spoken a Word from the Lord over us concerning this very feeling I had been having. He told us that some people are called to be martyrs, but that God hadn't called us to that. He reinforced what we already knew by telling us that God would be protecting us on our journey just as He already had! Salvador said that there was a tunnel of angels that we were walking through daily as we journeyed...they would protect us from whatever or whoever who desired to harm us! Praise God! He told us that God was marking a path for something later...revival, mission trips, etc. Praise God for bringing this back to our minds! We serve an awesome God! We're pumped up and ready to walk without fear in Guatemala!!

God bless you and keep you! We love you...we'll be in touch soon!

1) Tortillas cooked over an open fire!! 2-4) A little of the beautiful scenery for you to enjoy from Guatemala...a gorgeous country!

Making a cake and eating it too...still in Chahuites, Oaxaca

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Make sure you check out the 4 latest posts...I've been able to catch up a bit this week in between making cakes!!


Our family this week...l to r...Taly, Salvador, Samy, Esther, Emmy, and Chavita (Emmy and Chavita are twins!!)




Sunday (6/3) morning we woke up to the smell of cakes baking. Oh, what a smell! Huge bowls of icing, cake batter, and milk to pour on the cakes. I told Chris that I thought we had made it to Peru and that we should stay for awhile (ha, ha, ha!!) Leche y Miel (Milk & Honey)'s specialty is Pastel de Tres Leches (Cake of Three Milks). They bake the cake, then pour the milk mixture over the first layer. Then they put icing then either peaches & strawberries, carmel & pecans, peaches & pecans, pineapple & coconut, or pineapple & peaches. Next the 2nd layer of cake soaked in the milk mixture again. Finally, the icing on the top and outside and the decorations. The cakes are refrigerated and served cold!! (See pictures below of the process!) We don't have the recipe yet, but I'm hoping to get it before we leave. Chris isn't a huge fan of sweets, but even he loves these cakes. They make all of the cakes at their house for the 3 stores that they own...the newest in Tonalá, Chiapas , another in Arriaga, Chiapas, and one in Chahuites, Oaxaca . Some days they drive them over to the other stores and some days they send the cakes over in a taxi. Sunday was a taxi day!










After the work on the cakes, we sat around the table and fellowshipped. We had no idea how much wisdom and knowledge Salvador has of the Bible. He talked to us about sin--staying blind to what you know is wrong and falling into the devil's trap instead of recognizing it for what it is and avoiding the pitfall. He also shared about heart attitude and our free will to obey or not to obey God's commands.

Monday (6/4)
Chris washed Vico (the dog!!), and I helped clean around the house. Then we worked on the cakes again--it takes many hours daily. Thirty+ cakes taking a ride to the other two stores in the Cake-Mobile!! We played baseball with Emmy, Chavita, Daniel, and Miguel. Daniel and Miguel are kids from the neighborhood. Miguel basically lives with them because his mom is an alcoholic. There are days when she's with it, but most of the time she just leaves Miguel for days at a time. We also taught Samy y Frida how to play Rummy.

Tuesday (6/5)
We cleaned again, helped make cakes, and washed dishes into the late afternoon. Then we watched Goal! the movie about the soccer player who makes it big from the barrio of LA to the Newcastle United in England. At night we played cards again...this time with Taly too!









Wednesday (6/6)
We worked on cakes and washed dishes most of the morning and early afternoon, but then it was time for a break. (Normally they work from morning to night 7 days per week, but this week has been a little lighter on work. Perfect for hanging out a bit more and talking about the Lord. Also Polo (pictured hard at work hauling water when there was no running water), the guy who works with them, is on vacation this week, so our being here has taken up some of the slack. (Not to mention Tropical Storm Barbara dropped a ton of rain on the towns we would have been walking through.)





All 11 of us loaded up in the car and headed towards Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas. (the capital of Chiapas--2 1/2 hours in the car means good talk time...we sang, shared testimony, and laughed a lot!) (Frida, Karla, and Juan Carlos are Esther's neices and nephew...their parents live on a ranchito, but the school isn't very good there, so the kids come to stay with Salvador and Esther during the week to go to school.) They had used up all the cream (for the cakes) in town so they had to go to Tuxtla Gutierrez to find some more as well as a few other items that they could get a lot cheaper in bulk. But making a supply run means going to Dominoes for pizza and to the movies!! We had pizza!! It was so good...not that the food here in Mexico isn't wonderful because it is...we just realized again that we really like pizza too! Then we went to see Pirates of the Caribbean 3 (in Spanish...and we haven't seen the 2nd one yet). It was a ton of fun! We had a real date night!!! (Mexican style--with the whole family!!) It was a great day!!



Thursday (6/7)
Back to work...we made cakes, washed dishes, washed our nasty clothes, and helped clean the house. We also caught up on our journals and played some with the kids.

We had "class" again with Salvador...he talked to us about God's timing. We've talked with them about how we haven't been on the direct route to Peru, but we've known we were where we were supposed to be. He explained to us that this walk was about building a deeper relationship with the Lord. God is teaching us about His character and transforming us through this process. So by going the way that He shows us whether it's the direct route or not, we are learning the lessons that He has prepared for us. If we went the shortest way according to the map, we'd arrive back in NC without the knowledge, wisdom, nor depth of relationship with God that we need to go on to the next thing that He has for us to do. So we'd end up in a holding pattern learning things that we should have learned on the road, but that we missed. What encouragement to keep following the route that God outlines for us!!!

We taught eveyone how to play spoons...(thanks Alabama crew from Pearlington for teaching us to play) The kids loved it!! Then we played Rummy again with Frida, Taly, and Samy until it was time to go to bed.

Friday (6/8)
We worked on cakes, washed dishes and finished up writing. We aren't sure which day, but in the next few, we know it's time to move on. It's going to be really hard...God has really given us time to renew our strength and to rest in Him while we've been here, but at the same time we've been about to help with their business as well.

In the afternoon, we all went to the beach...the Pacific Ocean is less than an hour away, so we went to Puerto Arista to swim and play. I was shocked at the size of the waves and the force of the current! I've never seen waves like that except on TV...Chris said that he's seen them like that two other times, but both times were in tropical storms or hurricanes. According to our friends, it was a calm day at the beach. I couldn't believe it. Chris went out really far, but I was too afraid of the waves to go out that far. I stayed with everyone else...the waves were huge there...over my head at times. We all had a really good time though!!

Saturday (6/9)
They are making a cake for a 50th wedding anniversary today, so we are going to get to have a part in that!! I just found out that someone else came this morning to order a wedding cake for TODAY. So we get to help with 2 big cakes!! Could you imagine waiting until the day of your wedding to order the cake...and that some one would actually agree to do it?!! Welcome to Mexico!! I love it! When we were delivered the cake to the wedding, the car wouldn’t go into gear…we had to push it to the corner and leave it there!!







Frida has also invited us to her birthday party on Sunday...looks like we'll be staying at least until Monday. We'll be in touch again soon...maybe next time from Guatemala...we're really close. Please be praying for our safety...apparently all border crossings are dangerous to some extent...Mexico is a rich country compared to Guatemala, so just keep praying for us! You're in our prayers. We love you! God bless you and keep you!

More pictures...1)RE with Vico...the family's mastiff...he's a big baby...he even followed Chris and me to the store one day!! Kinda makes us miss Minnie!! 2) Emmy and Chavita ready for their karate lessons!

3) Rosita in the traditional dress of Oaxaca...she's on her way to a birthday party! 4) Salvador had to rescue the iguana from the neighbor's moped.












5 & 6) Scenic overlooks from our drive to Tuxtla Gutierrez...









7) The 50th Wedding Anniversary Cake 8) The Wedding Cake










The cake making process...from beginning to tasty end...don't be deceived by the pictures of only RE eating icing...CE takes most of the pictures, so I was the only one who got caught on film!!