Notes home
Kristen writes: Mom~ Happy birthday! I wouldn’t put your age on here because I know you’d kill me :-). I hope you are having a good one. I got you a present in the market on Sunday and I’m pretty sure you’ll like it. And yes—I did help with the dishes! (Don’t you roll your eyes) Love you all…know that I’m enjoying Guatemala so much. -Kristen
Corinne writes: Mom, Dad, Hollie, and Kaden~ Hi! I’m having a lot of fun painting and playing with the little kids. Hope you’re having fun with Kaden.
Love you all~ Corinne
Molly emphatically writes: Mom, Hi! Just to let you know, I’m NOT NOT NOT going on the zipline. You couldn’t get me up on that thing! I can’t wait to tell you about all of the kids. I’m getting attached and loving it even more. Claudia says hello! 
Love you, Molly
Eric Ross writes:
Hi Bethie , Blaise, Gunnar, Ambrose, Tyndale and The wee Augustine
I am proud of the work that everyone put in at the farm. Nicely done. I did see the big dipper, Gunnar with a shooting star bonus. The chicken-bus down hill event was body-chemistry altering ,I understand that it’s soon to be inducted as an Olympic event.
Bethany, it is wildly beautiful here. Like Georgia , Colorado, with a year-round growing season . I got to spend today(wed) with Larry . We drove into GUA (starting at 1:30 am) to drop off workers at the airport and then to look for papers that a lawyer has squirreled away for close to a year. I don’t have a silver bullet but I have better starting points for future conversation.
BOYS I love you
Bethany, my sweet I love you more, and think of you much.
Blaise - Will you have those future conversations quickly? — We are all dying of suspense!! And what about the zip line?
Gunnar - Have you found any lizards yet? Or hiked? What does a temperate rainforest look like?
Ambrose - Thank you very much for writing a note to us. I love you very much and I am missing you a lot.
Tyndale - Thank you very much for reading our letter. I love you very much.
Augustine - Mmmmm. Ba! Ba! Aaaiiiieeee!! Mmmm. Huhuhu.
I have to echo Blaise. I would love to know more of the substance of your conversations. We prayed all day (many, many times) that God would give you the ability to communicate easily together. We prayed that your mind would not be fogged by fatigue and that your conversation would be enlightening as to the direction you should walk henceforth and for a door that was clearly open or shut. Ohhhh, I want to ask you a million questions — but I guess I will have suffice with this: Are you going to be able to have some of those future conversations this week?
I thought that the western highlands would be a cross between the Southern Appalachians (for lush plant life and humidity), the Rockies (for drama), and San Francisco (for year around temperate climate). It sounds like the landscapes of my best, most imaginative daydreams. I can’t wait to see it through your eyes.
I love you. Each of the boys has gotten to be my sleeping buddy twice since you’ve been gone. They are all sure that when you get home, you are going to kick Blaise out of your place (Blaise has Friday night)! I have not disabused them of this notion.
Your Bethany
To my GuateMolly girl,
PHEW! I am relieved that you have decided to “NOT NOT NOT” go on the zippy line! (: However I really am quite curious and would like very much to see how your dad would look without the fur above his lip! Surely the creative ones traveling with the team could figure out some other way that wouldn’t involve you risking your life to get him to shave it off? Ha Ha!
Soooooo Molly have you picked a cute little one to bring home? I’m sure you would stuff them all into your suitcase if you could! I hope you are having a little time to jot significant thoughts and events down to jog your memory as I don’t want you to leave out a single detail when you get home and tell me all about your Guatemalan adventures!
I haven’t been sitting in front of the TV all week eating bon bons but have been working too! I actually think we might be able to pull into the gargage by the end of the week!
Oh, since we only live but a minute or two from church why don’t you and dad just call me when you pull in on Saturday morning and I’ll dash down the street. That way I won’t need to sit around waiting in the event you guys do not arrive at the hoped for arrival time of 5:30 AM! Thanks!
I love you oodles and boodles and noodles and poodles and zoodles Molly!!
Can’t wait to see you Saturday. I guess I’ll have to wait until after you guys have had a nap to hear your stories!
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO Your Momma
Kristen,
Had a nice day today….Dad even bought me a cake and Marc brought me cookies! It doesn’t get much better than that! Of course, we get to celebrate again when you get home!
I saw a picture of you holding an infant!!!!! A cute one at that!!! Hard to believe you only have one more full work day there. Time is going by fast. Hope you are taking good journal notes because we will want to hear everything!
Continue to pray that you are aware of His everlasting arms!
Love ya,
Mom
Guatamolly,
That’s a smart girl! Ziplines are for the warrior- type who lack the proper fear! We girls have this uncanny, brilliant, intuitive, logical, practical, God given wisdom re: such things, don’t we?
I wanted to say you look positively Natural and Comfortable w/ those babies! All of you girls look like you are imparting such love to them. Wish I were there to hug and hold em too.
It does seem a shame not to make a memory w/ dad’s “appearance” tho, and looks like mom’s supportive too. I’ll pray you are creative at employing help on that one. Perhaps you could ask Mrs. McLean from church, if the same method emplyed to file my nails down w/o knowing it/would work w/ shaving a mustache off. Have fun, while working so hard! Love, jule
Christie-
We are all enjoying the beautiful pictures and rich description of your time down there. Thank you for the time it is taking you to publish this “journal” so that we might have a “taste” of what you are experiencing.
As we have viewed the pictures together, it has been fun to watch and listen to the girls’ reactions. Here are a couple: Emma respectfully requests that any future blood be covered properly with a band-aid prior to being photographed- especially if it is her daddy’s! Emma and Anna are both a little jealous that another little girl is seen jumping into their daddy’s arms at the swimming pool. And Anna wants one of those babies!!
Thank you, too, for your culinary skills. You are a blessing!
Bill-
Your trip continues to look and sound like an amazing adventure! We have been praying for unity, safety and a greater knowledge of Him for yourself and the team.
Know that while you are away, you are missed not only for what you do around here but simply for who you are. Thank you for loving us so much. Thank you for loving God. You have our love and respect.
Your Girls
Kristen,
Good to see you in the pictures. Glad to hear you are enjoying your stay. I am anxious to have you back. Can’t wait to hear the stories. Don’t leave out any details! By the way, what color paint would you like to use on “my” walls??? What is your favorite food thus far? God sure has blessed your trip. I pray He will continue to watch over you as you spend your last couple of days in that beautiful country. TWA!