Our last Sunday, A Trip to Kansas

Hey folks. I know it's been a long time since our last post. I've been busy trying to get a teaching job nailed down before we leave for Guatemala. As of now, we haven't heard anything back from the public schools I've applied to. Schools seem to move much more slowly than I'd like! But I am not putting any expectations on God. He has provided us with so much and validated every decision we've made so far in regards to this trip, I just know He is watching us and smiling, knowing what His plans are that we just can't even begin to grasp. So please be praying for my job situation! In my prayer time last night, I found this passage from Matthew, and I plan to hold tight to this scripture:

Matthew 6:25-27
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

Last week we took a trip out to Kansas to see my Aunt and Uncle; Laurie and Greg, and their two boys Joey and Josh. Laurie and the boys are going to be part of the team coming from their church to Agua Viva this summer! We took an afternoon to meet with the team leaders and then another evening to meet the entire team. This was such a wonderful experience to get to meet the team and give them a bit of an orientation before getting to the home. They had lots of good questions and seem very eager to work. An added bonus was spending the weekend with Laurie and Greg and the boys who have been EXTREMEMLY supportive of our decision to make this trip. It makes it so much easier when your loved ones are there cheering you on! Thanks guys!

Today (April 27) was our last Sunday at Sherwood Oaks until we get back from Guatemala. It was bittersweet to say goodbye to all our friends at church. It made it all the more real that we are really doing this! Tom was great and had us come up on stage for all 3 services and pray for our trip and introduce us to the congregation. We'll miss Tom's sermons and the routine of Sunday mornings that we've become accustomed to! It will be a while before we hear a sermon in English again!

We ask that you continue to pray for our trip and our finances. We've done pretty well, but have not reached our goal yet. We know that no matter how much we raise, God will be able to use it to bless our lives and the lives of the children at Agua Viva.

Ephesians 3:20-21
Al que puede hacer muchisimo mas que todo lo que podamos imaginarnos o pedir, por el poder que obra eficazmente en nosotros, a el sea la gloria en la iglesia y en Cristo Jesus por todas las generaciones, por los siglos de los siglos! Amen

Site Updates/News

Hey All!

Just a few quick notes here. Firstly, if you look below our picture on the home page, there is a new weather feature. It should display the current weather and related information for Chimaltenango, the town Agua Viva is in. Secondly, and probably the most fun, is the new Call Me button on the Blog. This is set up so that you can click that number and enter your phone number. Once you click it, it rings your phone, and automatically connects you to our Voice Mail that we can access online for free! Its free for us and free for you, so PLEASE leave us some love! It will get us through the long stretches when we are missing all of you!

Also, we got news that instead of staying in the dorm style rooms all summer, the home is giving us the A-Frame House! Its two stories, with two bedrooms, one bathroom, a living/dining room, and a kitchen. It will make us feel so much more settled being able to have the house to go to. We have great memories from the house last summer, where the americans would meet for homemade pizza once a week. We look forward to making lots of new memories!

Walking in Faith

Even though we don't leave for Guatemala for a few months, the Lord has still been busy at work and much has happened in preparation for us leaving. It is amazing how He has been preparing us for this trip long before we even knew we were going. We continue to be amazed at what our God does and how He takes care of us. Almost daily, the Lord gives us nudges, showing us that we are doing exactly what He wants. There is not nearly enough space to write, and you don't have nearly enough time to read about each thing He has done, but there are two that we would love to share with you.When we first made the decision about one and a half years ago that Scott would leave the PhD program, we knew it was the right thing and what the Lord wanted to happen for us. We knew that having his PhD would not allow Scott to be the Godly husband or father that he desires to be, but now that time has passed, we see even more specifically why God led us in that decision. The Lord needs Scott and me to be in Guatemala this summer, the summer of 2008; if Scott was still in the lab, we would not be able to go. It is amazing to see that God knew long before we did where we would be in the summer of 2008, and to watch how He set things into motion to complete His Will.People often ask us how we are going to take care of things here at home while we are gone, and we just say that we don't know...it isn't for us to worry about. As many of you know, when you follow the Lord, He works out the small details and doesn't want you to worry a bit. For example, we wondered what to do with our apartment while we are gone. It isn't long enough to completely move out, but it is too long to just let it sit. Before we even had time to "stress" about it, the Lord sent us the answer. One of my dear Christian friends is going to be taking Arabic classes at IU and needed a place to say, but just for the summer. Some would say it's ironic, but we know its no coincidence. It is so neat to see our Father provide for the needs of His children; He is so good.As we prepare to go, we are being overwhelmed by the greatness of our God. As Satan hurls discouragement and obstacles at us, God matches each with comfort and reassurance. Please continue to pray for us as we prepare to leave.Love,Sophie

Getting Started

Well,We've begun the process of fundraising for the trip. We met with Lyne at Sherwood Oaks yesterday and picked up our envelopes and letters. We are sending to friends and family across the country. It is a daunting task and one that has to be done soon! If you've come to the site, somehow you've heard about our pending trip and we're glad you've come. In case you don't know, we are going to be living at the Agua Viva Children's home in Guatemala for the summer. Please be praying for our trip and raising the funds we need to make the trip!And please check back often to see how we are doing getting ready for the trip!
Love,Scott and Sophie