Remember THIS POST about the bees who adopted us and our back yard? Well, take a look at what those little creatures have been up to!


Daniel found a beekeeper and asked him to come out and help him take a look at our bees. They cut open the computer box that the bees had occupied and found this beautiful honeycomb!


We are thrilled about this sweet surprise from the Lord! Daniel learned all he could about how to handle the bees, and the bee guy gave us a smoker, which is used to calm the bees while they are being dealt with.


The bee guy said these are excellent honey bees, and very docile. These are bees that people WANT to attract, or go out and purchase. And they simply came to us. I think the Lord sent them. :o)


We cannot allow them to stay in our cardboard box because it makes harvesting the honey difficult. (Not that we complain about mounds of luscious honey in the comb.)


..So the guys began to carefully remove large portions of honeycomb, and the bee guy tied them to the panels of the artificial hive Daniel had bought. These panels can be inserted into a honey extractor in the future, which will spin the honey out of the panel without damaging the honeycomb.


Our bee guy found the sections where bee larvae were, where he knew the queen would be. He said once she was in the new artificial hive, the other bees would follow.


Looks like the transfer is going beautifully. I hope they like their new home!

Meanwhile, back in the house...


We have this beautiful comb in three big bowls, draining the sweet honey out. Yesterday at church we presented our firstfruits to the Lord and asked His blessings on our bee hive, and shared our abundance with the brethren.

One nice aspect about beekeeping is that it really does not require much time or expense. Another is that raw, natural honey is so nutritious, and renders many health benefits. I'm so thankful that we will be able to harvest our own now. Thank You, Lord!

At Vacation Bible School, of course! I know, all of you in the States have VBS during the summer months. We have it in November/December because the children here get their big break from school at this time of the year.

It has been a fast and furious week. VBS always goes by so quickly, and it's always a great time for serving others and building up our team of believers in the church. This week was no exception! I plan to blog about it and post several pictures, but that will happen at The Daniel Coates Family blog, our other blog which has been sadly neglected.

Meanwhile, I have much catching up to do here at home (speaking of neglected, lol), which I will certainly get to right after my nap. :o)

I'm glad to be back in Blogland!

For as long as I can remember, honey bees have been invading our house. They usually dispatch a small squad, and two or three get into the house so that I have to swat them (which I dislike doing). Well, I've come to realize what they have been up to! It appears that their colony has grown to the point where they want to split off and start a new colony. GUESS where they think they are moving to? Our back yard! Daniel took these photos this morning.


This is up in the top of Daniel's tool shed. This computer box seems to be the perfect "hive".. small opening, lots of room inside.




That was this morning. Now it is afternoon, and the number of bees out there has at least quadrupled, and the buzz is almost deafening!

H - E - L - P ! !

I don't know how to be a beekeeper, but I think they are adopting us!

Don't you love it when warm rain falls from a sunny sky?


Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God...


Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains...


He giveth to the beast his food...


The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy. Praise the LORD!

When one moves to a foreign country to live, one often has to do without some things that one likes or is used to having around. Sometimes, this can make one more than a little homesick. After a while, one begins to crave things that one normally wouldn't crave, just because one (okay, I'm talking about myself) can't have it.

HOWEVER...

There is the occasional rare treat, and it becomes all the more delightful because of its rarity.

Just the other day my hubby came home from the grocery store with this little item:



Hmmm, "Great Value" knock-off brand Spaghetti-O's. "Great Value, isn't that a WAL-MART brand?" you might ask. And you would be right.

A Wal-mart brand item found in a store right here in the middle of Guatemala, Central America. Yes. That is right.

It turns out that Wal-mart has bought out our chain grocery store in Xela, which is only 25 minutes from my doorstep. I went to the store to see for myself, and even the employees have those little blue Wal-mart name tags on their shirts. I'm amazed!

Granted, the prices of the U.S. items are still high. This can of spaghetti rings cost about a dollar, which leaves a lot of room for rolling back prices, in my opinion...

But they sure were good!

We've had two good tremors lately. One happened during church last night, and one happened early this morning (about 2:30 a.m., local time). It has got me to thinking about emergency preparedness, and as I lay in a quaking bed this morning, I wondered what we would do should the house collapse.

I'll be looking up some safety and survival information, as well as packing an emergency kit today. Meanwhile, I'd like to take this opportunity to remind my fellow Believers of this:

3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.

5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

8 All these are the beginning of sorrows....

I challenge you to read all of Matthew 24 today.

Know the signs of the times!

My big girls went with me to the market today. I was glad they came with me, because we carried all this home:



Potatoes (2 lbs), strawberries (2 lbs), chopped mixed veggies (2 lbs), cauliflower, peas (2lbs, shelled), onions, carrots (12), cucumbers, farmer's cheese (2 lbs), avocados, squash, tomatoes (2 lbs), and lettuce. For all that I paid Q85.50, which is right about $10. How does this compare to prices where you live?

I'm so glad the fresh fruits and veggies are so economical here! I'm thankful for our market. :o)

Being on the mission field for any length of time makes an indelible mark on the missionary family. Sometimes we complain, but most of the time we enjoy the wonderful, sweet, fulfilling, and funny aspects of life in a foreign country!

During our first term on the field, my friend Dotti and I compiled this list of You Might Be A Missionary If's... At the time, she and her family were missionaries in Guatemala, too, and she inspired the idea. Some of these pertain especially to Guatemala, but I think missionaries in other countries will identify with most of them.

I hope you enjoy these, and if you are or ever have been a foreign missionary, I invite you to add your own in the comments!

*****

You Might Be A Missionary If...


...You're getting directions from someone, and they point with their lips.


...You answer your phone with your customary greeting, only it's starting to sound more like, "Alo?"


...Your children speak the foreign language better than you do and they don't even study.


...You catch your oldest child toting the baby around on her back.



...You drive your family car places that a Hummer has only dreamed of going.


...The shocks on your vehicle need to be changed once a year.


...Brahma bulls head you off in oncoming traffic as though you are in their way.


...Stomach issues are a way of life.


...Strangers pick your children up and kiss them as though they are family.



...Living without electricity and water is not just what they did "in the old days".


...You are buried the same day you die.



...When you do, the casket shop is conveniently located across the street from the free public hospital.


...You're eating a typical meal at a wedding or birthday party, and the guy next to you leans over to give you advice on how to keep it down.


...All the locals standing around try to help you back up your vehicle, every one giving different directions.


...Small children carry loads on their backs that would make most men tired.


...You cannot get away from the beautiful mountain and volcano views.



...Religious processions block main streets for hours.


...A car crash can do the same thing, and the people simply park in the street and socialize.


...You wouldn't dream of drinking water from the faucet.


...You have ever been late for church because of a burning tire road block protest.


...You have ever ordered lunch and at the same time had your car windshield washed at a red light.


...The "Marketplace" is not a Winn Dixie grocery store.



...You have ever crammed 36 Guatemalans into an eight-passenger van.


...Airline buddy passes are like gold.


...You speak two languages and can't spell in either.


...You have bars on the windows of your home.


...The traffic through town resembles an arcade game, only with chicken buses and beat-up Toyota pick-ups.


...You find yourself looking around you at the strangely dressed people and their strange customs, and you suddenly realize you really love these people.



...When questioned by U.S. Customs whether you have brought any animals across the border, you say "Only amoebas."


...Emails from the States brighten your day.


...Sharing the Gospel and seeing folks get saved makes it all worth while!

We were awakened this morning by an earthquake at about five a.m. I tell you, if you really want to jump out of bed ready to go in the morning, get one of these.

It'll do it!

I think I might like to feature some comida típica from time to time for my Food on Fridays posts. The other day my daughters and I went to visit a neighbor who was recovering from surgery. As we sat with her, one of her older daughters came in with steaming cups of what they called pinól.

Humble as it looked, it tasted delicious, and I asked her what it was. She said it is made from toasted corn that is milled into a powder, then whisked into a pot of water. This is set to boil, sometimes with a stick of cinnamon, and sugar is added.


What you get is a delicious (and rather filling) hot drink.

She sent some of the dry meal home with me, and I made some for my husband. He says it reminds him of cream of wheat, but with a corny taste (and it's not as thick). I think the toasting of the corn is what makes it taste so good!

We have had some really cloudy days. It looks like it's trying to rain, and it is quite too early for rainy season! Makes the landscape around our house look as cool as it is - between 50 and 60 degrees F.


Our neighbors are all getting their fields ready for the next planting. The cool weather is nice when they're hard at work outdoors.


But I have a cozy little indoor nook for these babies! Jessica and I planted tomato seeds back in November.


I am dreaming of big, ripe, juicy, homegrown tomatoes!


We have had a couple of sick-o's in the house. Poor little J.B. and Joel have that upper-respiratory-snotty-nose-headache-sniffly-sneezy misery going on. It has passed among most of us, and hopefully is on its last leg.


Nothing some home remedies and snuggle-love won't take care of. :o)


Speaking of love, Daniel got pretty creative with the pancake batter the other day...


What would you call this, pancake art? Batter splatter?


Nothing says "I love you," like pancakes...

...Unless it's cheesecake, which is my hubby's treat of choice. I made him one for Valentine's Day, and let me tell you, my search for the perfect recipe is over. This one was smooth, creamy, toe-curling, cheesy goodness! Maybe I'll share the recipe for my Food on Fridays post this week. I have to make it again, since I didn't take a photo of the last one. ;o)

I hope you all are having a blessed week!

This year's Escuelas Biblicas de Vacaciones in La Esperanza went very well. Some of the young people from San Juan came out to help us with the classes, puppets, and refreshments.


The first day attendance was lower than expected, and we were a little discouraged. Then we found out where everybody was...Right down the street, lining up for free toys for Christmas at the municipal building!


The next day things picked up, and we averaged about 75 children through the week, praise the Lord.


The puppets were a favorite. They captured the attention of children and adults alike. We did a couple of skits geared toward good behavior, but mostly they just sang songs with the children and interacted with Bro. Daniel.


My cousin Shelley flew up from Nicaragua to spend her vacation with us. (That's her, holding my J.B.) She helped us out in so many ways, and did an excellent job signing up the children so we would have good records for follow-up visits. Some vacation, huh? :o) But I've never seen such a willing and capable servant for the Lord. If some fellow is ever able to capture her heart, he will be blessed indeed!


Several teens came, including two girls who work as muchachas for families that live close by. One of those girls came to church last Sunday, since she has that day off.


Praise the Lord, there were several spiritual decisions made, and the children raised a good offering for a Scripture and tract printing ministry. Overall, it was a wonderful week, and a good learning experience for us at the new work in La Esperanza. We finished the week tired, but happy!

We are in the midst of Escuelitas Biblicas (VBS) this week, and are we having a great time! My girls and I made ten puppets to use in San Juan and also for VBS in La Esperanza next week. Here are some of them in action:




(That is Hno. Oto, pastor of the church.)

Daniel and I are teaching the 9- to 11-year-olds, and we have a group of fifty or so.

Giving the Bible lesson:

Teaching the memory verse:

Children eager to learn:

Puppeteers:

Puppets resting:

...I think by the end of the last day, we're going to look a lot like the puppets in that last pic! But all the work is so rewarding and exciting, and we are glad to be able to do it.