Finding our Place: Nov. 1, 2015
We hope to send you a little tidbit most weeks to help fuel and specify your prayers for us and for Guatemala City. This week has been a lot about placement.
A week ago we landed in Guatemala City. Without our luggage, which we did retrieve after 3 days in less-than-fragrant clothing. The Burkholders have been great hosts to us. Justin, Jenny, and their 2-yr old Isabella live in a beauiful and nicely located house, also with a Guatemalan guy David who is helping out at the church plant, affectionately nick-named "Grinch."
Together we've spent a lot of time this week discovering how to plant roots in this city, which has meant a lot of time in the car, familiarizing ourselves with unmarked roads, unruly traffic and the state of the city. We did a couple days of apartment shopping and found a place we feel pretty good about (WOOO!). It's centrally located in G-City's Zone 7, is in the midst of Guatemalan neighborhoods we could be present in, but in an apartment building with security. It' also close enough to the Burkholders and to the church plant going on here. And the price is right.
Most "secure" apartments here are off on their own away from the people of the city. But for our hearts and our mission to be in and among is a big priority. Especially this first year, our gringo-ness, the fact that we don't know people yet, and lack of Spanish comprehension makes that security pretty important too.
So, if this is where God wants us, pray for open doors at ELE de la La Floresta (picture attached). If there's somewhere else, might the doors close obviously enough for us to listen!
Thanks for your prayers and love. There's lots to be thankful for and much yet to come.
-AJ & Alaina
A week ago we landed in Guatemala City. Without our luggage, which we did retrieve after 3 days in less-than-fragrant clothing. The Burkholders have been great hosts to us. Justin, Jenny, and their 2-yr old Isabella live in a beauiful and nicely located house, also with a Guatemalan guy David who is helping out at the church plant, affectionately nick-named "Grinch."
Together we've spent a lot of time this week discovering how to plant roots in this city, which has meant a lot of time in the car, familiarizing ourselves with unmarked roads, unruly traffic and the state of the city. We did a couple days of apartment shopping and found a place we feel pretty good about (WOOO!). It's centrally located in G-City's Zone 7, is in the midst of Guatemalan neighborhoods we could be present in, but in an apartment building with security. It' also close enough to the Burkholders and to the church plant going on here. And the price is right.
Most "secure" apartments here are off on their own away from the people of the city. But for our hearts and our mission to be in and among is a big priority. Especially this first year, our gringo-ness, the fact that we don't know people yet, and lack of Spanish comprehension makes that security pretty important too.
So, if this is where God wants us, pray for open doors at ELE de la La Floresta (picture attached). If there's somewhere else, might the doors close obviously enough for us to listen!
Thanks for your prayers and love. There's lots to be thankful for and much yet to come.
-AJ & Alaina