Estoy bien.  Mis classes no es tan dificil como los del atumno, pero toman mucho trabajo. Espero que tendras alegre cuando sirves en Barrios!   

I miss you too.  (haven't figured out how to say that one in Spanish yet). 

Ouch, you sound like you're having a terrible time down there!  Or not.

Look, I know it's tough, but think for a minute. You are in Guatemala, for goodness' sake.  On a mission trip.  With wonderful, awesome, Christ-serving people.  You are changing lives with your very own hands, not just with intangible prayers in a rich white church in the U.S. of A.  You are richly blessed.

So, though it's tough, stop groaning and rejoice.  Remember what James told us?  Count it all joy.  Maybe that's what the Lord is trying to teach you, even though the trials seem greater than any reward right now.  And about that spiritual warfare... whatever.  I really mean that: whatever.  Who cares?  Sure, satan lives and works in this world, but your God is on the throne.  Satan is nada under His almighty heel.  And the more you focus on or think about or even stress about {"do not worry about tomorrow..."} other forces that are raining on your parade, the more it will drag you down.  We are never ever ever told in Scripture to think about or focus on the "dark side."  We are commanded to fill ourselves with thoughts of Christ, with prayers, with meditations, to think about Him alone.

That is how He is glorified.  Spiritual warfare sounds all holy and trying and all that rot, but what makes the angels sing and the Lord smile is when you delight in Him.

{I'm sorry if I'm not very sympathetic.  I've seen everything you talk about in the world for the past 18 years of my life through missionaries in India, Brazil, Pakistan, Australia, and Egypt.  And about half the other countries in the world, like Guatemala, too.  And what I saw didn't always impress me.  I'm sorry, but a lot of missionaries are way off the rails, and it frustrates me.  So I get cynical of any missions, even missions like what you're doing, which is what I dream of doing!  So if I've been too harsh or something, I apologize.} 

Just live for Him, Meredith.  Live for Him.  He never promised that serving Him wholly would be a cakewalk.

Remember too, you are the daughter of a KING!!!  Satan cannot touch you unless you allow him to, and your heavenly Father is watching you at all times, and looking out for you, He wants you to learn to trust him for everything!  (Oh, an why do you need a curling iron on a mission trip????  My dear girl, I am sure no one will mind if your hair goes straight!! Just something the Lord has been teaching me as well, we are to adorn ourselves with meek and quiet spirits, not with braided hair.....not that there is anything really wrong with looking pretty, it just should not be to the detriment of other more important things!)

I think you were talking about me.  However, I wasn't saying you were jumping to conclusions about the gaurds, I was saying quite the contrary.  I was saying I wouldn't rule them out as suspects for the theft by any means (as in, " i wouldn't put it past them to steal from you").  sorry if that was confusing, I use that phrase a lot and I didn't realize it could be misleading.

Poverty is a rough test of morals, but obviously no excuse.  Thinking about what they must be going through is just a way for me to forgive people and release anger.  Obviously it doesn't work for everyone;). 

 And they probably stole from your van because the BMWs didn't have tons and tons of bags filled with man people's travel items in them.  That was the big ticket, anywhere you go, I highly doubt it had anything to do with the fact you are missionaries;).  My bus in Italy was robbed as well, from an extremely wealthy location - it's just all too perfect - several overnight bags all sitting in one vehicle. 

mer, we're [discovering] guatemala in one of my classes. learning about a group called the Quiche Indians. very interesting. watched a video in class about the whole ordeal and how the government said they would help out, but did the opposite and many ended up dead. we're reading the book I, Rigoberta Menchu. she tells the story of her life and all that happened down in Guatemala. i'll have it if you'd ever like to read it.  you're in my prayers.

Hey. Still praying for you. I know how STMT's can pile on stress after stress.... I don't know about mid-term however, but I'd imagine it's close. 

Depend on Christ's strength...it's only through him that everything will work out.

*hugs*

Shannon