All Dressed Up and Everywhere to Go!

Well, we had a GREAT weekend! Yaneth (our previous nanny) got married on Friday, so that afternoon the kids and Emily went out to her home town and got to watch. It was great for the kids to get to see Yaneth again, they really miss her. They had a good time visiting with her, even though we had to leave early, so that we wouldn't be driving home too much after dark. As many of you know, she's also 6 months pregnant, and she's feeling well. She is due in the middle of January. We asked if we could come visit when we get back home in March, and she said that would be great, so we'll look forward to meeting her new baby then!

On Saturday night, we went to a Harvest Party, at the private school that some of the missionary kids go to. Emily was going to make costumes for Elijah and Sydney, but when she went to the store to look for "craft supplies" she found costumes for only $8 - it would have cost about that to make them, so she took the easy way out, and bought the adorable costumes. Elijah had a blast at all of the games and activities that they had, and pigged out on the candy that he won. Sydney had her share of candy, too, but wasn't too impressed by the games (although she did like the one that you got to choose a sucker!) By the time we got home, they were ready to fall into bed.

Sunday was our last night without Scott. The kids were REALLY missing him after this long 10 day trip to Mexico. To make them feel better, we made a poster (well, mom and Elijah did) - Elijah had so much fun making it. His favorite part was gluing the foam cutouts onto the letters with the glue stick.

Scott walked in the door at 6:45AM this morning after taking a Red-eye flight from San Diego to Guatemala. The kids were ECSTATIC to see him. They ran to the door as fast as their little legs could carry them (which is pretty funny for Sydney to do, since her coordination isn't quite up to par, yet!) They tackled him with hugs and kisses, then we ate breakfast together. It's nice to have dad home.

Please pray for Scott - he has a missiology paper that he is working on in the next 1 1/2 days. It is due on Nov. 1. We are looking forward to spending Nov. 1 together as a family day, since it's a holiday here in Guatemala. Maybe we'll go to the zoo, or something (if anything's open?)

Here is the Funny Elijah saying of the week: "Old MacDonald had a MOM, e-i-e-i-o" (to the tune of Old MacDonald had a farm).

We love you all. Can't wait to see most of you within the next few weeks! YEAH!

Scott, Emily, Elijah and Sydney

General Board...Here we Come!

Congratulations on your invitation to attend the General Board meetings in February 2007. It is because of your service and dedication to ministry that you are able to take this next step in your missionary career.

YEP...Those are the words that graced our Inbox just a few days ago. We've officially been invited to General Board in February. For those of you that don't know exactly what that means, let me explain.

For the past 3 years (almost) we've been under an intern missionary contract with the Church of the Nazarene. These 3 years were a "trial" period, both for us and the church. We had an interview with the "mero meros" (Spanish for the head honchos) in September, and we were recommended to go before the General Board in Kansas City. During the 3rd week of February, we will have a time of leadership training, as well as a HUGE interview with the World Mission division and the Board the General Superintendents. After this interview, we'll know if we are recommended for a Global Missionary assignment (99% of the time, it is a yes!) So as you can see, this is a VERY important time for us. We are super excited.

Here is some "important info" for family members that will want to make plans to attend our commissioning service at the end of that week.

Monday, February 26 Sending Service –Kansas City Marriott Downtown
(Evening) Closing business session of the General Board. A
special service will recognize your appointment to global
missionary status and will honor retiring missionaries.

The service will be held at the Kansas City Marriott
Downtown, 200 West 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri.
We will provide a map at your request. Please let me know if your family or friends will attend this service so seats can be reserved.

OK - what else have we been up to? We just finished a 10 day period of Missionary Training with 2 new Regional Missionary families - the Baños and the Sorias. It was a good time to get to know them, but it was stressful as well. We are getting ready for a team from Lafayette, IN to come tomorrow to start a week of Maxima Mision with them. We are planting a new church with them, and it will be a lot of work. Scott leaves for Mexico on the 20th of October, and will be gone for 10 days. By the time he gets back, we'll only have 2 1/2 more weeks until we come back to the States for our home assignment - isn't that crazy!

Bringing back the ever popular "Crazy things Elijah said" - we leave you with this comment "Hello Uncle Daddy!" - said to Scott after returning from the States and getting to know his family again. He was in a slight identity crisis himself.

Sorry there are no pictures - can't get them to upload today. Love to you all.

Scott, Emily, Elijah and Sydney