Catching Our Breath

Here we are a whole month into 2014 already and we are still trying to catch our breath.  I have to honestly say that I think the last 5 months have been our busiest since we have been living in Guatemala.  We have been going from one thing to the next.  But busy is good and the things that have kept us busy are the reasons we are here.

During the end of November, beginning of December the Directors, Sebastian and Oralia, took an extended vacation of 3 weeks.  We were then in charge of the kids here in the home.  We had about 20 kids in our care instead of the normal 30 because several of the kids went to visit family during their summer break from school.  Even so, being in charge stretched us in all ways, emotionally, physically and mentally.  But God is faithful and He gave us the emotional, physical and mental strength we needed.  We even had some fun!  We celebrated Norman's 50th Birthday during this time and we took some "paseos" or field trips with the kids.

We all went on a picnic at some nearby ruins,

 

Another day we took all the girls to Rio Grande.

Two days after Sebastian and Oralia returned from their vacation, Norman and I left for the States to celebrate Christmas with our kids.  We were there for 2-1/2 weeks and during this time we were also able to attend the wedding of my niece.  We were so blessed to be able to spend this time with family!

We returned to Guatemala on January 6th (a day later than planned due to severe winter weather) and on January 7th Sebastian and Oralia, all the staff, and all the kids ages 3 and up left for a 4 day vacation.  Norman and I waved good-bye at 5:30 a.m. with two infant baby girls in our arms, a 2-1/2 year old and a 1-1/2 year old. You are probably thinking what I am thinking, "We are too old for this!"  But evidently God doesn't think so, and somehow our not so young any more bodies were able to make it through the night feedings.  The two girls came to the home while we were in the States, one born on December 24th and the other November 12th, so when they were placed in our arms at 5:30 a.m. it was the first time we had seen them, along with the older brother of one of them who is 2-1/2.  When we left before Christmas we thought that we would be caring for a 3 year old and a 1-1/2 year old.  Sebastian and Oralia called us in the States and asked us if we were willing to take on the 3 new children who had arrived and they would take the 3 year old with them.  (Below are pictures of the 3 new little ones.)  Thankfully we had the foresight to ask them to find someone to come in to help with the cooking.  That made it more doable.  But God is good and we are so thankful that we could be here to help in this role.

All the gang got back on January 11th and then 2 out of 4 of our staff went on vacation for 2 weeks.  So we continued helping with night feedings and also with filling in for the staff on vacation.  The kids were supposed to start their new school year on January 15th.  However, the Government was not coming forth with the money for supplies so the teachers went on strike.  We are told that school is now supposed to start on Monday, February 3.  Hopefully, that is true, but the kids have not minded one bit a 2 week extension to their summer break.

Also, last week, Norman's brother Lyall brought 5 other men from his church, all retired, to help with some work projects.  And boy did they!  We were amazed on how much they got done in one week.  We were in desperate need for 4 baby cribs, voila, done!  We wanted a play room built, voila, done!  We needed a new drainage system put in place, voila, ditches dug, pipes in place.  Our car was having "issues", voila, issues fixed.  And the list goes on.  And among all the work they also had time to hold the babies and play with the kids.  What a blessing they were!

This week has been our week to catch our breath.  We have been fully staffed as of Tuesday and we are now preparing to be blessed again.  Tomorrow a mixed team from Omaha and Arkansas are coming to spend Sunday with us and then on Monday they are going to take over the care of the home and the children and are sending Norman and I and all of the Staff on a 4 day, 3 night get away.  This will be the third year that a family team from Omaha has done this.  This year they have a group from Arkansas joining them.  What a blessing!

One more thing.  While we were home for Christmas, our son, Ryan, proposed to his girlfriend Gwen!  We are going to have another wedding this year!  We are so happy for Ryan and Gwen and are excited to have her as part of our family!

Nathan and Heather and Gwen and Ryan

So that is the latest on the Suttons in Guatemala!
We love you all and miss you greatly!  Thanks so much for your encouragement through letters, donations and prayers!