Looking Back

so, I know it seems like I'm being a total copy-cat...but it just feels appropriate that I add something one last time on here too.

To say this year hasn't changed me would be a lie. And, truthfully, all of those changes basically started about this time last year. Going on NTS was a complete God thing, as was meeting so many awesome people from that one random click of a mouse that brought me to this blog. It feels a little strange not counting down the days with our asorted objects we scrambled together at the last minute to post on here. I still remember the picture where I wrote the 7 backwards. yeah, I graduated this year. haha

Going on NTS was probably the best thing I could have done at the time - it really opened my eyes to who God really is and allowed me to form lots of great friendships. I sort of found myself on the trip, and that really has helped me overcome obstacles in my life since then.

This summer I'm not going to a far-off country, but will be staying close to home except for a week when I go down South. It's different, but I'll be busy getting ready for college stuff (taking online classes this fall semester since I really was a junior in HS this year) and visiting colleges around me. But, I'm hoping to drive up and hang with some buddies too. :)

So, there really isn't much more to say. It was an honor getting to know you all as our adventure in Guatie unfolded and I wish you guys all the best. Keep strong and never settle for the low-end of God - He's got big plans for each one of you.

Hope ya'll have an awesome summer

Signing off,
Lexi

Hey there everybody, so i'm just going to go ahead and copy aubrey. haha.
Well, first off i just wanted to thank you all for everything you've done whether it was just reading our blog and praying over this trip before, during, or even after; or if it was supporting us; or even just thinking about us; i just wanted to thank you all for it. your care has meant so much to all of us.

well... I absolutely can not believe that we are mere weeks away from the time we left for Guatemala last year. It totally blows me away that it was almost exactly a year ago that aubrey, lexi, and I were all preparing both physically and mentally to embark on that great adventure. I'm totally with aubrey on what she said though... a lot has changed in the past year.

As I ended out last summer, I was already feeling God's calling to move on to something new... I just had no idea what it was. For a few months I searched and searched and searched (With a boatload of help from aubrey too) for a mission trip that I felt God was calling me to but no matter how many trips we found, nothing gave me the heart tug that I was waiting for. So i kept on praying and during that time, God started telling me to focus more of my attention on the home front. So this summer, I'm going to be staying home (for the first time in my life) but hopefully I'll be able to find something worthwhile to do. haha.

So yeah... that's just kinda whats been going down. next year I start with the great college search, harder classes, varsity football (practices have already started), National Honors Society, FCA, and much much more. haha.
Well, thanks again to all of you guys. I'm sure I stand for all of us when I say that if any of us find a new trip over the next year or anything like it, we'll be sure to post the new blog link(s).

-Tyler

It's been a while...

So it's been quite a while since anything has happened on here.
A lot has been happening since December, and God has been doing some pretty amazing things.
I had really wanted to go on a mission trip to Swaziland through my church, and applied, had an interview, and really expected to be able to go. I thought I was really qualified for the trip, and would be a really awesome asset to the team, and I was really wanting to go on an extremely challenging mission trip, and truly experience God. But for some reason, that I can't really explain other than it was God that must have not wanted me to go, I didn't get accepted. And I'm okay with that...I just don't know right now what my plans are for this summer...cause right now I don't have any.

Also since December God has answered a HUGE prayer and has blessed me with a job...with a bit of humor involved. I go to a private school, where I pay for my own tuition, with a bit of financial aid...but being only 16, that large financial burden isn't just pocket change...so I needed a job before January to be able to pay for my Senior year and graduate. I had applied to well over 30 places, and I never got an interview. I had never really wanted to work at fast food...and swore I would never apply there...especially McDonalds, but I caved as time was drawing closer. Well God definitely pulled through at the last minute, and gave me the job at McDonalds. It's not glorious by any means, but it's bringing in the money that is needed for school, and I have had many opportunities to witness to my co-workers.

Now, I'm really just pouring a lot of my time into school, trying to keep my grades up, and starting to focus a lot on college. I'm going on a college visit this Thursday and I get to stay with Tyler and his family this weekend, which I am really excited forC:

I'm really praying about opportunities for ministry this summer, and trusting that God has a plan no matter what. I know that something will turn up in time.

What are you guys up to?

Everyone Has a Story

I know that everyone has a story. Everyone has a testimony. Whether you're proud of your past, or you go from day to day, wishing that it never happened, it's your story, and the choices you made then, made you who you are now.
I have a story.
You have a story.
That guy that you can't stand to be around...he has a story.
That little orphan girl that you met on the mission trip...she has a story.
For a while I was afraid of sharing my story. I was afraid of telling people about my past, and the things that I had done, and the decisions I had made, because I wanted to make sure that it was all in my past before I really went on to talk about it.
But I know that's not what God wants for me.
I've found that telling your story gives freedom. It's this kinda release that brings an instant relief.
So...what's your story? Where has God brought you from? What has He been teaching you this year, as it begins to come to a close? What kinds of things has He been revealing to you, and how are you going to make a difference in 2011? Is there something you can do to make a difference in someone else's life so that they will Never Be the Same?
I'm praying for all of you. I hope that you are all doing well. Best wishes to the fundraising efforts, for those of you who are going on adventures this summer.
Merry, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!
Looking forward to hearing from you ALL,
AubreyC:

Hey Everyone!

Once again, its been pretty quiet out there!

How's everyone doing??

Is the Lord leading you to go anywhere next summer of 2011?

Love and blessings,

Aubrey

Just to shake things up…

It’s been kinda quiet on this blog…and that’s depressing. So, since I miss my team, Guatemala, and all of you “others” that read this blog, I decided to share some photos from this summer. Unlike Aubrey, I didn’t go back and add all of my pictures into my posts from NTS because I am sooo not that patient with blogger. Go read Aubrey’s posts and be amazed! =)

Feliz Dia de Independencia

Guatemala. A country of striking features and a strong indigenous culture, Guatemala's natural beauty and powerful identity stand in stark contrast to its past and troubled present.

Mountainous, heavily forested and dotted with Mayan ruins, lakes, volcanoes, orchids and exotic birds, Guatemala is one of the most beautiful countries in Central America.

Its indigenous population, the Maya, make up about half of the population. Mayan languages are spoken alongside Spanish, the official tongue. Many Guatemalans are of mixed Amerindian-Hispanic origin.

• Full name: Republic of Guatemala
• Population: 13.4 million (UN, 2007)
• Capital: Guatemala City
• Major languages: Spanish, more than 20 indigenous languages
• Major religion: Christianity, indigenous Mayan beliefs
• Life expectancy: 67 years (men), 74 years (women) (UN)  
• Main exports: Coffee, sugar, bananas, fruits and vegetables, meat, petroleum, cardamon

                           President: Alvaro Colom

On September 15, 1821, the Captaincy-general of Guatemala (formed by Chiapas Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Honduras) officially proclaimed its independence from Spain and its incorporation into the Mexican Empire, which was dissolved two years later.

Happy 189th Birthday Guatemala!!

Continuing to Lift This Country Up

Hey Guys,

Earlier this week, another heavy rain hit Guatemala, which caused a few more landslides. As of today, 38 people have died. I don't want this to be a super depressing post, but I'm gonna let you know what happened if you would like to continue reading.

Also, I think that I am going to keep posting things up here on the blog, even though our trip is over. Maybe it'll turn into a prayer wall for Guatemala. Maybe it'll just be good to know what's going on down there sometimes. Maybe it will be a good outlet to share thoughts. Maybe it will be a good way for some of you to keep in touch and see what's goin on in our lives. Or maybe it'll be cool to look back someday and see the growth that has happened in our lives, as the Lord continues to break our hearts for the lost.

Earlier today, I was talking to my friend who was on my team this year in Guate, and he reminded me of something that I thought about during Agatha...maybe...just maybe one of those people that died, might have been someone that we had the opportunity to lead to Christ. That because of our faithfulness to God's calling-maybe at least one person doesn't have a sad ending today. I mean come on...how cool is that??

I just wanna ask right now for continued prayer over Guatemala. For the people and families effected by this, and also just for the people that surrendered their lives to Christ earlier this summer. I think it's easy to come back home and forget to lift them up.

Please feel free to share what's goin on with you. What you're thinking about what's posted, any thoughts, or how we can be praying for you.

Love and miss you guys. (US and Guatemalan team)

xoxoxo,

Aubrey

_____________________________________________

NAHUALA, Guatemala — Torrential rains from a tropical depression caused landslides that have killed at least 38 people in Guatemala — some of them rescuers trying to save people already buried under a wall of mud.

In the village of Nahuala, about 200 rescue workers searched through mud and rocks for bodies Sunday after two slides in the same spot killed at least 20 along a highway leading northwest of the capital toward Mexico. Another slide closer to Guatemala City killed at least 12.

Suagustino Pascual Tuy, a Nahuala police officer, said he and several others rushed to the highway with picks and shovels after hearing radio reports of the fallen earth, which had buried two pickup trucks and a bus at kilometer 171 of the Inter-American highway.
Pascual Tuy said the crowds were able to rescue several people alive including his nephew, who was driving one of the pickups.

"He is in critical condition, but thank God we were able to get him out alive," he said.

Pascual Tuy said people were still digging through the rubble when the mountain above them began crackling. He shouted a warning, but moments later the second slide buried a number of rescuers. Pascual Tuy ran for his life and the slide only caught his legs.

"The mountain was making noise like an earthquake, but people wouldn't leave," he said. "They were being
stubborn and didn't get out."

Regional fire department Maj. Otto Mazariegos said at least 50 people are believed to be buried.

"Under the earth there is a bus that carried we don't know how many people, and there are those who tried to help the victims of the first slide," Mazariegos said.

Rescue crews have recovered 20 bodies from that site, said fire department spokesman Jose Rodriguez.

A few hours earlier, a landslide at kilometer 81 of the same highway partially buried a bus, killing 12 people.

Pascual Tuy said there have been several landslides along the highway in the last year, and authorities knew of the danger.

"Last year there was a landslide there, 15 days ago there was a landslide," he said. "But now a big one came."

President Alvaro Colom visited the area Sunday and said the following day would be declared a national day of mourning.

Speaking Saturday, even before news of the second slide, Colom said, "It is a tragic day. Today alone 18 people have died, 12 buried by a hill when they traveled in a bus." Four children and two adults died in slides elsewhere, he said.

The president told officials to close the highway.

"There are several hillsides that are loose and could fall. So we ask the population to not go out, to avoid moving along the highways," he said.

Heavy rains from Tropical Depression 11-E have pelted Guatemala for days, unleashing mudslides in several areas, cutting highways and prompting officials to evacuate thousands of people.

Guatemala 2010

Aubrey…these are for you!

    
Luis is SUCH a cutie! You could see in his eyes how much he loves you.  =)