Ten Crazy Days

Ben and I were able to travel to the U.S. for a fundraising trip together in early March.  Ben was planning to make the trip alone, but one day he (jokingly...) suggested I find someone to watch the boys and join him.  I laughed, then I realized what a wonderful idea that was, so I set out on a mission to arrange childcare, meals, homeschooling, etc.  We are incredibly blessed with friends who were more than willing to help with the boys so that we could take this trip together.  I kept this *little* secret from my mom and surprised her at the airport.

It was priceless!!!

Our original plan was to begin fundraising for the new Love Guatemala Vocational Training Center to expand the ministry.  We filled our schedule with meetings, speaking engagements at several churches, small groups, etc.  We had been praying for God to provide for the new facility and for Him to receive the glory, not knowing if this would take a year, two, three?  About a week before our trip a couple contacted us and said that they were interested in funding the ENTIRE project!  Can I get a Hallelujah?!!!  God works in amazing ways and we are so grateful!  I was praying that this time of fundraising would draw us closer as a family as we prayed together and believed God for big things.  I didn't want to look back at it as the most stressful year(s) of our lives.

We are still in awe of how God has chosen to provide and give Him all the glory.

So, the focus of our trip changed a bit as we are now on the fast track when it comes to building and beginning the new Training Center.  We had a wonderful time sharing what God has been doing in the ministry, how He has provided and the vision for the next several years.  There are many things that need to be put into place in the U.S. as well as here in Guatemala to make things run smoothly.  There are more people needed to help, teachers to hire, money raised to simply run the facility monthly, and so much more.  Please be in prayer about all of these details regarding the ministry.

Pastor Aaron Story from Indy Metro Church

Mosaic Church - Indianapolis, Indiana

First Baptist Church - Beech Grove, IN

Fun-Nite Art - Waynesboro, VA

Paintings from the students in the Art School 

Blue Ridge Church of Christ - Fishersville, VA

It sure was cold!  On our way back to Indy from Virginia we drove through a snow storm....through the mountains.....at night.......what fun.........!  We decided to stop at a hotel (once we finally found one).  The only room they had was a smoking room.  Always an adventure with the Kunkels I suppose.

 We were also able to celebrate some birthdays with Ben's mom and my two sisters while we were in Indy.

It was a whirlwind trip of meetings and driving, but we were so blessed to see and share with so many people what God is doing in Love Guatemala.  It seems crazy for us to have left the boys behind, but from the beginning God gave me a peace about it.  The boys are getting older and more responsible and independent.  God provided for their needs and blessed us with a wonderful time as we shared what He is doing in our lives and ministry.  It was a blessing to be able to share that time together without having to worry about the boys.  They were in good hands!

The boys welcomed us home with a sign.  Our sweet friends surprised us with flowers inside and out.

When I traveled back to the U.S. in August for the first time since moving to Guatemala everything seemed so different.  The streets, the yards, the stores, everything stood out to me.  I had a long list of places I wanted to go, things I wanted to eat.  This time was totally different.  Things didn't stand out as being so different.  Nothing sounded good as far as food.  I think the longer I'm "away", I just don't miss things as much.  It's hard to describe the feelings I had, but it just felt good to be back home.  Home is Guatemala for us and we are grateful to be here!

Side note:  Once I got the cups in the right order I really felt at home again.
My name is Jennifer Kunkel and I have OCD :)

You have to start somewhere, right?

Well, it's been a while, again.  Sometimes I don't feel compelled to put my thoughts into a blog and sometimes I feel like sharing.  Today is one of those days.  After a long blogging absence it's hard to get back in the groove, but you have to start somewhere, right?

We are doing well.  The boys are getting SO BIG, as is our crazy dog Cody.  We started homeschooling about three weeks ago and we are all really enjoying it!  Last year we used Abeka, but it was bits and pieces from different years so the teacher manuals didn't always correlate with the kid's books or manipulatives and we found it to be too repetitive, too much seat work for busy boys in my opinion.  Several friends recommended My Father's World and it has changed our lives!  Due to our schedules Ben and I take turns teaching the boys and we miss it when it's not our turn.  The curriculum is hands on and has great readers.  The boys enjoy learning and reading together and for that I am very thankful.

God is doing some great things in our ministry here and we are embarking upon a large building project.  It's scary on one hand, but on the other hand we know that God has a plan and will continue to open doors and provide the necessary funds.  My prayer for this year is that we grow together as a family and that our faith is strengthened.  It's so precious to hear the boys pray and ask God to provide.  The beginning of the year is always crazy with the local and the trade schools starting, the sponsorship program and now the building project which includes many meetings with the architect, builder, mayor, etc.  Please pray for our Love Guatemala staff and our families during this wonderfully hectic time in our lives.

I am so grateful to have friends here that we can connect and do life with.  I can't imagine this journey without them!  God has also brought many new (and old) friends to visit us since we've moved here.  It is always refreshing to have friends come and minister with us.  Many times it's exactly what we need at just the right time.  God has used these people in our lives to confirm our call to live in Guatemala as well as encourage us.  I can't tell you how much it means to us to know that we have friends and family who are praying for us and for the ministry here.

A very patient friend took some family pictures for us in December.  (Thanks Chris!)