Time Flies

Wow...time flies when you are in your senior year or college, teaching high school students, working at a coffee shop, and preparing for the mission field. I am sorry I have not posted a blog in a very long time. Below are a few highlights you might have missed out on!

God provided an awesome opportunity for me to work on a research project this spring. I was testing the effectiveness of teaching deaf children phonology. This experience taught me a lot about the importance of language development in children with a hearing loss. I knew walking into this project I was going to have to devote time and energy if I wanted to be successful. It ended up being more time and energy than I really bargained for. After many sleepless nights, frustrating discoveries, and draft after draft, my hard work paid off.

I received a superlative scholarship award for my research and won grant funding to support our efforts. The best part of all was the relationships I formed with my professors, which will hopefully be lifelong.

During all this my Peten family came to town! There were in the States for a two month furlough. We always have such a wonderful time together! There were several shopping sprees, nights full of card games and slushies, chinese dinners, trips to the beach, and of course a Krispy Kreme stop!

Kiki and I got to watch the boys one night, while Jim and Shelley went out a date! We had an epic dinner fail; never knew you could go wrong with McDonald's happy meals. My favorite moments was the nightly devotions we had. Shelley had made the boys Psalm 23 books and we would read this comforting scripture, sing a hymn, and pray together before the boys would go to sleep. I love that they are instilling God's truth and love into their little boys at such a young age.

Road Trip!!! As soon as classes let out for the summer, I hit the road and drove the 15 hours to Columbus, Ohio. After spending a few days with my family, my siblings and I loaded up the van and drove to Pennsylvania, where we met up with my Uncle and cousins for Creation! We had an amazing time camping outside and enjoying the beauty God created. We enjoyed worshiping with Chris Tomlin, Third Day, Lucrae, News Boys, and many others. Just imagine singing "How Great is Our God" with 50,000 other believers! Let's just say I was totally overwhelmed at God's presence on that grassy hillside.

After spending the 4th of July weekend with my family and friends in Ohio, I made the crazy drive back to Florida, just to fly out the next day to Honduras. I can't even begin to tell you all that God did on that trip, so I will just have to save it for another blog!

Soon after I had to say goodbye to one of my best friends! God opened the door for her to finish her degree at Liberty. Ever since she got back from Word of Life Argentina we had seldom be apart. We would spend weekends doing homework together and watching Gilmore Girls. I am so thankful for her friendship!!

August was a big transition time for me. I left my job of three years as an interpreter for Duval County Public Schools, and I started a new job! Yep, I am teaching highschool students! Teaching ASL is so much fun! It is a lot of work and everyday brings a new challenge! I look forward to sharing one of my passions and hope to encourage the same love for the deaf in the hearts of my students.

My parents decided to allow my younger brother to attend TCA for his senior year. This means he was moving back to FL to live with James and me. It has been exciting having Jared here! He has a heavy course load as an early admissions student, which means he is taking four college classes in addition to his four highschool classes. He is also running with the cross country team, playing soccer, participating in drama, and actively involved with the youth group. To top it all off Jared was awarded the Senior superlative award at Trinity; he was voted Mr. TCA!

In October, my dear friends and I impulsively decided to go and visit Briana at Liberty! It worked out where we all had a long weekend, so at midnight Wednesday we started our trek north. Bri met us for breakfast, and we got busy catching up right away!



One day we went to an apple orchard and pumpkin patch! I got to actually dig up my own pumpkins! It was amazing!

Two years ago God brought a very special girl in to our lives, Jen! Yep, James had found a girl! Well, November 18 James asked her to be his for forever! We are thankful she said yes! I am going to have a new sister!



So that is just a glimpse into a few things that have taken place this last year! More to come!

A New Year

I can't believe February is almost over. Here are just a few highlights from the last two months!

School is back in session!!! At the beginning of the January, I signed up for my classes, and received the dreaded school bill. I was short $150 and had absolutely no idea where it was going to come from. The Saturday before my bill was due, I came across Matthew 6 and was reminded of all the times God had provided for my needs. I decided to bring this request to God and Him alone and watch Him do something incredible! The next day, our children's pastor approached me with an envelope...inside was exactly $150! I still get chills thinking about it! My course load this semester is pretty intense, but the topics are fascinating. I am extremely thankful for the opportunity to learn and gain experience that will benefit me in Guatemala.

At the beginning of February, Trinity had their annual mission's conference. I cannot remember a time that I did not look forward to this special time of year. God began to put the desire on my heart to be a missionary during a missions conference when I was in the 5th grade. Since then God has been preparing me for this calling through missions trips and many other ministries at my church. This year, Margaret Stringer, a missionary to the headhunters in Indonesia, gave her testimony. As a single lady she pursued this calling God had given her without the support of her family and church. She worked countles hours to be able to attend college, and there were nights she never thought she would get there. Finally the day came, when she was able to pack up her 5 gallons drums of everything she would possibly need for 4 years. She was finally going to be a missionary. The ways God worked through her in the indigenous villages of Indonesia is mind boggling. If only God will use me as well to reach the people of Guatemala. There are so many things that I am unsure about, but just like God guided the path He had for Margaret Stringer, I am confident He will direct my steps as well.

Which leads me into the way God chose to affirm this recent lesson in my life...

I have a small confession to make....I actually wrote the itazlicized part over a month ago, which I will explain why I never posted it later in the blog.

[This fall I will start my Senior year at UNF, which means I will be doing internships in different academic settings for deaf and hard of hearing students. I knew that my job would conflict with my classes, but God already had it all planned out. Last week I received a phone call from a major organization that facilitates communication for deaf individuals through video relay services. They were looking to hire several new interpreters and were interested in me...my first thought was, "I'm not good enough!" After praying and getting advice from my mom (one of the best sign-language interpreters in the nation), I decided to take a step of faith and schedule an interview. ]

I thought for sure I was going to be able to finish writing the blog and say, I got the job!! And in fact, I almost posted this blog with the assumption that this was the answer to all my financial burdens, and the way God was going to answer all my prayers. Well, several weeks after I was supposed to hear back from the agency, I recieved an email, saying that pretty much I didn't get the job. Talk about falling flat on my face. Needless to say I was absolutely devasted...why couldn't I just trust that this was God's plan instead of immediately freaking out?

This semester I joined a Biblestudy on Ruth, which can I say has been absolutely lifechanging. God used the book of Ruth to remind me that God doesn't allow humbling to happen for the sake of hurting or humiliating us, but so the posture of our hearts can be fully surrendered. I know seasons of hardship and humbling aren't typically the thing you find in blogs, but when I look to scripture I learn that perhaps nothing is more beneficial for us in the long run.

So instead of trying to figure out everything, I have decided to be courageous enought to let God write all the details. Here are just a few verses that I want to see God do in my heart.

• "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." Proverbs 3:5-6

• "He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it." Matthew 10:39

• "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30

• "Man's goings are of the Lord; how then can a man understand his own way?" Proverbs 20:24

• "Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to usward; they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee; if I woudl declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered. I delight to do thy will, O my God; yea, thy law is within my heart." Psalm 40:5,8

• "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord; and he delighteth in his way." Proverbs 37:23

• "Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies." Psalm 27:11

Thanks for your constant prayers and support!

The story of one little boy who lived a silent life up until someone made an eternal impact on his life!

One Boy’s Story

By Arlene Reimer

(Most of the details did actually happen)

I was playing in the river when I saw two men come to my house. They weren’t from our village; they had white skin and were very tall. I was curious about them so I ran up the hill to see them. One man was talking to my grandfather. Then my grandfather turned to me and motioned for me to come. I didn’t understand why but I was curious about them so I came. The tall man smiled at me, he moved his mouth like he was talking. Of course I couldn’t hear him.

Just then my kitten came over to me. I took it and showed it to one of the men. He smiled and then motioned with his hands and then pointed to the kitten. I couldn’t understand what he meant but he did it again. Then he pointed to the cat’s whiskers and then made the same motion with his hand. Then I got it! It was like the cat’s whiskers. I copied him and pulled the cats whiskers. Kitty didn’t like it and scratched my hand.

The two men talked some more with my grandfather. Then they tried to show me something with their hands but I didn’t really get it. Kitty was playing with a piece of string and needed someone to play with her. I dangled the string in Kitty’s face while the men shook hands with my grandfather, waved at me and left. Then grandfather said something to me. I didn’t look at him, I just played with Kitty. I couldn’t understand what he was telling me anyway.

About a week later I was racing with my cousin when I saw a truck come bouncing up the road to our house. Curious, my cousin and I both went to see who it was. One of the men was the same one who had been here before. He pointed at me and said something to the others in the truck. The others smiled at me and waved. I stared at them. Kitty came and sat on my feet.

Then Grandma motioned for me to come so I picked up Kitty and trotted off to the house. My sister was getting some pants and shirts off the line. She stuffed them into a backpack. Then she motioned for me to change my clothes. I didn’t know why. I let her help me change. Then they gave my backpack to the man. He told me to come. I looked at my grandma; she motioned for me to go. I was puzzled but if Grandma said I could, I would go.

The man helped me into the truck and we drove for a very long time. I fell asleep.

When it was dark we finally stopped. A man came to me and took my hand and motioned for me to follow him. We got some food.

We went to a house. Inside were lots of beds. The man led me to the bathroom. He motioned for me to get into the shower. But I wouldn’t! Again he told me to get in there. But I wouldn’t. Finally he lifted me up and put me in there. I didn’t enjoy it but at least I got clean.

Just before going to bed, the man showed me a book with a lot of pictures. He kept pointing to a man and signing something. Later I learned that was Jesus.

That week I saw lots of things I had never seen before. My teacher had pictures about Jesus. We colored pictures. We played games. I even learned to ride a bike. Some of the things the people kept motioning actually made sense. I learned what “no” meant. I understood when they said “eat” that we went to the big tent and waited in line till it was our turn to get food.

On our way back we had to cross the river by boat. A man motioned for all of us to follow him. I looked around for my bag but I couldn’t see it anywhere. The man told me to follow him again, but I wouldn’t because I couldn’t find my bag. Finally he picked me up and carried me to the boat. This made me mad. I needed my bag! On the boat I found my bag. I grabbed it, but was still upset.

On the other side we got on a bus. We drove for a very long time. It got dark and I fell asleep.

When I awoke one of the men was carrying me to my house. I was glad to find kitty again and showed her to the men. He patted kitty, waved at me and left.

Some time later some men came and picked me up again. We went to CDI. Everything was strange and new. But I learned a lot of things. I went to school. I had to sit quietly. If somebody told me to do something I had to obey. Sometimes I felt like nobody could understand me and that frustrated and upset me. But I learned to sign and I was able to tell my dorm father and my teacher some things. I really like to play with my friends here at the school. We have lots of fun together. Sometimes we have to work and I like that too. I like to live here at CDI because we all speak sign language and also because I can go to school and learn many new things.

There are countless more children just like Arlen living throughout the jungles of the Peten. They need to know about the Savior's love for them too! Please continue to pray with me, for wisdom and guidance, as God leads me to share the gospel in this silent world!

Things I Miss the Most About Guatemala

Here are just a few of my favorite things that I miss the most about Guatemala!

• A circle of little girls who want to communicate with you so bad we draw on almost every page in my notebook!

• Teaching God's Word to those who actually want to learn and soak it all up!

• Walking through the streets of El Chal when we couldn't find a tuk tuk, while every Guatemalan stares, whistles, or says "Hello" or any other word they know in English!

• Limonada con sodas and Steak with avocado sandwiches!

• Singing Sapo, Sapo with the kids at Biblestudy in Santa Rita!

• Listening to Jim and Shelley share the vision God has given them for spreading the gospel throughout the Petén!

• Learning new signs from all of my deaf Guatemalan friends!

Eating mango at every meal!!!

• Visiting the breathtaking sights, (waterfalls, Lake Itzá, Tikal, Jungle canopy, flowers in the sewage, etc.) that God created just for our pleasure!

• Random blackouts that leads to frustration, then adventures, memories, and laughs!

• Constantly being amazed at the Guatemalan culture and their way of life!

• Trying to communicate and then falling flat on my face when I totally butcher the Spanish language!

• My Kekchi brothers and sisters in Christ scattered throughout the Guatemalan Jungle!

I really could go on and on, but I will leave the rest for another blog!