Our trip expectations...

This may look a little familiar to some of you in about a day... I'm short on time, so I'm borrowing this content from our Thank You notes to share out here.
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As part of my journey to Guatemala, each team member wrote our expectations and experiences. I received many positive comments about the notes, so we thought we’d copy the idea and see what our family is expecting…

I’ll go first. Guatemala taught me that plans can change at any time, and they will continue to bring glory to God if I remain flexible. God’s plans are so much more than my own. My memories of CEM are 13 years old, so I look forward to being reacquainted with many of the same staff members and the many sites that I visited with either Mark or my sister, Lori. I have previously performed many tasks from grading papers to painting a white roof, and I’m sure those are still available. However, this trip, my main focus is on helping my girls have the best possible experiences for their individual personalities. My desire is that they each will feel blessed by the contributions that they will make and can truly see God working in another culture. God has wonderfully worked out all of the details so far in a very quick fashion. Beth
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I think that Puerto Rico will be fun. We will go to a beach. We might see glowing green water. The weather will be warm. In CEM (the radio station), I think I will dust and maybe grade tests and maybe even paint. Puerto Rico will be warm and sunny. We will go swimming. I will get to wear shorts and t-shirts. Puerto Rico will be fun, sun, and work, and I hope it pleases God! Morgan (9)
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Hey, Nicole here! I’m expecting to be working in the office most of the time. Mom says we will paint and work outside also. Supposedly, we can grade papers and help around the radio station. I expect a beautiful beach with wavy waters. We’ll hopefully go to a bay that lights up a night. I’m sure we’ll have fun, no matter what happens! Maybe I’ll be a missionary when I grow up. I hope our trip pleases God, also!
Nicole (11)
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I think I’m going to be working in the office and maybe painting. I looked at books about Puerto Rico, and it looks pretty. (Lauren’s not really sure what to expect but overhears us talking about it!) Lauren (5)
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Having been to San Juan a couple times already to serve at CEM, I realize each opportunity is different and provides unique blessings and memories. But there will almost certainly be some familiarity also. My expectations for this trip will be in watching how God works during the week in the lives of our daughters. We have been focused on showing them how God is working, even in our preparations this past week, to arrange all the details for us. Here are a few specific prayer requests for our trip:

1. That we will be ambassadors for Christ as we serve in Puerto Rico. We talk with the girls about being Jesus’ hands and feet. And though that is true about every day life, we are excited to show them how we can serve Him by serving others with joy.
2. That Beth and I won’t miss opportunities to help the girls see where God is working. And that we are sensitive to their needs and desires during the week.
3. For Lauren. She is excited, yet unsure and a little worried about working at CEM. At one point we thought she was going to pick staying at Grandma Joyce’s house over traveling with her family when she heard the word “work”. Our prayer is that there will be meaningful tasks for her to help with, and that she will experience God’s special touch next week, along with Nicole and Morgan.
4. Health, harmony, patience, and safety, while flying, and then while traveling around Puerto Rico.
Mark
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I'd love to write more, but there is much to do still, and it's very late. Friday night will be a frantic night of packing, since we haven't started!! Guess we'd better Bible Quiz, too, since their competition is Saturday morning. God is certainly providing me with adrenaline and stamina, since I also need to prepare for a school Valentine's Day party on Friday, too!

Be still, and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10
Beth