Packing day

Part of the needs of the villages we will visit are basic necessities, things we pretty much take for granted here. There are many places all around the world we hear about that have similar needs, and this is an opportunity for us to share what we have. Some of the items we packed were shoes, toothbrushes, toothpaste, vitamins, soap, pens, and water filters. These all were sorted and packed into travel bags that fit under the airline size and weight allowances. Here are a few pictures of the kids sorting and packing one of the cartfulls of things we're bringing. They did a great job!

Training and Planning

It seems we find ourselves in leadership roles in many or our activities. Maybe we can think it's because we're good at planning, but then maybe we have control issues we need to deal with! :) But on this trip, we are helpers. Of course, bringing along four children doesn't leave room for complete passiveness, but we are not in charge of organizing the team, coordinating with the local churches, planning activities, international travel logistics, or a whole array of responsibilities.

One aspect I initially didn't know what to make of is the training. There is weekly team training where we all get together to discuss various parts of the trip. Two of the things we've done so far is put together a presentation (ours was Guatemala economy) and wrote a book report. We're learning various perspectives of the local pastors we will work with, their churches, villages, their own programs, and their strengths and weaknesses. This is all a lot to absorb in a short time! We also have known several full-time missionaries and over the years have heard many stories about positive and negative impacts short-term mission trips have had. I have come to be excited as I've learned about our own team and the care and concern about making lasting imact on the people we visit, not just pop in for a week and dissappear. There are many aspects of this established relationship with the ten churches in the area that enable us to understand their real needs (and things they don't need) to allow us to not just visit, but help strengthen their own existing ministries and care for their people.

Over the next few weeks we'll try and provide insight into what we're learning, planning to do, and why it makes a difference in the communities we will visit. Our hope and prayer is that you will join us on this journey and find for yourself an awareness and care for not only our own communities but for people outside our own culture and see the richness of our world and how no matter where we are, what we have, or what our priorities are there are many fundamental commonalities that tie us together. We attribute God as our single source of creation and life, which even a glimpse of that perspective tells of the value of each and every one of us. We hope to lift up those we encounter on our trip, encourage them with love, learn something about ourselves, and hope you do too!

Stay tuned for more!

The Boelke's are going to Guatemala!

There is a new adventure in the Boelke home, a trip to Guatemala!

Life in casa de Boelke always provides something beyond what we may expect. With four growing kids, each year provides plenty of opportunities for new experiences. We have always loved sharing our life adventure with you as we all grow together, learning new things we never imagined. This fall is no different! Alayne has long poured out her compassion with high school kids, guiding her girls through their experience of growing up, and Joel spends his energy loving others through helping lead a local cycling ministry. This fall we have come together as a whole family to help our children learn that “serving others” can mean many things, and everyone can have a part in showing God’s love to others.

Our church has built a relationship with several churches in the Lake Atitlán region of western Guatemala. We are excited to join a trip whose purpose is to work with the churches to provide support in making their own existing mission, relationships, and programs succeed. The local pastors can best help us understand the needs of their community and we can provide many things they simply do not have. Having a long-standing relationship with the local churches makes this annual trip more than just a stand-alone work week. With the wide range of team member skills we help with everything from creating sanitary water, architecture design and construction, computer labs, and children’s programs. But the most important service is to simply show the people they are loved, and help the churches maintain their own viability.

One aspect we are excited for is exposing our kids to the Spanish environment. With all four in a Spanish Immersion school we are blessed for them to have had a unique learning experience. Pierce has already exclusively spoken Spanish at school for seven years! His language and comprehension already exceed even college language majors, with a fluency only learned through true language immersion. It is exciting to see an opportunity for them to use the language and culture they already know, using their education to help others.

Stay tuned for more information and details as we prepare!

Our trip to IL

We drove down to Libertyville for the fourth of July. Boy, the mosquitoes sure are bad in lower WI and IL! We were almost carried away. My mom had a friend with a cherry tree, so one day we picked about 14 cups of cherries and it didn't even look like we made a dent in the tree! We saw fireworks, the kids were in a 4th of July bike parade and we play with friends. Here are some fun pictures that I just had to post!

Here are the kids picking cherries.

All decorated for the bike parade. The parade that no one watches and everyone is in!

And some cute pictures of our newest daughter!

It's been a long time...

Minzi had her heart surgery on May 28th and is past the six week recovery period! She is doing great. She runs and skips everywhere. The kids love to carry her and teach her new things.

We are enjoying our summer and here are some fun pictures!

Rachel and Minzi on the dock at the Boelke Cabin

Minzi, Rachel, Christopher, and Pierce preparing for some water fun!

Minzi's favorite toy!

We're Home!

Our flights were long, but we made it!! Here is a picture of our plane just after it landed! The kids, my Aunt and uncle, and Joel's mom all went to park on a street near the airport to watch our plane land! This is something our family loves to do!



Here is our first Family Photo



Of course we had to get the kids matching Chinese outfits!!



Thank you all so much for your comments and prayers, we enjoyed reading them while we were away! It is so good to be home! Minzi loves the kids, she follows them around the house and holds her arms up for them to pick her up! We will keep posting pictures, as we are getting some really fun ones!

Alayne, Joel and the Minnesota gang!

As this trip ends...

... we would like to share with you some of the things we learned here. There are many cultural differences in daily life that, even as a tourist, we have come to a new undersanding.

- Cars have the right of way, not pedestrians
- It's sometimes best just to close your eyes while in a taxi
- Contrary to our State Fair, all things are NOT better on a stick. Especially if they still have their tail or tentacles.
- You learn to recognize (at restaraunts) what many whole animals look like without their fur or feathers (and with a golden glaze).
- People are generally very helpful even if you can't understand each other. Hand signals go a long way
- Either they're very attentive or there's a shortage of dishes. Don't linger over a finished dinner plate!
- A "small" city has 3-5 million people in it
- Never pay the asking price for anything at the street markets
- The first key to knowing when to negotiate is if items aren't labeled with prices
- We are no longer taking for granted heated buildings (even offices)
- It's difficult to venture far when you can't read ANY signs. At least in countries with Latin-based language we can attempt to pronounce them.

We feel blessed not only for our new child but to have been able to take a trip like this and experience another part of the world. Nonetheless, there's no place like home. We miss you all and are looking forward to seeing you again soon!

Joel and Alayne