New Year

~Have a Blessed New Year~

We pray that all our loved ones are richly blessed this year and that each one draws ever closer to the Lord.

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 
Romans 12:2

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. 
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me [with thy] free spirit. 
Psalms 51:10-12

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
  And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God [is] with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, [and be] their God.
  And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
  And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 

Revelation 21:1-7 



Playdough!

My girls & Gen have been after me since we arrived here to play with the playdough. I always put them off because I don't want the big mess.

Last week I told them that sometime on Christmas break that I would let them. So we ended up having very special company yesterday so they did playdough.

Little Maya from up the road played with the girls a couple hours while her mom went back to the house.

The girls decided to make playdough food-

see if you can figure out what they made?

Leaf Moth

We had a very pretty leaf moth fly into my kitchen the other morning and land on the floor.

Of course the kids made sure that I took a picture of it.



Helping Others

Last time Wendy was out here, she started telling me about all the eye problems kids have in this country. So now whenever I go anywhere I notice the eyes right away.

The reason for this is simple-

Every year a mission group of doctors out of Dallas, Texas, come and do free eye surgeries for these kids.

So today Ross stopped by to bring eye glasses for Chris and we started talking about this little girl I noticed last week when I stopped at a produce stand to buy bananas.

Ross was already going to see baby Azra because she's been off her medicine and the hemangioma is coming back.

So Ross, Bella, and I drove down to the stand to find the little girl. Turns out she was just a friend helping that day I was there, but we explained to the people and a man showed us back a few blocks to her house.

The girls name is Dalia and she is 11 years old. All the kids are small for their age here, so its no wonder I call her a little girl......I was thinking 8.

Anyway the mother was so happy that someone could fix her daughter's eyes. Pure joy was on the faces of everyone in that family. Dalia was a very nice girl and so excited. So we took down name, age, birthdate, and phone number, along with parents names.

Ross took some pictures of Dalia and he told them the clinic will be coming to Orangewalk this coming year in April, May, or June. As soon as he knows I can stop by and tell them.

Dalia remembered me and my girls from over a year ago when we were here doing VBS. She saw Bella today but she said isn't there a Hannah? So she remembered her too.

Next, we went by to see baby Azra.

I had seen her a few weeks back and she looked good but today her eye was half swollen again and really droopy. So Ross took pictures and he is going to Belize City tomorrow to try to get more medicine for her to help that finally go away.

There's so much people can do here as well as anywhere in the world. I really appreciate Ross because he focuses on medical issues with children and he foots the bills with hardly any help. Talk about a missionary! He goes back and forth between here and his home in Texas.

Next time I stop by to see dalia I will take a picture so I can post later on of her before and after eye surgery.

This day has been a nice switch to all thats been going on around here. I enjoyed meeting those very nice people.

Christmas Program

The program went well even though many were nervous and we had a few bobbles. This was the first time the church had ever done anything like this.

Addy & I had worked so many hours sewing, designing, and making things. We bought absolutely nothing, everything was made from what we had. We kept it all very simple yet tasteful, and it was nice.

We will do it again next year now that everyone was able to see what was involved.

Here are some pictures of the program:

Wisemen,

Shepherds,

Angels,

King herod,

Mary & Joseph

I played flute & piano and kept it organized, while chris was on the side making sure everyone met their cues.

Hope you enjoy the photos!

I will tell how we made the costumes and such later.



Sad Weekend

The Roberts Family

Friday night was a very sad night for many of us, especially the Roberts family.

I was awakened by the sound of gun shots at 11pm, but I wasn't sure what woke me up. I was thinking it was more fireworks because everyone sets them off here for all holidays.

Then I realized my neighbor behind me was spotlighting something. About that time my phone rang and Addy asked if I heard the gunshots.......I had her 2 kids at my house also. Then I began to realize as I came more out of my sleep fog that something was wrong.

So I called my neighbor behind me and said "what is happening". He told me the house up the road was being robbed. So thanks to his quick thinking with the spot light and he also called another neighbor who fired his shotgun in the air twice (thats what woke me), they were able to help stop what was happening. The police came fairly fast but it seems like never fast enough!

However, it was too late for Mr. Roberts who heard the robbers breaking the glass window in and ran out of his bedroom to see. They shot him in the chest and come to find out later at the hospital it was through the aorta. Unfortunately, chris couldn't have done anything to help.

We were there helping the wife and 2 girls that are 13 & 7. They both play with Addy's kids and my kids. How terrible to lose their father & husband!

So none of us slept Friday night and we had a hard time doing our christmas program with such sadness in our hearts.

Sabbath afternoon we went down to see the mother and 2 girls, the kids took cards, flowers, and little gifts.

We are praying everyday for them....that God will comfort them and help them heal over time. So Christmas was very low key for us because we were all very upset about this occurance. 

~The True Light~

It was Christmas night, when all through the land,

the shepherds were watching, their flocks close at hand.

The stars shone so brightly, and one more than any.

It’s brightness was equal, to that of so many.

The quietness grew, and almost seemed eerie,

as travelers stopped, as their journeys grew weary.

Then suddenly, up in the sky there appeared,

a heavenly host, proclaiming good cheer.

“Glad tidings!” they exclaimed, “great joy will be yours!”

“A Savior is born unto you, Christ, the Lord!”

The shepherds were shaken, but rose to their feet,

and headed for Bethlehem, their Savior to meet.

They moved rather quickly, not one of them tarried,

And upon their arrival, they saw Joseph and Mary,

And so they drew closer, the moment to seize.

But when they saw Jesus, they fell to their knees.

The child had been wrapped, and laid in his bed.

Just as the host of Angels had said.

His face held fulfillment of prophesies told.

His eyes seemed to pierce to the depths of the soul.

His hands seemed so tiny. His stature, so small.

Yes, He was a baby, but that was not all.

From the top of His head to the tip of His toe,

this child was a King. So how could they know:

With a love, so majestic, in a body, so frail,

That His crown would be thorns, and his scepter, a nail.

But all who had gathered perhaps did not see,

That a cross was the course of this child’s destiny.

For as they looked on they were filled with elation,

for they knew that this child was the world’s great Salvation.



Bella's Bugs

Bella is always catching bugs!

Last night at rehearsal we were especially treated to quite an array of bugs in the church.

She caught this pretty little moth.



Pine Ridge Run

Last Sunday Junior made a run to the Pine Ridge repeater station to change out workers and take up fuel and supplies. Well, the boys were going to go but the girls decided they wanted to go this trip.

Junior said that they could go, so he took off with a truck load of kids, workers, and supplies.

Thats the first time since we've been here that I was home alone......Chris was working and the kids went with junior. I stayed home and did lots of laundry, cooked, and sewed for the program.

The kids enjoyed their trip up the mountain.

Comments

Yes, I finally realized that my blog setting was blocking comments. So I did recently change it and I see that one person realized it!

I am certainly open to comments and well wishes on my blog. Please do not use my blog as a place to post personal messages. Please email me those.

We look forward to reading comments and seeing who is writing them.

Thank you to all who are watching this blog and supporting us here through prayer!

May God Bless Each One of You

Program Update

We had another rehearsal this evening at the church and it went much better but we still have to iron out some kinks.

Like people not showing up for their songs!

One blessing this week is that we now have a harp as part of the program and it sounds beautiful. A gentleman from Australia makes these harps in a smaller version. He plays very nice.

We had to say "no" to the program in Belmopan at their civic center because its tomorrow night! There was no way we would be all ready to do that.....maybe next year.

I just got done doing Saturday night praises on the radio from 7-9pm. Had lots of song requests and greetings tonight. We have been announcing over the radio inviting people to come to our second presentation of our christmas program next sabbath at 4pm. We all pray that it will be a huge holiday blessing for those that come.

Chris was only supposed to work 48 hours this past week but he barely walked in the door Wednesday and he was being called back in Thursday to Friday morning. Then while there they scheduled him another extra shift starting tomorrow morning. I guess this time of year people call in or just want it off for the holiday. Chris would rather work!

Addy and I have finished the angel costumes and will be working on the wisemen tomorrow. Hopefully, we can get everything done by Wednesday.....that is full dress rehearsal and the last one before sabbath. Then we will be going out caroling and taking gift baskets to those in need instead of having our usual Wednesday prayer meeting.

~God Bless and Happy Holidays~

Much Effort

Do you ever think something is a good idea then after getting into it realize that maybe it wasn't that great??

I really thought trying to organize a Christmas program at the church would be a great outreach tool as well as bring folks at the church closer together and out of their shells. Well, it still will be those things.

However, the work that I've put into it is- well, too much! I'm praying that God will help me do it because there is so much to do. My good friend Addy has been my biggest and only helper. The other day she and I worked on sewing angel costumes for the program!

We had no pattern and neither one of us can sew that well. I'm sure we would absolutely appall any seamstress out there. But we are trying our best.

We just guess at cutting out the pattern and then sew them together. I will post some finished pictures later on. We also need to make something for the wisemen & king Herod, probably something for the shepherds too.

This will definitely be a Belizean Christmas program and I pray that it will all be done and ready so that it can be a blessing to others.

Now the other side of the program which is organizing the program, practices, music, & the like. We did have one practice so far and everyone is promising me that they will be there and not let me down. Thats one problem here with people they will tell you yes but not show up. We will practice again this Sabbath evening and I hope it will be better than last week.

Another thought on this- a gentleman came by the radio yesterday and asked Addy if we would take our program to Belmopan......so I need to check into that and find out what he means.  Please pray for this program because this church has never done anything like it before and I've never organized one either.

Onward and upward as they say.

Stay tuned for more updates!

Playing Around

The kids like to try to get a soccer game or something going in the afternoons or on Sunday. These are some of the little neighbor kids that were goofing off together the other day. They had quite a game of hide and seek.



~ Jakob Turns 2 ~

The little firecracker had his birthday last evening!

He is so darn cute that no matter what he does, its adorable. Although, his parents wouldn't think so. Sometimes he's quite the handful, but a really good boy.

Bella is his favorite friend right now because she goes to see him several times a week. So he's always saying "bella, bella, bella!"

His mom, Stephanie, made him a cute little firetruck cake. My camera flash didn't do it justice. He was afraid of the fire on the candles. Yes, thats actually Beryl in a picture! Usually she's hiding & I would guess she would not want to be on my blog, but hey everyone's fair game.

Poor Garth was distracted at the party because he lost all his phone book entries! I think he will have to enter them all back in again.

Jakob had a nice birthday and received some awesome presents. Baby #2, which is a little sister, should be here in about 4-5 weeks. Mom is getting anxious and said it could be any time for her!

I totally understand!







Busy Week

We all had a very busy week!

Seems like the days meld together and before we know it, its Sabbath again.

I'm volunteering many many hours each week for the radio. Either I'm working on programming for the kids hour or for my praise times that I'm on air live. Also I just run the scheduled radio programs for a few to several hours to help out Addy.

~Never thought I would do radio~

Planning the Christmas program is moving forward but slowly. Things are soooooo different here and trying to coordinate is hard. We did have a first rehearsal last evening and it went fairly well. We will do it 2 more times before we actually do it for church and outreach in the afternoon on the 24th.

Music lessons are going well and they take up 6 hours every Wednesday, then its off to prayer meeting. Last week I led out in the study......it was called "Crowns of Victory and a Home for the Redeemed."  Chris thinks that it won't be long and I will be preaching too.

Today Addy & I are going to try and sew some of the angel costumes for the Christmas program. I hope it goes well.

Chris is working another shift and the kids have been helping staighten up the house. We just had lunch and now they are off the play while the suns out.

Beryl and Garth came out last evening and stayed over so when I got up to make breakfast, there was no water or electricity......so they took us to breakfast. That was a TREAT since we have not eaten out once since we have been here.

Well I better get on with the day or nothing will get done. God bless everyone and I hope you are having a peaceful, Christ centered Holiday!

~Surprising Visitor~

Today a very unusual thing occurred.

A small bird somehow got in the house......in the computer room to be exact!

The kids were screaming and trying to catch it in a garbage can, but I quickly put a stop to that before they killed the poor thing.

I made the kids get out and I used a dish towel and threw over the little guy and picked him up and took him outside on the veranda.

Mat identified him as a wren of some sort. Poor thing was in quite a bit of distress......you can tell by his mouth gaping.

I wondered if he would recover or if there was something wrong with his legs. He seemed reluctant to leave the towel.

I finally got him onto the little dog fence on the veranda and there he sat for a few minutes watching us......until finally realizing he was free.

~Away he flew~



Spider pictures!!

I finally was able to capture a couple photo's of the creepy, hairy, bigger than they need to be, spiders!

This big hairy thing was very close to Hannah's hand out on the cement Faithfm steps in between our place and Addy's.

Hannah found this ugly, aggressive thing as she was coming in our back door. Believe it or not it was hanging by its silk thread in mid air right where we would have to walk to get in the house. It landed on our concrete post and began to climb back up its silk so Mat used a flip flop and batted it out into the great unknown. I'm sure it killed it because he really swung hard. Either way its not where it was.....and I'm glad!



Bella's Butterfly

~There are so many butterflies around here~

We have one in the house at least once a week!

So many different colors of the rainbow!

They are fast and skittish~never still for a good picture.

Bella managed to catch this one and it sat on her hand for a few minutes.

Very pretty, but there are many brilliant blue, yellow, orange, red, & white ones too.

She will try to catch each color so we can post pictures.



Family Effort

We get so busy that I forget to share how we all have to work together everyday, even to accomplish daily chores.

The kids have been really good about helping out at home, for others, at church, at radio, or just neighbors.

If I'm at radio or just busy they are always watching and thinking as to what to do. We have a certain plan to follow if it starts to rain. Like get laundry down fast, close all the windows, pull all chairs and rug back against the house on the veranda. Or if they drive by at night spraying pesticide they know that all doors and windows have to be shut fast and all ceiling fans must be turned off. I really appreciate the fact that I can count on all the kids whether I'm in the house or not to do these tasks immediately. They never allow things to get wet or spray to get in.

Just thought I would share how the kids are really being more responsible and learning how to be on watch.

Faith

God’s Provision

 We so often do not trust in God
And lack faith that He will provide
We worry, we fret, and we fuss so much
In His blessings we do not abide

For how can the hand of Almighty God
Stretch forth with all that we need
If we are not even expecting it
And have doubt instead of belief

His word has said so many times
That He will provide for His children
He won't leave us to go begging for bread
But feed us from the storehouse of heaven

Look at the sparrows, the birds of the air
Are we not worth more than they?
And consider the lilies; see how they grow
How magnificently they are arrayed

So much more than the lilies of the field
Our clothing will He not provide?
More than the sparrows that feed from His hand
Our food He will not deny

We really must believe in God's provision
As sure as the fresh morning dew
For He already knows just what are our needs
And He will always come through