I want to write and fill
you in but I am not sure how to start or what to share. I guess I will begin with our family. Emalai continues to amaze us with how much
she moves at her young age. She crawled
by six months (learned to sit the same time) and now, not yet seven months, she
is standing up by everything – even walking around holding onto the
object! I am sure she will be trying to
walk in a month or so. It is a dangerous
age. She doesn’t know how to get back
down well and forgets that when she lets go she falls. With tile and cement floors it is a hard
fall. She crawls everywhere and so we
are constantly telling the kids to not leave small toys out and to watch
her. Of course while Josh and I were watching
her she crawled over to a curb and went face first into the gravel – ouch! Thankfully she has only had a few bumps and
scrapes. Lots of prayers for safety for
Emalai right now.
I had one of those bad
mom moments the other day. Grace was
asking me for this and that while I was busy and she kept adding to what she
wanted and I finally said you make life hard.
Later that day she came and apologized for making life hard. I felt so bad. I didn’t mean she makes life hard but that
she was making things harder and complicated with all her requests. She seemed to really feel bad that SHE made
life hard. What a dumb thing I
said. I had to apologize. I was wrong.
Oh the mommy regrets and guilt. I
sure don’t do things perfectly and I have learned saying I am sorry and
teaching my kids through my mistakes really helps.
Luka has been doing
preschool work here and there. All of
the sudden he is doing really well. He
can write his name and even add things. The
other day he came to us and said, “look at my perfect L”. Sure enough there was a perfectly written “L”
on his paper. Way to go Luka! He is a funny boy. His favorite thing to say is, “I don’t love
that” instead of just saying I don’t like that. He told some one yesterday that he wants to be a farmer in Michigan when he grows up and he will go hunting everyday. (Josh is thinking, "that's my boy!")
Our family is really
struggling with jiggers (sand fleas that get in your skin, lay eggs – a sac,
and makes a bump you have to remove).
We’ve lived here six year and never had one the first five. Now in the last year we have had 8 (6 in the
last six months)! We think it must be
coming from the village (Obulle) but why is our family getting so many? For the most part they don’t hurt but you do
have to cut off the dead skin and get the egg sac out. It leaves a good hole in your foot. Grace had her first one this week and Lydia
I am so thankful for our
church in Obulle. Charles is one of the
leaders and I really appreciate his humble wisdom. He knows God’s Word and has applied it to his
life. The last two Sundays he has
challenged the church to memorize God’s Word.
He asks people to share a verse they know – or he calls on you. It has made me think about how serious or
disciplined I am about memorizing God’s Word.
I want to but do I do it? Am I
ready to share a verse? How about more
than one? Do I know where they are
found? We all need to be challenged to
know God’s Word. How can we share it
with others if we don’t know it? Like
Charles said what if some day the government takes all the Bibles away, will we
still know and have His Word?
I often see Charles cry
when he prays. When he prays for
forgiveness, when he worships His Father, and when he prays for those who have
not yet heard the good news. He is a missionary. God is using him. I believe God’s heart for the lost will some
day bring him and his family to do missions in another part of this country or
to another country. And what an answer
to pray that will be!
In the last few months I
have seen two girls who went to my Bible study I did with high schoolers. It has been about four years ago. I was so encouraged they came to see me,
remember and still appreciate our time together. That brings me joy. To know I made a difference in some ones
life. I loved those girls and the Bible
study we did together! I am 100%
convinced that it is God’s Word that brings change in some ones life. It is true of my own and all the people I
have been blessed to walk with. Yes, God
uses other things and people too but without His Word there is no lasting
transformation. Josh and I are
passionate about bringing God’s truth to people. To teach God’s Word and allow Him to do the
work of transformation. His Spirit opens
minds and hearts. To be honest I was
really upset this past week with all the sin here and the mess it makes. So many Christians living apart from God’s
ways and then crying out for help. I
simply don’t know what to do. All I can
do is look to God. People don’t need me,
money, food, jobs, school fees…to change them.
It is all bandages that will come off and the sore and pain will still
be there because there hasn’t been true healing. Only God can heal. I know my friends here need to know and live
according to the Word of God. This will
bring true change. My hope, my peace in
the mist of this sinful world is in Christ alone. He truly is the answer for all things. I trust Him.
God has been refining our
team and the enemy has been doing his best to destroy and discourage our
team. It has been a difficult time. Our team of 18 adults and 20 kids has now become
11 adults and 12 kids. Like I said I
know God is at work in all of this but it doesn’t take away the pain. It has been months of ups and downs, stress,
and mixed emotions. I think I am
tired. It is sad to say so many
goodbyes. I think we all need some
encouragement. I am thankful for the
team we do have here. Through this all
we are stronger and closer. God is
drawing us nearer to Him. He is showing
us His
work through us. We hold on knowing God is in control.
work through us. We hold on knowing God is in control.
Josh has a big day Wednesday. He has an interview with classis to be
ordained. He is nervous and
excited. He will be skyped into the
meeting at Georgetown CRC. Pray for him
and those in the meeting to have wisdom.
That’s all for now
folks! Thanks for all your
prayers!!! 
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