Late April

Time for a quick update-
Sunday Chris left for Ngurlemendeuka, a village that is 6 hour drive from where we live.  He's been teaching a Scripture songwriting workshop for the Makaa people over the  3 days.  He arrived safely  and the workshops have gone well.  Please pray for the Makaa as they begin to use their newly translated scriptures and now have music with them in their own style! Pray the Lord is glorified in it all.
The water was off for 3 days but we had enough pressure to wash dishes, fill the barrel and flush the potties and now 4 loads of laundry. Thankful for that!  Power has been spotty because the closest transformer was damaged in a storm.
I've been working on Joy.  I'm (once again) seeing my need to choose joy amidst the every day frustrations of life.  I've heard people say that they couldn't do what I do.  Really, it's not that hard. Mostly inconveniences.  Most people here have it much harder than we do. Americans (that's me) are pretty lazy as a whole. I mean, who washes all their clothes by hand?  Sweeps and mops daily the whole house?  Cooks over a wood fire all the time?  (always dressed well, mind you!)  They work hard!  But we work too- just different hard. Anyway, JOY, choosing joy - as I feel myself becoming angry or complaining, I am recognizing (again) that I need to stop and pray.  Step away from the problem, cry out to God and ask for help to choose joy. Because angry or grumbling only makes me miserable.  Philippians 4:8 saysFinally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
I started a list of THANKFUL with the kids tonight.  What are we really thankful for? And amidst the power outage tonight, they are thankful for being able to play 'murder in the dark' here like never before! They are thankful for our pet bunny, their teachers, classmates, friends.  They even said they are thankful for the sheets and blankets we have.  Oh how good it is to remember how good we have it!  We have tile on our floors, not just cement or hard packed clay like so many here.  We have doors with locks, screens on the windows and louvered windows.  We have stuff coming on the shipment.  We have people praying for us back home!  Chris is doing what he was trained to do!  I get to help out in the library.  I get to give back rubs. Everyone is (fairly) healthy.  Our car works and Chris can get to the village with it.  We have really good friends all over the world. And we have Jesus who told us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us, who showed us how to do that and what forgiveness is all about.  Who died in our place so we can truly know God.  Wow!  How amazing is that?!
So on those nights, after a mix of cold shower and warm water in a bucket to rinse (yeah, water's still on), sitting in the dark night of power outage, listening to traffic, the hum of the next door generator, dogs and wildlife, I challenge you dear reader, to CHOOSE JOY!  Celebrate each moment. This life is SO short.  Pray, relax a little, and be thankful for all the ways you really have it good. Because you really do.

Chris on the worship team with the Liz, Heidi and David

Taking notes in the meeting….

Since I last posted, we have had a spiritual retreat, branch meetings, and JLS(see note on picture). We celebrated Easter, went to Fun Night, a baptism, saw cool bugs, ate lots of mangos, I had a carbuncle (boil) (will NOT be showing pictures of my ugly face with that!), watched an interview at a local coffee shop for tv, went to a pinewood derby car race, and carnival at Noah's school.  Life is busy as always.

Dyeing eggs- we got to do it with 2 sets of friends this year!

Easter Sunday

The coffee shop was being showcased for TV

Baby sitting the Maust twins

Chris and friends- the lucky winners of
 the unexpected pedicure...

Avocados coming in!

Cool Moth

Cool praying mantis in our living room

Beautiful butterfly

Watermelon is SO good!

Our friend Micah's baptism

Kristin made book marks to sell at the Branch Sale (giant yard sale)

Mango dinner

 We didn't win the races, but we know what to do for next year!

Birthday party at the pool at the American School
 (We don't go to the school, just pay to use the pool)

Chris teaching at the JLS session a little music appreciation.

JLS is the joint learning session for home schoolers, MKs who live in villages, and kids like mine who go to the Greenhouse all the time.

Some of the projects

Ballet performed on the last day.  The teacher was thrilled to have 3 boys!  Both Kristin and Ben participated.

Carnival at RFIS is a way to make money for each of the classes.  Each class sets up several booths and take ticket.  My favorite was the go cart.  After not driving for almost a year, that was really fun!

Slip 'n Slide

Noah would LOVE to start an archery club here.
Just some minor details of equipment...

Not sure if this makes us a dangerous family….

Chris lost the championship!  Oh well- stiff competition.  

Thanks for praying for us.  I still struggle with homesickness.  I miss my mom a lot.  Finances are a little better - the dollar is stronger right now and that helps - but we are not ahead yet.  A few friends are able to support the ministry a little more each month.  The Lord is faithful!   Pray for the kids- especially for Noah as he grows into manhood and Kristin approaching the same stage for a girl.  Middle school is an emotional roller coaster wherever you are.

p.s. Just got notification that the shipment that left in February is in port and should be here in two weeks! It will be like Christmas in May!
p.p.s.  I wrote this a few days ago- Chris made it home and it went well.  Unfortunately he's really sick now, I've got a lousy cold, Ben has a low fever, and Noah has a low grade temp as well. Thank God Kristin is well!  She can take care of us all.  Maybe not! I'm feeling better…    Thanks for praying!