No More Braces!

Sept. 2007 (before)














Jan. 17th, 2009 (after)


Saturday, Justin was able to get his braces off after having to wear them for the last year and four months. He is growing up so fast!

Kanakantapa

Today, the kids and I went to Kanakantapa Baptist Church. I was amazed to see how much the people had done to their church since the last time we were there. We were there just a couple of months ago and they said they were about to start putting the roof on the church. Now, it is a little over half way finished. This church has been working on their building for at least the last 5 years. You may look at this little building and wonder why it would take so long. They have built it all by themselves. They had to mold each brick and put it all together. To do all of this, even the roof, they had to wait until they had some money to get started. Then as time went on when they would get a little money they would do some more. We are very proud of them for working so hard. May God continue to bless them and grow their church.

This is Joe. He met us at the door of the church before we entered in and gave us a big hand shake and smile, then said, "Hello." This was all the English he knew but he used it very well.

This is a couple of pics. on our way home. The kids wanted to go down to the water. Because the rains have been so good in many places the river is rising so much that is starting to cover the roads.

This was a pretty little waterfall that we passed. Hannah took this picture.

Alone time with just me and God

Today I started out to go and encourage the women at Chainda II Baptist Church because I had not visited with them in a couple of months. When I got there no one was in sight so I decided to just sit in the church and wait. It is not uncommon to have to wait for everyone to arrive here because time is not like what we are used to in the States. So, as I waited I started reading the book of Philippians. It's a short book but I had time to read it all. I just wanted to write some verses that were an encouragement to me and hopefully they will be to someone reading this as well.

Phil. 1:3-6 "I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."
I thank God for all the people who pray for us. We are in a partnership together and you are just as much a part of our ministry as if you were here with us. We need you!
What work will God finally complete in us? God will finally complete the work of saving us. If we trust in Christ, we are already fully saved. But God's work in our lives continues until the day of Christ Jesus. Only then shall we be like him.

Phil. 1:9-11 says, " And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ- to the glory and praise of God." -righteousness can only come through Jesus!

Phil. 2:14-16 says," Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life-in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing."
I love these verses! It is difficult at times to not complain or argue because of difficult circumstances that come up in life, sometimes daily. But hey, it says that we may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault if we don't. Then we will shine like the stars in the universe as we hold out the word of life. Wow! That is my prayer for my life.

Phil. 3:13-14 says, "Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. but one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."
Lord, help me to forget what is behind and keep straining toward what is ahead. Help me to keep my eyes focused on the goal.

Phil. 4:4-7 says:" Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Rejoice Always! No matter what circumstances surround you, Rejoice. I have read these verses many many times in my life but I think today is the first time that I have really noticed the part that says, "The Lord is near." How comforting is that to know as we walk throughout our Christian life and as we continually present our requests to God, He is always near.

Phil. 4: 13 says, " I can do everything through him who gives me strength."
What does God give us strength to do? Everything means everything. All that God desires us to do -not absurd, selfish or evil things though. God's grace will sustain us no matter where he leads.

Well, I finished reading and reflecting when some children came into visit for a while. After a few min. I decided to go ahead and leave. I had waited 45 min. but no one came. Perhaps they were all out in the fields working because today was a sunny day. Maybe they came later, I'm not sure. I do know that I needed that time alone with just me and God.

Saying Bye to Friends

One of the hardest things to do as missionaries is to say "good-bye." It seems like at least several times a year we have to say bye to someone or a family that we have grown to love like our own family. Of course, we have missionaries coming a few times a year also so that helps a little. You know, I have never gotten used to saying bye. I thought at one time I might, since we had to do it so often but it hasn't happened yet. In fact, in a way it has gotten worse. I really struggle with not building up walls when someone first comes. In my mind I keep telling myself that they will just be leaving soon and I will have to say bye to them too, so why be friends? I have realized over the years that I can't build up walls but I need to be the best friend I can to those who come into our mission family. God may want to use me in their life or vice versa but if I build up a wall, how will I ever be and do all that God wants me to? As you pray for missionaries, pray that those who struggle in this area will not build up walls in their lives but that they would be all things to all men even if that means being friends to someone who will eventually leave.
This past week we had several people come back to the field from their stateside assignment(formerly furlough). It is great to see them back, refreshed, and ready to work. However, on Friday, we had to say good-bye to our good friends the Cooks-Ricky, Niki, Kelsey, Coby, and Austin. For a long time we had prayed that Hannah would have a special friend her age that lived close by. God answered that prayer with Kelsey. It just isn't hard on us s to say bye it is also tough on our children. Pray for Hannah as she deals with this loss in her life and that God would bring other friends into her life when He sees fit. The Cooks are now back in South Carolina trying to find their place once again. Pray for them as they try to fit back into that American puzzle, as their pieces/lives have changed so much as a result of being in Zambia.

Niki and I at the end of the evening. I guess you can tell we had shed some tears on this night.

Last Thursday night we had a welcome/goodbye dinner for those who were coming back and then for those who were leaving. The food is always good!

Here is a picture of Sky and Daniel Scott who have just returned to work among the Lozi people. Pray for them as they are at a Strategy Leader meeting for the next several weeks to learn all they can about being better leaders.

Zach at RVA

Since I have been showing what has been going on with the rest of the family I thought I would include a little about Zach. Here are some pics. of him taken at RVA that he just sent me. I know I am his Mama, but isn't he cute?

Zach in his dorm room.

His roommate Kevin Keller.

One of his friends and old roommate, Caleb Bolthouse.

Zach's knee brace that he had to wear at the end of last term because he injured himself playing volleyball. He is fine now.

I can't remember if I ever wrote about Zach being dressed up as the Joker for Carnival. All the students at RVA dress up like someone. Last year Zach dressed up like Jack Sparrow and won first place for 10th grade. Then this year he also won first place for 11th grade as The Joker. It took him 2 hours to get all his makeup on. He also acted like The Joker while he was at the Carnival. He is quite an actor.

Difficulties and Victories

This past week while Kevin has been living it up in the states I have had my share of difficulties and victories. First, let me say Kevin probably is not living it up very much except for being able to visit with family on the weekends. Really, how much fun could it be to go to seminars every day for this long? Anyway, back to me and my story. Last Thursday, I tried to turn on the computer and it just came up blank with a little blinking curser in the top left corner. Nothing I did could make everything pop up like usual. As I have mentioned before, I am not the computer person in our family. In fact, I'm probably number 4 on the totem pole of computer knowledge in our family and I'm sure Hannah will pass me soon enough. So, I do what any other person in my situation would do-I cried, then I prayed. About 10 min. later I tried again and the computer worked! I was so excited! Then later that day when I took it into Lusaka it went out again. I finally found out that it was our ac adapter that had gone bad. So, I have been without internet for the last few days. Some friends of ours(the Scotts) have graciously let me borrow their ac adapter while they are gone so now I'm back online. Thanks Sky and Daniel!
This same day our worker came and woke us up telling us that our rabbits had dug out under our wall and about 8 were killed by our neighbors dogs during the night. Justin and Tito found the hole and blocked it. Hopefully, there aren't any more holes. The next day Dorcas(hannah's friend) found one of the rabbits at her house. She was able to grab it and give it to her Dad who then put it back into the pen. So at least one was saved.
Have you ever had to extract the square root of a number? Well, Justin is doing that now in his Pre-Algebra class and was having trouble with it. I sat down to look at and tried to figure it out. It took me a while but I finally got it. My question is, what job in life(other than a math teacher) do you have to know how to extract the square root. I mean, I'm 42 and have never had to do it before and sure hope I never have to do it again.
So, while Justin is trying to finish up his math I decide I'm going to mow the yard-for the very first time in my life. Well, my dad tried to teach me when I was a teenager but it didn't go too well and I just ended up crying so I have never done it since. Anyway, Justin thought it was quite funny that I thought I could mow the yard. I told him it couldn't be that difficult, I mean, I know how to vaccum a floor! So, he got the lawn mower out and started it for me and off I went. It only cut off one time and I got it started again all by myself. The grass was kind of tall since we had been gone for a while so it was a little difficult to push the mower through part of it but it really wasn't too bad. I thought I would be sore the next day but wasn't. Anyway, I was quite proud of my accomplishments this past week even though I had some difficulties along the way.

Homeschooling Conference

Last week the kids and I went to a homeschool conference in South Africa. We have had this conference before for all the moms but this time the whole family was invited. A volunteer team came to help alongside of some of our missionaries. The theme for the children was all about Egypt. They learned how to write like an Egyptian, play like an Egyptian, dress like an Egyptian, build like an Egyptian, and eat like an Egyptian. They did art projects and played games too. At the end of the conference they dressed like an Egyptian and had a bazaar for all the parents to come to. They worked hard in the few days that we were there and learned a lot about Egyptian life and culture. The youth went bowling, did geocaching, studied personality profiles, learned about finances, and played games. This time at the conference the parents had choices of classes to go to. I chose to go to a study on personality profiles, Physics is Phun, Power point, digital Photography, a discipline class, and how to keep ourselves upgraded. We are thankful that the International Mission Board provided this conference for us to go to. I always come away encouraged and ready to get back to homeschooling.

Hannah is working on her Egyptian necklace.

Justin

Zach and Troy

LOVE

This was all the youth aged mk's at the conference.

Hannah with Abbey and Anna Bowman. Hannah loved having lots of little s to play with.

Kevin in the USA

Kevin arrived in the states Dec. 31st. His parents picked him up and they ate at the restaurant Kracker Barrel(I have to spell it like this so blogger will take it), which he loved. He was excited that they came and kept refilling his coffee and he didn't have to pay extra for the refills. They also had lots of splenda packets right on the table. They then traveled to my parents house about 1 1/2 hours away from the airport. Kevin said he is having a bit of culture shock being there but he is enjoying it. He is staying with my parents during the week nights. He will be going to visit his parents this weekend and the last weekend there. Pray for him as he takes his seminars. He said it is pretty tough work. Here are some pictures of his first few days there. Have I mentioned that I am very jealous that we are not there too???

Kevin cleans up real nice, doesn't he? For those on this side of the world you probably have never seen Kevin in a suit.

This is my niece Michaela with my second cousin Emma Grace who was born the day before Christmas. She just looks like a baby doll.

My two nieces, Micaela(rt) and Macey(lt). They are wearing the aprons I had made for them.

Macey really took to Kevin even though she was only 2 when we left.

This is my sister, Angie on the right and my Grandmother on the left. They had my Dads side of the family together for Christmas after Kevin got there so they could all see him.

Kevin and Macey

My mom made Coconut Cream Pie for desert-Kevin's favorite!