I remember being a kid and getting magazines in the mail filled with Halloween costumes. For months I would look through the magazine dreaming of what I should be. A princess? A 50's girl, poodle skirt and side pony tail? My favorite costume was when I was in 2nd grade, I was a black cat (classy I know). I must say I have gotten quite a kick looking at pictures of friends in the states participating in Halloween today. I am pleased to report there have been a few Halloweenish activities around here as well.
This afternoon consisted of a scavenger hunt with the missionary kids. Pirate costumes and all, they searched the property for clues to find the hidden treasure. Once the treasure was found full of candy and fun toys, they were reminded that our true treasure is Christ.
Deborah went to the airport today to pick up her mom and sister who are coming in for the week and I volunteered to watch some of her kids. They were quick to accept and we enjoyed an afternoon of activities. Movie time...
Movie time began with 5 kids and concluded with 8 :)
In honor of Fall I also made some pumpkin cupcakes. HUGE thanks to my mom for sending me the ingreedients: 1 box of white cake mix + 1 can of pumpkin + cream cheese icing = oh so easy and super tasty cupcakes!
I enjoyed my cupcake, simple and sweet, with extra icing of course. The kiddos enjoyed putting their decorative skills to the test and added some fun sprinkles.
The boys "decorating" their cupcakes
As you celebrate Halloween today check out the blog below for some fun and interesting facts on Halloween & Reformation Day:
We have had quite the week(s). A brief recap would be haircuts, visitors from the U.S., jewelry making, hurricanes, revival, newsletters...and the list continues. In the midst of a variety of tasks we also spent about 4 days wondering if the island of Haiti was going to wash away.
Tuesday afternoon the rain from Hurricane Sandy began to fall. It rained ALL night Tuesday night, ALL day Wednesday, ALL night Wednesday night, ALL day Thursday (are you getting the picture yet?) It was not until Saturday morning that the sun returned. This was honestly the most consistent rain and storm I have experienced.
Quite a bit of damage has resulted in the lowlands of Haiti from this storm. We are quite fortunate to be living in the mountains. However, we have heard reports and seen video from extreme amounts of flooding and damage in Port-a-Prince and other places.
The picture above was taken early during the week. As the rain poured in the mountains it flowed quickly down to the city and several families homes were literally washed away. Please join us as we pray for these families and seek to help financially as a mission however we can in the days to follow.
We also remember the USA as we know Sandy is making himself known there at this moment. We serve a BIG God who controls the winds and the waves. However, I am just being honest when I say that I wish that life could be carefree, sunny, never cloudy...
Rather you are in the storms of life through the physical rain clouds or in your heart...choose to sing in the rain today!
Moriah Peters: Sing In the Rain
If I could fly like a bird
Singing songs to the world then I would
But here I am on the ground
With troubles that I wish that I understood
But in the dark, in the sun
I believe that Your love is still good
God, You're so good
I wish that life could be
Carefree, sunny, never cloudy
But You said that I would be
In Your arms when things get crazy
So when the storm doesn't go away
I have decided to sing in the rain
We all want the easy way
No one ever prays for pain
We'd rather live the charmed life
But like a seed in the earth
If I'm gonna grow, it's gonna hurt
But after, You'll bring sunlight
But I have seen beauty come
When my world has come undone
You came through at the right time
I wish that life could be
Carefree, sunny, never cloudy
But You said that I would be
In Your arms when things get crazy
So when the storm doesn't go away
I have decided to sing in the rain
I'm, I'm not gonna sit here doing nothing
No, I'm gonna sing Your name
Jesus, Jesus, You give me, give me something
That makes me wanna sing in the rain
Jesus, You give me something
You make me wanna sing
Doesn't matter what's gonna happen to me
Jesus, Jesus, You give me, give me something
I'm, I'm not gonna sit here doing nothing
No, I'm gonna sing in the rain
1. My journal entries throughout the years. What a beautiful reminder of the faithfulness of my Savior. Through tears of sadness and times of unexpressable joy..."there is no shadow of turning with thee..."
2. Notes written between Trey and I throughout our season of dating :)
Trey never wrote a note quite like this. But, it is extremely cute to look back and see how funny we were getting to know one another.
3. The back of the Nestle chocolate chip bag. I read that bag at least every other week for chocolate chip cookies...mmmboy!
3 Gifts Burning
1. "Hunka hunka burning love!" I love me some Elvis. Is it bad that this is the very first thing that came to mind when I read the word burning?
2. Camp fires. A camp girl at heart, you cannot get much better than a guitar and a fire pit at night. Okay, add some s'mores and life is good!
3. God's provision. As I work through Beth Moore's study on Daniel I am mesmerized by the character of my God who delivers His people in the midst of the fires of life. At times He may choose to deliver us into the fire. Other times, through the fire. And still yet He can deliver us from the fire.
2. "I am the WAY the TRUTH and the LIFE. No one comes to the Father except through me." -Jesus
3. "I am so glad you're my wife..." -Trey
These flowers are growing in our yard. They make the entire kitchen smell like Honey-Suckles! Don't miss the "Honey-Suckle" blessings the Lord is giving you today.
Author of 1,000 Gifts, Ann
Voskamp, has challenged her readers to have 31 days of blessings in the month
of October.
Some of you may recall
it was a goal of mine to record 1,000 blessings of mine by the end of this
year. I will confess, I am a far cry from having this complete. BUT, I do think keeping a list of your blessings is a wonderful discipline.
We are leaving Haiti
in a little more than 2 weeks to be with our families through the holidays and
continue to raise support for ourselves and Baptist Haiti Mission. I am beyond
excited about this special time. Cool temperatures, blue jeans, pumpkin EVERYTHING, time with
family...YES PLEASE! It is during this time of excitement over a trip to the
states that I am oh so aware of my need to find JOY where I have been placed.
Trey and I are blessed
to live in the beautiful country of Haiti and are so thankful for where He has
called us to serve. When I discovered Voskamp's 31 days of JOY for the month of
October, I knew I needed to jump on the bandwagon and get back out my pen and
paper and start counting.
Ann's blog: www.aholyexperience.com, contains a Calendar for
October. Each day she gives you a category of gifts to encourage you to think.
I am not much of an "abstract thinker." I have enjoyed
pushing myself to think a little bit deeper and really see a variety of gifts.
I wanted to share them with you below:
Oct. 1 -3
Gifts Orange- *Pumpkin
Spice candles and everything Fall! *The birds of paradise and other tropical
flowers at bloom in our yard. *An orange frisbee with teeth marks all over it
as a result of fun between Trey and Creole (the teeth marks belonging of course
to Creole).
Oct. 2 -3
Gifts Falling- *America's
Funniest Home Videos, watching how clumsy we can be, it's good to laugh at
ourselves! *Watching our little neighbors learn to ride a bike, and knowing one
day they will fall no more. *Rain as it hits our tin roof lulling us to sleep
night after night.
Oct. 3 -A Gift
caught, let-go, and mid-way- *Catching
the gift of my Savior and His love for me. *Letting go of my plans for my life
and chasing hard after Him to make His name known. *Falling time and time again
as I press-onward to find my complete identity in Him.
Oct. 4 -3
Gifts Reaped- *Understanding
word for word and having complete conversations with others in Creole (not
everyday, but it is happening some). *Living life with my husband and best
friend after years of praying and dreaming of him. *A long pony-tail after
months of growing out my hair, now it's time for a cut!
Oct. 5 -Gifts
Returned- *Skype
calls and Facebook messages with my girlfriends. *House projects done for me by
Trey, simply because he cares. *Plane tickets to return to America to spend
time with family!
Oct. 6 -Gifts
Redeemed- *Redeemed
how I love to proclaim it! *Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. *Redeemed, His
child and forever I am!
Oct. 7- A Gift
baked, stirred, eaten- *Chocolate
chip cookies straight from the oven. *Hot chocolate while stirring
marshmallow's in with every drink! *Conversation over the dinner table.
Oct. 8- 3
Gifts Prayed For- *A
deeper love for my Lord and Savior. *A family that continues to grow. *A heart
for the nations...
Oct. 9- 3
Gifts Praised For- *New
mercies every morning. *A healthy body that can run and move. *He is God and I
am not.
Oct. 10- 3
Hard Eucharisteo, the pursuit to see His blessings- *Miles
of ocean between us and others. *Seasons of waiting & uncertainty.
*Choosing JOY no matter how I feel.
Oct. 11- Gifts
of Change- *The
new ME in Christ, putting off the old and putting on the new. *Excitement for
my sisters as they live in their college days. *Numerous untold gifts from our
"change of address" last year.
Oct. 12- A
Gift small, smaller, smallest- *Laughter
and "randomosity" that comes from children. *Our small home that fits
us just right. *The diamond on my finger that constantly reminds me of the love
and commitment of my husband!
Oct. 13- 3
Gifts Read- *Reading
Scripture in Creole and understanding. *Blogs of encouragement written by Sisters
all over the world. *Messages inside dark chocolate...or maybe better yet
simply the chocolate.
It's not too late, you
have HALF a month left. Will you join me as I count?
Below is our most recent blog for the Baptist Haiti Mission website. Check it out:
John 17:17- “Sanctify them through your word, your word is truth.”
Over 68,000 students are enrolled in Christian schools associated
with Baptist Haiti Mission. Over the past few years BHM has been in the
process of developing a Bible Curriculum for these schools. This
curriculum has been uniquely designed to take students through the
Scriptures, focusing on the redemptive history throughout the
Bible, from 1st grade to 6th grade. The curriculum includes Bible
stories, songs, review questions, memory verses, and other tools that
will show the students their need for a Savior. We are pleased to
announce the 1st grade curriculum is complete!
School started in Haiti last week. We were thrilled to see the books
were completed in time for this school year. Over the next several
days the books will be distributed to schools throughout the provinces.
Upon the arrival of the books, a training conference was held for
school coordinators.
More than 30 school coordinators gathered at BHM’s conference center
to receive training in the teaching of the curriculum. These
coordinators will now return to their districts and train the school
teachers.
Each 1st grade teacher will receive a hard back copy of the text
book. Students will receive a workbook that consists of a coloring page
which coincides with the story. The bottom of each coloring page also
has the memory verse for each week. These coloring pages can be taken
home and shared with parents and family members. This will be the
perfect opportunity for the Word of God and the skill of literacy to be
taken into homes throughout Haiti. We are excited to have the 1st grade
curriculum in print, but we realize the journey is far from complete.
Would you join us as we pray for the distribution of the curriculum.
Pray that over the next several days the books will enter 1st grade
classrooms throughout the country. Pray for the further development of
the 2nd – 6th grade curriculum. This is a large project that will
require a great amount of prayer and financial support. Click here: http://www.bhm.org/give/ if you would be interested in giving to the production of the Bible Curriculum.
Shout Out...
Thank you Susanne White! Monica and I are enjoying the skirts you made. We had a very unintentional "twin-day" and even enjoyed a nice powerwalk. Thinking of you girl!
These three words are a good summary of our Saturday night.
After quite a full week the missionary staff here at BHM have enjoyed a restful weekend. Several of the men here decided that last night would be a perfect night for some grillin'. Of course the ladies did not object.
Each family pitched in to make some side dishes while the men handled the meat. The Bidwell family opened up their home for all the food, and the festivities began.
Trey loading up his plate with all kids of red meat!
It was the pefect night for a cook-out. Of course no evening is complete without some post-dinner entertainment. Trey and Scott put their heads together and we had our very own drive in theatre. White table cloth and all...
Hanging out after dinner waiting for the movie to begin.
We watched the Disney movie, "A Bug's Life." I think it is safe to say the adults enjoyed the movie just as much if not more than the kids. We enjoyed having a night "outside of the norm." We are truly thankful we have been blessed with such wonderful neighbors and co-laborers.
I know, I know, it has been more than a week since my last post. But, you know what they say, no news is good news! I have had every intention of writing but have simply slacked in this area. So, here are some "wamblings" as to what is going on in our little world...
School is back in Session! Monday marked the first day of school for Haiti. BHM has more than 350 christian schools associated with the mission. We have been working on developing a Bible Curriculum for these schools for quite some time. We are pleased to announce the 1st grade curriculum is now complete!
Theo Enns, curriculum developer from New Tribes Ministires, traveled to BHM last week to train school coordinators in the use of the new curriculum. Although this curriculum is complete, over 200 of the teachers books are currently stuck in customs. Please join us as we pray to have these books released and placed in the schools as soon as possible.
The start of school also means food deliveries are in session. BHM delivers food to several of our schools in the Child Sponsorship program. Last week, 4 HUGE trucks delivered 30 tons of food to the Mission...
Trey and several other men worked for hours unloading all the rice and beans that were delivered. Each bag of rice was a little over 110 pounds! There is no need to do an exercise dvd for at least one month after that work out.
Wednesday of last week Roger & Judy Sands (new missionaries) received a container filled with items for their home. Trey left the house at 5 a.m. Wednesday morning to travel to St. Mark to help unload the items from the container. Due to a variety of "technical difficulties" they did not get home until after 8 p.m.
We are pleased to announce all the items made it to Haiti safe and sound. One of the valuable items from the container was a push-mower! We are thankful that Roger and Judy are willing to share, we no longer have to have our grass cut with a machete!
This weekend consisted of some time down at the ocean! We welcomed a team from New Jersey to the mission on Saturday. They arranged a picnic and day down at the camp property for Sunday. We enjoyed swimming and relaxing with precious friends.
Now we are offically through three days of October! Wowza! Hope you are enjoying the incoming of Fall. Believe it or not, it's not too hot here right now, so we are celebrating a slight season change as well! Happy 'Wamblin Wednesday to ya.
