28 Years Ago Today!

Twenty Eight years ago our little family of four, moved to the country of Venezuela.  There were of course a lot of things that seemed strange and different to us that first year.  Little did we know how much Venezuela would soon become home to us.  We thought we would live and work there for the rest of our lives.  However, the Lord had different plans for us and 15 years later the door closed for us to return there.   When we left on our furlough in 2001, we didn't know we would never return to the life we knew there, to our home and work, and people that we love.  The family picture in which we are holding that sign was taken a few minutes before we left our village for the last time.  Oh, if we would have know we were never going to return it would have been a different looking picture.  It was a difficult process to transition to life back here in Canada.  I don't think a day will go by that I will not miss Venezuela.  How we praise the Lord for the time we had in there  and for the incredible memories we made!    

Our Future MK's

During the 18 months that our students are here they spend hours learning about different cultures, the skills on how to learn an unwritten language, Bible translation principles, how to teach literacy, how to go about curriculum development, as well as many more things.  As some of you know these last couple of years I have been working with our MK's adding different classes and activities to try to prepare them for life in another country.  Yesterday I hosted our first MK Orientation Event with the children of our families that will be graduating in December.  In each event I hope to expose them just a little more to life in another culture or to things they might experience as they transition to another country and culture.  Pray for these precious little ones as they will be experiencing a lot of changes in the next couple of years.  Depending on their ages and personalities every child processes things in a different way.  Although there are a lot of challenges that come into the life of an MK it is also a pretty cool experience as well.  We hope and pray that as our MK's come back to North America as adults, they will look back with fond memories of their many different experiences.

My View

I have never watched “The View” and even though I joke around about living under a rock I have been very aware of what happened with Kelly Johnson and the comments that the ladies on “The View” made.   I am not a nurse as I cannot even handle the sight of blood.  However, I happen to have a daughter, daughter-in-law, and two sisters who are nurses. (I also have nieces and many friends who are nurses.)  Just with these four ladies alone they have been there in the operating room dealing with life and death situations, in the new born nursery, with cancer patients that might not pull through, with patients dealing with huge overwhelming medical issues, and with Alzheimer patients like Joe.   All of them work tirelessly to give their patients the best of care.  These ladies are my heroes.  They are all overworked and underpaid.  They are the most loving, caring women I know.  Nursing isn’t a job for them, they truly love and care about people and are making a difference in the lives of their patients.   Thank-you Ruth, Gay, Ruth, and Camille for being such an example of Christ as you show love and compassion to your patients every day.  To all the other nurses out there,  thank-you for everything you do to make this world a better place.  We need you and value you.  Keep making a difference in this world!

Global Perspectives

Last week we held a Global Perspectives Conference here for our students and staff.  We had guests in from Asia Pacific and Africa as well as a couple of other missionaries working in other areas.  It was good to get an overview of what is happening in the different areas of the world and of all the unique challenges that each region faces.  As we think of all the challenges and stresses involved with working in a different country and in a different culture it is not someone's amazing abilities that is going to have to sustain them.  It is through people seeing Christ in us, that will make a lasting difference.  Please pray for us and our students.  There are so many valuable and practical things we are trying to pass on but the thing we desire for all of us is a deep and intimate relationship with our Savior.    

 

Great Warrior

Unfortunately our Internet was down yesterday so I wasn't able to post anything.  Yesterday our grandson Gideon turned four.  What a gift he is to our family.  Gideon means "Great Warrior".  We are praying for Gideon that he grows into a Mighty Man of God. 

Road Trip

This past weekend we made a trip to Chicago.  We had the joy and privilege of taking Aurora with us.   We made some special memories with the Schroeder family.  Aurora was such a good traveler and as you can see Cuddles enjoyed having Aurora with as well.

Emanate - Equipping for cross-cultural church planting

Last week we started our fall semester here at Emanate.  We began with a  week of orientation and today we started full swing into our classes.  We are thankful for each student who has entered the training desiring to be a career missionary.    Literacy, Curriculum Development,  Phonics, Bible Translation,  Relationship Principles, Team Work,  Cross Cultural Communication, are just a few of the courses our students will be taking.  Many of our students are young families with many demands on them.  Please pray for them as they head into some busy days, for strength and endurance for all that the semester ahead brings.  Praise the Lord with us for these dear lives willing to leave the comforts of North America to go to the regions beyond to spread the good news of the gospel.