A Best Day Here

Brice and John had been meeting together to study the Bible.  And yesterday John became a believer!  We'd love to share you the whole story in person when next we see you.  John is our campus maintenance man.  He knows so many here in the area and we ask your prayers for his impact for the Kingdom here.  

When Brice and John started meeting in the early morning, the first time they met Brice said to turn to Genesis and John had no clue where to turn.  This past week Brice said 1 Peter and John quickly turned there and Brice looked at him in astonishment and John said, "I want to know the Bible and be able to get their quickly like you do."  And after awhile he said, "I want to be a new creation.!"  Before we could even announce to the rest of the staff and students about the baptism, most already knew because John was so excited to tell everyone.

Our new brother

Then, we all swam to the cross island.  For some it was our first time!  Paxson, Claudette, and several students got floated over but can now say they have been there. 

John and Becky went cliff diving off another island there.  When asked if it was okay to jump the 20 feet, John replied, "It's good now, I've been baptized."

And then to top it off our preschoolers went on their 1st field trip!  Sweet friends sent us money to get t-shirts for the kids.  

Here we are headed into make some pizza!

It got so hot by the ovens one child puked.  Thankful new helper Miss Marisa does not mind anything:)  

What a great day.  

To see the baptism video below, please go to this site and praise God!

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10101731977699760&l=4626716310261817972

So much love

A few weeks ago our toilet pipe busted and ruined the floor.  So this past week Becky, John, Brice, and his brother Solomon jumped right in and retiled the house.  On the last day some of the students joined in.  I can't even to say how thankful we are.  It is beautiful.  We wondered how we would get it done and staff and students jumped right in.  And then we wondered how to pay for it and our home church in CO combined with a dear couple from there gave the exact amount needed for the supplies.  Would you add to your prayers to please pray for our special home church now as several of their families have been greatly affected by the flooding in CO.  

If you don't know Becky or follow her blog, she is an amazing writer lady and wrote about it here:

http://willingtoyield.tumblr.com/post/61725590772/learning-life-skills

Preschool Beginnings

I am wanting you to just fall in love with our preschoolers.  I think by seeing pictures you will.  I am just so humbled how God brought this preschool to be.  So many of our books, toys, and supplies come from a dear friend who lost her sweet son.  Little Gavin was my son Beckett's age and friend.  After he passed so many of their friends and family have given things for the preschool in His memory- from the Bibles we read in each week, to the cars we ride in.  Everyday I miss little Gavin being here with his earthly family, and yet how much he has taught so much of us about longing and living for heaven.  So with all he has shared we have such a special preschool full of beautiful things He gave.  And his dear mother, my sweet friend helps us find sponsors.  Most of our preschoolers are able to come to preschool when otherwise they could not have afforded it through the sponsorship program she started and continues.

This year we had all the beautiful supplies and love, but not many kids had signed up early.  I was getting a tad worried.  And we prayed and went around to the neighborhoods and now we are at full capacity and am just can already see God brought the perfect blend of students to fill our class.

Thanks for your love and prayers,

Here are some of the beauties God entrusts us to teach each day:

Bianca

Beckett

Keyara

Devon H (2 Devon's gets a bit confusing)

Paxson - starting early

Andree

Janisa

Jada

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Shaniah

Keiahra

Devon S

Kellisa

Dane

D is for Dinosaur Week!

Kemesha

Zaronique (Zo-Zo)

Keren

Our class- missing it a few

Helper Ms. Marshall giving sweet last year students's hugs and kisses when they came to show us their big school uniforms!   Most of last year's students come to KIDS club now!  So we get to keep seeing them grow a bit!

Working hard.

Loving recess time.

My 3 getting bigger.  

New Class and New Addition

The whole class finally arrived.  Since 2 came from St. vincent they were able to arrive on time. But our students traveling from other countries had a harder time.  Liat, which is the only airlines that travels to St. Vincent has been cutting back flights and having even more delays.  So, our last student from Jamaica finally was able to arrive yesterday.  Looking forward to a great year!

As we add on to WISE, we are excited.  Our only apprehension comes from the homemade scaffolding John and students work on:)

And we're adding on to the family

Naiyah has been begging for a sister....so here she is:

This is our first dog, so we have no clue what we are getting into :)

Orientation and Back to School BBQ

While we have been praying for long-term staff, here is this semester's staff.  Brother Stan Wohlenhaus (long-time professor at OCC), Sis Claudette- kitchen boss, Sis Angie- does all, Sis Becky- MU campus house exchange staff to help with alumni project, Bro Matthias- part-time electronics professor, Bro Brice- my honey and director/professor, Bro Michael Crider- 3 week adjunct professor, Bro John- maintenance man.

Friday was orientation day.  They heard from the staff on procedures and expectations.  Then, they divided into 4 groups to tour the campus.  Here is group one.

Another group.

I got to watch the kids with Sis Annie.  The little ones (above) played all over.

The bigger ones stuck to this huge rock on the side of WISE.

Here are students getting their huge pile of books.

Then, it was time for the beach BBQ.  Some played soccer and badminton.

Some chatted and cooked.

Some played in the sand.

Some played in the water.

A few built sand castles.

Some learned how to play badminton.

All of us ate, sang praises, heard a devotional, and prayed for the new year.  While some students have arrived, we are still awaiting 3 from jamaica and 1 from Haiti to still arrive later this week.  Liat has been backed up on flights, and this was the earliest they could arrive.  

We are thrilled to have 2 students from St. Vincent join us this year as well!