On the road, just fundraising

Wow...we are about to finish our first week of fundraising events!

Our target aim is for $300,000 for the land due in Feb.

We loaded up the donated camper with all the supplies. (Yes, a company donated an older rental Rv to WISE).  Amanda's family cooked the food ahead of time for several days. Andrew prepared and joined for speaking, sound, set up, video, and brochures. We also had picked up former teammate Pam Ferguson to help cater the meals.  And Brice's parents joined the caravan team to help serve meals and watch our kids. Quite an amazing team!

Our first event in Canton was a time where only a few could make it but an encouraging one. Then the Beamer's joined up with us for Ohio and Indiana and have the most amazing message about their partnership with wise, how to survive the worst day of your life, and make sure you are ready the day before and how to prepare for that. Truly hope everyone can hear him.

 With the 3 events we raised right at $10,000 and served 60 combined. While we had hoped to see more we were blessed by the ones we did see, know so many were excited by the amazing grad video the Shumate-family put together through our graduates help and David Beamer's wise words, and God bringing it all together.

We did realize we had a miscommunication and us and the church prepared a meal for the Indiana event... but having extra meals is better than not enough as David says, "Some is good. More is better!"

We head to share at Houston, mo this weekend and then would ask for your prayers and to invite your friends to our main events in Pittsburg, Columbia, and Arkansas this next week. Also if you would like a tape of the evening we are working on getting that too.  And continue to pray for the wise staff and students as ongoing classes continue on campus and for their perseverance.

Grateful for this team God has put together, 

More craziness

     So we received word from the government to finalize our work permits to be overseas we had to leave the country for 6-8 weeks.  Honestly, we have always been adventurers, going with whatever the Lord had. But this time I wanted to throw a fit!  We had only been in our home a few months.  I dreaded packing up for 6 of us and living out of suitcases again all living in one room in host homes and families.  I could not even fathom how we would try to school each day moving around.  And I loved having routines- cooking our own meals and having our own space.

     We had a great group here and then with the hurricane they were delayed several days and we got out.  We received word our paperwork had been denied, so it added another week onto the time out of the country.  We felt so frustrated.  And then at a routine checkup we got word Kensingtons's 3 holes in her hearts were still there, and her birthmark they thought could be causing vision problems.  So we lined up a heart specialist, pediatric eye doctor, and pediatric dermatologist.  If they went the aggressive treatment we would need to have close monitoring and appointments every month.  Our family does not do well apart and so we wondered- would this bring us off the field?  What was the future?  At this point, I am crying, not realizing how we can add all this on.  And of course meanwhile we are hosting 6 fundraising dinners to raise money for the new WISE property- 4 of which are families are catering in the next 2 weeks.  It did feel we had put too much on our plates.

     
     I was clinging to that verse in 1 Corinthians 10:13 where God does not give us more than we can handle.  And he doesn't.  He has given us so many things to grow us and teach us to trust Him more. That day we heard our paperwork had been accepted, so we would receive our permits after the waiting period!  We heard students started getting their student visas through!  And that same day 2 of the specialists got us in the very next day!  We were told this could take a month.  And they were amazing and after we explained our situation, worked with us on appointments and best course of treatments. Today we head on the road for the first fundraising event and we do covet your prayers that our family can balance work, life on the road, family, and schooling.  And that these fundraising dinners could bring more support for the school and students.

     And if you see a borrowed Missouri van in a McDonalds's parking lot- likely it is us- me schooling the kids in the backseat, the baby getting used to a carseat, and Brice using the free internet there calling students for interviews on Skype.  So- knock on the window and say hi- we love seeing friends all over!
   

One of the most amazing weekends

I am so thankful that God gave me Brice and our marriage.  Our wedding day and the day each of the kids was born were some of my most favorite days.  But Naiyah studying with us and getting baptized was such an amazing day!  Knowing we will spend eternity with her and that she understands that thrills us more than anything!  

We are still praying her siblings fully grasp that one day to as this time they swam out and dunked themselves, declaring they baptized themselves...so could they have communion now:)

The next day was the one house for the island.   It rained some, but we still had several students sign up for the spring!

The First Christian Church from Elizabethtown came in the same day- they worked so hard and finished the last 2 leaky roofs in 2 days!  And even got an extra 3 days in Barbados due to the hurricane!

Kensington loved her first dip in the beach!

We had community service with the churches- our kids so enjoy being a part of the Ruby group.  Thankful for friends they can grow with.

Mrs. Pat was here and taught the girls how to sew!

And that same weekend our cousins gifted us with a gift certificate to a resort restaurant.  It was our first date here and so special.  And former teammate and friend Mrs. Pam came to visit and she watched our kids for us!

Kids in Church

   
     Today at church they were more focused on the kids, since kids start back to school here tomorrow.  They asked for volunteers to come up and share a song or poem.  The youngest kid in the audience volunteered - Paxson :) So, here he is....I thought he would choose "My God is So Big" or "Jesus Loves Me"- Ha! Not Pax!

      Then, they came and did a special anointing prayer on the kids foreheads.  My kids had never seen or had that done before.  Beckett whispered, "What are they doing?"  I said, "It is a special kind of prayer. "  To which he replies loudly- "I have never seen that kind of prayer."  What a special morning!

   

Each and Every Count!

I am writing this as the electricity and water is off today from 8-6.  I finally stopped guarding the kids from opening up the fridge so things did not spoil.  The kids were hot and resting under the shade.  And the computer was surprisingly charged so I thought this could be a good time to blog – if I remember to post this when the electricity does come on J 

              Even though we have had this month as a break from classes, the time has been used to redo all our inspections (fire, health), work on immigration for ourselves and students, insurance renewals, recruitment, and lots of meetings,  And meetings (meaning 1 at a time) here usually can last for a whole day, because the waiting takes a whole day until you get inJ  It never feels like you accomplish much, but we are learning if we can get one things done each day- it was a successful day on the business side of things!

              This weeks business things were…interesting.  One of the things was we had a meeting with the pediatric surgeon on the Island.  People often think health care will be so amazing here with so much tourism.  But we have heard several scary cases.  Our current student had a sister go in for routine surgery to remove a cyst this year and they operated on the wrong side – TWICE!  So, we have thanked God we have not had to go to the hospital. 

              That changed when Naiyah fell and broke her arm.  So, we prayed.  And since we don’t have official papers here nor insurance still because of that, medical care is through the roof.  So just the xrays, reset, iv, and doctors visit were over $2,500.  It would have been cheaper to hop on a plane to a doctor we know and love in the States.  But, we decided to firmly plant our feet and stay here and trust God and the doctor here. 

              After an hour wait for him to arrive, we realized all 5 patients in the waiting room were given the 9am time slot, so that meant more waiting. After we were finally called back, he immediately started telling us her break would likely need surgery, would require Naiyah being put to sleep, getting a shot, cutting- she was a mess and scared.  I guess we weren’t used to the directness with kids there.   Then, he sound out we homeschool and were missionaries and proceeded to interrogate the kids on what part of the restoration movement we were from  - to our 5 year old!  Pax, of course, had no clue so then he pointed out homeschool was not working for them.  Somehow we made it through the $175 appointment to be told to come back in a week after the swelling had gone down.

              Later in the week it was time to renew our driving licenses.  Yes, we waited until the day before they expired.  The main office was close, leaving open one office for the whole island.  We arrived, waited in line, only to find out a lady in front of us had already been waiting 3 hours!  We decided to come back the next day- the day we had to get it done!   And we would be genius and arrive 30 minutes before the office open to get there first.  By the time, we arrived the line went way into the road!  We are standing there with all 4 kids in the sun for a half hour, when a security officer comes out and says we can’t have the baby in the hot sun (yes, by 8am already hot here!).  So he takes us to the front of the line and has us go first.  And that is when the mob started.  So many shouting, “Unfair Americans.  Pay taxes and then you can go first.  Of course, the Americans are treated better.  We have been waiting for over 3 hours, etc.” 

              It was horrible.  We said we’ll just wait like all the others.  Because it was not fair.  And the officer said no, you have kids.  So we finished our business, tried to apologize to the line on the wait and kept our heads down because we got through in an hour.

              All this to say – this summer when back we heard so much on black lives matter, saw firsthand foster care kids uncared for, and so many other situations.   It made us think we all are in situations.  In our situations we can sometimes feel like a minority for homeschooling, for being American, for being a Christian, for having several kids.  All of us are in different situations and each and every life counts!  Our family goal we are striving for to learn and show is we don’t know everyone’s story but we know they are each significant and to help love them to see that – no matter our circumstance or story! 

Catching Up

    Several months to bring up to speed.  We had such a sweet time this summer becoming a family of 6, visiting churches, having a big road trip out to the convention in CA and a few churches out that way, getting great time with family, and then finally heading HOME to our own place!  We surely do cherish having dresser drawers to unpack in!
   We did go through a discouraging time. (Don't we all?)  We had many doubts if we were fit to do this job and the right people.   So many scary faith builders for us of waiting for the properties to sell, God bringing staff to WISE, the accreditation process taking more time here than we had thought, having to wait on students to come, and our work permits still not being done.  All this to say God has a plan and we are so excited as we watch Him unfold it!  We have always felt He was doing big things through WISE and the move here and each day we are seeing that come true.
    We were at our 1st church where we were crying and felt overwhelmed and said there is no way we can walk into this meeting and pretend things are great.  We have always felt so excited to share.  This time we said, let's just be honest.  It was one of the best nights of the church body surrounding us in prayer and encouraging us.  From there, we heard from another church that from a trip they had taken in March, they were so encouraged by WISE they were going to give more to missions and also  be more involved all over.  So even in the waiting for the Bible College to grow, God was still working through WISE.  Just not how we had envisioned.
      Brice and I had decided personally to have a day of fasting for the accreditation process to be completed.  We set the date, had to change it, and then decided to invite those on social media to join in.  We literally heard from thousands they had been fasting and praying.  That day we heard from the council and we could not have international students come!  It truly has been so humbling to see God working.

FAMILY TIDBITS

Naiyah has always been Kensington's biggest fan!  She loves changing and holding her.  This past week she fell and broker her arm and now she herself needs help changing.  We are praying that this Tuesday when the swelling goes down she will not need surgery and her cast can be put on.

Everyone says she is Paxson's twin :)  

Our cousin's came down and led workshops to the community and churches and we sure did love personal time with them!

One of our videos from the trip this summer :)

Reunited back home with dear friends here! 

Kensington Caroline is here!

We feel so incredibly thankful to God for our little blessing!  We are enjoying baby time!  Kensington  (from our favorite place Brice and I visited) Caroline (named from my great-grandmother) is such a sweet baby.  She has already traveled over 3,000 miles in her first 3 weeks of life and never once complains or fusses.  She is for sure our little missions traveler!  

She was 3 weeks early and had a few things the doctors were concerned about, but keeps progressing and getting better.  We received her social security card and birth certificate, so now just waiting for her passport to be able to travel back to Barbados.

For our family we always somehow have to keep things hopping.  Brice tore his knee in a basketball game with 20year olds (I did warn him we aren't that young anymore before), so we have had his appointments.  Then, Kensington had an extra hospital stay and some ongoing tests with her hip and heart the doctor is keeping an eye on that usually clears up in a few months.  

We visited a few churches, camps, and mission teams in the area.  Now we head to the NACC and then to several churches on the West Coast.  Brice vetoed my camping in tents to California with a newborn, but we'll make it there!  And then we head back on the plane home.

We still covet your prayers for future staff, the accreditation process, and students applying to come.  

And we are so very thankful for the couples that taught at WISE this summer and watched over the campus!