Wedding Waiting

Our neighbor's son was getting married. He was marrying a lady from another country.  So, we had never met the bride.  They asked Naiyah to be the flower girl.  And since we had a dress from my brother's wedding this past year, we said yes to be in the wedding.  

It was enlightening.  The invitation said the wedding would start at 2.  It almost began at 4:00 :).  The reception was sat for 30 people, over 60 were there.  I was sweating (literally- it was very humid, of course) trying to figure out how to entertain 3 young ones while standing in a small reception room waiting several hours for food to be served.  Thankfully they were serving bottled sodas, which is a huge treat for my kiddos.  When they were served, they asked…"Wow, are these free?"  

Thankfully, those sodas occupied them for awhile!

Was it Friday the 13th? In a good way:)

You would have thought that this Friday was the 13th, not that I am superstitious.....but a lot of big things happened!

7:00 am My neighbor went into labor.  On the top of my bucket list has always been to be in a birth, other thank my own.  My sisters always deliver when I am not in the States and the other 2 I was supposed to be in, we were on furlough.  So, when my friend said I could go...I was excited!  Brice agreed to take our 3 to work and for the next 8 hours I got to support a friend as she labored to bring her sweet baby into this world!  Pictures to come as she is in special care at the hospital, pray for her to breathe well and come home soon, since she was early.  And if you want to know what it's like in a 3rd world hospital, write and I can share:)  It did make me very grateful for all the special care and cleanliness practices we have in the States for sure!

7:30 am our Brother John from the school baptized his uncle, whom he had been sharing his faith with!  Glenroy is now our new brother!

And then, at 12:00pm O'Malley passed on to heaven.  It's hard to comprehend one so young going so early.  Continue to pray for his family.  His funeral will be the Sunday after next.

And I am adding a photo of the retreat Brice and one of our Jamaican students went to.  It is the Caribbean retreat held every 2 years.  They both got to share and speak and recruit future students that week in Antigua.  We loved hearing one of our own students share how WISE is shaping him.

Immediate Prayers for O'Malley

     I know him from coming to Kids Club the last 3 years.  And I know his after spending a few afternoons at our house playing games.  And I know him as a neighbor kid always walking by.  We passed him last week in the road with him mom and he looked unwell.  He acted like he had no clue who we were.  I thought it was pre-teenager stuff, so did not say much.

Kids Club - he is the boy in the top right

     The, we find out 2 days later he got meningitis and when we saw it had already entered his brain and he no longer recognized anyone.  Right now, he is laying in the hospital on life support.  We're praying for a miracle- I have no clue if that will be his brain being declared alive again or if that miracle will be the strength his mom and 2 brothers need if he passes.  Will you pray for him and his family too?

Below are his 2 brothers Tyrese and CJ and his cousin Kareem

WISE Extension Campus Begins in Barbados

Brice flew to Barbados Sunday to kick-off the new WISE Classes in Barbados.  They have begun evening classes this week.  It's so exciting to see 21 adults eager to dig deeper into God's word.  After full days of work they meet for class 6:30-9:30 each evening for class.

So thankful for the churches and ministers there who have raised up and grown men and women eager to grow more in the Lord!

A Really Great Graduation

What a special time.  Hard to believe I have taught some of these kids for 2 years now.  I will miss them, even though I was ready for summer break! 

So many have helped these kids visiting groups, teachers Mrs. Maddie, Mrs. Pam, and Miss Marisa.  Last year we saw several of our students go on to schools and now are at the top of their class, whereas their siblings struggle in their classes not having started out with preschool and really learning their basic foundation.  So, we are pleased we get to help giving them a good start.

Here they are singing their sounds for their letters.

Each student received a special award, from most huggable to most active to best behavior.

Afterwards we had a special cookout and carnival.  Our intern, Alexis, brought in a suitcase full of prizes and games donated by Lifetrack Christian Church.  It brought lots of fun here.

Each Bible College student ran a booth.  The fishing booth.

Musical ABC's was a favorite.

Water balloon toss fun

And there were long lines for Miss Angie's face painting.

So much fun with the bubbles.

Ring toss

And finding the hidden marble.

And our friend Charles brought his horse for all to ride.

What a special fun time.  The Bible College students told us they had never been so worn out.  Together with Sis Claudette they barbecued for all, decorate, and ran games all evening.  So thankful to serve with this team here!

Friendship Hardship

     I suppose sometimes it's easy just to write the positive things.  I mean we are positive, joyful people :)  Or at least we try and want to be.   And there are those times when I guess there are so many great things happening with the mission then that's why Satan is working overtime.  I don't often write of all the hardships.

      The girls case for those that keep praying is ongoing.  Their parents have not been showing up and this has delayed the hearings.  I still meet and check on their mom and father.  And we still pray daily for the girls.

     This week was pretty devastating.  After 2 years of a working relationship, 3 years of our kids playing together that relationship parted ways.  I never could understand Paul and Barnabas parting ways.  But, now I have lived through it.

     Despite loving kids each day together, planning her wedding together, sharing slumber parties with our kids, and praying together - we parted ways.  She can't understand why I can't pay for her whole wedding and I can't understand her expectations on me as a foreigner.

     I am sad she chose to quit our mission family through this way.  I am shocked a friend is using these means to get extra money.  I pray for discernment in knowing how to give when needed.  And I would ask for your prayers for her marriage to be centered on the Lord and that to be the focus of it.  And for healing for both of us as we go separate ways.  And I pray for we can find a loving, caring person who needs a job and wants to love on our preschoolers.

Not the best week...

     Summer time can be a lot harder here. We have less students, so the campus is quieter.  Our staff takes turns on their furloughs back home and raising support.  And school here goes until mid-June.

     This week for some reason seemed more challenging.  Most of the preschoolers were passing around colds, so there were runny noses galore this week.  Then, on an errand downtown the van stopped in the middle of the road (on a busy Friday).  I was preparing dinner for the students and some neighbors to have over, so to lose a few hours and wait on the street was not how I had planned the warm afternoon going with some tired kiddos.  And, then one of our preschool assistants decided to quit with just month to go when we were already short-handed and full of kiddos.

     I will admit to getting down, but then it's hard to stay that way when there are so many blessings abounding too....

Brice graduated with his master's, so no more late night studying!  We had lots of dear friends here to celebrate with!

When we want to go on walks, we have some beautiful beaches God made to walk on!

Beckett, our middle, just turned 5!

And, with the lonelier times, I added a Bible study with some girls down the road.  They live in government funded land near the airport.  This was our 3rd week to just open my Bible and as they learn to read, I got to help them grow in the Lord too.  

We'd love to hear your joys too amidst the harder times.