Micah is baptized!!

What a happy day! We rejoice in God's goodness....Micah told us last week he was ready to be baptized- because he wanted people to know Jesus is his Savior. This is something we have been asking the Lord for...we know Micah asked Jesus to be his Savior a few years ago and we have been praying that he would hear the Lord telling him when it was the right time to follow Jesus' example of baptism. Micah told us he knows the water/baptism doesn't save him, only Jesus saves. And that he wants people to know he is a follower of Jesus. wow....praise God for this step of obedience!! 

On Christmas day in the afternoon we asked our friends Mike, Ednah, Pendo 

and Laurien to join us as witnesses to Micah's baptism. 

And then we ate cake to celebrate...

happy birthday, Jesus, 

and happy baptism day, Micah!

Christmas morning mayhem. :)

We are so thankful for the greatest gift of all....Jesus Christ! 

Home sweet Home

Merry CHRISTmas from the coast! 

The kids had a lot of fun making these popsicle stick nativity scenes....thank you, Paula, from FSBC El Dorado for putting this in the Advent bags you gave to the boys! 

While we were away it rained A LOT and we had damage to the ceiling. 

We are grateful for the workers who came to patch things up. 

We got things cleaned up just in time to host the Kisima Christmas party. 

Thank You, Lord, for the men who help run Kisima- Mike and Dennis. 

May many more hear about the hope we have in Jesus 

through freedom from addiction in the coming year. 

 

Thanksgiving in Kansas

We had the incredible gift of traveling to Kansas to see our families in November. Papa and Grandma Donna welcomed us at the airport and we spent the first week with them in El Dorado. 

While we were there it snowed 8 inches!!! 

Then we traveled to Independence to spend time with Grandma and Grandpa. 

                                           Mark was able to help his dad with the gutter. 

                                          And you can see there was no snow here!

                                                    

                                                             We spent a few days with Nana.  

                                                    

                                           

                      

                  It was nice to see Brady and his family at their place. 

  

                                    We stayed a few days with Deanna and her family, too. 

                                                                                                              

I love this picture of Mark and his brothers and sister...Michael, Deanna, and Matt.

                        

                    We were so happy everyone in Juli's household 

                     was healthy enough to make a last minute visit from OK. 

                                                       

                                                   Thank you, everyone, for letting us stay with you 

                                                  and also for making Thanksgiving 2023 so special! 

Cousins cousins everywhere

What a blessing to spend time with all the cousins! We missed RuthAnne since she had the flu, but we did love watching her sing with her college acapella group live on tv! 

It was crazy to realize a few of these cousins have their own jobs and wheels, now. Oh my, time flies....

                                   

                                

                                 

They're here!!

Woohoooo we were so very excited to welcome MetroEast Baptist Church from Wichita, KS 

and their team of volunteers this month!! 

Thank you Michelle, Barry and Sheryl!

And Melynda's Mom, Bev (Nana) came with them. WOW double the blessing! 

We are so grateful for the sacrifices everyone made to be able to come on this mission trip. Thank you for the years of praying, the preparation, the planning, the saving of money, the giving generously, the hard work, the serving, and all the love! 

You have made such a huge impact on our lives and the lives of so many here these last two weeks. 

We thank God for your partnership in the Gospel!

We love you, MetroEast!

And we love you, Nana!!

 Taking a tour of Kisima and listening to what this ministry 

is about from those who are a part of it. 

Prep work

We were hard at work the day before VBS and the marriage seminar making sure everything was ready.

 

VBS

We had an amazing time at VBS with the team of volunteers. They shared 4 Bible stories- from creation in Genesis up to Jesus dying and raising again on the Cross-

and came prepared with all kinds of fun (and therapeutic!) activities for the kids. 

                            

 

 Melynda's Mom, with the help of Tina and Esther, 

taught the mamas how to make dresses out of pillowcases. 

We pray this will give the families 

a little bit of extra income to help with living expenses.

Marriage seminar

While the volunteer team was here they led a marriage seminar. 

We are so thankful to Barry for putting it together and to Laurien for translating. 

We pray this was encouraging to the 4 couples who attended. 

We opened up with a game of Jenga.

 And we closed with prayer time for each couple. 

                               

 May the Lord bless these couples 

with strong marriages that are centered on Him. 

May their marriages be a reflection of the Lord's goodness 

and spill over into their children, 

homes, communities, and churches. 

Team activities

During the week while the team was here we went prayerwalking, shared Jesus intentionally, 

and participated in a home Bible study with the man, Samuel, who is a new believer. 

Please pray for the two women making these fried potatoes and samosas...

pray they will be curious to know more about Jesus.

And please pray for Samuel to continue growing in his relationship with Jesus 

and for the healing of the wound on his arm.

 

Safari!!

After a whole lot of service and hard work, this amazing team got to go on safari... 

seeing some of God's mighty creations up close! 

and we got to take a special safari with our family over the weekend....

thank you so much, MetroEast, for helping make this happen!! 

 

New School Year has begun

A new school year has begun...

Madylanne is finishing up 10th grade,

Matthew is beginning year 8 (7th grade)

and Micah is beginning year 4 (3rd grade).

Praying they all have an amazing year!

May they grow in wisdom 

and knowledge of the Lord 

and shine the light and love of

Jesus wherever they are.

 

Samuel is at home!

This is Samuel. You prayed for him when he was in the hospital for almost a year with severe burns due to electrocution from a downed wire after a storm. He is at home now, using this wheelchair cart which he can propel himself. While he was in the hospital he became a follower of Jesus. We marvel at God's goodness and thank Him for saving Samuel, physically and spiritually, from the fire. 

We continue to pray for him as he has ongoing wound care on his arm. And for the needs he has that are a part of using a wheelchair for mobility. Please pray he will continue growing in his walk with Jesus, healing from his burns, and have what he needs to be mobile in his home and community.

 

Pendo is growing

Here's an updated picture of Pastor Mike, Edna, and Pendo. 

She's growing!

 

Madylanne is one of her biggest fans. Besides me, that is. :)

                                 

Thankful for Mark

I am so thankful to the Lord for Mark, 

who has so very many handy skills and talents. 

He has been helping Matthew sort out his bicycle tire problems.

And he's been helping me with the oven. 

It didn't work and now it does and I am so grateful! 

It took an entire day. Thank You, Lord, for Mark and his servant heart.