~A card shower, with Goodies, instead of cash. =) ~

I may not be a kid anymore...but I am at heart. =D
Gifts are my LOVE LANGUAGE!  I LOVE getting gifts, treats, notes, (YOUR COMMENTS, =) etc.  I normally try to MAKE SURE that my family KNOWS when it's my birthday.  =D 
So, I well remember the SPECIAL things that our AZ church family did for our family when Phillip pastored the Gospel Center church there.  They did all kinds of Neat things.  One year they helped me pay off my keyboard. Another year they reached out and gave gifts to our children, gave us a NICE food pounding, and they sent us away as a family to a VERY NEAT log cabin in woodsy Payson, AZ, etc.  SUCH FUN memories!!!  These things they did for us...made me feel so LOVED and made me want to give more than 100% to God and our church family. =)
So, that is what inspired us to WANT to do something SPECIAL all this month to show our own Pastor Jimmy, Sis. Farly, and girls how much we love and appreciate them!
This past Sunday was Sunday #3...and the people were to bring a card expressing their love and appreciation and some chocs. or a treat if they wanted to. 
 ~Since Pastor Jimmy and family LOVE my apple pie, I decided to make them one and put a cross and 2 churches on the top. =) ~

 ~On Sunday morning, I placed 2 of my baskets on a table near where I was playing the piano and each card and goody that arrived for our Pastor, wife, and family made me WANT TO SQUEAL WITH HAPPINESS!  =D (I took this pic before service started, so things had just started coming in.)~

 ~Several kids made cards for Pastor Jimmy and Sis. Farly during S.S.  (Our kids had made cards at home, so they weren't in this picture.) ~

~Since this was a "gringo idea" (Gringo meaning American...it was our idea =) ...I was SO HAPPY that the church responded so WELL. Nice cards and yummy goodies made for a... HAPPY Pastor Jimmy, wife, and family. =)~

 ~Bro. Jaime from our church made this and I thought it was so beautiful.  That's a real flower he dried to put on there.  He wrote parts of Ps. 119, and at the bottom expressed their appreciation.  =) ~

 ~2 Choc. candy bars peeking out of a cute signed paper bag from Sis. Farly's sister and family. =) ~

 Pastor Jimmy and Sis. Farly have done LOTS for us (go-away dinners, birthday dinner, etc.) so we were EXCITED to have the church focus on honoring Pastor Jimmy, Sis. Farly and their family. 
But, 4 different dear families included Phillip and I.  We were so surprised and thought it was very SWEET of them!
 ~Bro. Edgar and Sis. Joanna gave us a NICE note from them, and yummy chocolates!~

 ~Sis. Zulma gave us each some yummy chocolates.  And Sis. Miriam gave us some candied choc. almonds, but I failed to get a picture of her with us.  And as you'll read below Pastor Jimmy and Sis. Farly had us over for a special dinner.~

 ~I thought this was so CUTE...Nataly and Gaby couldn't WAIT to peek into the baskets and see what Goodies had come in.   They are dear girls and we love them tons. 
Please pray that God will use these 2 precious girls for HIM! =) 
Jesus gave us a good Lord's day, and there was a great response to honoring our pastor, wife and family which THRILLED Phillip and I. ~

 Sis. Farly called me later on Sunday and THANKED us for all that we had done for them.  They then invited us for one of her YUMMY dinners this past Tuesday to show us appreciation.  =)
I must have been too tired to get pictures yesterday, for I don't even have one.  =( 
But, it was a Delicious meal and we had such a nice visit with Pastor Jimmy, Sis. Farly, and girls. =)
Please keep praying for our pot-luck dinner that is to be this Sunday, Lord willing.  Everyone seems excited about it, and is helping bring in food.  =)
 

~Pastor Appreciation Month!~

Thank you for praying for Phillip while he helped preach that weekend revival in Medellin.  Jesus really helped.  Phillip arrived home safely this morning!
While in Medellin...They were able to purchase and pass out a lot of Bibles from offerings that our Christian Nation Church Jr. church sent. 
THANK YOU TO EACH OF YOU CHILDREN AND PARENTS FOR THAT OFFERING TO BUY BIBLES TO PASS OUT IN MEDELLIN!!!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Phillip and I have tried to be careful not to "Americanize" the churches here.   However, this month we thought it fitting to explain to the church here in Bogota about how many churches in the USA use the month of October to appreciate their pastors. We came up with a simple plan for each Sunday this month for the Bogota church to show Pastor Jimmy and Sis. Farly, Nataly, and Gaby how much we LOVE AND APPRECIATE THEM!!!!
Pastor Jimmy and Sis. Farly are such a DEAR couple and love Jesus with their whole heart!
~I couldn't go the first Sunday (explanation below).  So, here you can see that Kimberly played the piano some that Sunday morning since I wasn't there. (That made this Mommy's heart happy...for that's what we are training our girls to do...to use their talents for Jesus! =)

~Phillip explaining to the church people about Pastor Appreciation.~

~Sunday #1 we announced that everyone would bring food to give them a pounding. (Un mercado).  I was getting ready to go to church with my family that Sunday, when we heard Elijah coughing rather hoarsly, which means that we have to TAKE CARE OF HIM, keep him quiet, and give him lots of natural things to help him not go into an asthma attack. 
So, I stayed home with him and Mary and Phillip took the rest.  (I would have LOVED to have been there to arrange this pounding in baskets, etc. and make it look really nice, but I couldn't be there.)~

~You have never met 2 dearer people!  Pastor Jimmy and Sis. Farly are a great reflection of Jesus and have the Biggest servants hearts!!  They love and PRAY lots for their church people.
We were very HAPPY that the church responded well and gave Pastor Jimmy and Sis. Farly and family a really NICE pounding!! ~

~Sunday #2 was yesterday.  We had Friend Sunday.  There was a good crowd and Kimberly made a double batch of oatmeal raisin cookies to pass out after church.~

~I gave Pastor Jimmy and Sis. Farly a loaf of my homemade cinnamon raisin bread.  (The muffins in the pink container went to a dear elderly lady at church.)

~Lil' Mary, Sarah, Elijah, Noah, and Nicolas heading to church.~

~I snapped this picture from the piano.  Dear Sis. Farly holding both our Mary and our Elijah during church since Mommy was up front (and Daddy was in Medellin!  =) ~

~Kimberly passing out her YUMMY cookies at the door. Everyone loved them. =) ~

~Pastor Jimmy taking his turn passing out cookies.  =) ~

Sunday #3 Everyone is to bring a card and some candy or chocolates to show their appreciation to Pastor Jimmy, Sis. Farly, and family.
Sunday #4 We are attempting to do a "pot-luck" dinner after service that Sunday to appreciate our pastor and family.  However, they are not used to having pot-lucks here.   So, I plan on making the meat, salad, and cakes for around 70 people, and the other ladies are going to bring in cooked rice, cooked potatoes, and drinks.  I emphasized that the most important thing is FOR THE LADIES TO COME TO CHURCH on time, and not miss church or come late because they were cooking.  =)  So, PLEASE help me pray that it turns out great, and that there is PLENTY of food.
How we Thank the Lord for Pastor Jimmy and Sis. Farly and their Godly lives.  Sis. Farly keeps that church very CLEAN!  They both are giving 100% to Jesus and to help their students in Paraiso and their church people to live a Holy life and get to Heaven.