~Scrapbooking 2008~

The Lord has helped me and I have been able to scrapbook all of 2008 except for some pics in June [Which accidently got erased off of our computer =(] and pics from November and December, due to my running short of pages to scrapbook on. I'm happy to have most of 2008 scrapbooked. =) Here are some of my pages from our last few months in the USA.
~Last July, God provided a neat cabin in Ohio for our family to stay in for a few days. It was a lot of fun just taking some time to be together and relax.~
~I scrapbooked this cute shirt that my Moma got for Elijah along with some pics of him wearing it.~
~Our Christian Nation Church 4th of July Campout. It was a BLAST!!~
~More pics of our camping out for 4th of July.~

~Laura's and my girls playing their violins and piano at the nursing home.~
~We were blessed and got to go the Creation Musuem with my sister Laura and her family and with my parents.~
~Another fun family pic at the Creation musuem.~
~Our baby Elijah~
~Our kids had wanted to fish for a long time. Thanks to the Kennedys, they got the oppturnity. I'm missing a picture of Kimberly fishing, thus the blank spot. ~
~On Bryan's birthday party day the kids also got to see 2 helicopters land in downtown Loveland, Ohio. It was a neat experience. =)~
~My nephew Bryan's 5th birthday party.~
~Working in the kicthen getting ready for Comargo camp.~
~Our Director, Bro. Mark Becker and his sweet wife Krystal celebrated 25 years together while we were there. Their children did a great job giving them a surprise anniversary party.~
~We loved getting to attend our own Comargo camp and I had a blast helping in the kitchen. It was super fun to get to work with my very own dear sister Laura too.~
~At my cousin Chista's wedding last Aug. 16th. We were sooo GLAD to get to attend!~
~Bro. and Sis. Eisenhart's neighbor let our kids see his tractor. I got this whole page done in JOHN DEERE stickers...and then noticed that his tractor is an Oliver! Hee! Hee! =)~

~My WOW meeting in Cartagena pics!~

Like I said last post...God helped us to get everything done and we made our flight to our church in Cartagena on time. It was only an hour flight which was nice (the bus ride there is a LONG 24 hour ride and Phillip and others say it is a miserable trip.) We THANK THE LORD for helping us to get 6 airplane tickets for the price of what 2 normally cost! ~Our kids got these cookies on the flight. =)~
~The stewardess(es) in our flight LOVED Elijah and so they stood at the top of these stairs and waved goodbye to our family. As I turned to wave to them, I saw that the PILOT had his window opened and was FRANTICALLY WAVING to us too! I then told Phillip that I wanted a picture of our family with the plane in the background (for we rarely are BESIDE our airplane). Phillip was in the middle of taking a picture of the kids and I, when the PILOT himself came down and took the picture for us! He must have been from the USA for he seemed thrilled to see fellow Americans...and he spoke great English.~
~Elijah receiving the first of MANY COLD bathes in Cartagena. He was NOT impressed!! But near the end of our stay he got used to them. Our family agreed that cold bathes/showers felt refreshing since it is so hot there.~
~At last minute Kimberly got asked to teach Sunday school on Sunday morning. The Lord helped her, though she had had NO time to prepare!~
~I love this picture of Elijah and I on the left and Sandra and her little boy named Ni on the right!~
~Sis. Prissy, Heather, Sis. Nancy and Elijah. These are 2 very dear sisters from the Cartagena church. Sis. Nancy is a prayer warrior!~
~Walking home from church on Sunday morning we stopped at this neat tree for a family picture. The person taking the picture didn't warn us, so she caught Phillip not looking at the camera.~
I was to hold the Women of Worth meeting in Cartagena on Monday June 22nd! However...on Sunday afternoon I got VERY SICK! I laid in bed all afternoon/evening very miserable and told the Lord that if He wanted us to have the Ladies' meeting the next day he would HAVE to touch me. I wanted what He wanted! By the next morning I was MUCH better, though I was still weak and a little sick to my stomach. Thank the Lord for Sandra and Paulina who came over and helped Kimberly and I get all of the food ready to serve at the Ladies meeting. I Thank the Lord for His touch to me!

~My Phillip was a huge help too! He carved the watermelon fruit basket that held our fruit salad.~

~I made these little cards explining to the ladies how to be secret sisters. This little fish is a chocolate candy. I explained that just as this little choc. made them happy, their secret sister would be happy with tiny gifts too. (We are working with ladies of little means.) They LOVED these cards. =)~
~I asked this lady to lead us in prayer.~
~There was no water in the part of Cartagena where we were for about 24 hours. That made getting ready for the ladies meeting HARD!! Right before our meeting started the water came back on. We were supposed to start the meeting at 2:00, but didn't start until 3:15 so the ladies could get ready to come. =) We had a good turn out with 31 in attendance(including some children.) The Lord really helped and we had a good meeting.~
~The table and I. I made 120 oatmeal raisin cookies on Saturday before I left Bogota, took them with me and kept them in the refrigerator until the ladies meeting on Monday. The ladies loved my food.~~
~We made heart shaped ham and cheese sandwiches.~
~Here is the completed watermelon basket.~
Like I had told you earlier, Cartagena is on the coast and their Spanish is A LOT different...but thanks to your prayers; they were able to understand my Spanish and vice versa! I'll post more pics from our stay in Cartagena soon. =)
We had our 4th ladies meeting here in Bogota yesterday and God's presence was VERY CLOSE!

~Happy Birthday~

Happy Birthday to my dear Moma! I love you BUNCHES and hope your day is VERY special! Wish I could be with you! Thank you for being such a special Mommy! Can't wait to see you in August, Lord willing.
~I love this picture of my parents (taken a year ago in July) holding and talking to our little baby Elijah. =)~

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Thank you for your prayers, Kelly Becker arrived here safely and we are having a good time with her. She is already being a huge help!!
~This is the pic that I snapped of Kelly arriving at the airport.~

~Elijah's first haircut~

~Our girls had their last violin and piano lesson on Friday June 19th. With us going to visit our church in Cartagena for nearly 2 weeks, then coming back to TONS of work to do to get ready to go to the USA and pack up and move, I knew that we wouldn't have time for the girls to practice their instruments like they should. Here they are with their teacher Adriana. She's a dear. (I think that Kimberly needs to brush her teeth more. HA! (These are Billy Bob teeth.=)
~Also on Friday June 19th (which was my sweet sister Laura's birthday) Phillip got back from a ministry trip to Medellin. He brought these cute cookies back for our kids.~
~On Saturday June 20th before we flew out to visit our church in Cartagena for 13 days, Phillip gave Elijah his first hair cut. We strapped him in a chair so he wouldn't fall, gave him cookies to eat, and he did great. =)We had TONS of things to do before we were to fly that day. In the human it looked impossible, but God really helped us and we made our airplane on time. =)


~Elijah being silly...all trimmed and ready for our trip~
Today, Kelly Becker comes to help us for 4 weeks or so. We are EXCITED to have her come. She is the youngest daughter of our dear mission director(s) Mark and Krystal Becker. We will love having her here with us, just wish that we could be more settled. If you recall, we have to move before we go to the USA in August, so things won't quite be like I would like them while she is here. =) Please pray that Kelly will have a safe trip and a safe and profitable time here in Colombia. Thanks! =)

~PLEASE PRAY...HOW SAD!!~

God is helping here in Colombia. He is helping in our churches and it is exciting to see our people walking in the light that God is giving them and growing in Him.
However, we have an enemy of our souls who does NOT like people to grow in Jesus and he has been fighting! While we were gone to help our church in Cartagena a HORRIBLE thing happened. A girl who had attended the Christian school here and had attended our church for years...hung herself in her own home!!! My heart is BROKEN! The stupid devil fools people into thinking that suicide is an easy way out...when nearly all suicides are a defiant act in the face of God. Unless one is mentally not responsible...they are commiting a SIN and breaking God's commandment in Exodus 20 that says, "Do Not Kill!"
A man had a friend who commited suicide, later that man commited suicide, then his daughter, then the girl from our church (Who had been friends with that daughter!) Suicide DOES NOT bring peace...there is no peace in Hell. Now, this girl's brother has been having dreams urging him to commit suicide too. That is the devil!!! Please pray for him, his name is Jose. He is the only one of his family that has really been faithful to church and seeking after God.
We covet your prayers for our people here in Colombia! These are the little "plants" that God has planted and we are praying and trusting HIM to help them to grow and to go to Heaven someday. Thank you for your prayers!

~Look who...is 102!!!...and Our 4th of July pics.~

My dear sweet Grandma, Ruth Bryan, turns 102 years old tomorrow (7/6). She is still able to live with my parents in Indiana, still does beautiful needle work, and is the sweetest Grandma a girl could ask for.
Grandma, we LOVE you and Thank God for you! Thank you for your desire to seek after God and for your faithfulness in serving Jesus for MANY years now! Thank you for all the special handmade treasures (Aprons, pillow covers, potholders, tableclothes, quilts, etc.) that we and our kids have from you. Thank you for giving to support missionaries for many years now. I NEVER dreamed that one day I'd be one of the missionaries that you'd be giving to. =) Thank you for your FAITHFUL prayers, they mean A LOT! I love your child-like faith. You are a VERY DEAR Grandma and we cannot wait to get back to see you. I trust that your day is as SPECIAL as you are!! Lots of hugs and kisses are being sent your way from Colombia.
~This picture was taken back in August 2008 as we were heading to the airport to fly to Colombia. (Don't you love Elijah in this picture. He was doing his normal "Squirm" trying to get away. If a kid tries to pick him up and he doesn't want them to hold him, he'll just hold his arms straight up in the air, and he'll slide right out of their arms. =)~
~Celebrating 4th of July in Colombia.~
~We had just gotten back late Thursday night from visiting our church in Cartagena for 13 days, so on Friday amidst unpacking and straightening the house we hurried and bought some things so we could celebrate 4th of July together on Saturday. Here Phillip and Sarah are grilling some fish and hotdogs, while Kimberly is cutting up a fruit salad for the next morning's (Sunday) breakfast.~
~The rest of the food was already ready, so I was vacuuming the stairs while they finished grilling...and Elijah looked on.~
~We made some YUMMY potato salad and I made a "Wanna-be" flag on top. =D~
~Yummy Fish, hotdogs, chips and dip, potato salad, cold sweet tea, and then for dessert we had cups of colorful jello and oreo cookies. =)
~I bought these beautiful red calililies and some other white flowers and put them in a blue vase to use in our 4th of July centerpiece.~
~Our 4 American souvenirs. =)
Later that evening my dear friend Marisol came for a nice visit.
Thank God for the liberties that we still enjoy. God Bless America!!

~Our 3 "Kings"~

Happy 4th of July to all of y'all! Thank y'all for your prayers for my ladies meeting in Cartagena, the Lord helped me. We just got back from Cartagena on Thursday night. We stayed busy for Jesus while we were there, but we did sneak away and had a couple fun days as a family before coming home. I have lots of great pics that I will try to post soon. =)
~A few weeks ago we heard that there was a new Burger King here in Colombia, so one day we jumped into the taxi and went across town and found the Burger King. We enjoyed our yummy meal and our evening seeing a new mall that we had never visited here in Bogota. We are running so much trying to get everything done before we go to the USA for deputation that we needed this little break.~

~Playing at the park while waiting for Daddy to pay for a month's extension on our visas~

These pics are tad old but wanted to post them anyways. Thank the Lord there was a park just down from the office where we had to keep going to to pay for another month's extension on our visas. The kids enjoyed the park
A LOT better then sitting in that office for HOURS! =)
~Noah placed Elijah by this ladder, and he did what I thought he would do...he climbed to the top. =)~
~The kids helped him so he wouldn't fall. He loved the slide.~
~Sarah and Noah on the same swing.~
Again we would like to THANK THE LORD for helping us to get our Colombian visas renewed! I'll spare you all of the details but...It truly was a MIRACLE! =)