Hi, It's been 6 days since I blogged....my computer decided to make a nose dive and crash into computer whatever....so Kurt is working on recovering info for me and setting me up with a new operating environment, etc.....
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Ben has had a fever all week. He finally, today, went all day without a fever; tho he still has a cough.
Being a nice big brother he has shared whatever bug that has been bugging him with James and Jerard. They each have a low-grade fever but no coughs!
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James has started walking a few steps on his own!
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The babies are 11 months old today!
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School continues to go well for each of our children.
Kurt and I are enjoying our work and are thankful to be on the mission field.
Thanks for all your prayers!!!!!
Every two years the computer department of our mission organization hold a Computer Conference in Waxhaw, NC.
Kurt's department has the funds to purchase the round trip ticket he needs to get there so Kurt will be attending.
It is the last full week of October.
Pray for traveling safety and provision for his other needs (housing, food, etc.)
Today is Picture Day at the school. So I decided to take pictures of each of our children before Mikayla and Kirsten left for school this morning!
Mikayla
Kirsten
Benjamin
James
Jerard
and a picture of the new kitten Kirsten received from a friend! Meet Tarry!!!!!
Tarry
Need a fresh Christian perspective on sharing the gospel with Muslims? Want to understand a little more about how Muslims think and what they value? Then maybe the book, "The Crescent Through the Eyes of the Cross: Insights from an Arab Christian" is for you.
I just finished the book myself and I appreciate the perspective that I gained from this Arab Christian who has spent his life grappling with the issue of loving and communicating the gospel to Muslims.
Here in the Philippines, especially in the south, there is a significant Muslim population. There are communities of Muslims that live closer than a mile from our house. I have friends that minister to Muslims groups in this part of the country.
Yet, I have also found that many Christians, both Filipino and non-Filipino, are frightened or at least wary of their Muslims neighbors. And I suspect that the same holds true for the other direction: Muslims are suspicious of Christians as well.
Well, I don't want to continue like that. While I cannot change the attitude of anyone else, I can change my attitude. This book has helped me a lot.
It is Ramadan right now, the time of fasting and prayer for Muslims around the world. Maybe we as Christians should do a little soul searching as well during this time? I know other Christians think this way as well. For more information, check out this website: Loving Muslims Through Prayer.
"For all the blessings of the year,
For all the friends we hold so dear,
For peace on earth, both far and near,
We thank Thee, Lord.
For life and health, those common things,
Which every day and hour brings,
For home, where our affection clings,
We thank Thee, Lord.
For love of Thine, which never tires,
Which all our better thought inspires,
And warms our lives with heavenly fires,
We thank Thee, Lord."
I tend to think in music lyrics...especially hymns. The above hymn and also the chorus, "Lord of all to Thee we raise, this our hymn of grateful praise" have been playing in my mind lately.
A couple days ago James and Jerard were blessed with the gifts of a playpen, toys, numerous textured balls, formula, and diapers from a friend here in Davao.
The noisy toys have been great for Jerard. He happily listens to them, feels the textured balls, and seems to really enjoy the new sounds and feels.
Unexpected blessings like these toys, especially the noisy ones that help Jerard interact with his world, remind me of how much God loves us. I'd been praying for a way to get noisy toys for Jerard as part of his physical and developmental therapy....and wow, God answered in a big way!...."Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!"
There is no concern to small for him. He cares for the sparrows....He cares about toys that will help a little boy who is blind.
"For the joy of human love,
Brother, sister, parent, child,
Friends on earth and friends above,
For all gentle thoughts and mild.
Lord of all to Thee we raise,
This our hymn of grateful praise."
James is patiently waiting for us to put batteries in the train!
