It's hard to believe it's been over 100 days!

It's official, we have been on the road now for over 100 days...104 to be exact.  It doesn't feel like it at all and we are still going strong.  The space (or lack thereof) isn't bothering us at all.  The lack of stuff is sometimes noticed but easily overcome (like a saw or something we only use once in a great while).  If we were able to identify any negatives, they are FAR outweighed by the positives.  God has continued to show us amazing situations, allow us to meet amazing people, and has allowed us to be part of such a wonderful story. 

This is how it all started 104 days ago.  Our home and our family!

 This week we are still at YWAM Virginia.  As a team, we completed our fence to include paint and landscaping.  This was a great accomplishment because the kids were able to see it go from a huge mound of earth with weeds and trees to a beautiful entrance to the YWAM base.  We are very proud of it. 

This is how this part ended...from a weed/tree covered hill to this.  So proud of this family!

We also worked on the volleyball court.  I requested Zachary to take a couple days off from the kitchen as he continues to help cook meals for now more people than before...50 now I think.  This gave Zachary and I a day to work together and talk allot.  We pulled the volleyball net down, pulled the old poles up, dug 6 holes 34 inches deep and set them in concrete.  Then the net went back up and the sand was finished.  We had a great opportunity to talk about a few things and when completed, we felt good. 

We also got to help finish one of the old houses here.  The floors had to be sanded and the 100+ year old floors needed some work.  We started after lunch and Zachary and I had stopped at about 2200 that night.  This was some hard work but we worked together with a couple of friends, had a chance to talk and share a bit, and also made the home a more beautiful/functional place for upcoming students. 

I know he looks like a captured prisoner but he really was happy to be up late and working with the guys.

The garden (a.k.a. Caleb's labor of love) is going strong.  He is waiting on a couple of green peppers to get bigger and he has been sharing his tomatoes with, "...the people that were so encouraging..." (as stated by Caleb) and everyone has loved them.  He does near daily tours and answers questions for all. 

We have had a few issues with "the house" but after getting a prayer team together...those issues were quickly fixed/disappeared.  We are thankful that the Lord hears us for ALL things, even issues with our house.  He continues to keep us safe, even if we get nervous when we hear gunshots, and we have stayed healthy.  He is amazing and continues to remind us that "God's got it"!

Outside of working, we also officially started our school year.  The kids reminded us that to start something we would have had to stop it.  They were obviously reminding us that we never stopped school over the summer.  Nevertheless, we had a celebration meal (that they gladly ate) and took our first day photo. 

First day of school!  Heading up the stairs into their new school building.

Ms. Cindy (our Victoria, BC friend) brought over a card for their first day of school.  (She also brought a bag of rockin' chocolate chip cookies that didn't last long.)

Kamryn learning Spanish.  It's neat when she picks up some of the words in Portuguese that sound like Spanish words.  She does very well...but it's hilarious! 

She was so proud of her letter that she wrote to Kelly and I. 

On a day off, we took a trip to Jamestowne, this place was really neat.  I remember being there with my mom and dad when I was about 7 or 8 and this is the only place that I have ever "revisited" so that was pretty cool.  This is the first permanent English settlement and it shows some great history.  We made it a point to go here because this place and it's history is one of Caleb's subjects for this school year.  We read about in his book and then went there to experience it.  We were also able to join in on an archeology tour and learn so much about how history is studied through archeology there.  Oh...by the way...we earned another Jr Ranger Badge.  This one was really nice!

Studying history and making the teachers proud!

Listening to the archeological tour and learning so much.

Looking for some artifacts that were found in the area. 

This was hilarious!  These are 3D goggles and Kamryn kept them on feeling around with her feet to see if she would step on the ladder or jump into the hole. 

Studying the original settlement of Jamestowne.

Filling in some information for the badges and learning about John Smith. 



Standing with Pocahontas.  This was neat because I did this when I was a kid...except that she was on about 6 feet off the ground on a large stone. 

The site of the first landing...so cool!

Turning in their Jr Ranger books.  They also worked on a different archeology book and turned it in earlier and got those cool orange backpacks.

Another badge earned!

Learning about glassblowing in the early 1600's.

Again, there is so much to tell but I don't want to put anyone to sleep so I won't go into the many people that we are meeting, sharing stories with, and otherwise sharing smiles with.  It is amazing that when doing all things, even buying plants or eating at a local restaurant, we are asked where we are from and/or why we are here.  It never get old sharing how God has worked in our lives and sharing the Love of Christ.   But please believe that we are still about having fun together and living and learning life together...all centered on Christ. 

Although you can't see it, he was very proud of the @4in snake that he caught in the garden...by himself...without us around. 

Kamryn is doing a fashion show. 

Doing a family devotion on the Fruits of the Spirit.  Great lesson. 

Many of the kids on the YWAM base.  They spent the entire day playing together.  So blessed.   

What...I got hot and tired of walking on them!

This was a shirt that all 3 of our kids wore as babies.  We passed it on to our Brasilian friends...and possibly created another St Louis Cardinals fan!

Some of our Brasilian friends that we spent another evening with; such amazing folks!  (The guys were all out playing soccer tonight)

We are praying about where we were heading to next.  Our original plan was to be here for about another week (for a total of about 4 weeks) and then move on.  There has been an opportunity to stay here and help and we are also researching our next YWAM locations and what we could see in between.  We will listen to the Lord and see what He has in store for us.