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. 

Has it really been 90 days...so much has happened!

We have been here at YWAM now for almost 2 weeks and have had a very busy but amazingly enjoyable stay.  We have met and got to know so many amazing people and have been able to hear their stories of how God has worked in their lives.  Our "jobs" have been wonderful and we have sweat and worked very hard in completing them.  The kids, and the family as a whole, have continued to amaze me.  I am so proud of them!

Our first task here was the garden that Caleb fell in love with.  It is thriving and we have plants coming up already!  Caleb checks on it a dozen times a day, waters it, and tells the plants how great they are doing.  It is amazing to see how much love he has found in working with the earth and how much he cares for it.  We are about to pull our first tomato and I bet it will be the best one we have ever had!!!  Tonight he checked and one of the tomatoes are ready to be picked tomorrow.  He told me that he has 2 ideas for it.  1) He wants to give to someone who is homeless. 2)  He wants to share it with all of his friends here because he said they were very encouraging to him while he worked hard on the garden.  We also had a large task of clearing and leveling a LARGE amount of dirt.  A tractor, shovels, rakes, pick axes, chainsaw, concrete, and allot of sweat helped us to complete our second task rather quickly.  We worked to get this fence up to create an area for a new sign for YWAM.  It also creates a much nicer looking area to the entrance and gives direction.  We are so pleased that we were able to build this and even after the cuts, bruises, scrapes, bites, and baseball size swollen hand (I smashed my hand) we thank the Lord for the opportunity!

 

The infamous garden...we have new plants and a red tomato!

Getting started and dealing with some roots and stumps.

Playing in the dirt!

Driving the tractor with daddy.

Working as a team!

Finishing up with the fence and making it look pretty.

Caleb and Kamryn helped clean our this herb garden with our friend that came here from Vancouver Island and knows of the same folks that we know. 

 

Caleb is drying herbs that were otherwise going to be thrown to the compost bin.  He is going to make tea with them! 



We finished the fence in just a few days; allot quicker than we thought we would.  The benefit was that we worked great as a team and the heat, the sun, the work itself (and some pains) did not deter us from completing the work the Lord put before us.  We are waiting on some landscaping materials and we will see how things progress next. 



We were invited to dinner to the home of the person that Zachary cooks with each day (more on that in a bit) and the kids got to harvest from a bigger garden...they loved it!  This was  a wonderful evening with badminton, bocce, soccer, a walk in the woods, some play with the dogs, and an amazing dinner and great company.  They have a wonderful daughter that we have been getting some of our direction from and have enjoyed getting to know her and her beau; they are both part of YWAM.  The amazing story with this family is that they were in Biloxi, Mississippi at the same time that we were when we entered the Air Force in the 90's.  We were in (stood in) some of the same places at the same time, literally!  Also, they were in Hurricane Hugo when Kelly went through it.  This was only a bit of the parallel that we shared with this family but God really gave us a common interest to talk about!  This has proved to be an amazing relationship as Zachary has also spent time with Alan (the husband/father) as he was "interviewed" to help in the kitchen and has worked each day since, cooking for 30-40 people a day.  Zachary has shown great fortitude and has learned great things while being in there.  Zachary is also earning respect from the folks that he spends time with as he shows great respect and hard work.  

We are gathering items for dinner!

Zachary and Dan getting carrots.

Zachary is loving the kitchen.  He is doing so well being independent and learning so much.

One of the things that we prayed for when we arrived (after our family meeting) was that we would find strength and the "want to" in ALL tasks, no matter how difficult or how mundane.  We are thankful for answered prayer and this family serving in all ways that are put before us.  WE had another family meeting yesterday and followed up on how we each think we are doing in regard to the first meeting that we had.  Everyone is pleased and we continue to see the Lord working. 

Daily worship has proven to be a real blessing.  Each day we spend time as a group, studying, praying, singing, and talking about the Lord.  Each day is a different way of worshipping and it has been amazing to experience the Lord this way each day.  A couple of days ago on "Creative" day, we went outside to praise God individually and spend time in Creation and come back and share what we experienced.  Caleb came back in and shared what he experienced.  Without detail, he shares an intimate relationship with the Lord and it is amazing to see how it is expressed in his own way.  Zachary has also shined in his experiences here.  He ended up wanting to go to worship on a day when the rest of our family was not going to attend.  He went to "intercession" day and afterwards, we were told that we should be very proud of him because he spoke out and prayed for the subject in a way that made the other adults pleased to be with him.  Overall, this YWAM experience proves to be a blessing as much for our family as it does for those whom we are able to serve.  One of the many things that we do each week is "Character Club".  This is a time when we go to a local community center, play basketball/crafts/games, share a short message, and feed those who attend.  I will tell you that it can be a very different world in inner city environments.  It is not only interesting but necessary for my children to experience the "happenings" of what these kids experience on a daily basis; some of these kids live a life that they should not be experiencing.  At the same time that I hurt and shed tears for some of these children and the life they are living each day, for some of them, I see so much maturity and potential.  It makes me so happy when they ask or comment about Christ or something that is a positive in their lives.  Zachary is doing a great job with some of the older guys.  He has stepped up and overcome any anxiety about being the outsider in a realm that he has never been exposed to.  Kamryn has proven to get along with the younger girls and Caleb loves just being a kid with the rest of them.  We are SO thankful to be able to meet all of these kids and  be a part of their lives.  I am so glad that the people of this YWAM love them so much.

A family night of ping pong with our friends from Brazil. 

Kamryn and Rachel having a girl date. 

Kelly learning a new skill from our Victoria friend.

I have to praise the folks that are "working" here.  They have dedicated this season of their lives to serving this area and spreading the Good News.  They serve in so many ways and have invited us to be a part of it.  They come from all over the country (and the world i.e Germany and Brazil at this current moment) and have a heart for serving with only support that they bring with them. 

We have some upcoming tasks lined up and look forward to being able to allow the folks here to fulfill their mission.  We are staying busy and also allow our home and space to be open at all times.  Our fifth wheel has become a great attraction for many of the folks around here, especially those who are here form Brazil.  The people we have met here are wonderful and we have a great time interacting with them and spending time with them each day.  We are learning some Portuguese as we teach a bit of English and share our story, laugh, and love on everyone we meet.  The cool thing is...they are loving us back more than we can give. 

 

 

 

 

We've arrived...but we don't know if they'll let us leave!

 

We arrived last Monday to YWAM (Youth With A Mission) and were met in the road by one of the staff members.  He was so helpful and showed us to the place where we would land our wheels.  I do have to say, we had to take a different route to get to the site and this was the hardest site that I have ever had to get into, but we had great help. everything worked out and we were settled.  We were here a few minutes and we were greeted by another staff member.  We chose to do a quick tour of the grounds, met a handful of folks, and it was back home to finish setting up.  We have met so many people  with so many different stories.  We even met someone from near where we left on Vancouver Island.  They know of one of our gymnastic coaches on the Island because they are from the same area!  God does amazing things!  We were also given a welcome box of food and allot of help.  We sat down for a bit in the yard and talked about the goals that we had for this opportunity.  The kids gave some amazing answers which included earning trust and confidence with each other and with new people; they also said they wanted to learn things and work hard.  These were just a few things.  That night, we also met some folks from Brazil that are here learning English.  We played ping pong, watched a bit of TV and otherwise hung out.  It was a great first night and we couldn't have felt any more welcomed. 



Our home!

Our yard, our play places, our work places, our eatery, and some of our friends' homes. 

Kamryn taking a picture during our family goal meeting. 

The YWAM that we are working with does so much.  They conduct classes on Discipleship training, they teach English, and much more.  One of the refreshing things we do each day is meet for worship.  Someone new leads it and each day has a different theme.  It has been great to start each day with others and with the Lord.  They also have a ropes course and low obstacle course that presses the necessity of teamwork, encouragement, and confidence building and is intertwined with the Gospel.  They also do community outreach and support.  There is MUCH more that goes on here than we ever thought.  We were invited to see what some of the participants learn about confidence and team building.  After we all met for lunch, the leader hooked up the kids and let them do the rope swing.  The kids had a blast and indeed built some confidence.  Caleb went right up and scooted right off; he did great.  Zachary went up and also scooted off; just like the champ he is.  Then, as we thought she wouldn't go any further than the ladder, Kamryn continued to climb and remind us that we have taught her how to rock climb with the "body close to the rock/pole and 3 contact points".  Well, she was obviously listening...because she didn't stop at the ladder.  She just kept climbing and ended up at the top.  The leader took her and hooked her up and we thought for sure she wouldn't sit on the edge...but again, we were wrong.  She sat down and scooted off and loved swinging back and forth.  We were so proud of her and the boys.  Needless to say, they did it again a little bit later. 

A little introduction to one of the ministries that are here. 

Caleb climbing high!

The kids just waiting patiently and encouraging Caleb. 

He loved it as he scooted right off!

The flying Z!

We didn't think she would go all the way up the ladder...she never stopped. 

Yup...she scooted right off with no hesitation!

We met with those that wanted to meet in the morning and talked about the necessities and tasks.  Then we had an opportunity to clean up after lunch.  A wonderful cook completes lunch each day for 30+ people and we were able to help clean up this day as a family (and other days).  The kids were great; they were nonstop.  Caleb wanted to clean the tables and stove among other things.  Kamryn wanted to do tables and mop and worked as hard as any adult.  Zachary was involved in about everything and ended up being invited to help cook each day for all of those people (we found out that people don't just get invited to help in the kitchen  :)  ).  He reports at about 0930 and we eat about 1230.  He is loving it and continues to be asked back.  When we were cleaning up, we also had a better chance to spend some good time with Ty.  He has become a great influence on our family and has an amazing testimony...he is a walking miracle. 

He had asked to clean the stove and was so prod of it!

She is sweating!

Kelly cleaning up some dishes with Ty. 

Zachary cleaning some stainless. 

 One of our first tasks were to clean out two garden plots and figure out what to do with them next.  As a family, we put a plan together and started working.  An area of weeds (some about 8 ft high) about 10 ft deep by 25 ft needed to be cleared.  Everyone got to work and again, we were amazed at the heart of these kids and how they just didn't want to quit.  Caleb ended up really adopting the garden along with an existing pepper plant.  I didn't know he enjoyed it that much but he does.  He sweat unlike I have ever seen a 6 year old sweat before and became the most encouraging (he kept telling everyone how hard they were working and how great they were doing) kid I've ever seen.  Two days in the garden and it was cleaned out, had new compost, had some transplanted plants, new seeds, and Caleb to look over it.  We had a great time working together, sharing stories, talking Scripture, and getting dirty.

The did not like how the garden was looking.

A little planning and allot of work...

Our supervisor.

They were so proud of their work.  This wasn't the end of what they did with the garden but they made such a difference. 

 After finishing up with the garden, we moved on to another task.  A fence and sign needed to be installed but there was an overgrown hill in the way!  We loaded up the tools and started a tractor and headed out.  Two full days of work later, we have a ground that's ready for a fence and sign and we had a great time doing it.  We are looking forward to moving onto the next step Monday.  Kelly looked at me weird and said, "We have been married 15 years and I never knew you could drive and operate a tractor!"  So cool to learn something about each other after all of this time.  We had a great time together and also had an opportunity to greet some of the neighbors while working. 

Kamryn on weeds and mulch duty. 

Day 2 in the garden.  Moved some plants and planted a few others...so proud!

Starting down the road to move a hill to put in a fence. 

It was hot but they didn't mind. 

One of the nights, we went to a local school and helped out with another ministry.  I had an opportunity to meet some amazing boys, share the Gospel, and just chat.  It proved to be challenging but the Lord equips us with He knows we need.  We have to be put into challenging situations sometimes to allow us to meet new limits and rely on Him.  We had a great time and I can't wait to join in again next week. 

We took a break today and headed to the river for a bit; it was beautiful.  Large rocks, rapids, and people galore.  We had a little hike getting there but we saw some beautiful sights and had great conversation with some of the guys from YWAM and met a few new people down there also.  We played in the water, relaxed for a bit, shared stories and sang.  Then we back to the house, had dinner, and tucked the kids in.   We are headed to a local church tomorrow and going to someone's house for dinner tomorrow afternoon. 

Walking across a suspension bridge (under the traffic bridge) over the river.

Playing on the rock and rapids. 

Having a blast!

Chilling out.

Zachary is in the rapids with the boys.

Kamryn is putting on a dance show for all to see!

The Lord has us hooked!  It is so difficult to type all the things that we want to.  We love coming to a place with this sort of mission and being so welcomed by everyone.  He has shown us a new opportunity for "mission work" and we love it.  We want to do our best to Share His love in this city and others...we are researching and praying about our next "assignment" already.  We are told that some of the folks here are "praying us in" to stay here for good.  We still have about 3 weeks here and hope to stay as busy as we have the first week.  We are so thankful for this opportunity.