Have a look...

... at this short video of the evangelistic campaign that Rich had the privilege to help with last month in the Philippines.

It's worth your time - encouraging!

Worth it all

This morning, I was a bit down/sad/teary as I'm really missing Rich ~ ~ ~ it's getting looooong.
He's been gone now for almost 2 weeks and we have 8 more days to go...

The last few days, Shayden has been a bit of a challenge. Lots of tantrums, hitting, biting Kylie and his body that isn't passing stool the way it's supposed to (this has been ongoing - many days, I have to change a dirty diaper up to 10 times and no, potty training is nowhere near on the horizon).

It's pretty much guaranteed that every time I need to leave the house ~ in a hurry ~ I find out he did another smelly "number" and needs to get changed again ~ which he always fights, too.

Anyways, as most moms, I spend a considerable amount of time in the car, driving kids here and there. I usually really enjoy it as I get to worship Jesus ~ with some good worship music playing.

For a few days now, the CD player in the car has been broken and there's been no music - sadly.

So, this morning, on the way back from Kylie's school, I just started singing my favorite song (at the moment) ~ I have been playing that song over and over again in recent times. It's been bringing lots of strength and comfort to me!

As I was getting to the chorus,

"What a faithful God have I,
what a faithful God.
What a faithful God have I,
He's faithful in every way."

... I hear Shayden joining in from the back-seat (in his car seat).

I could hardly believe it! This little boy who barely talks, was singing along with me, right tune and all. And we sang the song over and over again together.

It soooo melted my heart!

Shayden worshiping Jesus with me ~ no greater JOY for this momma!!!

This made my day - and it's only 9am!

YES, everything we pour into our children's lives ~ and mostly the example we give ~ is NOT lost or wasted!

All the nitty-gritty, unpleasant part of caring for little ones day in day out, training them, sacrificing so much (it seems sometimes) -

IT'S ALL WORTH IT!!! YES!!!

This is what I woke up to this morning.

Last night, I hadn't had a very good night and didn't feel like getting up right at 6am, when Kylie and Shayden woke up - especially on this rainy, dreary, cold winter Saturday...

So Kylie had mercy on me and told me to rest a little longer. She got Shayden changed, dressed and played with him for a while. When I got up she told me not to come out into the living area but to stay in the bedroom for a little longer.

Suspense ~ ~ ~ what was "cooking"? Definitely not breakfast, I could tell that much.

When she finally allowed me to come out, she had prepared a treasure hunt (too cute, with arrows showing different directions!). The treasure hunt brought me to this:


She had made a huge welcome poster for John, our friend who arrived last last night (while she was sleeping) ~ all her initiative, all her idea, glitter and all ~ and Shayden even got to participate in the artwork ~ see scribbles on the bottom.


How precious is that?! LOVED it!!!! (and I think John liked it, too)

A YWAM base crippled by theft

Just read this - what a tragedy - and what a contrast to the DTS that Jeremie is doing at the moment...

Can't help but feel for our African brothers and sisters ~ ~ ~ let's pray for them, shall we?!

A YWAM base crippled by theft / News / News & Stories / ywam.org / Home - YWAM

Proud mama

I've just GOT to brag on two of my daughters today. They both blew me away yesterday!

Here's Leilani ~ quite upset at me (how can anybody be upset at ME?!! LOL) just before I leave the house with Shayden.

I come back home after 1 1/2 hours and find that she has taken laundry down the line (we don't use dryers in NZ), folded it up and put it where it belongs. I hadn't asked her to do this.

THEN ~ I venture into Rich's and my bedroom ~ and there was our bed ~ MADE (yes, I didn't make it first thing in the morning)

Not only that, but on top of the duvet were pretty flower petals everywhere...

and 2 flowers from the garden in the middle (yes, we do get some flowers here even in the winter!)...

and a beautiful, very touching poem, giving me the highest praises as a mother...

That I was shocked is an understatement!!!

When I asked her WHY she did this, she answered:"I felt angry at you ~ and so I decided to do something nice for you."

WOW!!!

I can learn a lesson or two from my 15-year-old!
And if we all reacted that way every time we were mad at somebody, this world would be a whole lot of a better place - dontchathink?!!!

Way to go, Leilani! I couldn't be prouder of you!!! And I'm not even talking about all your huge help with Kylie's birthday - cake, decoration and all!!!!

Thank you so much for all you ARE and all you DO to make this family what it is!

Later in the day, Kylie reported to me that Shayden had filled his infamous diaper (yes, he's not potty-trained yet and it will be a while still). As I didn't react immediately (many days he does IT up to 10 times) Kylie took matters into her own hands.

I didn't know what she was up to until I was getting concerned because it was so quiet in the house. I asked Leilani to check up on the 2. And there was Kylie with Shayden, in Shayden's room, changing mat on the floor and changing all the big-D-yuckiness - without saying a word.

A am a very blessed woman!!! THANK YOU, WONDERFUL GIRLS!!!

My heart has been gripped...

... and at times ripped, by the situation in a Ugandan "orphanage" talked about on this website.

If you don't read anything, please just have a look at this short video ~ ~ ~ and join me in prayer for these oh SOOOO precious children in need of the basics of life - including somebody to love them!

Rich and I are hoping to be able to visit there when we go. We'll see...

Amazing Study Tips

For some of you, this may be news:

I am going to home school Leilani again - starting ~ ~ ~ TOMORROW!!!

It was her who insisted on coming back home, as she really wants to concentrate on her studies and gets too distracted by fellow-students at school.

So here we go - another adventure!

It's been a VERY intense 5-6 weeks since we made that decision, getting ready, having to do a crash course as her supervisor, getting an exemption from the ministry of education, ordering materials etc.

I never wanted to home school. Thought I'm not cut out for it.

And I have already home schooled for 6 years (in the past).

I never thought - EVER - that I could home school a high school level! NEVER wanted to do that!

And now we're doing it.

Hmmmmm ~ ~ ~ amazing how we can get stretched ~ ~ ~ and learn SO MUCH in the process!

I'm actually quite excited about it! We are under the umbrella of Home Schooling NZ and the materials we will use will permit Leilani to work mostly on her own. OUFF!
Through this programme, she will be able to gain university entrance - both in NZ as well as in the USA.

In the process of preparation, I came across some outstanding information on different study tips from Terry Small.

Leave me a comment (or send me an email - as some of you do) - and I'll send you a word file with a summary of the most interesting facts and tips for studying more effectively and efficiently! Just HAD to share... It is FASCINATING and I wish I had known this information a LONG time ago!!!

Rich is back home!!!

Rich left Manila just hours before a bad typhoon hit - once again.

I feel so bad for the people there - they have to go through so much!

On the other hand, I am grateful to have Rich back home with us!!!!

Here are a few photos of our trip to Auckland to pick Rich up - and you'll get to see what we did after that :)

Enjoy!

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A call from Manila...

Rich's two weeks in the Philippines are just about finished and I'm looking forward to seeing him again tomorrow night!!!

He called me this evening from a HUGE mall close to the airport in Manila.

It was surreal.

I could hear the back-ground noise of the mall (he was skyping from an internet cafe) while I was just lighting the fire in our fireplace and getting dinner ready.

AMAZING - how 2 so different worlds can get connected so easily nowadays!!

I remember when we first moved to the islands, we didn't have a phone, let alone computer or internet - and the only way of communication was snail mail...

I'm sooooooooo glad things have changed - hehe!!!

Rich LOVED his time there! His favourite part was praying with/for people during the altar calls! Even saw some healings! GO GOD!!!!


Here are a few photos - taken by Jenny Mollison - to give you just a little "taste" :)

Great news from the Philippines

This is an exciting update posted on facebook by Jose, the one who heads up "Impact World Tour" in the Philippines:

Last Saturday night with Team Xtreme in Compostela – 195 were first time commitments.

Last night (Sunday) with Island Breeze we saw 372 respond to the Gospel message.

Both nights the gym was packed. Saturday night we had a huge problem with the overflow crowd outside trying desperately to get in – so last night we put a screen and sound system outside and had about 800 people watching there. All in all we estimate there were about 3500 people watching Island Breeze last night.

We also had events in Monkayo over the past 2 nights, with approx. 2 – 3,000 people and with great results.

Saturday night was an incredible time.

The Governor of the Compostela Valley Province and the Mayor of Montevista (the town the teams are staying in) both attended the opening of the event in Monkayo.

After speaking and watching for some time – they travelled to Compostela arriving just in time for the final preaching of the Gospel and altar call. Honorable Governor Uy was the first to raise his hand and come to the front when breakdancer Daniel Kim (from GX Intl.) called those giving their lives to Jesus.

The Mayor also responded to the altar call coming to the front with all those giving their lives to the Lord for the first time. God is doing remarkable things here in Mindanao!

Team Xtreme had the opportunity to meet with the Governor early last week and had a great time with him. He also arranged a press conference for Saturday morning with representatives from the National Media companies.

Once again – thanks for praying! This week we will be in the southern region of the Compostela Valley – Mabini, Maco and Pantukan. We have 3 events in Maco, 2 in Pantukan and school assemblies in Mabini. Please pray for health for the team members, as we have several with colds, some minor injuries and one with minor illness. The team members are quite tired as there’s lots of travel in open trucks where they get wet and then dry again. Although it’s hot – this is probably not great for their health. The travel this week will also be quite gruelling as it’s 2hrs to Pantukan from Montevista where they are staying.

Thank you for standing with us!