After returning to the island at the beginning of January, we were hoping to find lights from the Christmas  Drive through outreach taken off of trees, fences, and buildings, and organized into bins for storage.  Wishful thinking!  Needless to say, they were eagerly awaiting our return and the first week back was spent taking down what had required two months to put up.  Up and down off of ladders, and carrying bins of lights up stairs and into the attic left our bodies asking, "why did you eat all of those holiday sweets?"  :)  Thus starting the year right off of the bat with the familiar song "Lord I need you"

For those that are just joining my blog........

 the Christmas Lights Drive through outreach was more than looking at pretty lights and singing along to holiday music.

It was for the purpose of sharing the life and ministry of Jesus from the foretelling of his birth through his death, and resurrection.

As the cars exited the grounds, they were challenged by staff to consider receiving God's free gift of salvation.  We are still praying for people that came through that their heart would cry "Lord I need You".

VISION

The beginning of a new year always brings forth proposed goals and visions for the coming year. 

Mark, the director of Adventure Learning CENTRE, started out the week by sharing his vision for the centre in the coming year.  His heart, is to continue to grow in evangelism by reaching families of the Bahamas with the gospel through our science based program that school children daily experience.  "Lord we need you!"

Tim, the director of the Adventure Learning CAMP shared his heart for reaching local  Bahamians not only through foreign missions teams but in further development of a kids camp for children and  young people.  "Lord we need you!"

I also was asked to share my vision as the curriculum writer.  My current assignment has been to finish the grades 1-3 planetarium programs that I started months ago, and I've also been doing some marketing to promote the programs. In talking with teachers, it is clear that they would desire to have more program options based on where they are at in their teaching throughout the school year.  So with that being said, my vision is that Adventure Learning Centre would continue in their development of curriculum and that the current curriculum would continue to be modified and improved from year to year.   I have a sense that the Lord will keep me here beyond my two year mark in June, so please be praying for continued creativity.  "Lord I need you!"

NEW STAFF

The Lord has continued to bless this ministry with more staff.  Just in the last two weeks, we have added two more couples at the Adenture Learning Centre and Camp.

Pat and Janice Armstrong (left) are from Andes, New York.  Pat is the maintenance director at the Adventure Learning Centre.  Janice has come on as the office manager here at the Camp.  

Dilan and Laura Van Ryn (right) are from Wausau, Wisconsin.  Dilan and Laura have come to serve as facilitators and Dilan has agreed to step into the role of Program Director as our current director, Eric, is  leaving at the end of March.  Please pray for their adjustment to a new country and lifestyle as well as ministry responsibilities.  "Lord we need you!"

What many of you don't know, is that I knew Dilan when he was a teenager.  I had the privilege of living with Dilan's family years ago when I was going to school.  His family generously extended much warmth and love to me. Thank you again Todd and Sherry for your investment in the calling that God has on my life. I am eternally grateful for you and will forever carry very fond memories.  Would you have ever guessed that I'd be serving alongside your son and daughter in law?  I look forward to getting to know you as a couple Dilan and Laura!

TRAINING

Ministry life means people coming and going like a revolving door; training can feel like it's ongoing.  But even though this is the fourth time training, none of the training sessions have looked the same and God continues to stretch and grow me in that area.  Different from other training sessions, I have had the opportunity to observe programs being taught by current staff. 

Sam Howard engages grade 1 students in using their five senses out at the wetland.  Even though they cannot see the wind, they can feel it.  Likewise, God is all around us too.

Sam Robb(dressed like a botanist), teaches about the parts of a plant and how they work together to carry out the function of the plant.  Students also make the connection of the different parts of our body and how God made every part  for the overall functioning of the body.

Megan Cummings engages grade 1 students to exercise their imaginations as they get ready to go into the Nature Centre for story time.  Story time is David and Goliath with the theme of little people being able to do big things with God on our side.

Along with observing program, I was able to answer questions that Dilan and Laura had as they shadowed the programs......

And I was also able to see Dilan taking so seriously the role of walking backwards as he leads a group of 3rd graders out of the wetlands. :) Were you shadowing Megan?  :) (Sorry blog readers....inside joke!)

One of the favorites here is the gorilla that hides in the bush and jumps out at the kids that pass by on the train.  We all take our turns.  This video caught me in slow motion jumping out very gracefully!

OTHER FUN!

One of my goals a year and a half ago was that I immerse myself into the culture and get to know the local Bahamians.  The Lord has blessed me with opportunities and I continue to seek ways in which I can use my individual gifts to bless others.  Some of the extra curricular things that I do outside of the ministry at the ALC are:

Hang out with the Bootle family.  I met this family through........

 ......an outreach effort for youth every other Friday evening at the Adventure Learning Camp.  Teddy and Yvonne Bootle met at this camp years ago when it was called Joy Bible Camp.  They served as counselors and now have a desire to partner with us to reach young people again.  So thank ful for them!  :)

I attend a women's Bible study through the YWCA twice a month.  I am still getting to know the ladies but am thank ful for opportunities to broaden my circles.  Currently, we are reading and discussing a book called, "When People are Big and God is Small."

Occasionally we have visitors come to the island off of the cruise ship and so this past month we had dinner and walked around with the Lucht family from Wausau, Wisconsin.  I went to church with this family the years that I lived in Wausau.

NEW HOME

With new staff coming in, comes changes in living accommodations.  A year ago I had moved into the cottage that, aside from the color of paint, looks identical to this on the outside.  This week we moved into our new home.

On the inside, there is still the living room space and spiral staircase to the upstairs loft bedroom.......

.......but what is different is that we have a galley kitchen.  Through that door, and to the right, are two bathrooms, and a bedroom in the back.  Having only two roommates now, I am thank ful to have the bedroom in the back to myself while Megan and Sam sleep upstairs.

My bedroom

Kitchen table sits in my bedroom.


Praise:

• The wetland environment where I can begin each day in the presence of the Lord.
• Opportunity to point children to the creator every day!
• Safe arrival of new staff
• Healthy working relationships
• My church family

Prayer:

• Inspiration and creativity for program development
• Quick adjustment and strength for new staff 
• Favor from the Lord regarding the land issue that is still being negotiated.
• Finances to move forward with a purchase of a car for reaching out to my church family and community.

Thanks to all who are supporting me in various ways!  You are important to me and am grateful for your continued interest in the work here in Nassau.

Blessings,

Jen