"There is Always a Well - All is Well!"
Ann Voscamp
Greetings friends and family! There is always a well-All is well! A strange title you might say? Let me explain! I've appreciated my Bahamian friends for their response when asked about their well being. It is often, "All is well!" Really? How can one really say, all is well when all MAY NOT be well! I recently heard a sermon about the woman at the well which provoked me to study deeper. This woman had come to the well for more than a physical thirst but she didn't even realize that the true satisfying drink was right there for the taking. The living water that she really needed was found at the well, and that was Jesus. But she first had to be filled with that living water. The truth is, only Jesus satisfies the thirst of the human soul. I've also been reading a book, called "One Thousand Gifts" by Ann Voscamp. In one section of the book, it was talking about a well of water and it made an interesting connection to how we should view our lives when we know where the source of that water come from. Because Jesus is always there, we always have a well. Therefore, all IS well!
SURPRISES AND BLESSINGS!
I am so thank ful for the friends and family that God continues to use from miles away to encourage me. I received a care package of notes of encouragement, worship Cd's and books reminding me of truth. IF that wasn't a blessing in an of itself.......
A week later, I received a package in the mail filled with notes from children that I didn't even know! After further investigation, I learned that it had come from a group of children from a church in Wisconsin. They had led their children in their children's ministry to write notes of encouragement to myself and other missionaries throughout the world. Such an encouragement to know that little ones, whom I don't even know, are praying for me here. I have the notes posted above my desk! Thanks again Highland Community Church!
Those prayers from young children are having a significant affect on children of the Bahamas. One of the elements of our program for the pre-school through grade 2 is story time. In this picture, I am dressed as a story teller from Jerusalem telling the story of David and Goliath. Though the story is familiar to many of the children, continue to pray that students will grow to live their lives fully believing in our great God who does BIG things using little people like us!
ADULTS.......you are not off the hook! Your prayers are just as important! In grade 5, we teach about crustaceans having an exoskeleton and how it protects them from harm. Students are also pointed to the importance of putting on the armor of God that protects us from the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Those prayers are needed for the daily programming but also for energy and strength as we do chores and complete work projects during off program hours. This past month was my turn to keep the buses swept and clean.
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I cleaned them so well that in the process of bending repeatedly every day from sweeping out the bus, I found myself unable to get out of bed on Mother's Day. Though a child wishes for their "mommy" when not feeling 100%, I did have my "Bahama mammas" to the rescue. Mindy Seeley brought me lunch and Yvonne Bootle brought me some back rub right from Costa Rica! Thank you!
My Bahama Mamma at the centre, Ms. Ada, the (ALC cook) practiced her bush medicine skills with me. One of our grade 5 programs highlight love vine, a parasitic weed that is harmful to other plants but is useful for relieving a backache.
How is that you say? Love vine is a long spaghetti like vine. Ms. Ada took the vine, bunched them up and crushed them with a sharp object to get the juice to come out of it.....
she then tied it around my back.
WHAT IS NEW??
The petting farm continues to undergo renovations. A couple of months ago I had highlighted the new raccoon enclosure. For those of you who have been here or knew what the petting gazebo looked like before, this is what is happening now. Soon it will be filled with little birds where guests may walk in and interact with the birds by lifting a cup of nectar for feeding them.
This enclosure is being newly constructed just to the east side of where the rabbit enclosure is located. For those of you who haven't been there.......its a new home area for our two Indian Crested Porcupines.
SUMMER??
You would think! Because a couple weeks ago we already had a 90 something degree day with a heat index that made it feel like 108. Was I at the beach? Absolutely not!........
I was at the Adventure Learning Camp (where I live) helping to host out church picnic. Pictured here is Pastor Moss and his wife Alexine as she serves him in the food line.
Food, fun, and fellowship as always.......
followed by a ladies get together as Mindy Seeley taught all of us how to make home made laundry detergent! A HUGE money savings as most of everything you buy here in Nassau is double the price of what you pay in the states.
CAMP MINISTRY
I continue to help out at the youth night that was launched back in October. This picture shows game time. We were playing good ole fashioned pictionary. Can you imagine young people having fun outside of their electronics? :)
Along with singing and games at youth night, we do some small group sharing as well as a large group devotion time followed by snacks and fellowship. As it grows and evolves, pray for wisdom and discernment for the leadership as they seek to promote and grow the commitment level of all leaders and students that attend each time.
FUN OUTINGS!
When something exciting is happening in the Bahamas, the people are THERE! This was the second year that the World Relays were hosted here in Nassau. For those of you Olympic track enthusiasts, the famous gold medalist from Jamaica, "Ussain Bolt" was running on the relays.
It was exciting to hear the energy coming from the stands as so many countries were represented. In this picture, the countries of United States, Jamaica, and Bahamas is represented. So thank ful for friendships that God has provided me from different parts of the world!
SERVICE WITHIN THE CHURCH!!
Many of the daughters at Kingdom Life Church helped myself and others decorate for the Mother's Day brunch that was held on Saturday May 9th. The brunch itself went very well inspite of a power outage that lasted the entirety of the program. I was encouraged to see the positive spirit of those leading the program regardless of the circumstances.
SAD NEWS
I lost an uncle a couple of weeks ago to lung cancer. Uncle Richard was one of the most adventurous people I have known. I have fond memories of motor cycle and boat rides. He was a very hard working man and helped so many in his community of influence. You will be missed Uncle Richard.
WHAT'S NEXT??????
I am quickly approaching my two year anniversary since coming to Nassau. Some of you are wondering what's next? I have committed for another year and indefinitely until God changes my direction. Through the growing pains and challenges, I am still confident that the Lord is using me where I'm at RIGHT now.
MORE OPPORTUNITIES!!!
Last week, the director Mark Wallace, myself and the Program Director, Dilan Van Ryn met with curriculum officers from the Ministry of Education to discuss ways that we can support administrators as they prepare teachers for leading effective field trips. We will be hosting a teacher workshop in July highlighting the programs that we offer. I also had an opportunity to propose the idea of sketching out another basic outline for more program development where teachers would have the option to come more than one time in a school year based on where they are at in their teaching.
BUT RIGHT NOW......
We are very busy already at planning summer camp. The theme is "Under the Sea". We all have got our assignment areas and are making progress in planning a memorable one for the children that will be attending. I will be teaching sports which will include a week of team building and survivor like relay games. I also am launching a new class called "Wilderness Adventures". I am looking forward to that class in particular!
Thank you to all who have been faithful to follow my journey, to ask questions, and to support both prayerfully and financially. Please know that you are much appreciated!
PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY:
- For bookings this last month and a strong finish for the school year.
- For summer camp planning and logistics
- For energy and strength as we are being reminded by the weather that summer is well on its way!!!
- Personally for healing of my back, knee and elbow aches and pains that I've been experiencing the past couple of weeks.
PRAISE:
- A couple of weeks ago I got a notification on my phone that $20 dollars had been added to my phone giving me plenty of minutes! :) Thank you for that blessing whoever it was! And thank you God for orchestrating that blessing! (whether it was accidental or intentional! :)
- So thank ful for a community of believers that takes care of me when I am down discouraged or in need of practical help! I've experienced that from many this past month!
