CHANGING   SEASONS.........PART 2

I absolutely LOVE the way that pictures illustrate!  If you were to write a story describing what is going on in this picture, what would you write?  I see a young child caught in a storm; wet, but calm and content.   I wonder..... what's her story?  Is there more to it than this?  If I may, I'd like to tell you of a recent experience where I could substitute myself in this picture.  After spending one Saturday morning exercising on a paddle- board while enjoying God's creation, I was caught in a storm.   Don't panic!  It wasn't hurricane Joaquin!  The storm came after I had finished but while I was still waiting for the board to be picked up.  Having no personal transportation, I too, was waiting to be picked up! As I watched the skies get darker and darker,   I couldn't help but thank God for his protection over me while out on the water. Though I prayed the rain clouds would blow away, the storm came.  Having no towel or dry clothes with me because I had traveled by paddle-board from one beach further down to the next, I found myself needing to make a decision.  Do I sit out in the storm with the paddle-board to ensure it doesn't get stolen???? Or secure it as best as possible (those things are heavy) and find shelter for myself.  I opted for the latter.  Finding an opening in the brush to get out of the driving rain and wind, I sat and began singing praise songs.  Even though I wasn't there long (maybe 45 min) I felt calm and content and had an overwhelming sense of the presence of the Lord with me, and I knew that I wasn't alone!   When I consider this picture, I CAN say, there is more to the story.  The new season that I spoke of in my last blog is no where near what I would have guessed it would be but God is giving me the grace to weather the storm.  And I know that I'm not alone.  See the picture story below to see more!

One of the storms that has been on and off the radar since June is the give and take away of my car. God gave if to me back in March.  For those that are just joining my blog, it was stolen in June, recovered fully in tact a week later, and........

                            

now totaled as I was involved in a car accident at the end of September.  Praise the Lord myself and no one else was injured. 

However, due to the way the roof of the car was crunched, the amount to fix it, exceeds what I payed for it.  As you could imagine, I was devastated.  Not necessarily by the loss of the car alone, but the lifestyle it had afforded me.  A form of independence, GONE!  Interestingly enough, as you know, there were bigger storms going on at right about the same time which God used to help put things into perspective for me. 

 I will not show pictures of the damage done in the southern islands of the Bahamas from hurricane Joaquin because from what I've been told, the photos from the internet don't show the true devastation down there!  Many of you were praying and asking how we were in Nassau.  Thank you for your prayers.  If you look at the storm tracker here, this shot was taken a few days after the main part of the storm (red) had hovered over the southern islands for 3 days straight moving at a snails pace of 3 miles per hour.  In this photo, the hurricane had already turned north as it had been predicted.  If it had continued in a north west pattern, it would  have continued up the rest of the Bahamas archipelago and we would have likely felt the effects.  Thank fully, Nassau, New Providence has never seen a direct hit.  If you look at a map of all Bahamian islands, Nassau, New Providence is tucked in between other islands that typically get hit harder.  It is the Lord's mercy and kindness on this nation as MOST of the population lives on the island of New Providence (city of Nassau).

Though we as an island were not affected in a physical way from the hurricane, we are affected indirectly as Bahamians step up to assist their country men and women and children in this time of need.  Besides food and other resources, family members are taking in children from the other family islands so that they can go to school here in Nassau.  They are not all pictured here, but some of the children whose homes were destroyed on the island of Mayiguana., have recently come to live with their family members that attend our church.  Pray for this family.  The children's names are Michael, Michaela, and Malique.   A new season for me too as I have taken on the role of serving as a children's ministry leader.  

What kinds of changes am I experiencing in this new season?

I walk 12 minutes every morning to the bus stop, where I catch my first bus, and then transfer to a second.  Morning commute time about 45 minutes to an hour.  What can you expect when riding a city bus, also known as "jitney" ?  No set scheduled pick up times or designated stopping points.  Some are privately owned by individual drivers, and stop at any corner that a passenger asks for a "bus stop".  Based on the number of bus, they do have a designated route but depending upon traffic some have been known to go off on side roads, and cut through shopping plazas to get through traffic. Some have nice christian praise music and others have loud booming music with the bass turned up to decibels that vibrate every inch of plastic on the interior.  You've got to experience it to understand! 

The other day, I was in the very back of the bus with two people on one side of me and one on the other side of me.   Is that wall to wall passengers you ask?  It sure is!  No middle isle for any kind of emergency exit!  Like I said!  You've got to try it!  Each bus ride costs $1.25 and most passengers pay as they exit the bus.  Only once did I think my life was flashing before my eyes.  It was within the first week of having lost my car and I couldn't help but think, "geez!  I didn't die in a car accident but I may very well see Jesus today on this bus ride!"

This changing season also includes the new planetarium program launch!  A year and a half in the making, it was delivered for the first time last week Thursday and Friday!  An introduction to planets in the form of an Awards show!  Each planet wins an award for something that it is famous for!

                                                                         

 

     The Fastest Planet Award goes to......MECURY!  Mr. Mercury runs around me (sun) as fast as he can!

The Hottest / Brightest Planet Award goes to......Venus!  Ms. Venus is showing just how bright she is!

The Most Red Planet Award goes to.......MARS!  Mr. Mars looks like he is dressed for perhaps freezing cold temperatures on Mars???  :)

The Largest Planet Award goes to......JUPITER!  If we were to pretend 1 easter egg was the size of earth....

......then 1000 earths could fit inside of Jupiter!

The Lightest Planet Award goes to........SATURN!

The Most Unusual Award goes to.......URANUS!  Ms. Uranus spins on its axis sideways, like roasting a marshmallow on a stick!

The Frozen Award goes to.......NEPTUNE!  

         Ladies and Gentlemen!  That concludes the planet celebrities round  but we still have the most valuable player award!  He is a million miles wide and can fit a million earths inside.  He's got solar power!  He's at the center of the solar system.  He's hot, so hot!  The most valuable player award goes to.....THE SUN!

   

The rest of the 50 minute program compares the SUN and its importance for light sustaining all of life, to the SON of God who is the sustainer and giver of life!  Eternal life!  We explain light and compare the darkness to the light.  When there is light from a candle, it pushes out the darkness.  Jesus said, I am the light of the world, whoever, follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12   A closing puppet show is done to end the day, followed by a challenge  to consider if they have ever received Jesus.  To do this, we look at two similar flashlights, one with batteries, and the other without.  The one without batteries is empty.  It's missing something powerful!  The power source for the flashlight is the battery.  We have to put the power source into the flashlight in order for it to be useful.  Likewise, we put the power source (Jesus) into our hearts in order for us to shine our lights in the darkness of the world around us.  Do you have the power source of Jesus in your life so that you can shine?

What other changes has this season brought?

New children......

.....new discovery!

New facilitators......

new, and familiar faces at Adventure Club.........

and lot's of learning!

Seasons come, seasons go........but one thing remains here at the Adventure Learning Centre and Camp!

We exist to bring the wonders of God's creation together with the curiosity of kids.  Earlier this month, we partnered with Jay Seegert, founder of the Creation Education Center out of Milwaukee, WI to host a young adult weekend here at the camp.  Research shows that a high percentage of college age students are turning away from their faith.  The theme of the young adult weekend?  Faith, Fact, or Fiction?  Jay challenged young people to think about how they may defend their faith by being able to ask some hard questions instead of taking everything learned and taught to them at face value.

The weekend also included some great worship.....

and some challenging thoughts to apply in conversations that we encounter as we stand for truth.

A few individuals missing here, but we rarely get together as an entire staff for a photo.  Please continue to pray for the staff here at Adventure Learning Centre and Camp.  If you want to partner with any of the missionary staff pictured here, see the Adventure Learning Centre website and click on staff where you may find a biography of each of them as well as a link where you may donate to their ministry.

Thanks again to all for your continued support and prayer!  We cannot do ministry without partners like you!
Blessings!  Jen

Praise Reports:

1. Praise God for his protection and care over my life and that I was not injured in the car accident.
2. Praise for a smooth delivery of new planetarium program launch as well as a positive response from teachers.
3. Praise for no deaths in the family islands from Hurricane Joaquin.

Prayer Request:

1. Pray for safety and protection as I walk to bus stops, wait, and ride the public bus system.
2. Pray for continued adjustment to a new roommate.
3. Pray for my heart to remain content and calm even in the midst of the dramatic change of lifestlye.
4. Pray for beginning preparations for Christmas Lights Drive through outreach that we will be hosting again this year in December.  Pray for churches to partner with us, and for commitments to serve for that event.