Fun with Food

Here in Canada the day after Easter is called "Easter Monday". Schools, banks, and things like that are closed. Therefore we did not have any classes. This is a very busy week for us so we figured we would take some extra time yesterday on making some nicer meals. (And due to the fact that Zachary is home and wanting some home cooked meals.) We had a nice waffle brunch yesterday which really hit the spot. And then for supper Ruth and Vern made us a Thai meal. I personally have never made Asian food. Vern and Ruth had been talking about cooking a Thai meal for a few days so yesterday was their chance. Vern and Ruth had a lot of fun looking through recipes and finding just what they wanted to make. (We had to run out and get some things like "ginger root" that I never have around the house. I have never used it and don't know how to cook with it.) The meal turned out great and will definitely be something they will make again. I can't wait for them to get a craving to make a Chinese meal for us. (smile)

Easter

It was our family tradition in the tribe to get up and have a sunrise service every Easter. We would go out to the highest sand dune around. We would make a little camp fire and sit on some blankets. Vern would read the Easter story and we would sing some Easter songs like "Up From the Grave He Arose" and "He Lives". We would drink hot chocolate and eat a few snacks before going home to a normal breakfast. There would be a lot of groans in the fact that we had to get up early but it was always a very ejoyable time. We have done it since we have been here in Canada although we have not always been home on Easter. This year we were planning on doing our sunrise service. (That was before all our snow arrived.) Yes, all us wimps but it just didn't seem too appealing to be sitting on the snow watching the sun rise in cooler then desired temperatures.












It was a special treat to have Zachary home with us for Easter. For lunch we had Wes and Brenda, and Andrew and Amberlynne over for lunch and for the day. Brenda bought a delicious cheese cake. (YUM! YUM!) After we ate we all relaxed, played some games, watched a movie, and just enjoyed kicking back.

























































In the evening us ladies decided to wax our hands. Ruth actually plugged in the waxer in the afternoon but it takes several hours for the wax to melt. After you coat your hands several times with wax you are supposed to put your hands in a plastic bag for about 20 minutes. So we waxed our hands and then watched a movie while our hands were in the bags. It is so nice and soothing.

Egg Me On

One thing that we REALLY enjoy with being here is all the friendships we enjoy with our students. We have such neat students that are so much fun to hang with. On Saturday night we had the Greg, Erika, Bret, and Moriah Stephens over as well as Andrew and Amberlynne Claussen to color eggs. This is something that I grew up doing so I have been doing it for over 40 years. This year when I went to get food coloring I was able to buy this package of neon colors as well as the normal colors. There were lots of neat designs and colors people came up with doing. Thanks Stephens and Andrew and Amberlynne for joining us and making some great memories together!














































































































This is the finished product from our efforts. It is always fun to see the different colors and every one's creativity.



































Of course not only eggs end up getting colored.















Bret couldn't wait to enjoy one of his eggs.



















Vern and Ruth couldn't wait to peel some of the eggs and try to pickle them. We'll see how they turn out.
















After some snacks we enjoyed playing a game of cranium together.

LOST!

Last night Zachary arrived home as he is now on spring break. It will be good to have him home. I don't know how much we will actually see him as he is planning on spending a lot of time sleeping and eating. (Up until two weeks ago he was working full time plus going to school full time so he was not getting much sleep.) I think I will spend my week cooking and baking. It seemed a bit odd when he walked in the door empty handed. Yes, his luggage got lost. It seems like this is happening to a lot of people we know. So I guess it is now our turn. Although he did leave a few clothes items here we will need to make a run to Wal-Mart to pick up a few essentials. We are looking forward to the week ahead and making some fun family memories together.

FORGIVEN!

This morning we went to the Good Friday service at our church. It was such a meaningful service. What an awesome time celebrating the Christ of the cross. When we walked in about half of us were given nails for the service. There was a BIG wooden cross set up on the platform. Our pastor shared on Isaiah 53. Then as a congregation we just called out different sins, pride, jealousy, greed, gossip, and the list went on. One of our other pastors was in the front writing down everything people called out on a big piece of paper. He then ripped the paper off and nailed it to the cross. It was very powerful and moving to once again realize just what Christ did for us. We then shared Communion together. We ended the service by witnessing four people following the Lord in baptism. It was so awesome to hear their testimonies. What a thrill to see how their lives have been changed. YEA, GOD!

We are Awana Cubbies

Every Thursday, Ruth, Titus and I head to a youth program at our church called Awana. This is a program that is very close to my heart since I was saved through the Awana program. I have worked in Awana as a leader several years before we went to the mission field, on furloughs, and now for the past four years. I have two great leaders working with me, one is my daughter Ruth and another one is a dear lady, Theresa. The program we are working with is called: Cubbies and the children are 3-5 year olds. We have a lot of fun with our Cubbie each week. It is such a privilege to work with these children and to be a part of laying a foundation of who God is. During our Bible time I have been teaching through a book called "The Lamb" by John Cross. It lays out the gospel story in such a beautiful way. It has been so neat to see these precious little ones begin to grasp Biblical truths. How thankful I am for those people in my life who came along side me and were a part of directing me to Christ!

Don't Pack Those Winter Jackets Away Just Yet!

Every year it seems like we play out the same scenario in our house. It will be the end of March and things will be warming up and spring will seem on its way. Vern gets all excited for the coming of spring and he packs the winter jackets and boots away. (Mind you the family enjoys the thought of no snow and warmer temperatures, and we hadn't used our winter jackets for a couple of weeks.) So on Saturday with it being March 31st. Vern worked very hard cleaning out our storage room to make room to pack the winter boots and jackets away. It was quite nice to get the winter boots packed away and out of the front hall but the kids and I cringed at the thought of our winter jackets being packed away. (After all we are living in Canada and we have gotten snow in May before.) But we thought maybe this year would be the year of full SPRING ahead, no turning back, and the winter gear could stayed packed away until the fall. However, these last few days have gotten progressively colder. We can no longer live in denial as the cold and snow is back. Ruth and I have been shivering in our spring jackets and we were ready to take the plunge to move back into our winter jackets. Like I said, this scenario has been played out in our house many times. So this afternoon after running an errand with Ruth, we came home to our winter jackets laying on the table waiting for us. (smile) Although, the thought is painful to know we are putting the winter jackets back on, at least we are warmer. We have had a bit of snow off and on today and are supposed to get about 2-4 inches of snow tonight. You know you're in Canada when - spring showers at times means, snow showers!

Class Update

What are those things that are most important to teach to a people group who have never heard of Jesus before? This question is discussed at length in our "Church Planting Class", as we look at the evangelism and church planting process in a cross cultural context. This is one of the main classes Vern is involved with teaching. How does a person go about doing evangelism and discipleship in a tribal church setting? How do you go about training tribal people to teach others chronologically? Our last term on the mission field Vern spent quite a bit of time working with a number of tribal church leaders teaching and training them to teach others. There were many challenges he faced as he worked with people who were not used to following a lesson plan. He would have a sword drill with these men with using just one little book in the Bible like Ephesians. It was quite an accomplishment to just find the right verse. So there are many challenges in seeing a tribal church move through to maturity. But what a joy in seeing a tribal church established and growing to maturity. This is our heart beat and passion and we are thrilled to be a part of helping prepare missionaries to see churches established in tribal areas.



In the foundations for living class we have been having three weeks of marriage classes. Our coworkers Wes and Peter have been teaching this class. Wes started the class off by sharing on Shepherding Grace (using a book by Bob and Dottie Bingham). Peter has been directing a DVD series by Tommie Nelson. The study addresses the art of attraction, dating, courtship, intimacy, conflict, romance, and commitment. The class has also been seeing some vidoes by Gary Smalley's Homes of Honor series. It has been so good to have these weeks on devoloping deeper marriage relationships. On the mission field there are so many stresses and pressures and there is great value in having strong marriages.

April's Fool Day

On April Fool's Day when I was growing up one of my sister's used to turn the toaster on high so that my dad's toast would burn. And for many years he always fell for it. Well, gone are the days of such innocent April Fool's pranks. I was thinking that the day would pass rather uneventful. It was a Sunday and we didn't have class so what unusual thing could happen. Ruth went off to work at 12:00 and as many of you know she works in the deli. At about 1:30 I got a phone call from Ruth. I was thinking maybe she was wanting us to drop by and spend her break time with her. But this was to be no normal phone call. She said she needed us to bring her health card down the hospital. She said she had cut her hand on the slicer. Apparently the other lady she worked with had some how banged into her while she was slicing meat and she had cut her hand really bad. All sorts of things were going through my mind like, "Vern had better go as I can't handle the sight of blood." And then just as I was ready to let Vern know he had to drop everything and go to the hospital she siad, "April Fool's". It took a few minutes for my heart to start beating normally again. The two ladies she works with tried to tell her that this was not a good joke to play on a mother. But she could not resist. I was trying all day to think of something I could April Fool's her with, but nothing came to mind. I have decided next year she isn't going out to work. And if anyone has any good April Fool's idea for me for next year, pass them along.

Palm Sunday

"The next day the great crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, 'Hosanna!'
'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!'
'Blessed is the King of Israel!'"
Jn 12:12-13