Summer has held a lot of activities for us. The kids finished school on the 29th of May. They went back to school last Thursday, Aug. 6. They are feeling a bit like it's been a short summer :) Andy is now in his Junior year. Luke is a Freshman in High school, Jon is in 4th grade and Mari has just started a one day per week pre-school. We had a great summer.
We were able to take a crazy drive to the beach in June to go snorkeling/diving with another family and with one of the teachers from the school. We had a good time exploring the underwater creation :) We have found that under the water is one place there is not quite so many people. It is always fun to go exploring God's creation. We are blessed to be in a country where the underwater display is fabulous!!!
We were blessed to have spent the first year in this country quite healthy. Unfortunately, our second year has not been quite so healthy. We have spent several months this year fighting intestinal bugs, colds, sinuses., etc. Aside from the miserable intestinal bugs, they are quite similar to what we experience in the states. It seems we get close to being all well and someone else gets a bout of sickness. It is really making me more aware of how grateful I am for the times I am feeling healthy. It has also heightened my awareness to pray for encouragement to those who fight chronic illness.
Four years ago the global NYI voted to have their meetings done via video conference. We were blessed to be part of this here at the Manila site. That meant that Eric and his team were responsible for orchestrating the Internet capabilities. We were connected via video conference with Orlando, Ecuador, Dominican Republic, India, Africa, Europe, and India. It was as though we were all in the same meeting. We could talk to the folks in each place and make decisions as a truly global church! It was wonderful to be a part of the GA, and it was really exciting to be a part of history in the making. We were at the site for 10 days and it was a fun get-a-way, although not a relaxing vacation. What a blessing it was!!! The theme for the week was "Up all night!" In order to be involved in the meetings, we had to adjust to Orlando's schedule. We are just the opposite time schedule as Orlando. So, we had to stay "up all night."
We came home from the 10 days working with the GA to jump straight into registration for the students of APNTS. This year, because of the flu pandemic, we made all students go through the clinic for screening. It was a busy few days to see 80+ people, but it was so much fun to meet all the new students and to see all the returning students. I am blessed to be involved in their lives.
One year ago I was diligently searching for a close place (less than two hours drive) that was equipped to give Mari the therapy that she needs. I kept hitting road blocks and after a time, I just stopped searching. I told the Lord that I knew we were here because he wanted us here, so he needed to help me find the right place for Mari. One year later I received a call from my friend who said there was an opening in a close therapy center that is good. She suggested I call them right away. Within 5 minutes Mari was set up for weekly speech therapy! We went in for our first session and when it was over, we were also set up for weekly occupational therapy. Just this week we have been able to avail of another weekly session with a one-on-one pre-school teacher, who is specialized in special education! God has really opened up this door for Mari and we are truly rejoicing! The center is only 30-45 minutes away!!! We have met many new people there, and it is a doorway into a very hidden society here in this country. We are praising God for his provision for our precious daughter! She is also beginning one morning per week pre-school class at the same school the boys go to. This will give her the opportunity to socialize with other kids, rather than just being one-on-one with teachers. She has to have a parent in attendance in all these meetings, which has greatly impacted scheduling, but it's just part of life :)
We helped celebrate the 20th anniversary of one of our local churches by hosting a concert in our backyard. It was a fun afternoon. We had over 80 people in our backyard celebrating through praise and worship, and through the Word of God.
Our Sunday afternoon group had a donation of some medicine and so the leaders decided it would be great to do a medical outreach to the kids and their families and friends. Unfortunately the first day we had planned to do the medical outreach we were rained out, so we just postponed it a week. We had most of our regular kids and some of their family members, and some of their neighbors. It was a fun time. We just checked heart and lungs, weight, blood pressure, temperature and distributed the donated medicine.
We are now experiencing our third rainy season here. When we had our first flood, it was so exciting! It was about 14 inches deep and we were just in amazement of it. The first season was rather dry. Last year was a bit more rainy, and so far, this year is even more still. We have a special place where we can park our car to avoid flood damage to our car, and a special wall around the house so that we remain safe inside the house. After a certain amount of rain, the neighborhood transforms into a place similar to Venice, where all our streets are just rivers. However, we don't have the boats to traverse the rivers. This doesn't pose too big of a problem, just give it about one hour and it will run off. A couple weeks ago, we made the mistake of sleeping through a rain storm. It is such a nice lullaby :) While we were pleasantly sleeping, our car was getting bathed by waters contaminated by...I don't even want to think about it. So, four days later, we have our car back and it is sparkling clean and doesn't even stink. Needless to say, we might not be so lulled to sleep in the next rain.
I have been officially indoctrinated into the world of "motherhood." I know...you are thinking that we have four kids and our oldest is almost 17....what have I missed out all these years? Here is a really bad play on words to give you the only hint you need....it has been a "louse-y" time :) You have to figure it out!!! Welcome to motherhood in the tropics!
The time has come for us to begin the process of heading back to the States for Home Assignment. If you would like to schedule us to speak at your church, please go through the deputation secretary at headquarters. Our current schedule is on our blog. I have also posted some new pictures on the blog.
We love you all and are looking forward to seeing you all in person!
Ramon does not get to go to school. He is about 15 years old. He doesn't read. When we were doing a special program for the kids to earn a Bible, he was actively doing what was required, with the help of his peers, to earn his very own Bible. It was very important to him to earn his own Bible. 
