mingy

2009-05-12T17:48:00.005-04:00

What a crazy 5 months! I'm sorry for not keeping you updated but I promise to do that when I get back to NY. See you soon!

2008-12-15T09:57:00.002-05:00

Updating Camp:

This is our dinning room then and this is it now.

2008-11-21T10:24:00.002-05:00

Hey all. Usually I don't put forwards on my blog but this is important. I'm not sure how recent this is but please still read and pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ in India this week.

This is a request for prayer for YWAM (Youth With A Mission) missionaries and their churches in Orissa , India . The request came from Mable Hurst, an associate of HCJB Global. Please read and make this a matter of urgent prayer.

Dear beloved sponsors and friends of Good News India . We have never seen anything like this. We knew that Orissa was the most resistant and hostile state in India as far as the Gospel is concerned. And we brushed off the continuous threats and harassment we faced as we went about His work. But none of our staff imagined that they would see this kind of carnage. And it seems to be totally under the radar of the Western Media . Let me explain...

A militant Hindu priest and 4 of his attendants, who were zealously going around the villages of Orissa and 'reconverting' people back to Hinduism, were gunned down by unknown assailants in Central Orissa last weekend. Immediately the Christians were blamed. The cry rose up... 'Kill the Christians!' And the horror began... In the past 4 days, we have first hand witness to hundreds of churches being blown up or burned and many, many dozens of Christian tribals have been slaughtered. For no other reason than they bear the name of Christ. Night and day I have been in touch with our Good News India Directors spread across 14 Dream Centers in Orissa... they are right in the middle of all this chaos.

In Tihidi, just after the police came to offer protection, a group of 70 bloodthirsty militants came to kill our staff and destroy the home. They were not allowed to get in, but they did a lot of damage to our Dream Center by throwing rocks and bricks and smashing our gate, etc. They have promised to come back and 'finish the job.' Our kids and staff are locked inside and have stayed that way with doors and windows shut for the past 3 days. It has been a time of desperately calling on the Lord in prayer. More police have come to offer protection. In Kalahandi, the police and some local sympathizers got to our dream center and gave our staff and kids about 3 minutes notice to vacate. No one had time to even grab a change of clothes or any personal belonging. As they fled, the bloodthirsty mob came to kill everyone in the building. We would have had a mass funeral there, but for His grace.

In Phulbani, the mob came looking for Christian homes and missions. The local Hindu people, our neighbors turned them away by saying that there were no Christians in this area. So they left. We had favor. The same thing happened in Balasore. All our dream centers are under lockdown with the kids and staff huddled inside and police outside. The fanatics are circling outside waiting for a chance to kill. Others were not so fortunate. In a nearby Catholic orphanage, the mob allowed the kids to leave and locked up a Priest and a computer teacher in house and burned them to death. Many believers have been killed and hacked into pieces and left on the road... even women and children. At another orphanage run by another organization, when this began, the director and his wife jumped on their motorbike and simply fled, leaving all the children and staff behind. Every one of our GNI directors that I have spoken to said: 'We stay with our kids... we live together or die together, but we will never abandon what God has called us to do.' More than 5000 Christian families have had their homes burned or destroyed. They have fled into the jungles and are living in great fear waiting for the authorities to bring about peace. But so far, no peace is foreseen. This will continue for another 10 days... supposedly the 14 day mourning period for the slain Hindu priest. Many more Christians will die and their houses destroyed. Many more churches will be smashed down. The Federal government is trying to restore order and perhaps things will calm down. We ask for your prayers. Only the Hand of God can calm this storm.

None of us know the meaning of persecution. But now our kids and staff know what that means. So many of our kids coming from Hindu backgrounds are confused and totally bewildered at what is happening around them. So many of their guardians have fled into the jungles and are unable to come and get them during these trying times. Through all this, I am more determined than ever to continue with our goal: the transformation of a community by transforming its children. Orissa will be saved...that is our heart's cry. If we can take these thousands of throw-away children and help them to become disciples of Jesus, they will transform an entire region. It is a long term goal, but it is strategic thinking in terms of the Great Commission.

What can you do? First, please uphold all this in fervent prayer. Second, pass this email on to as many friends as you can. We must get the word out and increase our prayer base for this is spiritual warfare at its most basic meaning. We are literally fighting the devil in order to live for His Kingdom. The next 10 days are crucial. We pray for peace and calm to pervade across Orissa. Thank you for taking the time to read this. Please pass it on and help us to get as many people to partner with us on this cutting edge effort to fulfill His mandate: Go and make disciples of all nations.

Blessings, Chip & Sandy Wanner
Col 2:2 MBI (Team Facilitators to YWAM front lines)

2008-11-04T12:53:00.004-05:00

These are pictures of the All Saints Camp and 2 of the renovating teams that came this fall to help out.
This home was being taken apart due to termite damage.
The women on their last day in Nassau.

Yes, that is a tree growing on the roof!
Termite home on the outside of one cabin.
Bathroom.
Live wires! Don't believe me, ask the person who step on it and found out :)

2008-11-02T20:51:00.002-05:00

For those who haven't heard, I will not be teaching the kids this next school year because been given the privilege of being the director of the Adventure Learning Camp, our over night retreat facility.

There have been a couple of groups since I've started: two foreign mission trips and a local group of women. I guess this fall has been slower due to the bad weather (hurricane Ike) so its a chance to learn all about what I'm doing and get ready for next year.

The Camp is special to me because it was there that the Lord got a hold of my heart for missions over 6 years ago. And I do believe that He will use it again and again to impact others to follow where He would have them go. I’m just as excited as I am nervous about it all.
Please pray for me!

2008-10-12T19:53:00.002-04:00

For those who don't know, one of our islands was hit hard from hurricane Ike. Roves were built by our staff for those who wouldn't be able to afford the repairs. Ten roves were repaired on their 10 day trip to the island of Inagua.

This is the final update on our mission trip to Inagua to help with the hurricane damaged homes. I've heard so many testimonies from our staff about how shocked the islanders were to receive help from people not from their island. It really spoke volumes as to the love of Christ towards them through our staff who helped out.

Thank you for your prayers!

This is Meredith's email:

The last night in Inagua left us speechless...sincerely.

We had gone to simply work hard...that was our focus. We climbed on top of many elderly, widowed and disabled peoples roofs to rip up shingles or rotted wood and replace them, so that their homes would no longer leak or be vulnerable to rain damage. We accomplished our goal, but didn't realize the greater goal God was accomplishing through us...until the very last night.

The representative head of social services in Inagua along with other community leaders, reverends and locals stopped by our last night to say, "thank you." Although that in and of itself was unexpected and would have been greatly appreciated, they went "over the top." Bringing homemade gifts, their own Boys Brigade band as well as delicious baked goods and sandwiches, we were in awe of their hearts to bless us before we packed up to head home. Several of the leaders gave speeches that shared how they experienced the Lord through our unity, sacrificial love and hard work. We were welcomed back as family at any time and enjoyed the sweet time of fellowship together with all the Inaguans...young and old.

We're back home safe and sound, filled up to overflowing in our hearts with the memories of God's grace, faithfulness and protection during our time away. For those who held us up in prayer, God did above and beyond all for which we could have asked and hoped. From the inception of the trip to it's fulfillment, I believe we've realized more how we serve a "miracle God" who loves the world passionately and wants us to be His tools of love for the lost and hurting around the globe... The rewards FAR outweigh the "sacrifice" of being filled with and led by the Holy Spirit of God.

Rejoicing in Him,
Meredith Cravens
Patmos: Reality Discipleship
Adventure Learning Centre

For nothing is impossible with God! --Luke 1:37

2008-09-29T17:05:00.004-04:00

The hurricane made a threat of attacking our island but the Lord spared us! Other islands were not spared, the island of Inagua wasn't. So last week, the ALC sent a bunch of the staff and Patmos students down there to help repair roofs. I was part of the skeleton crew that stayed behind at the ALC.

This is an email from Meredith, one of our staff on the trip, and its an email worth sharing.

Good morning from Inagua!

What an incredible weekend!!!!!!!!!!

Looking back on the trip, it is amazing to me that we have almost completed 6 roofs. This is indeed a miracle, as none of us are roofers by trade. We also had the opportunity to do a neighborhood sweep/clean up. That also opened doors to share the gospel with people who were curious about the Americans picking up trash on their streets. God's favor has been upon us despite the heat and our inexperience. One of the families went all out to bless us as we worked on their home. From cakes to curry chicken to pleasant conversation, we have been lovingly "adopted in" to different families on the island.

Yesterday certainly was a day of needed rest and re-fueling... In the morning, we split up to attend two churches. I visited Zion Baptist, which is the church that is allowing us to sleep in their large fellowship hall. Reverend Bain exhorted the congregation to continue to celebrate, despite their situation because God is worthy of our praise all the time and has indeed spared the people from a lot over the past couple of weeks. Another group headed to the Methodist church, where many of the locals we have met attend. In the afternoon we were invited to a BBQ with John Nixon's family (he's here assisting with the government's disaster relief organization, called NEMA). He's from Inagua and his whole family came out to serve us with food and FUN. I believe some of the guys speared fish, while others played volley ball with the children or just enjoyed great company and the aqua waters of the Caribbean.

This morning, the door opened for us to go back into the schools to present a high school assembly on sexual abstinence. The message of purity and God's heart for relationship through the book of Song of Solomon was very well received by the students and teachers alike. We are also back on the roofs beginning the 7th and 8th homes, and we are eager, Lord willing, to accomplish the goal of 10 before Friday. Please continue to pray for protection, favor, and a move of God's spirit among the people here. Some are still in "shell shock" and others are just trying to make it a day at a time, rebuilding their lives. Thank you for co-laboring with us!

Rejoicing in Him,
Meredith Cravens
Patmos: Reality Discipleship
Adventure Learning Centre

For nothing is impossible with God! --Luke 1:37

PS - I've since heard two stories from those working of their shoes melting from the heat!

2008-09-10T11:19:00.000-04:00

Ramond and Eldora Canter ! Married Sept 2008 !
Eldora has been on our staff for years now. This was such a blessed day to see her get married.

2008-09-04T16:45:00.008-04:00

Hey all. Its getting windy down here. Tropical Storm Hanna just meant rain for us, I'm watching it come down right now. Its Ike that is making us afraid.

Please pray for us: if it comes, that we'd have food and water to give freely to those who will need it around us. If it doesn't, that this island will turn to the Lord from a close call. And that those areas it does hit to have everything they need and that we can help somehow.

This is a picture of Ike's projected path, right through Nassau at 8am Tuesday :(

May this be our prayer offered with a thankful heart.

Dear Lord, I thank You for this day,

I thank You for my being able to see and to hear this morning.

I'm blessed because You are a forgiving God and an understanding God.

You have done so much for me and You keep on blessing me.

Forgive me this day for everything I have done, said or thought that was not pleasing to you.
I ask now for Your forgiveness.

Please keep me safe from all danger and harm.

Help me to start this Day with a new attitude and plenty of gratitude.

Let me make the best of each and every day to clear my mind so that I can hear from You.

Please broaden my mind that I can accept all things.

Let me not whine and whimper over things I have no control over.

And give the best response when I'm pushed beyond my limits.

I know that when I can't pray, You listen to my heart.

Continue to use me to do Your will.

Continue to bless me that I may be a blessing to others. Keep me strong that I may help the weak.

Keep me uplifted that I may have words of encouragement for others.

I pray for those that are lost and can't find their way.

I pray for those that are misjudged and misunderstood.

I pray for those who don't know You intimately.

I pray for those that don't believe.

I pray for all my sisters and brothers.

I pray for each and every family member in their households.

I pray for peace, love, and joy in their homes.

I pray that they are out of debt and all their needs are met.

I pray that every eye that reads this knows there is no problem, circumstance, or situation greater than God.

Every battle is in Your hands for You to fight.

I pray that these words be received into the hearts of every eye that sees it.

2008-08-19T10:47:00.003-04:00

To my shame, I did not type out all the wonderful things that have happened this year. So these are couple of recaps of my involvement with the kids who came to the ALC this year.

About 8000 kids came through as part of their school field trip. Each heard the gospel. Only the Lord knows how many that were saved since in the Bahamian culture its normal for a child to raise his/her hand each time it was offered. Its a "Christian nation".

Most of the children I was able to reach were the ones who "challenged my patience" the most :)

With the school field trips, we only have 5 hours a year with a child. Taking driving them to our facility to teach basics in their schooling (animals, plants, planets, dinosaurs, etc) as a means to share the gospel. Those who misbehave seem to be the ones I talk with the most. Its amazing that many of those kids seem to respond back to me with love, sometimes holding my hand or hug me. We all agree that its not because they think we are easier on them but its the love of God that they see in us. One kid during summer camp proved this true.

Our Summer Camp last for 6 weeks. That's 60-80 kids who come each day for one, two, or all 6 weeks - I love having them for more than a day, you really get to build into them. In one class, a boy ask me why I didn't get angry like everyone else (= Bahamian teachers and parents spank, insult, and shout at the kids as a normal discipline for bad behavior). I told him because we love Jesus, he didn't understand and kept asking me throughout the day until he did. He made me think about it. Why do we keep our cool?

Its because of the love of God that did that same thing for you and me though we both failed and will fail to obey Him each day. He will never lose His patience with us so that He would hit, demean us with words, or even withhold His love from us. That is love!

Romans 5:8+10 were the verses that the Lord put on my heart to share with him. "But God demonstrates His own love towards us in this: while we were yet sinners Christ died for us...while we were still His enemies.." With that, I was able to share the gospel with this boy.

God has been good to me also by having great patience with me this year. He has been so good to us all!

I'll keep posting stories so please keep checking for updates. Thank you all for praying!

2008-08-07T20:17:00.002-04:00

Hey all, its been a crazy 6 weeks of summer camp. I have lots of great stories to share with you but will wait until I've rested before I set out to type them up.

I head to the States this next Monday. Actually, flying into JFK and staying in Jersey with a friend. Then visiting friends and family in Penn for a couple more days. I hope to be in Spec by that next Saturday so I can go to my home church - I miss everyone!

It will be a crazy trip so please hold me up in prayer. All of us need some physical rest and I can not wait to see my family, laugh with friends, and smell that clean air!

Thank you all for praying for our summer camp - it was blessed by the Lord!

2008-07-20T17:41:00.001-04:00

About 7 years ago, I met a wonderful group of people that I will never forget because they so impacted my walk in Christ. We were LIFT 7.

On June 19, the first of us went to see our Lord Jesus in heaven. I'm beginning to believe those of us who were left behind are a bit jealous...whether its because Eric Terhune reached the Lord first or because the Lord has him, I don't really know.

We'll miss him. For those who remember, enjoy the memories :)

2008-06-04T17:49:00.002-04:00

Please continue to pray for Rolanda. She is the girl I wrote about in an earlier post who has fears due to the sudden deaths of her parents within 24 hours.
- that she accepts Christ
- that she gets help
- that she will call me

2008-06-04T17:27:00.002-04:00

This morning, I found myself thinking on a verse that was impact full on me years ago ... seems that those old verses really never get old :)

It was Philippians 1:21 "For me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain." Simple yet so profound!

Think about it: to live on this earth without Christ is so hopeless to us who know what it means to have Him.

Many times, I've had a conversation with another believer on what life would be like without our Christ in our lives - simply hopeless and horrible! Not one person who knows Him would ever bare to be without! Isn't our God so good that He promises us that He will never leave nor forsake us! It gets better!

The last part says "and to die is gain." Gain what? Everything! Nothing evil and everything good and pure and perfect! Perfect and new bodies, heaven, our saved friends and family who died before us or even die after us, great food ;) , peace, no more pain or tears, etc, etc!

And best of all...Him! To see our Jesus! To spend eternity with the One who saved us from Hell by suffering on the cross! We really gain it all!

Let not one of us who know Jesus as our Savior forget this beautiful truth - He loves us and is coming for us soon! To live is Christ, and to die is gain!

2008-05-31T10:20:00.003-04:00

This is for laughs and to remind us that God doesn't make junk ;)

2008-05-20T16:30:00.002-04:00

These last few weeks remind me that we are not battling against flesh and blood but against the things that we don't see.

We have shared the gospel with about 9,000 kids this year, yet never have so many little distractions happened during the gospel presentation as we have had lately. Whether it's an animal doing something in the field behind us, a voice paging across the P.A. system, or guests talking loudly behind the kids, it's all been a distraction during this most important time. It's not like anyone intends to be a distraction, it just happens.

Eph 6:12 "For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places."

I'm learning that one of the biggest tricks that our enemy can do is try to make us believe that after time, the routine things we do each day don't need as much prayer as they did the first day we started. May it this on-going battle never be routine!

Please pray with me that our guests (the kids, teachers, and even parents) would accept Christ Jesus as their Savior!

2008-05-14T16:57:00.002-04:00

Prayer request:

Today we had a group of 4th graders. Eleven of them came with me all day doing our various things. In the end, after sharing the gospel, we broke into small groups for question.

One of my s asked a strange question. She asked, "If your mommy and daddy died in the same night, and you were left home alone, and someone could come into your home and hurt you, what would you do?"

My first instinct was to quickly tell the to call me and I would take her in but the Lord kept my mouth shut. I just simply answered her question prayerfully.

I didn't know why until later in the discussion. It turns out that her life was similar to that. Her dad died the day before her mom, leaving her alone. She is now living with her aunt.

She is still afraid. No kid should have to be afraid like that! I don't know any more details than that. I just hope that she keeps in touch with me since she ask for my number (I give my number out to those kids who ask for it).

Please pray for her and that I'd have God's wisdom if she should call me. Her name is Rolanda.

2008-05-01T08:05:00.002-04:00

This is a prayer request for the ALC. One of our missionaries needs prayer that he will have the funds to remain here this next year. Many of the support for our missionaries has been cut so please pray for all of us here. Its a recession year (perhaps the work of our enemy the devil) but God's work does not depend on man so please pray for Him to intercede. Thank you all for the prayers that keep all of us going.

2008-04-19T16:16:00.004-04:00

Just last night, our church's Youth Group where I'm a leader, had a lockin. From 7pm until 7am this morning we've been running around with around 50 teens. We did everything from lazer tag to movies. The women leaders played a version of basketball...I think we won. I know that we all cheated - it was more of a football game than basketball ;)

The weather has been chilly, aka 60s at night and 70s during the day. But I hear back home in NY its over 80 degrees! That's crazy! Its colder here than in snowy Speculator!

Over all, things are going well. Life goes on simply now. When I say simply, it doesn't mean without problems but steadfastly continuing on.

Many kids have come through the Centre. We hope to reach 9,000 kids at the end of this school year. That's a lot of kids who heard the gospel and a lot of prayer is needed to help those who did receive Christ to grow (hint, hint).

At one point this year, we were being robbed each week but that has stopped for a while. Totally the Lord! And I know that I mentioned how our vehicles seemed to be having problems (flat tires, etc) but even that has not stopped the work going on here. It seems as if the Lord is moving us forward steadily and not our own might because despite these things, everyone and thing moves steadfastly without stopping.

The most impacting verse on my lately is Isaiah 26:3 "The steadfast in mind You will keep in perfect peace because he trusts in You." And God never fails to keep His promises!

May that encourage you as it has me.

2008-03-24T21:27:00.003-04:00

This plain yellow bus one of our kids nicknamed our "Cheesebus" probably because he wasn't used to a yellow school bus.

The Eichelberger family helped prepare this bus for the SACD team to paint it (Savannah Art of College and Design). Its so colorful!

2008-03-23T15:10:00.000-04:00

Fun Day is just tomorrow. Please remember to pray for us. Thank you all!

2008-03-20T06:34:00.002-04:00

Today we begin the physical work for our Easter Fun Day that happens on Easter Monday.

Please pray for us. There will be so many people who will come and we want to share the gospel with all of them. These are some ways you can pray.

- that people accept Christ as their Savior
- good weather
- many people coming
- boldness for everyone
- strength (its exhausting to be in the sun from 9am until 7pm)
- safety for those on the rides and who interact with animals
- that all of our hearts would be refreshed to minister God's way and for the goal of exalting Him

Thank you all for your prayers!

2008-02-28T19:53:00.000-05:00

In the beginning of this month, I went with 13 of our teen girls to Orlando for a retreat. It was a blast. We laughed a lot and slept little.

It was on inner beauty and worth thru Christ. Many of our teens could relate, so could us leaders. No matter how old we get, I don't think we will ever really believe all that the Lord has written of His love for us...no matter how wonderfully true. How I long for that day when we will see Him and finally believe it all.

The speakers/bands were KJ52, Natalie Grant, Hawk Nelson, Jenna Lucado, and a lot of others. I guess you can say that the conference used music to reach the teens. Not a terrible thing since they paid more attention to the speakers when they sang first. But a little bit of a struggle with me since one of the bands was not solid in their speech yet was the most popular band of all of them.

Since the retreat, we have been running full force with our program at the ALC. Every day we've had 30-100 kids in! I'm beat but its great.

Some of you know Lis Weaver. She came to celebrate her birthday, staying two weeks at my place. It was like she had never left since this one of her homes. She is so good at just jumping in where needed and we really needed her help...and I just missed having her here :)

Of all the things that God has been teaching me, I feel as if all of it comes down to remembering His unconditional love. If I would only keep my eyes on Him and see that love I'd have more patience with others, let love cover over another's sins against me, do His will in His strength, even love others with that unconditional love, and so much more.

Oh, for that day when these evil things within me will pass away!

If you could pray for me, please pray for these things:
- keeping my eyes on Him and His unconditional love for me
- strength and rest in the middle of a busy season of teaching
- knowing whether I'll be here next year or somewhere else

Prayers from you all keep me safe and moving forward so please keep them coming!

Thanks all, ming

2008-02-06T20:25:00.000-05:00

Total praise! Thank you for praying for me as I searched for the car that God would "drop into my lap" because He did.
I just recently bought this car. Its a Pontiac Bonneville 1997. That's over 10 years old now but a good car.
Thank you all again for your prayers!

2008-01-31T08:04:00.000-05:00

http://www.revolvetour.com/
Hey all! I'll be away for the weekend and will need your prayers. i'm going to a conference with the teens from my church. the conference is called Revolve. this is the website for those who are interested. Pray for opportunities and for the girls to be open to all us leaders. i'll be back on Sunday. thanks.

2008-01-13T18:18:00.000-05:00

This Christmas break, I went to home to NY to see my family! It’s been 2 years since I’ve seen snow!

Lis and her mom, Ann, picked me up despite a storm that was just passing thru the area hours earlier. We got into to Spec around 6am and all fell asleep at Lis’ home.

Most of the trip, I stayed with my uncle Mike and aunt Elaine. There home is so warm to be in…especially when you sit on top of the fireplace…not joking. I missed my family in August so it was great to be there. Angela showed me all of her newest toys, for a thirteen year old that means ipod and computer games. My grandmother and my cousin, Nicky who came up from Florida, were also there for Christmas.

I spent a lot of the first few days sleeping since it was a workweek for most Speculator folks. The rest of the time was spent visiting everyone I could before I left. I didn’t get to everyone whom I had hoped too reach. At least there is email.

The day before Christmas was my first attempt at facing the cold (this three days before I left). Nicky, Mike, Angela, and I hiked up Mike’s land to see the newest tree-stand where he shot this year’s buck – a ten pointer!

Somehow…I think Angela throw the first snowball, which led to an all out war. That war led to Nicky taking Mike down! Nick is 23 now and he whitewashed his dad for the first time. Like a fool, I held the camera yet took no pictures! Now Mike calms that we all ganged up on him so for those who hear his “fable” know that Mike was beat by his son alone!

Christmas day was great. We just did the usual stuff but we were all together. I went over to the Weaver’s home for an hour to say Merry Christmas. They are a neat family. All very different from each other yet they come together and fellowship over our Savior’s birth. I do love them!

My mother is in Albany so on Christmas afternoon, my family dropped me off at her house and I stayed with her until I left on the 27.

She took me shopping the day after Christmas. I did what all good Bahamians do when they get to the States and went a little crazy looking at all those prices buying everything I could take. I think that she now believes that I’m starving over here because of all the food I bought. No worries mom, I’m well feed!

I’ve been back for about 2 weeks now but these have been some crazy weeks. I’ll tell you more about them later. Bye for now!

2008-01-10T07:53:00.000-05:00

So many things have been happening this December so I'll try and do my best to give you all the details one day at a time.

First, I have a rumor for you: in December both became pregnant though immaculate conception and had the baby Jesus :) Actually, I played pregnant Mary for one of our events.

We had a Fun Day for Christmas and it was a total success! So many people came out; about 650-700 cars with an average of 4 per car. All those people heard the gospel!

The entire Centre was lit up with Christmas lights and carolers singing as cars drove through our property. When they reached the back, there were about 8 scenes of actors. First, an introduction into the time traveling experience and a quick joke about each donkey (aka car) wearing it's name on the nose!

Jayson and I were the next scene of pregnant Mary and Joseph traveling to Bethlehem on a donkey. Well the donkey I was to ride (though lots of people helped to train her for this night) was too scared of the dark to ride. Which was fine with me to leave it behind us since every kid freaked at it, second noticed who I was, then maybe said hi to Joseph.

After us, a inn was created and the Inn keeper (Nick S) shouted that there was no room so move on. Next, a nativity with live animals, then the 3 wise men. Several scenes later, they reach the Sermon on the Mount where the gospel was shared. Then on to a witness of the resurrection and an empty cross.

God was glorified in this event. We all just praised God for weeks afterwards!

2007-12-17T00:46:00.000-05:00

As I right this, I’m in JFK airport on my second cup of coffee. A lot of things have been going in my life so I’m looking forward to getting some rest when I reach Spec. I’m taking two flights and arriving around 2am. The last flight is iffy due to bad weather in NY so this trip is already taking a little longer than I’d hoped.

At the Nassau airport, I had planned on beginning to “vacation”. Its been almost a year and a half since I have so I figured that I “deserved it” – as you can tell the Lord is showing me right away the truth that if I got what I “deserved” I wouldn’t have the blessings and grace He has given me. I don’t “deserve” anything I receive.

Anyways, in my selfish flesh, I secretly hoped that I’d get a seat alone to myself and not really talk with anyone in the airports so I’d rest more…God had other plans. Thank You Lord for Your plans are better than my own!

As soon as I got my first cup of coffee, two Bahamian men began to…be Bahamian men. I’ve learned that the best way to throw them off guard is to actually treat them like a brother. It’s strange since they expected me to go away or flirt back. They had thought I was a tourist and were shocked to learn that I lived in South Beach (the “other end of the island”) so we just had a nice talk about the island.

Then, out of the blue, one the guys asked me what I thought about religion – totally the Lord reminding me that He is in control of all situation where I am to witness! We talked for a good half hour about religion verses relationship with God. They both were “churched”.

One of the men was right on with the truths of the bible yet still believed that he was saved by his own good deeds. The other guy leaned towards dreams and those being his truth. It was just a non-offensive talk where we’ll all ended agreeing that the bible is true. Inside, I was praying they would read the bible more than seeking truth elsewhere.

Its interesting how I wanted to take a “vacation” from witnessing – humiliating to admit it but that is what the Lord has been showing me lately. Other ways to say this type of sin could be: being lazy, my rights, and my comfort above God and others.

How often do I do that? How often do I take a vacation from being a Christian? That’s what is it, right? Can I really justify that being in my life, yet I do!

I do that when I’m tired form a long day with the kids and just want to crash at home, passing by others who may need help with what is keeping them late that day. I do it even when I have very little sleep, for whatever reason, then the next day, using it to justify a bad attitude or a “fleshly moment”. So wrong!

1 Peter 2:16 “act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God.” Do I use my freedom to tune the world out for my own selfish needs?

Thoughts I ponder with the Lord in an airport.

2007-12-16T19:09:00.001-05:00

Christmas Fun Day
I played Mary. My donkey was on break during this picture.
We had about 3000 people come through and see the live nativity. Part of it was a Bahamian Jesus sharing the sermon on the mount. At the end of it a Roman solider came screaming out "He has risen!"

2007-12-11T17:15:00.000-05:00

I'm sorry that its been a long time since I've blogged anything new. Things are crazy right now but please give me another day or two and I'll try and give you some updates.

I will get into NY on December 17 and leave the 27 but I haven't decided on whether I will come into Speculator on that day or on the 20. It depends if I travel to Pennsylvania to see my nephew, Jacob. That would make Spec the 20. Its such a short time in Spec that I'm not sure what to do. I do want to see my nephew.

If you can pray for me, pray for
-safety
-rest
-visiting Jacob (maybe)
-then for enduring the cold weather of NY - its easier for me to get used to the warm weather but it takes long for the cold.

When I get into Spec (either the 17 or the 20), please call me and let me know if you'd like to spend some time together. I want to spend time with everyone who can.

Thanks so much.

Your sister in the Lord,
jenn

2007-11-08T18:07:00.000-05:00

For the last two days, we've been putting up Christmas lights here at the ALC. Lots of lights!

Today we did the Super Slide! A three story tower of lights! Its was fun but if you've ever hung up Christmas lights you know that decorating something is the easy part. The not so fun part is checking all the bulbs!

Jen Lully, Melanie McKito, Julie Parks, and I spent the day laughing over many broken bulbs and that Christmas song called the "Twelve Pains of Christmas".

Day two is the part when this dad says lots of things about stringing up the lights. As the days go on, he gets less and less patient in his tone, until he just starts saying things like:

"When one goes out, they all go out!"
"Why are they blinking!"
"Fine, you string up the lights!"

That was us today. It was really a fun day! I'll take pictures soon so you'll see our work.

2007-11-05T19:47:00.000-05:00

Well tropical storm Noel made a mess of Cuba and Andros (another Bahamian island) with all its heavy rains and winds but when it came near Nassau, didn't even touch us. I heard from someone that it reached 45 miles south of us before it turned away east.

We did get lots of rain and winds before it came but as soon as it was off shore, nothing! It wasn't even windy! That had to be the Lord listening to lots of praying people. Thank you! Please pray for those islands who were hit.

2007-11-01T14:16:00.000-04:00

Current weather 2:30 pm Thurday

2007-10-30T17:45:00.000-04:00

This is the most recent pictures I've found of our little storm. Its just a tropical storm but we're all acting as if it was a real hurricane since we are a small island and that's still a lot of wind and rain! Pray for us.

Its coming from the south and will go right over this island. If you don't already know, the ALC is in the southern part of the island.

We've weighed and tied everything possible down so it blow away, filled our bathtubs (for water to flush the toilets if the water doesn't work), bought more than enough can foods, doubled up on our drinking water reserves, and made plans on who will hangout at whomever's home for the storm.

For those who worry, I'll be fine! We joke about it but the Lord knew that we all needed rest.

2007-10-12T18:38:00.000-04:00

Today we had a Fun Day! It was a great day not because of the fun things I did but because of the lesson that the Lord taught me today.

You see, I was helping out with horse rides; just walking the horse like someone walks a dog with a leash but with someone on top. And no matter how well you train any animal, its still an animal.

The God story that I want to share happened on this day, with one of our horses, and a girl.

Lets back up.

Before the day began, I was praying so hard for the safety of every person who was to ride that day. And God was faithful, even when I later forgot that I had asked Him.

The little girl was wearing a cute yellow outfit with a cute yellow purse. I put her up on the oldest of our horses. This horse is low enough that I could hold the girl and walk around if needed. When I put her on top she had no facial expression about it at all, later I knew why. The DJ had just begun to play the song “Jesus Take the Wheel” when we started.

As we rounded the shed and tree, something spooked the horse and he bucked and bucked. I want to say he did that four times.

At first, I did what I should do, try to calm him down but then I remember the age of the girl. When I looked back, I saw that her purse hooked around the horn of the saddle and held her to the seat!

When the horse stopped, the little girl was just looking at me with that same expression, as if nothing happened. I finished the loop with my shades down over my eyes crying because of how much God was in control of everything. The song “Jesus Take the Wheel” had new meaning for me that day.

Some amazing things came to my mind from this all.

One thing was that no one but I knew it even happened because part of the view was blocked by things. And I suppose no one else was looking because not one person freaked out over a jumping horse!

Another thing was the girl’s face. I realized it later that her face was not expressionless but fully trusting in me! She never took her eyes off of me, even when she should have been thrown, I saw that her eyes had been on me the entire time! Not a cry! Not even a frown!

She trusted me when I began to walk with her, through the “ruff ride”, and all the way to the end when I put her down. She had no fear because she kept her eyes on me with her young and innocent heart. The heart of a child!

That set an example to me, in so many ways, of my walk with Christ. If I trusted Christ as that girl did me, nothing would scare me. If I came to the Lord with the heart of a child each day and not with my eyes on the problems.

And how much more is God in control of all the possible dangers around me. God was in control of that horse ride. God was in control of that entire day!

2007-10-07T21:07:00.000-04:00

2007-10-07T14:37:00.000-04:00

This is a sad day. Two of my neighborhood families are moving away (three in the last year). It's best for them. And really, anywhere but in South Beach must be safer for their kids.

Sherene, Terry, Christina, and maybe even Leon will leave today. While Dave and Jen next door to me, left last week with there kids.

Since I first came here, I've had neighbors on all sides of me watching out for each other and I loved those I've gotten to know individually. I will miss them a lot.

2007-10-02T19:22:00.000-04:00

Look back and thank God.
Look forward and trust God.
Look around and serve God.
Look within and find God!

"I asked God, 'How do I get the best out of life?' God said, 'Face
your past without regrets. Handle your present with confidence. And
prepare for the future without fear!'"
"Without God, our week is: Mournday, Tearsday, Wasteday, Thirstday,
Fightday, Shatterday and Sinday. So, allow Him to be with you every
day!"
"Life is short, so forgive quickly. Believe slowly. Love truly. Laugh uncontrollably.
Never regret anything that makes you happy. And have a
wonderful journey!!!"

I found this on a friend's blog (Tom's) and was challenged by it enough to share it with you all.

2007-10-01T19:54:00.001-04:00

Hey all! Another busy season is upon us.

The Patmos students are here and in full force. They have been suffering the death of self for the last month or so. Its hard to watch them suffer but when I hear of how the Lord has used it to change them, I know its all worth it.

For the past month, I've been with the kids (field trips) each day. Only one day was stopped by the rain but they came later that week. Please keep praying, the storms may not be hurricanes but they are sending a lot of water!

When it rains here, the water really has no where to go. There are no sewers because we're at sea level. The rain just seems to stay around causing lots of flooding and mud. Very different than Speculator!

Lately, I have been kinda homesick. If you know me, you know that this doesn't really happen...ever! Its been over a year now since I've seen NY. I miss seeing the mountains, swimming in water that doesn't sting your eyes, sand that washes off your body, watching people drive up to the Sunrise Dinner for their daily cup of coffee, and I even miss seeing animals that are bigger than me cross the road quickly (as if there would ever be traffic in Speculator on any day other than the 4th of July!).

I especially miss my family and friends there, even the memories of times gone past. I can picture my grandma on the roof of her home shoveling snow! And a last chance talk about Christ with a man who died. Drinking raspberry ginger ale with Stacy and my sister, Pauline, we laughed so hard that we couldn't walk!

I could talk about old memories forever but there are more to come. Memories I've made here. Of Sam and Carrie, the two girls who had nothing but each other yet changed my life. I could tell you of this past Saturday, when all the Youth Group went together to Rose Island to hangout. Of tieing up the Youth pastor and burring him in the sand.

And what about at the Centre! Of the many kids who came through those gates and heard the gospel! The hard but awesome times of teaching without words love to the hardest and most disobedient kids.

Time seems to go bye so fast. Maybe I'm just getting old - I will be 30 next year! But I'm seeing how much value is in those around me. That means missing those not near yet not wanting to leave those who are near.

I take comfort in knowing that in heaven, we'll all be together. What a reunion that will be! Jesus will be there and so will so many others.

That is why I am here. Not for my own desires. Not to please those around me. Because I want to see more of those I meet here on earth to be with me in heaven. That is what God wants. That is what I want. I think I needed to write that down, for the world to read, in order to remind myself.

Thanks for reading it along with me.

2007-09-13T07:55:00.000-04:00

Hey all! Its been a little slow here so that's why there haven't been any updates.
Basically, I've been working along side the other teacher here learning new lessons that we'll teach this year. Its been a great time of getting to bond with each other.

As for the weather this hurricane season, nothing has impacted us at all. We've just had one thunderstorm after another for two weeks now. Even losing power from it all. There was a problem with our phones being down for around 4 days. Most here believe that it was lightning that struck one of our buildings and caused that mess. A very expensive mess from the sounds of it. Well, at least it didn't hit the planetarium again! That's a much bigger "mess".

The Lord has been teaching me a lot lately, mostly in regards to how lazy I can get. Please pray for me as I seek what it means to deny self in regards to this. I don't want to...which is why I really should seek it!

I'm trying to memorize all of Romans 6. Its harder than I thought. Its a challenge from a friend that I know that I need to do. Memorizing scripture is one of those things that really helps me remember why I'm here, who I am, and why I do what I do. Sometimes these things can be forgotten in the busyness and I don't want to forget that.

Anyway, I'm done rambling. Thanks for reading and keep praying, its a real spiritual war that we fight. And thanks be to God that I don't need to fight with weapons but with His word and His power working through me even when I fail Him. God is so good to me! Amen!

2007-08-20T19:12:00.000-04:00

This is hurricane Dean, it didn't hit us but did hit Jamaica and other countries south of us. Please pray for them.

We only got some weird weather; freak storms, extreme winds, and then total stillness. The power went out a few times also. Nothing bad.

Thanks for praying for us down here.

2007-08-12T14:21:00.000-04:00

This is the end of the summer pictures. So many memories of so much God did with these kids and us. Thanks for following along through prayer.

2007-07-29T15:37:00.000-04:00

Vainity of vainities . That's what my hair was. Lis and I just chopped off a bunch of it because it was an idol in my life that had to be taken seriously.

2007-07-28T19:19:00.000-04:00

Yesterday was a day to remember...at least for me.

This is my journal entry. I do hope that you can see (and never forget again) that is able to do more than I could ever ask or imagine when I'm ready to admit that I can not do it...at all!

***context: i journal the Friday morning after a very hard day (Thursday). it was a day where the problems were too many and there was no way of getting around them happening again. i just wanted to call in sick or quit...i saw no other way out. it was pretty bleak because my eyes were off Jesus and on the trials. i'll skip writing about that Thursday, go past even the crying, and into after getting into the Word.

July 27, Friday
Psalm 110- Jesus! I know nothing! All these issues are beyond me! Beyond anything I can produce. I have no wisdom in it, I have no strength, no desire, no patience, no ability but what I have in You! In You is all I need, give all that to me because I don't even see how I can make it. Tell me what to do Lord and help me to do it!

Friday's events - Today, I waited on a miracle. Everything else (problems that would come up or of yesterday) didn't even phase me because God was going to do something. What that miracle was, I'm not sure since a hundred and one may have happened today. The biggest one, I believe, was the Lord giving me a day of joy despite all the problems. When problem came up, I was not afraid because God was up to something!
The first test was in the cakes that wouldn't cook - the oven ran out of gas. God fixed that and no one noticed! Then I finished my paperwork before work this morning (me being four days behind in it) despite how little sleep I have last night (up until midnight and up at 5am this morning). Then I sent a long email to **** with concerns and requests for problems that came up yesterday.
Another test came up when I needed to return quick from shopping but had "volunteered myself " for two extra trips that added themselves to my already busy trip. But God helped me (and I had no attitude about it - which is another way He helped me) to have those stops go quickly. Even providing a boy at the store to help me shop. I had 3 carts of food! That boy and another were such a help to me! That's the Lord!
One of the boys said that he enjoyed helping me shop. I knew that anything good that came out of me was of God and I rejoiced in how His character was seen in me to that boy. That's another miracle!
Mich helped me unload some of the food so I could get back quickly. Total blessing!
Eddy was able to help me pickup something I forgot for dinner. Total blessing also!
Despite Lis {my roommate} being sick, I haven't been effected by it yet. God has kept me going....
....Can I not see how there were many miracles done today!?! From my attitude change to helping me get everything done to overcoming obstacles to safety to blessings to joy today to help to do it all to health to patience to love to strength to even a working vehicle {something that has been a problem lately}. There are many more and I know it! These are the miracles that stick out to me today!

Its Saturday and now I look back at it and know that God just wanted me to admit that I needed everything from Him. He wanted me at the edge of myself to see that on Him is where my eyes need to be, where I need to find my strength, where there is real hope and power.

Oh, if only every day was like these...where I'm so overwhelmed with trials that I need to fall on my face before my one and only God!

2007-07-26T23:29:00.000-04:00

Week 4 and still going! Please continue to pray for us since we are half way with this summer.

These kids are writing thank you cards to God for what they have :)

2007-07-22T12:52:00.000-04:00

Week 3 of Summer Camp! Its been a blast!

2007-07-14T13:31:00.000-04:00

2007-07-14T13:23:00.000-04:00

2007-07-11T21:09:00.000-04:00

Summer Camp is going well but please keep praying for us. We're in a spiritual battle here. Our battle is not against flesh and bone but against rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

This second week of camp has really brought this truth to light. I do feel as if we are all in a battle here. Each person is at their tolerance level of stress. Whether the stress is heavy responsibilities or the heat or even a "right" to surrender, each person feels the battle this week. A battle to surrender all and to trust God though things don't yet look as it was planned.

Please pray for me/us in these areas:

-unity/love for one another (not to shoot our own in this battle)

-that we'd pray together more when we're off of work (not merrily when told to pray)

-that any discomforts might be surrendered (heat, tiredness, etc)

-healing for those who are sick or going into surgery

-wisdom for leadership from God

-submission towards our leaders because we trust God

I do believe that if I did all these things, then I can minister to these kids and see fruit.

Enjoy these pictures from this week.

2007-07-08T21:23:00.000-04:00

These are some of our summer camp pictures for this past week.

2007-06-24T20:45:00.000-04:00

This is Lis, me, and Danielle - were roommates for the summer. They are both counselors.

The single picture of Lis in an airplane is due to the fact that she has never been on another person's blog before...so now she will feel special. :)

On the stairs: Candi, Lisette, and I chatting.

Painting a mural for one of the walls for summer camp: Elsie, Samantha, and Jen Lully.

This last picture is one of the finished murals. It was the combined work of all of the teaching staff.

2007-06-24T20:14:00.000-04:00

Hey all! Things are going well here. The planning has finally ended and summer begins for us tomorrow with training week for our staff. It will be a blast!

Just leaving you with a few pictures.

This one is of me doing the dreaded "paperwork" ahahahahhahahah!

This is Samatha (aka Claudia) and Lis.

2007-06-19T20:10:00.000-04:00

hey all, i've been busy helping Laura D with summer camp food stuff so i'm sorry its been awhile since i've written much.

Program days are over; no more field trips with may kids to reach with the gospel. summer camp is here...at least for us who are involved with it.

there are just so many things to do to get ready before training week begins next Monday. we've been decorating the bible classroom to show all sorts of climates around the world. from Mount Fuji to the jungles of Africa to the plains of the Sahara Desert. it beautiful! everyone has so worked hard on it.

for those in Canada...i'm sorry that we will not be teaching anything about your country. its just not that special . but we love you all anyway and wish that you all could be here with use this summer.

keep reading this blog and it will (Lord willing) be like you were here too. love ya all.
jenn

2007-06-01T20:00:00.000-04:00

Lis came for the summer!

2007-05-29T12:00:00.000-04:00

Summer camp is almost upon us and you know what that means... its not as cold as you all have up north but it will be really hot. Summer Camp also means poison wood, lots of sun, and, of course, great food...me being the food planner,

I do hope it will be good ;)

But seriously, summer camp is coming and I need your prayers. I'm helping out with food planning, buying, and (I think) prep this summer. Its going to be a stretch for me but a good one. Its also probably going to be a real hot summer and I do hate heat (so please pray that I'll have a good attitude while in a hot kitchen. For those who know me, you know that my attitude is best when I'm icing cakes in the freezer rather than over a hot grill.)

Summer camp is always a blessing. And kids lives will always be impacted because His Word will not come back void. Pray for those opportunities to come, where His Words can be shared with these kids one-on-one and by the lives of those who speak it to the kids.

Summer camp runs from July 2 to August 10. Six weeks to reach each of these 80 kids a week!

Thanks for all the prayers! ming

2007-05-27T20:17:00.000-04:00

The elections died down fast! a few days after the vote, things were back to normal...that is, Bahamian normal.

Since then, my brother has come to visit me here. we went almost everywhere "touristy" and some places not so touristy (like the bat caves). these are some of his pictures.

None of the pictures i have of us both are flattering to me so you'll just have to settle for my brother's mug on these pics for a little bit.

It was just great to have him here seeing what i do every day. that itself is the best gift he gave me.

2007-05-27T20:00:00.000-04:00

I say this even though its not Friday because we have a extra ordinary week. Monday is a national holiday here in the Bahamas; Memorial Day. And come to think of it, this next Friday is also an national holiday; Labor Day. Weird but true. It is some well needed rest for us. Keep prayin for me, please.
your sister in the Lord,
ming

2007-05-01T21:49:00.000-04:00

Things have been a little crazy around me lately. I'm still learning whats up and whats down with the new things I'm doing at the ALC.

But what you may find interesting is the recent elections down here in the Bahamas.

They get a little carried away with elections. Its a little bit like Junkino (the festival of dancing and parades that celebrates the culture). Its fun for awhile but the issues that should be the focus sometimes get left behind in all the fun.

This is how it works: there are four parties but two that are "real parties". The FNM and the PLP. They have all sorts of rallies for the month before election and all ages come to enjoy rooting for their party.

They each have their trademark color; red for FNM and the PLP orange.

Its getting carried away with "party rooting" so many of us cannot wait until after Wednesday's vote. Going as far as throwing things and a bullet hole in a building.

A funny quote that I've heard from two kids, neither of them more than 6 years old, one even danced while she said it, and on separate occasions was "I'm voting for the....! Who are you voting for?" It really doesn't matter which party it was, just that they were convinced that the election is a cheering competition!

Maybe you had to be there to fully laugh at them but I thought it quote worthy non the less!

PS notice the little girl on the bottom of this picture at this late night rally?

But in all seriousness, please pray for those who will be elected. These people are over us and will help or hinder us in this ministry. God is over them but He uses the faithful prayers of righteous people to do much. Please pray for us.

2007-04-21T14:50:00.000-04:00

These are some pictures that I meant to get blogged a few months ago. They are of the barn loft construction - a prayer request from November and December.

This loft used to be a two bedroom, one bath, and one sitting room appartment. If you had seen it, you'd have understood why it needed to be changed.
With the animals below, it caused bugs and all sorts of noises for those who lived up there.
Now its beautiful! We use it as a classroom for the Patmos students and a staffroom for us. Its airconditioned, beautifully furnished, has the internet, TV, and a small kitchenet. We all love it. Thanks for all your prayers that we'd be able to do these changes.

2007-04-15T19:32:00.000-04:00

These are things that I have been praying about for myself that I'd like you all to pray for me also:

- that the Lord will provide me with a car (I've gone without one for over a year now and been totally happy not to have that burden {aka - "a hole in the road that I throw money into" } but I also see a need for one. Even in discipling young girls). Pray that the Lord will send one that is not a lemon, there aren't really those kind of laws here.

- for wisdom in buying a digital camera. Yes, I'm braking down and buying one. I do love film but there are so many times where I really wished that I had one so that I could show you all who read my blog pictures of what I've been doing here.

- and last, wisdom with how to use my vacation time in the next two years. I will come to my home in NY, that's a given. But part of me has always wanted to return to the WOL Bible College in Hungary (some of you know that I went on a mission trip there three years ago) and I have good friends here in Nassau that are going there for the next two years. If the Lord wills, I'd like to visit them within that time.

As you can tell, these are all money prayer requests. The funds are there but I need wisdom to use it wisely. Pray for me please as I seek to use His money for His ministry.

2007-04-05T22:33:00.000-04:00

Well, as usual, God and I don't think alike. What He plans is not what I've planned and neither are His ways my ways. But, praise the Lord, His plan is better and far more wonderful than I could have imagined!

For those who are clueless, another aspect to my job has been added. I'm also teaching program again! I'm not complaining at all but rejoicing that I can teach again!

Its totally God's timing!

As you've been reading, I'm a little stressed and seeking prayer to overcome my fear of "paperwork" (administration stuff - silly, I know). Normally at this point, another task would probably crush me but I do miss teaching. And the joy of being able to teach again far out-weighs the pressure I should be feeling.

But just to let you know, its not me!

Today was all about God...these last three days have been all about God. Yes, I've struggled but God has done so much and I can not help but boast in His works tonight as I reflect on today.

Yesterday, I was given a few extra tasks that would consume my thoughts and time. Then today, more things. I really wanted to give up and just tell my boss that its just too much for me...that I'm just not able to do it all. Then I remembered God.

After a little prayer, He reminded me that He gave me these tasks and not my boss. That means that He too has given me the ability to do them. He doesn't expect more of me than He has given me the ability to do but will supply all I need to do them.

With that little bit (very little) of faith, I set out to do what I was asked to do. And the best of my ability, I did all I was to do. Nothing was forgotten or not supplied for me. Even down to the last pepper.

Though, there was one thing.....but I think the many prayers of many righteous people were praying against me accomplishing one task...finding worms on this island...you really don't want to know what they were for so don't ask.

Praise God that He has chosen a place for me that is so fun to be apart of.

2007-04-03T21:12:00.000-04:00

Well the last time I wrote a blog, I was just getting my feet wet and totally depending on the Lord with regards to my new job. Now, I'm even more depending on Him...and majorly stressed. Added to feeding Patmos, I'm feeding Program. Not that its as high maintenance but just more to overcome when it comes to my fear of "paperwork".

Yes, I'm still nervice with official stuff but I really think these new tasks are God's way of making me not afraid. Which is good, just not fun :)"You will keep in perfect peace, he whose mind is steadfast on You, because he trusts in You." Is 26:3

I'm learning that this peace is best learned when in great trials because I have no where to look for help but to Him.

2007-04-01T20:07:00.000-04:00

Hey all, I do hope you don't think that I spend all of my time at the beach. For those who wonder, let me tell you what I've been up to these past few weeks.

In February, I was switched from helping at the Centre to helping over at the Camp. Lots of missionary groups came through, including just under a 100 8th graders who came over a 2 week period. They were from Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale and they worked hard all over this island.

Some days they helped us out with work projects here at the Centre and the Camp. Other times, they were at some of the poorer schools playing with the children and cleaning up their school yard - which is lined with paper and glass trash. They worked so hard and in the evenings gathered and talked. Almost every teen was impacted by their ministry opportunities in ways that they wanted to change things within their lives when they got home. It was great to see and be apart of what God was teaching them.

Other groups came and I was blessed so much to be apart of their ministries.

On March 18, I traveled to Orlando to see my nephew, Jacob. He lives in Penn and I haven't seen him since his mother's funeral so it was a special visit. No heavy things to talk about, no pressure, just time with him.

His foster family are old friends of mine so it was a blessing to be with them and chat over things.

As soon as I returned, my job at the ALC changed again. I like that I'm changing, its really teaching me of how I need to depend on the Lord and not myself to do things...after all, I never know what I'm about to do until I do it.

The new job is food service. I'm doing some prep work for the Patmos food, shopping for all the food, and planning the menu. Its right up my alley but difficult because I need to fill out forms...those who know me well know that I hate paperwork (admistration as some call it). Its actually a fear of mine so I am out of my comfort zone.

For those who pray, please pray that the Lord will help me to learn and not fear it. It's a silly fear but so is stage-fright. I don't want that fear to stop me from doing what I know God wants me to do...or to hinder me from doing a good job.

I'm extremely thankful for all those here who have supported me as I try and learn new things. Its amazing how much I really need those around me to support me even in the little things each day.

The passage that talks about God's ways not being my ways, and God's thoughts are not my thoughts has been a passage that continues to pop up in my thoughts. I see it everyday and I'm thankful that it is true. Who am I that I should think God is to do things my way...I know so very little and God knows all things...I see very little but nothing is hidden from His sight...I am in control of nothing but God has total sovereignty over all and will cause good to even come out of evil. Who am I but the one who is at awe with His plan that is slowly something that He is showing me as I seek to confess my sins to Him each day.

God is good. What more is there to say!

2007-03-17T11:51:00.000-04:00

Hey all! Sorry that its been a long time since I've written in this blog (my internet has been down). Things have been crazy. If the Lord allows me, next week I'll right tons of things that have happened within the last month.
But right now, I'm about to leave the country for a couple of days. Florida to see my nephew Jacob! He is traveling with his foster family, friends of mine, to visit their family and go to Disney. They invited me to join them so I'll spend hours in line with Jacob! How I've missed him so.
Jacob is my sister's son. The sister who died last September.
Pray for my travels and time with him.
My mom and brother are also planning on traveling up to Orlando to see us both. It will be a great trip.
Write you soon.

2007-02-25T20:35:00.000-05:00

Most of you know (though I may not have mentioned it much in these blogs) that I'm a leader in my church Youth Group.

In a typical Friday night, we first spend time socializing, then proceed upstairs to the Youth Room. Its a room painted by the teens...very colorful...I helped. We sing a few songs before the Youth Pastor, Terence, opens the word and preaches something that usually convicts me (lately we've been going through Jonah and also talking a lot about giving grace to others). And after all that, we break into our smaller groups and have discussions. I was blessed with the 11-12 grade girls group.

These are the teens that will be out of Youth Group soon and they will make their own choices when that happens. Things like reading their bible, going to church, witnessing, and discipleship could soon be the furthest thing from their minds when the problems of the world start really hit them. Please pray that their faith is truly their own walk of faith so that they will seek God when they are on their own.

We've talked about everything under the sun and still seem to hit a wall of being real with each other. The Lord has been so challenging me with being real and open with others lately. I haven't been the best testimony of this to them but I now that I see this within myself, I hope to be that example that they need. Please pray for us.

2007-02-21T20:10:00.000-05:00

Last Sunday, I shared my testimony in church...infront of all the church. And though I was terrified, I knew the Lord has done so much for me and just had to share that with those I worship with. This is what I shared.

Before I knew Jesus, I was one who willfully knew of Jesus' love on the cross and yet hate God anyway. I willfully chose drunkenness, immorality, slander, abusive speech, anger, and bitterness towards everyone but mostly Christians. Christians because I knew God cared about them and my real desire was to hurt God somehow by hurting them. I blamed God for my parents divorce which led to more pains in my life. I was filled with self...I was a walking dead person and longed for the pain of life to be over - suicidal.

But really it wasn't God's fault, since He is perfect. Its sin that hurt me so. Sin seeks to kill and destroy us. I now see sin for what it really is; gross and leading only to death. The sin I now see in me (mostly pride, which is the seldom seen killer) makes me sick because I know that for it Jesus suffered and died on the cross. Because of my own sin today, I suffer and so do those whom I love around me.

But God gave me the power to overcome that sin. I am dead to it and now hidden with Christ in God.

God broke me in 1998. My own sin brought me to a place far ways from anything I knew and God made me realize that what I had in life really wasn't so bad. God shattered all the lies I believed and so shattered who I was trying to be. Broken and admitting that my way was the wrong way, at the right time, God placed Christians in my life. Dec 1, 1998, I accept Jesus. And my life has never been the same.

Colossians 3:1-7
"Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.
Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come on the sons of disobedience, and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them."

2007-02-20T19:28:00.000-05:00

Life is all about surrendering to God...there is nothing else so important as that!

Surrendering all things to Him for He is able to handle what we thought we could in our own strength.

I've surrendered everything I can think of tonight; from my thoughts to what I own. Its all His anyway, its just my heart catching up with reality/truth.

Now I can say "Yes, Lord!" to all I read.

Romans 12 has impacted me most...it just covers everything I can think of in life. To say "Yes, Lord!" to all He says is to have real freedom in Christ!

Romans 12:1-21
Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
And do not be conformed to this world: but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, and you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
For I say, through the grace that was given me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think as to think so as to have sound judgement, as God has dealt to each man a measure of faith.
For even as we have many members in one body, and all the members have not the same function:
so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
And having gifts differing according to the grace that was given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of our faith;
or ministry, let us give ourselves to our ministry; or he who teaches, to his teaching;
or he that exhorts, to his exhorting: he that gives, let him do it with liberality; he that leads, with diligence; he that shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil; cling to that which is good.
In love of the brethren be tenderly affectioned one to another; in honor preferring one another,
not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;
rejoicing in hope; persevering in tribulation; devote to prayer;
contributing to the needs of the saints; given to hospitality.
Bless them that persecute you; bless, and curse not.
Rejoice with them that rejoice; weep with them that weep.
Be of the same mind one toward another. Set not your mind on high things, but associate with the lowly. Be not wise in your own estimation.
Render to no man evil for evil. Take thought for things honorable in the sight of all men.
If it be possible, as far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.
Avenge not yourselves, beloved, but give place unto the wrath of God: for it is written, Vengeance belonged unto me; I will repay, says the Lord.
But if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him to drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head.
Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

2007-02-08T21:12:00.000-05:00

Dear child,

If you never felt pain,

then how would you know that I am a Healer?

If you have never prayed through,

how would you know that I am a Deliverer?

If you never had a trail,

how could you call yourself an overcomer?

If you never made a mistake,

how would you know that I am forgiving?

If you knew all,

how would you know that I will answer your questions?

If you were never in trouble,

how would you know that I will come to your rescue?

If you never were broken,

how would you know that I can solve them?

If you never had any suffering,

then how would you know what I went through?

If you never went through the fire,

then how would you become pure?

If I gave you all things,

how would you appreciate them?

If I never corrected you,

how would you know that I love you?

If you had all power,

then how would you learn to depend on Me?

If your life was perfect,

then what would you need Me for?

- God

2007-01-31T18:48:00.000-05:00

Something I found based on James 1:2-5, Phil 2:14, etc.

Do not give up on God when you are within a trial by complaining against it, even within your heart. But if you look to the promises of God that you will be better due to the trial, then you will have joy.

Know that you are in the trial because you lack in some area that you probably don't see yet. You've even prayed for the result of the trial, though not for this trial specifically. The result will come only after it is over because only in this trial could God teach you what you need to hear and how you will be able to change.

Trials come before frustration. You will have frustrations but do not give in to them but preserver through it until you are broken because of it! Because only in brokenness are you ready and able to clearly hear the voice of God.

No one likes the process of brokenness but all will agree that the results are well worth it.

2007-01-30T18:21:00.000-05:00

Writing yesterday of what scripture has been saying to me, really lifted my spirit so I decided to write again today.

All I'm doing is reading a chapter with specific verses on who I am in Christ. I've been in 2 Corinthians 5 for a bit now.

The verses 18 and 19 are where it tells of how we are reconciled to God and now made ministers of reconciliation. To me that means that I am a peace maker; one who knows how to make peace, one who know first hand real peace, one who is at peace with God. It also means that I am a messenger of God.

I am at peace with God and to bringing His peace to others. And that all believers have peace with God and are to offer His peace to others.

Its just like God to use us, who were once His enemies, to offer His peace to others. He redefines the way we think things should be done and proves that only He is good!

2007-01-29T18:32:00.000-05:00

The last blog entry I sent out was so long ago and so much has happened since.

First, I'm a grandmother! For those who have been faithful friends you know that I have many pets here and I treat them like my children. One being a pet chicken named ChickyChick. Well, ChickChick had her eggs a few weeks ago and now is the proud mother hen of six chicks! They are so adorable that when people heard that the snakes we hungry, almost everyone made sure that they were not to be "snake food". That is, everyone but the person who needs to feed the snakes.

Also, I have two and a half roommates! Ashley is part of Patmos and has signed on for the year. Katie is a student of Patmos while also on staff doing filming of Patmos. The half roommate is Mia. She is totally my roommate but has been away on another mission trip for two weeks of her three weeks here. Its also a prayer request that she'd be able to stay in Nassau. Her apartment in Florida was to be rented out for her to afford to be here as a volunteer but it fell through just after she arrived.

Lis's visit was a breath of fresh air! The Lord knew that I needed her to be here and I think she also needed to be here. Its awesome how the Lord orchestrates what we need when we need it. He is good all the time!

Though I just got back from Florida, I'm already making plans to return in March. Turns out that my nephew, Jacob, and his foster family will be in Florida on vacation. I haven't seen him since his mother's funeral so this is a special trip for me. Its hard to see him when I'm on break since he lives in Pennsylvania and I'm usually in upstate NY.

The first weekend back, my Youth Group had its Winter Retreat. Chara and I were in a cabin together along with 10 teens and young college students. Pastor Chet spoke on purity. The Lord gave him the wisdom to put it in a way that did not turn them off of it but really hit them at where they needed to hear it most. At one point, he had Jenn and Michelo Lully act out the Song of Solomon! The part where they are in the forest but then realize that its wrong so he jumps up and runs. It was very funny to watch but a great way to show that waiting until marriage is because of real love. Due to answered prayer, Pastor Chet will take these same lessons of purity into a couple of high schools this winter. This nation's teens really needs to hear about purity!

The Patmos program is well underway. They have all survived week one and are willing to continue with the rest of their time. I don't know if I'm allowed to tell you what they've been doing so I won't. Just know that they have been stretched beyond all they thought they would and they have grown closer to the Lord through it.

God has been good to me also. I've been blessed with so much and see how I take it for granted but His mercies endure forever. That has been hitting me lately: how gross I am with all I do wrong even after being a Christian yet His love and faithfulness does not end or even lessen for me.

One passage that has been impacting me lately is 2 Corinthians 5. All of it is great but the last verse has hit me most of all. Verse 21 "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." How awesome is the love of God that He would let sin (that gross stuff that hurts us and those we love) be on Himself.

I've been watching Patmos students go through many challenges with this same lesson. They are doing physical labor challenges that take the burden off one person and put in on another. One person learns the meaning of carrying another's burden, as Christ did for us. While the other person learns what it really means to be carried by another; humility just to be helped, dependence, compassion, love, respect, and suffering with the person because you caused suffering in that person.

What Jesus did for us, we will never fully know but what little we know is enough to give all our life to Him.

2007-01-07T19:41:00.000-05:00

December was a whirlwind! With all the things happening this is my first moment to breathe and tell you what's been going on.
The first two weeks of this month have been packed with school kids coming. Each day we had two to three classes of 20-30 kids in each. All of us were running on God's power. So many heard the gospel!
One day was different than all the rest, it was one of my favorite days of being here. We had 18 kids of all ages and they were all deaf. A some of them could hear a little bit due to a hearing aid but most could. I never realized how much I depended on my hearing to teach. From the animal noises to the train horn we had to be inventive.
They so loved everything they saw though most of it scarred them so much. The once "loud" donkey spooked several girls when they didn't hear the donkey running towards them but felt it touch them as if to say 'its snack time'.
May I never take for granted the blessing of hearing things...even annoying noises!
The week before Christmas, a bunch of us helped prepare one of the buildings that you've been praying that we'd get done. It is done! We had help from Florida and spent many hours painting ceilings and bunkbeds. A wall was put up and it made another room. Now 12 women who are coming to be Patmos students will have somewhere to sleep when they get here on the 21nd of January.
We also worked on another building for the 10 men to sleep. They don't have the comforts of the women's apartment but when we are able to finish the perment cottages for the students, they'll have their home. Though with all that the program puts them through, I don't think they'll spend much time resting!
Christmas Day, I spent with the Lowe family. How Andrea Lowe does all that she does every day of the week, I will never know! The family has 9 kids; 6 are under 13 and 3 are out of school. With all that kids do, demand, need, and want I don't know if I could handle it half as well as Andrea does. God bless all you mothers who have more than one child!
Two days after Christmas, I went to Florida to see my family. This was the first year that most of my family was down south rather than up north for Christmas. So for Christmas, I saw everyone but my mom and grandmother.
They were all on vacation so we "did the tourist thing" and saw lots. From the zoo to Universal Studios. It was fun because even when we were all stuck in line waiting an hour to ride a 5 minutes ride, my family was with me.
My brother Paul, my uncle Mike, and I went to see the movie "Blood Diamond". Normally, its not the kind of movie I watch due to the rating but it was recommended to me by someone who lived it. I hope to write an entry soon on what my thoughts were after seeing it.
Sunday, I got home, unpacked, and ignored the phone - not smart. I had made plans to attend Junkenoo (an all night cultural parade in the Bahamas) but thought that it was Monday night. Nope! It was Monday morning at 2am!
Laura, Darren, Leon, Chris, and I went out for the night and watch Junkenoo. The costumes were beautiful! They are all made of cardboard, paint, paper, and junk but with great talent they became a pirate ship, fish, birds, 20 foot hats, and other things going with the theme. Dancers from ages 7 to 50 were out. And the bands played so loud that the seats vibrated!
Its a competition with different groups from all over the Bahamas. And the fans are as zealous for their groups as we are for our favorite basketball team in the States. And for those who follow it, Saxons won this year. I like Roots.
Many other things have been happening and I'll try and send out a newsletter soon. Thanks for reading and praying faithfully.

2006-12-19T20:51:00.000-05:00

For those who don't know, I'm not coming to Speculator for Christmas. Instead of a white Christmas, I'll have a green and rainy one here in Nassau. I'm spending Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with friends. Most of my family will be in Florida so I'll go over just after the holiday to see them.
May you be blessed in whatever home you are in this Christmas. And may it be about Jesus our Christ who is the reason for Christmas.

2006-12-14T18:18:00.000-05:00

20 Ways to Maintain a Healthy Level of Insanity

1. At Lunch Time, Sit In Your Parked Car With Sunglasses on and point a Hair Dryer At Passing Cars. See If They Slow Down.

2. Page Yourself Over The Intercom. Don't Disguise Your Voice.

3. Every Time Someone Asks You To Do Something, Ask If They Want Fries with that.

4. Put Your Garbage Can On Your Desk And Label It "In."

5. Put Decaf In The Coffee Maker For 3 Weeks. Once Everyone has Gotten Over Their Caffeine Addictions, Switch to Espresso.

6. In The Memo Field Of All Your Checks, Write "For Smuggling Diamonds"

7. Finish All Your sentences with "In Accordance With The Prophecy."

8. Don t use any punctuation

9. As Often As Possible, Skip Rather Than Walk.

10. Order a Diet Water whenever you go out to eat with a serious face.

11. Specify That Your Drive-through Order Is "To Go."

12. Sing Along At The Opera

13. Go To A Poetry Recital And Ask Why The Poems Don't Rhyme

14. Put Mosquito Netting Around Your Work Area And Play tropical Sounds All Day.

15. Five Days In Advance, Tell Your Friends You Can't Attend Their Party Because You're Not In The Mood.

16. Have Your Co-workers Address You By Your Wrestling Name, Rock Bottom.

17. When The Money Comes Out The ATM, Scream "I Won!, I Won!"

18. When Leaving The Zoo, Start Running Towards The Parking lot, Yelling "Run For Your Lives, They're Loose!!"

19. Tell Your Children Over Dinner. "Due To The Economy, We Are Going To Have To Let One Of You Go."

20. And The Final Way To Keep A Healthy Level Of Insanity.......Send This List To Someone To Make Them Smile

It's Called! Therapy.

2006-12-12T17:18:00.000-05:00

Today was a special day! We had 24 kids and not one of them could hear as we do. They are from a deaf school designed to prepared them for public school. They were some of the most wonderful kids!

Everything was new and excitingly scary. They respected each other better than many sixth graders we've had, these kids being from age 4 to 13.

I learned a few more signs so I could communicate simple things like sit, touch, don't touch, and I love you. We even explained to these little kids why a pigeon was inside the snake cage!

Laura presented the gospel well. It came down to a few simple true statements and John 3:16.

I tried to not speak any words all day. It was in hope that I wouldn't forget and think they could hear me. It taught me a lot about deaf people.

I watched and learned that there were things that I hadn't thought about. How you can not talk with someone if your riding a horse...you need two hands to talk with. You cannot scream or laugh to communicate excitement or fear...but you could bang on something and feel the vibrations. When something comes up from behind you, there is no way you could ever know it was there...we so relay on sound. When your talking with someone, no noise can distract you from them...even the bus pulling up while the speaker is sharing the gospel.

Little things like this really made me grateful that God gave me ears that hear, eyes that see, and feet that walk.

2006-12-10T16:50:00.000-05:00

This is a copy of my newest newsletter.

Greetings from Nassau, Bahamas!

Dear Friends,
Thank you for all your prayers! Thanks for all who have sent me emails telling me of how you've been praying for me at certain times, I know that those moments were prompted by the Lord because I've needed them. Many of you know how the Lord had been taking things away from me but now He has been challenging me to balance my emotions while still dealing with my sister's death. I've had to cling to Him for emotional dependence each morning, or I'd just submit to random emotional outbursts. I do believe that those times of taking things away were preparing me for this challenge, and later, for other character building challenges that He has in store for me.

Lord has provided so many opportunities for me to really talk with the kids on what it means to know Christ. One of the overwhelming lies of Satan that I've heard, has been the lie that once someone believes in Christ and sins after this acceptance, they lose their salvation. This tells me that these kids believe: salvation is gained by doing good things, by using the "right words" you get forgiven of a sin, and that Christ's death was not enough to save them. These are contrary to the gospel (Hebrews 7:25-27)! Not all of those that I've spoken with believe this but it seems to be one of the greater hindrances in understanding what the Gospel is.
A recent example would have to be Thursday's Adventure Club (outreach where we bring the ALC into the schools). I shared the gospel plainly and asked for any questions. Out of six girls, three had the same question but different examples. One asked plainly whether you go to heaven or not if you don't ask for forgiveness for killing someone. It seemed like her way of measuring "grace" to see if the worst of sins would be covered by the cross.
We got into a discussion about how Jesus paid it all. Then into how being a Christian works (Holy Spirit prompting goodness) and how we don't want to do what we know is wrong because we love Jesus who saved us from our sin. My fear is that good works has been so firmly planted into their lives through teaching them to behave, that they now believe that it is what saves them.
Please pray for these kids and that as I share the Gospel, the Lord is the One speaking through me because only He knows what condition their hearts are in.

Updating last month's prayer request for the Camp, the Centre, and Patmos, I can tell you that prayers have helped greatly. A large donation of $25,000 has been offered if it can be matched; meaning for every dollar, a dollar will be donated. Funds are part of our need so please continue to pray that these needs will be met on time for the students to arrive.
The Patmos program will start in January and those students who have been accepted need your prayers also. We all have things within our hearts that need to be taken before the Lord, and this program will bring those things out within them, many will be tempted to quit since this process is painful. I like how Fenelon in his book "The Seeking Heart" put this idea, "He may test you by taking away the wonderful sense of freedom you feel, or by taking from you all that now brings you spiritual comfort. Will you resist? No! Allow everything! Volunteer for your own death, for God will only accomplish His work to the extent that you let Him. Do not push away the progress that God wants to make in your life" (a chapter called 'Surrender to His plans').

Thank you all again for all your prayers.
Your sister in the Lord,
jenn mingo

2006-12-10T16:45:00.000-05:00

Right after i wrote that last entry, i got the flu. i was in bed for three days but sick for a week. i am a terrible sick person, all i did was sleep, watch movies, and clean all my windows. i was so misserible because i could do nothing productive. i even stayed home from the ALC for a day.
it was a wakeup from the Lord though. He has been telling me to slow down but i never listened. so i deserved it. He has the best ways of getting our attention when we don't want to give it.

2006-11-18T17:50:00.000-05:00

Its a Saturday and today we had birthday party rentals of the Centre. Our goals are to raise funds and share the gospel. We use the petting farm for sharing the gospel, that's my favorite area of the Centre for this. There are just so many ways to talk about Jesus through these animals. From one of our donkeys who has a cross on his back to our snakes who remind us of the story of how sin began.

Today, I was able to take 20 kids and three adults through our Petting Farm while sharing the gospel.

There was one boy who was hard to handle. He was one of those kids whose words were always interrupting mine and he was so loud that everyone had no choice but listen - the kind of kid you wish would just stop talking so you could say something uninterrupted. This kid surprised me in a way that I know it was the Lord. He spoke in his loud way so all heard, "And sin means we are going to die one day." I hadn't even gotten to that part of the story yet!

It surprised me because I didn't think he was actually paying attention to my words. But also surprised because everyone was silent at the hearing of this.

It was a captive audience to this truth. My response was just to agree and let them all know that no matter how old or young we are, we will one day die because of our own sins but Jesus....

He showed me His power and sovereignty to even share the gospel. Its only the Lord who can take any situation and any one (even an annoying child) to make His truth heard. He used a donkey to speak truth to a Old Testament prophet. He doesn't need me. I'm just thankful that He is using me.

2006-11-15T20:36:00.000-05:00

I've been challenged by two kinds of faith; faith in God and faith in myself.

Faith in God is real faith, where you'll go anywhere, do anything because He wants it. And you know its His will so for that reason you do it. That's the kind of faith that makes Christians grow.

But there is another faith, a false faith. Its faith in our own abilities and talents. We think that its "no longer necessary" to call out to God for help because we've been doing it so well for so long. This is faith in ourselves..kinda gross, huh?

We'll never admit it but its there. Don't believe me! Here's a way to test your faith in self:

Read Psalm 139:1-4, 16 - though the entire chapter is a good passage to read.
"O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You now when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar. You scrutinize my path and my lying down, and are intimately acquainted with all my ways. Even before there is a word on my tongue, behold, O Lord, You know it all...Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Your book were all written the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them."

The Lord knows all things we would do even before we were born through the day we will die. Even down to knowing when we would sit and standup, when we would speak and what we would say. He knows everything, including every step of our feet would take even before we could walk.

Something as simple as walking to work. He knew from the beginning of time where we will go today, who we will meet on the way, what will slow us up in arriving at our destination, and even knowing what will stop us in our path.

That means, no matter where we go, He knows everything about it. There isn't a direction we could take that He doesn't know well before we take it. He is basically incontrol of our path because He knew what we would face on the way and what will happen when you get to your destination. He even knew that you would stumble over which rocks, though no one else was even looking He saw it before it happened.

But when was the last time you took a step and thought about testing the ground? Maybe if it looks dangerous but most of our steps are done without a thought to them. The reality is that we've taken so many steps that we trust our experience.

When was the last time you asked God to help you walk from point "A" to point "B"?
*The challenge that the Lord gave me was to spend one day having more faith in His ability to keep me from falling through the ground than I had faith in my experience. Also to have more faith in His ordained interferences (people and problems) on my way than I had in my ability to quickly solve it so I could go on my way quickly. Believing by faith that He may have put that person there for something more than I could see. Humbly admitting/trusting that God has a reason for them to say what they said or do what they did for your good.

I don't believe we should take the time an pray for five minutes before we take one little step forward but that we begin our day with a prayer for His provision. Then live the rest of the day stepping forward with faith that He will answer that prayer.

Jesus said to those who were "faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things, enter into the joy of your master."

If we could have faith in God's sovereignty over something as small as taking a step, then maybe when the bigger tests come, we would be ready for that great leap of faith that we have been praying that we'd be able to make.

Cool thought...I thought.

2006-11-14T07:04:00.000-05:00

This recipe has been asked of me by to many people then I can keep up with so here it is for the world to find.

Baked Oatmeal Recipe - this was given to me by a married couple from Penn while in NYC. I changed a couple of things from their original recipe. Its a tasty breakfast meal that makes regular oatmeal look sad.

Mix these well:
2 Eggs
1 cup Sugar
1/2 cups oil

Add these:
1 tsp Baking Powder
1 tsp Vanilla Extract
1 tsp Salt
2 Bananas

Then add these:
3 cups Quick Oats
1 cup Milk

Put into a 13X9 cake pan
Add chocolate chips to top if you want! That's the best way to eat it!
Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes (until golden brown on top)
Serve warm as is or can be served with any fruit, nuts, or milk.

For a those who like regular oatmeal, make oatmeal as normal then add in all these ingredients. May take longer to bake.

2006-11-07T13:31:00.000-05:00

There is something new happening at the ALC. Its called Patmos, it means "my killing" - sounds good doesn't it? The director (Chet Lowe, a Bahamian) calls it "reality discipleship" but I like to call it "Christian bootcamp". Let me tell you why.

Its a little like the LIFT program, for those who know what that is. Just add in more intense bible study classes and physical challenges that are beyond their limits. The idea is to be bathed in the Word of God then letting it soak into the soul with physical challenges that you can not help but suffer under.

Suffering and exhaustion seem to bring out the worst in us, so part of this suffering is to bring to the surface what is really inside you...the stuff you didn't know was there.

And for those who think physical challenges they can do, think again.

I'm not allowed to let the top secret challenges out but know that flesh will be kicked - your flesh that is!

You can look up more about Patmos at www.realitydiscipleship.org

2006-11-06T19:11:00.000-05:00

One of my newest projects is caring for a sick bird. And not just any bird, a osprey. Its like a hawk but better! It has four toes but one of them can do a 180 degree turn. Its "thumb" can be used just as good either backward or forward.

This bird was found hopping on someone's grass lawn. She is not normally even seen by people this close but allows us to handle her. I have not idea what is wrong but we're asking around. There are just so few vets here who know much about this type of bird.

She is amazing! Her wings, from tip to tip, measure 56 inches. Her talions/claws, if she was to use them, can easily dig into any flesh in amazing speeds of less than a fraction of a second. Those talions are over an inch long! She also has more muscle on her legs than most birds of prey.

She is a hunter, being able to dive into salt or fresh water and grab a fish (up to two feet long) and fly away with it. The Lord made them smarter than the average bird. They know that if you aim the caught fish's head forward while flying, it will be easier to carry.

We named her Sky.

As to whether we can keep her nor not, no one knows. Even the Department of Agriculture doesn't know and they are the ones that approve things like this.

So for now she is my project, though a dangerous one.

I mentioned that she is not well. Physically, she is fine (we had vets look at her) but she isn't acting on her instincts. She will not hunt, fly, or eat by herself. To feed her, I cut up raw fish and chicken to push down her throat so she will swallow it. Otherwise, she won't eat for days.

We tried to teach/help/encourage her to fly yesterday but she just glidded 50-100 feet before doing nose plants or hitting a fence. She is an odd bird!

Someone is always with me in the cage but still pray for my safety.

If we can keep her, she will be a great addition to our petting farm.

2006-11-05T08:27:00.000-05:00

Psalm 141 is a cry for help from King David to God while he was living in a cave due to people hunting him. He says that no one is looking out for his soul but God. In verse 7 King David says "Bring my soul out of prison, so that I may give thanks to Thy name..." He was at one of his lowest points but he wanted to get out of this trial so that he could tell others of how God got him out!

This challenged me to boast in God's work in my life. And though the Lord has not brought me as low as David was in this psalm, I hope you can also see His handly work in my life. And that you can rejoice with me in these trials that He sovereignly and lovingly gave me.

In an earlier blog entry, I wrote about a rat that terrorized my apartment and how the Lord was teaching me dependence on Him by taking so many things away. But what I didn't mention was all the other things He took away from me that week and the week before. Since He is incontrol of all things, I know that He allowed these things to be taken from me to that in the end I'd be refined as gold in a fire.

He took away rest and sleep, my apartment (for a little while), strength, self-sufficiency, my bike (which was stolen), a close friend (moved away), verbal encouragement, assurance that I'm a good worker, assurance that I'm making a difference, seeing growth in my walk, and even taking way physical strength in my wrists (which went and came back for unknown reasons but to teach me).

Most of these were to teach me dependence on God and others within the body of Christ. The things that I doubted or had a lack of assurance, were to teach me that my worth should not be found in other's opinions of me or in how much work I get done (for those who know me, you know how much I put into my work). But my worth is to be found in Christ. He is the perfect Teacher!

After the Lord took these away to show me what I needed to change, He returned most of these things to me. The challenge I know face, is to not let them be a stumbling block to me again. If they are, then I fear that the Lord will use more drastic ways to teach me. I just hope that I'm not as stubborn as I think I am.

Thanks for praying for me, I need it!

2006-11-02T07:12:00.000-05:00

I've been challenged by two kinds of faith: faith in God and faith in myself.

Faith in God is real faith. Its where you'll go anywhere, do anything because He wants it. And you know its His will so for that reason, you do it. That's this kind of faith. It is what helps the Christian to grow.

But there is another faith that is foolish faith, a faith in our own abilities and talents. We think that because we've been doing it so well for so long that we no longer think that its necessary to call out to God for help. A.K.A. we don't pray as we used to pray for the help to do it, we just do it now. This is faith in ourselves.

The Lord is challenging me to do this in a little way. After all, Jesus did say those who are faithful with little will be put in charge of many things.

When I can clearly see how this application works out in my life, you who read this will be the first to know what personal convictions and lessons I learned from my own walk.

2006-11-01T21:00:00.000-05:00

My November Newsletter

Dear brothers and sisters,
First, I just want to thank everyone for all the prayers and cards sent to me after the death of my sister. It was such a hard trip to make; having just left NY with good memories and needing to return with so much sadness. What encouraged me most was all the love that everyone had for me. It was shown in how everyone loved my sister, who many had never met, because they loved me first. It was John 13:35 lived out. Thank you.
Many of you know that I teach kids here at the ALC (Adventure Learning Centre) and use that to share the gospel with each child that comes through the doors. But many of you may not know that this is only one of three parts to the ALC that I'm involved in. There is a Camp and a program called Patmos. The Centre is where I am mostly.
In the last month at the Centre, know that well over 800 kids have come here and heard the gospel clearly! Add to that another 1200 men, women, and children who attended a recent Fun Day. A Fun Day is a carnival type of event where we were able to share the Gospel with them in many ways. On a train ride they were able to take a journey through time to the life of Jeremiah and using his life as an opportunity to share. I was again able to share Jesus with many of those who entered the Petting Farm.
There are some testimonies of conversations that I had with people during a past Fun Day. You can look at those on my blogspot: http://mingybahamas.blogspot.com
One of the other parts of the ALC is the Camp. It's where discipleship happens usually on a mission trip. When available, I can join them in their activities. I've been able to go to the AIDS camp with teens and later that night hear testimonies of how it impacted them. So much can change in a person's heart on a mission trip…most of you know that it was at this Camp that the Lord led me to the ALC almost five years ago.
The newest part of the ALC is called Patmos. The word Patmos means "my killing" and that’s what it is a place where your flesh must die so that Christ will increase within you. It’s the place where we make disciples to send out.
It’s a new program to us that will begin in January. You can look it up more on it on the internet at www.realitydiscipleship.org
For all these things we need much prayer!
At the Camp, a new bathhouse has been a long awaited goal! With it more people can come and be impacted by the Lord's work happening here. Most of you know how small and old the current bathhouse is.
For the Centre and Patmos, there is a need to complete the upper barn area. It is to be a resting place for us as teachers in the afternoon and in the mornings, a classroom for the Patmos program. The hope and prayer is that these will be finished by January 22nd, when the students come. Finances, materials, and people are also needed to complete them on time.
There are so many wonderful things going on here so I hope you will be a part of it all through prayer. If the Lord leads you to donate financially, you can send a donation to the Adventure Learning Centre, P.O. Box 93
6548, Margate, FL 33093-6548. Please label for whatever project you feel lead to give too.
Please pray for me also. Most of my requests are posted on my blog. But for those who don't know, much of my requests are: for two little girls who used to live near me (they need Jesus), for decisions of whether to come to NY for Christmas or do something else, and prayer for my financial support for the rest of this school year.
My goal is to send out another letter next month to update you on all these prayer requests so please pray hard!

Your sister in the Lord,
jenn mingo

2006-10-26T21:21:00.000-04:00

For the weak in stomach...don't read this entry! This picture is close to the rat that decided to visit my apartment for a few days last week. This is my story that just had to be documented.

The first time I clearly knew there was a rat in my apartment was Thursday night while I was doing dishes. Something ran behind me into the oven. When I opened the door, the rat was looking at me. I did freak out...its a rat...in my apartment what would you do?

I quickly turned on the oven, he ran out into the living room where I proceeded to beat the furniture to scare him out - but what I was going to do with him when I did get him in the open was still a mystery.

Anyway, the beatings continued until he was back in the oven but this time I was ready for him to race out. Ready with broom, he darted towards me and crossed my foot to pass me. Gross! He actually touched me! That touch created a reaction to fling him off...which lead to me kicking something...which lead to a hurt and bloody toe as I continued to chase this rat from hell out of my apartment. Can you see where this is leading?

At one point, I catnapped one of the cats over at the Centre (Bonnie) in hopes she would solve my problem quickly. Unfortunately, she never leaves the Centre and was in shock that she was out of her familiar place. She hid behind the couch and cried ...some rat catcher!

For the next hour, I chased the rat until I gave up. Leaving him in the spare room, I closed the door and left some rat poison and sticky traps. And just for a laugh, know that the rat was bigger than the sticky traps and strong enough to carry off the rat poison easily. He did eat some poison but you forget, this is a rat from hell and poison doesn't work on those.

This same night, I slept in my bed room convicted that the rat was trapped in the other room and could not get out. Still not at ease, I did fall asleep around 11pm. At 11:05pm the rat knocked over a large picture frame on my bedroom window sill, which woke me up. I sat straight up and watched it run across my window sill towards me. At the end of the sill and with no where to go, he proceeded to bend his knees in a way that made him look like he was going to jump a river...aka the distance from the sill to my bed!

At this point, I did scream and flap my sheet to keep him from thinking he would get away with jumping on me. He dropped to the floor and went wherever. At this point, there was no way I was going to go back to sleep. I crashed at friend's place.

For the next three days, this continued. Seeing rat run across the floor, chase with broom, catnapping the cat (even trying different cats), and laying out poison but to no use.

Sunday morning, after chasing the rat out of the house and watching it run from my apartment across the power line to the box, then across another powerline to the next apartment building, and down a pipe into a large wooden box attacted to the building. My neighbor told me of how it also tried to get into his place by eating a hole in the window screen. His wife saw this and gave it a good wack. I checked out my screens and sure enough, that's how he got in and out. I was happy just to know it wasn't living in my apartment!

Now I am rat free due to the fact that every window is closed in my place but two that I check for signs of entry twice a day.

There is always a lesson that the Lord teaches us in the tough times. This one was one of dependence. Dependence on strength while sleep was taken from me, dependence on others in the body when my apartment was taken from me, and even for healthy food since there was no way I was going to use that oven!

God is good...I just wished that I'd listen better to Him when He tells me to do something, then maybe He won't need to use a "rat from hell" to bring me to my knees.

2006-10-09T18:48:00.000-04:00

Prayer Requests:

Deciding whether to come to NY for Christmas or to remain here

Humble and teachable spirit (simple prayer but much needed)

Funday is an outreach fair that we are having this Friday (my birthday)

-that it will supply much needed funds for the ALC

-salvations because the gospel will be shared often
-safety for all who come
-that it will not rain

For the kids in my neighborhood
-chances to share Christ

-for Sam and Carey, two girls who need prayer

-wisdom

2006-10-07T21:02:00.000-04:00

Sassy Sam and Carey finally moved away. I will miss them so .

For those who don't know them, they are two of the neighbor kids who would come up and hangout in my apartment. For the last three months they have been "moving out" but today they did.

I did get to enjoy this last day with them. Their stepmother asked me to watch Carey (4 years old) and their youngest Keira (10 months) while the movers did the work - from 7am to almost 9pm. And while she was at the new place, Sam (12 years old) also stayed with me.

We did everything that we had not found time for before; making cookies together like I promised and going over to the Centre for one last ride down the supper slide. I was even able to take Sam aside and have a last talk with her.

I felt like an overwhelmed mom but loved every minute of it. Even when the apartment looked like a twister went threw it and no matter how much they cleaned up after themselves, it was never really clean, I loved it. I think that I learned a lot about having kids - my prayers go out to you mothers who have more than three!

Please pray for these girls. They don't know the Lord...yet. Their family life is hard. And they probably don't see anyway out of the life those around them live; a life of young unmarried mothers and anger that is quick to hit. I hope that in all of us here these girls could see that this is not the way life was meant to be. We were made to be free, not slaves to our sin.

These girls are like all the kids who come here. They need Jesus.

2006-10-04T21:00:00.000-04:00

September 2 until the 8 - A normal week back at the ALC. How I began to miss it those last days while in the States. Praise the Lord that I'm back! We are training for this next year and learning lots of new material for these kids. Everyone is excited about it - including me!
I was also excited to come back and find that the two little girls who live below my apartment are still there. They were to move before I returned but that wasn't God's plan. Almost everyday since they arrive, they have come over and play games or chatted. I have so enjoyed having them over and getting to talk with them about who I am as a missionary and why Jesus is so important to me. Its also a safe place for them to be while home alone each day. They have so little "stuff" but so much joy - so many Bahamian kids do.

This first picture is of Carey and Melanie. Melanie is a friend, old roommate, and one of our counselors at camp summer. Carey is the youngest of those two girls, four years old. Inside she is older than someone her age should be because of things she has gone through.
A bunch of counselors and I took Samantha, who is Carey's older sister, to the beach this summer. She is 12 years old cares for Carey and sometimes their half baby sister. Both of them are sassy young girls who have rarely, if not never, seen Christ like love lived out except from us who let them play games and chat at our homes.
I'm so happy to be back. I loved being in Speculator and seeing so many but I love being here right now!
We are going through some changes here...or so I've been told. I mean kids still come through the doors and hear the gospel. Little things have changed.

The only thing new would be Patmos. Its a discipleship program. Its sounds like torcher training! Not that its bad but...let me tell you what they have planned.
College aged adults come with willing hearts to hear what God would want for them, then they go through lots of trials (3 months worth) to test their faith on what it really means to say "yes" to God. To sing "I surrender all" is one thing but to test your limits with giving God meat for 3 weeks is another thing. Or to not shower but to cover every part of your skin up for a week. Or to...well anymore and I'll being telling you all the trials that the Lord may have you face if He leads you there.
It seems awesome! Kind like bootcamp but for the soul. I know I will be teaching this next year here at the ALC but in little ways I hope to take up as many of these challenges as I can with the program... so if you read on this blog that I'm craving beef desperately don't be shocked! It will be a blast!

2006-10-04T20:56:00.000-04:00

August 14 to September 2 - I spent much of this time in Speculator with friends and family. Hiking with friends, eating with some of my church family, and gathering some much needed rest when I could.

I did see at least one deer - actually it almost hit me while I was riding my bike.

Jump into Lake Pleasant because my 12 year old cousin, Angela wanted me too - and once was enough since the cold temperature of the water was near freezing.

Go black berry picking with friends - realizing suddenly that a large wasp nest was two inches above me only when I hear a buzz sound and a tickle on the top of my head.

Other crazy things happened but most of them are too embarrassing to write about. It was a good trip home.

It seems to me as if when I first arrive I have lots of time to do whatever. But as the time comes to the end, I see how there are still many people I really wished I could have spent time with.

2006-09-09T21:43:00.000-04:00

Sept 9th - My sister, Pauline Elizabeth Mingo, died.
That changed everything for awhile. I headed back to Speculator and tried to regain my thoughts. I may not know all the details to how she died but I know how she lived and the Lord may have just been bringing her home to Him to keep her from making greater mistakes. This is just a little bit of her story.

Pauline was born Oct 8, 1977. She would have turned 29 this next Monday. She was a twin to my brother Paul. She loved to read and draw girls with fashionable clothing. She love Raspberry Gingerale. She loved scary moves. She was one who was always searching for love in all the wrong places. She was mother to three children; Jacob -10, Francesca -8, and Tony - 6. She did profess to accept Jesus as her Savior about 5 or 6 years ago.
Four years ago, she disappeared "off the planet" to her family leaving her kids in the care of their father or her foster parents. Just recently, she contacted us and seemed as if she wanted to get back on her feet. Her feet were headed towards the "church" and works salvation.

Right now, only the Lord knows for sure where she is. He knew her heart and I could only see the actions. I glad He has all this under His control. I'm hoping to see her again one day...somewhere close to Jesus where I'll be.

2006-08-18T17:36:00.000-04:00

Greatings from Speculator!
Yes, I'm up in my home town for the next two weeks. And its gorgeous! I had forgotten how beautiful this area of the world is. The Bahamas is beautiful but it hade nothing when I looked at these green hills today. It must have been the Lord that helped me to leave it last September. Everything is so green and beautiful.
I went for a stroll in the back yard; eating raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, and apples as I went along.

There is something so peaceful about these woods that I haven't found anywhere else that I have traveled. Not one power line did I see, nor one car horn honking did I hear.

Stillness is something you can not even buy in Nassau. Even the private islands have their share of boats fulled with tourists and their cameras.
Two days in a row I've been able to sit by the lake in silence and read from 1 Thessalonians 4-5. For those who haven't read that in a bit, it is the passage where Christ's return for us is described.
I just stared into that beautiful cloudy sky and wondered if He would come today. After all, it does say "then we who re alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air."
We may not know the day He is coming for us but we do know what the weather will be like :)
I was content to remain another day in this beautiful place, and even content to spend the next year in Nassau. I just hope that He does come soon - I just really want to see Jesus more than anyone else.

2006-08-12T08:13:00.000-04:00

August 12 - My x-roommate, Jen Whitmer, became Jen Lully. There were a bunch of us who helped with the wedding decorations the day before. We had a blast doing it even with the crunch time of the rehearsal dinner just a few hours away.
She was a beautiful bride that smiled at her Michelo the entire time. He smiled equally as much.
After all the wedding was over, the wedding party and Jen's family came over to Paradise Island (the tourist island we hangout at) to enjoy the Junkanoo parade (a traditional moving party of the Bahamas - go to www.junkanoo.com to see what it looks like). Coincidentally, Mich and Jen spent the first night of their honeymoon at a hotel on Paradise Island. Some of us spotted them in Starbucks that night.

2006-07-27T15:00:00.000-04:00

Every week, we take the kids on a field trip to a new place. This week, a man from Lis's church (Grace Community Church) offered to take all the kids on his very large boat!

The kids and I were able to see the cruise ships from the water level. Then when we past a hotel's dolphin training area. There, the dolphin instructors put on a show for the kids - totally unplanned.

Its not usually ocean, boats, and beauty here. So I was happy that the kids were able to enjoy this gift.

2006-07-26T19:03:00.000-04:00

This is the second to last week of summer camp. Next week is the last week I'll counsel - so sad.

There was a story I heard, and I hope I tell it right since it didn't involve me - at least that I know of.

There were three siblings who accept Christ as their Savior last week. And this week, their mother, who is also a believer, came in all excited about the changes she's seen in them ever since.

I think of how many times I've prayed for my family to come to know Jesus as their Savior. I'm certain this mom had the same prayer. So encouraging to me, and I hope it is for you.

2006-07-21T20:52:00.000-04:00

Something personal I've been learning... something I thought all who know Christ can reflect on. The Lord has given us gifts, some have of one kind and some people have others, but all have spiritual gifts.
Those gifts are to help others in the body of Christ and not ourselves though we get joy out of using them. Its God's way of helping us to love each other - we are equal and are a part of each other. When the toe is stubbed, the rest of the body knows it!

Recently, I tried to love on someone by using God's gift. Its not that I didn't pray about it but the person just didn't accept it from me. That hurts.

Then I thought of my own behavior when others try to use the gifts God has give to them, on me. When a friend tried to help me carry something but my pride says 'no' because 'I can carry it by myself'. Another time, when a friend came along side me with discernment and wisdom, I took it badly and reject their advice too quickly. Though really, I was blind to my flaw that they were lovingly pointing out.

I could see clearly how I am not encouraged to use my gifts when others respond badly (that's against me - of course I see that first off). But its the same thing that I'm doing to them when I respond badly, I don't encourage them to use their gifts.

I'm in the wrong when I do that. Not only because I'm acting according to my pride but more so because I'm teaching those around me, by example, that its ok to do that to others - to my brothers and sisters in the Lord. We really all do hurt when one is hurt.

Why do we stub the toe onpurpose? It hurts!

2006-07-21T20:18:00.000-04:00

This ends my second week of counseling (I counsel every other week). I have the older kids (10-12) so I've been able to invest more into them. This week, my co-counselor and I challenged them each day to read their bible and pray. Each day, we'd add something to challenge them to get deeper; praying alone and for five minutes strait, reading their bible and asking questions like "What is it telling me about God?", and to even write down what they learned.

My hope and pray is that they continue with this healthy habit long after camp. When it comes down to it, if they know Him as their Savior then it is God who is at work in them both to will and to work in them for His good pleasure (Phil 2:13). I get the honor of encouraging them to know Him more. I love my job!

2006-07-10T22:23:00.000-04:00

Its the 10th of July! That's the Bahamain Independence Day! I was so tired from a week of summer camp, that I slept most of this day away. Yes, summer camp has begun for us. The first week, my co-counselor and I had about 14 kids. Two accepted Jesus as their Savior this past Friday! What an awesome week! Next week, I'll teach "Ship Swabbers" - where we get to teach the kids about the importance of work. I'm looking forward to it.

2006-06-25T16:54:00.000-04:00

This is at one of our Fun Days. This little boy was just terrified of snakes. Yes, he is pinching the snake.

2006-06-04T20:20:00.000-04:00

<- This is a picture from out Fun Day event last October.

Most of the time, I'm with about 10 kids teaching them things they never get to do in a classroom.

The things I get to teach are just tools I use to share, by word and deed, Christ.