"Ah miss, I remember Eli! He de judge with de bad sons!"

Today marks 6 weeks of teaching the R/I (Religeous Instruction) class at a primary government school here in Trinidad. I teach about 6 girls, ages 9-11, my sister Anna teaches a similar number of 8-10 year olds and my sister Emily teaches a class of 5-7 year olds!

It has been such a good experience teaching these young children. There has been the challenge of culture, a little language, and disciplinary differences. But they are eager to learn the Bible and soak up the stories and truths like little sponges. Some listen well, other take a little more work!

When we moved we brought a few visual aids for teaching; space was limited but the few we brought are fairly versatile. Mom's felts are great! But even so, I needed something for the story of I Samuel 26- Saul chasing David, David sneaking into Saul's camp, sparing his life and stealing Saul's spear, to sum it up!

One rule I've found- Children don't have to have fancy stuff for the story to come alive to them!

So here is what I made- I used just a yellow card stock paper 8 1/2 by 11, white scrap paper, sharpies, coloured pencils and tape. I drew and cut out the pieces, rolled tape on the backs and carried them to class on the back of one of my other laminated visuals. I then taped them to the yellow paper as I told the story. The tape was just un-sticky(from all the handling) enough that the moving around part of the story worked ok. Ideally I would cover these in contact paper and make magnets so it could be used again. (I may do that still!) The children loved it and listened the best yet!

The Word of God is powerful even when teaching children. It's good to help the children really see and understand the Bible truths through tasteful visual aids. But they simply don't have to be productions. A little creativity, a little simple art and some work can go a long way, especailly if you live in a place where that's necessary. (Just a little note, if you're not good at art, then brush up on it! You would be surprised how much it would help in a number of ways!)

I'm sure there are lots of ideas and helpful sites online, plus there are several websites and stores within the brotherhood to help too. Let's take advantage of all our resources and instill in our children, and those we come in contact with the wonderful Word of God.

And that from a babe thou hast known the sacred writings which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. II Timothy 3:15

Some Homespun Wisdom

My father was raised on a farm in Missouri and in turn reared his children on a small farm in Arkansas. He can tell some really neat stories about his adventures and experience. Many life lessons are learned living the way he did- life and death, hard work, profit and loss, the 'chance' of weather etc. In his Bible class Sunday as he taught on parenting and family, he used an illustration that really caught my attention:

"What would have happened if Adam had grabbed a hoe and chopped that snake that was bothering his wife?"

I smiled a little smile, because it sounds a little funny, but it's true. It's the question of our God-given freedom of choice. Every day we're faced with the choice of whether or not to follow God, whether or not to sin, whether or not to be the parent, sibling, or child we should be. That sounds so simple, and the principle is simple, but carrying it out is the hard work. But it's doable work, never forget that.

We have so many beautiful passages of promise about resisting Satan and choosing God. Hold on to these, hide them in your heart and never give up.

"Be subject therefore unto God; but resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you..." -James 4:7-8

"And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out." -Genesis 39:12

"For we have not a high priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but one that hath been in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore draw near with boldness unto the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and may find grace to help us in time of need." -Hebrews 4:15-16

I'm thankful for the wisdom of my heavenly Father and for the blessing of the wisdom of my physical father.

Another snapshot....

"And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so. And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good." Genesis 1:9-10

Living on this island with so many new to my eyes examples of God power in creation, has truly influenced my perspective. I grew up in the middle of the US, far far away from any ocean. And now I live within a kilometer of ocean and it effects our everyday life. I'm still learning about appreciating all this.

Sewing project

I sewed some little skirts for a lady we know in the church here....She needed some help and you know how I love to sew! And if you didn't, I do! :) I had about as much fun planning and shopping for the fabric as I did creating them! They are super simple: just plain gathered skirts. But with just a little extra effort you can make them really cute! I did a drawstring waist so they will fit any little girl...plus I added the pockets. :) A patch pocket is cute yes, but these little pockets just grabbed me and made me sew them!! I actually altered a pattern I found here. For all you "better at colour than me" people (you know who you are!!) I realize the purple pattern and the yellow are the weakest link, but I needed to only buy one contrasting colour and that's the best I had to work with! I really like all the colours...it makes me want to branch out myself!!

The sizes are about 8-10, 4 T and 18 month...

I was able to get one skirt of each size out of every colour of fabric. And I bought two yards of each! So that worked out really nice!

Do you see that precious popkin skirt there, the little baby one? The one that is so adorable that I could cry? Yeah, that was my favorite to make...and I can just see some sweet little Trini baby girl toddling around in it....Can't you?!

So that's my latest sewing project!

A snap shot...

Sunsets are so beautiful here...It must be the ocean, or maybe it's the latitude....or maybe it's just God's beauty here for us to enjoy. :)

“Nobody of any real culture, for instance, ever talks nowadays about the beauty of sunset. Sunsets are quite old fashioned. To admire them is a distinct sign of provincialism of temperament."

~Oscar Wilde~

Happy Mother's Day!

I hope everyone had a beautiful Mother's day! I'm very blessed to have the mother I have- She's so many wonderful things, but the most important part is that she is a faithful Christian! Everyday I'm seeing more and more how rare that is. My I constantly be learning and growing to be a good mother myself some day Lord willing!

"Grace is deceitful, and beauty is vain; But a woman that feareth Jehovah, she shall be praised."

Proverbs 31:30

“I regard no man as poor who has a godly mother.” Abraham Lincoln

~Heart~

This is my sister Anna. Here is a list of just 10 things she is:

(the list could be much longer of course!)

1. CUTE!

2. Funny....she has a way with words that keeps me pretty much in stitches.

3. A good picture taker- er...photographer. Sometimes I hold her lens cap for her. :)

4. A good computer helper person...she pretty much does everything computer-wise for me. Except I taught her to put pictures on her blog!!

5. She's one of my best friends.

6. She's a strong Christian and I'm blessed daily by having her in my life!

7. She makes me laugh....and helps me not be an old lady bump!

8. The person who sleeps on the bunk above me....hehe...and we have some good times! :)

9. A wonderful friend to have. <3

10. My sister and I love her!

"In the cookies of life, sisters are the chocolate chips."