14° 02 North and 60°58 West- St. Lucia, West Indies

Sometimes when we go to a beautiful place we see things like this....

And this....

Or this.

And we forget all about things like this:

Or this......

And this.



Not big things, not bad things. Just people. Who need God.

A little thought from Tolkien

My whole family loves to read...and lately we've had "The Fellowship of the Ring" floating around the house and we all take turns reading it and enjoying it together. We do crazy things like walk into the room and announce trivia questions like "How did Oin die" and "How many days was it from the time Frodo was stabbed to the time he got to Rivendell" and "How did Gandalf make his signiture "G" ? Things like that...and while we enjoy the movie, we still love to read the book and discuss it! :)

I ran across a passage the other day and I wanted to share it, because it has a really good principle. (and by the by, Gandalf and Frodo share this conversation in the mines of Moria in the movie, where as it's proper place is in chapter 2, The Shadow of the Past.)

Gandalf is telling Frodo the history of the ring and as Frodo begins to see the import of the matter this comes up:

"I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo. "So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us."

Using our time wisely. It's not about what happens to us, it's about how we react to the events in our lives. I find that principle to be intriguing, and challenging. At least for me it's an ever present attitude choice: how am I going to react to the situation with which I'm faced. Will it be with a Christian spirit and a graceful attitude, or will it be out of passing emotions and lashing out?

So it's just a thought. And you could do so much more with this.

How are you deciding to use your time?

"I held a jewel in my fingers..."

~Sometimes its good for you to hold something beautiful in your hand and wonder at the design-

how something so simple can be so be so beautiful~

Eight little girls in little plaid dresses...

Thursday was my last day to teach at the Government school. It was kinda sad...I probably won't ever see those little girls again! But I do know that they heard some good, solid Bible truths, and I hope that they can remember at least some of it for the future. The power of influence is great and far reaching- I hope I never forget that!

Every other time we taught inside, but as they were preparing for graduation, we taught out under the trees! My group usually had one other boy, but he was hiding!

They are sweet little girls...They always touch my heart!

:)

Here are some of the funny things they said through the course of the seven weeks I taught them:

"Ah miss, do you have children?"

"Miss, are you an actress?"

"Miss, you are real, real white!"

"Are you from England?"

"Miss, since you live in Trinidad, dat make you ah Trini!"

And that doesn't count the all the little snatches of conversation as they told me about their lives, siblings, dogs, cousins and neighbors! I love it! :) I'm going to miss it.

"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.