Room 5 rules when it comes to cleanliness.

Room 6, you don't have a chance this year!

This is Yorick. Isn't he dashing?

Today was "Bring Your Stuffed Animal to Class" day.

Pictures 1

Jenna, Jodie and me at the church potluck. I'm so glad to be back with these girls!

Christine is from CO and she is super-sweet (and amazing with the handbells).

Jenna and I are starting a coffee-drinking ritual.

We celebrated Becky's birthday with a late-night ice cream party and a read-aloud of a Scottish children's book (Becky just returned from a missions trip to Scotland).

Ireland, Greek, and Yorick

I've really enjoyed getting to know the Herricks who are serving as missionaries in Tralee, Ireland. Leah Herrick is a freshman here at CBI this year, so when her parents came to get her settled in, I had lots of opportunities to talk with them about the specific church-planting work that they are doing in Tralee. Not only was it exciting to realize the potential opportunities for ministry (they were super-supportive about my desire to serve in Ireland), but it became so evident that my heart is truly burdened for the people of Ireland. Mrs. H told me that there is a definite need for people to teach children and young people (teens/early college), as well as people to teach Irish believers how to disciple children and families. Nobody from the Irish field has ever been so positive and supportive of my interest, while also being realistic about life as part of a church-planting team. I really appreciate that they took the time to answer my questions. It's so nice to have a vision for ministry "refreshed" while I'm starting another semester of studies. And even if I never end up in Ireland, I love having specific people and churches for which to pray.

Tuesdays and Thursdays are my favourite days of classes. It's a heavily scheduled morning of Galatians, Ministries of the Christian Woman, Greek, and Pastoral Epistles, but each of these classes is so fun and refreshing. Greek sends my head spinning, but I love it to death. It's like a secret code and it opens up a whole new world of understanding. Today we focused on case, number, and gender of Greek nouns and their respective paradigms and wowsers...my brain resembled a fried egg by the end of it all. I'm glad I have the weekend to sort things out.

I bought a fish. He's a little pink/orange betta and his name is Yorick (so that when he goes belly-up, I can say, "Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him well."). He lives in a little bowl by our sink in Room 5 with some charming pink and orange rocks. He's a stunning little guy, I must admit.

Clara and I begin work on Friday and Saturday, respectively, so prayers for a smooth initiation would be greatly appreciated. I'm also praying that as I start helping with AWANA in a few weeks that God will open doors for me to have specific discipleship opportunities with some young girls.

I need to post some pictures, don't you think?

P.S.

I forgot to mention a major praise: Clara and I both were hired to be servers at a local retirement community. We were praying that we would be able to find a flexible job that would provide some extra income for school and for life necessities. This job is a perfect answer to that prayer! We will be able to work 3-hour shifts on the days that we don't have evening activities, as well as several shifts on Saturdays. It will definitely be a bit of a learning experience, but I'm looking forward to it - and to getting to know the residents!

Praise the Lord!

Heigh-ho, heigh-ho, it's back to school we go!

Clara and I have just completed our first week of classes at Cornerstone Bible Institute. I just love getting back into the school routine again - what can be better than new books and new clothes? I think that my favourite classes this semester will be Galatians, Systematic Theology, and Greek. (That all sounds rather scholarly, doesn't it?) The Greek class will definitely be a brain strain, but I haven't really applied myself to a challenging area of study in a long time, so I think it will be good for my little noggin'.

I'm really enjoying having Clara as my roommate this year. She is definitely more of a people-person than I am, and I was laughing when I realized that she knew more about people after one day of getting to know them than I did after living here for six months! Her class consists of ten girls and three guys, so it's rather lopsided. Right now there are three girls for each guy in the school - we may have to import some guys when banquet time rolls around. Hehe! Anyways, there are a lot of super-sweet girls in Clara's class and I'm looking forward to getting to know them. We have been dutiful little students all week, so we are going to make it a Girl's Night and go get some ice cream and a movie. Fun stuff!

One thing that I'm praising the Lord for is the really super atmosphere on campus. Every one just has such a great attitude and a heart to study. Yay!

Thanks for praying!

Outdoor Bible Club Report

The only satisfactory way to begin this brief update is to thank you all immensely for praying for the Outdoor Bible Clubs that were held last week! Clara, Alissa, and I met with 8-12 children each day of the week and it was a wonderful time of teaching and spending time with the kids.



As you can see, we decided to work on everyone's athletic ability by adding a few aerobics to the song "I Have a Friend." We met for the first club in Kathy F's backyard and were so happy to have her three children, three neighbor boys, and a spattering of other children each day. We would teach at Kathy's house and then walk about five blocks over to the park for the second club. Lo and behold, the boys from the first club decided that they hadn't had enough Bible Club, so they hopped on their bikes and followed us over to the park for a second hour of club. I'll readily admit to laughing when, at the second club, one little boy exclaimed, "Hey! We've heard this story before!"
"Yes," I replied. "You were just at the other club, remember?"

We remedied the repetitive nature of the second club by preparing a second set of lessons and songs. How wonderful for those boys to desire more time learning songs and stories that center around God's Word. Three of the children earned Bibles by memorizing the verses from each day of club, so I'm praying that they will have a hunger to read God's amazing Word.

Please be praying for the continued growth in the lives of the believing children who attended the club. Please also be praying for the unsaved children who attended club, that God would water the seed that was planted and cause it to grow.

Well, it's off to another round of 4-H activities....thanks again for praying!