Back to "normal"

  I read recently that the only normal people are ones you don't know very well.  So, we won't fool too many of you when we say we're back to normal!  But we are very thankful to be in better health again and I want to be careful to not only post when calamity strikes... so here's a boring little update.

  We celebrated our regained health Saturday by taking a picnic to Concord Falls - a beautiful falls that most of our family had not seen yet.  Caleb was very brave & got started jumping off a rock about eight feet high.  After he started, he didn't want to stop!

 Here, Daddy & Caleb are jumping together.

And here's our little girl, only 1 more month til we have a 1 year old!

A blessed week (+ sickness), now a bloody day (+ more sickness)

Well, VBS 2015 at the Limes is now over - and it was a wonderful week!  Thanks for your prayers!

It started with a great surprise! - a whole suitcase full of goodies from family in Gap - sent with the Faith Seniors.  It was exciting enough to arouse the whole family from their beds!  We're still happily enjoying the treats -- Thanks so much!

Anyway, there were 12 seniors + 4 chaperones living in the Limes.  The Faith crew did all the teaching, crafts, games etc. for the Bible School, while the local staff assisted in guiding, translating & behaviour modification. :-)

 We met each morning in the chapel for a few songs & instructions.  Sammy Mapson was superintendent and I was assistant.

Next, the groups rotated through different stations; Bible Lessons, crafts, snacks & games, singing & Bible Memory...

 Keeping this group of 3 & 4 year olds busy, out of trouble, & organized was quite a feat!  My hat's off to Jana and others who helped organize these little munchkins.  Shawn absolutely loved the week!

Here's a picture of the Limes FMH'ers.  I was totally impressed with the maturity and tenacity of this group.  They were a hard-working group and they covered for each other without complaint.  Seemed this is the time for sickness - quite a few of the group had to deal with sickness in various forms throughout the week.

 

I don't have a picture of the rest; but Jen Martin & Hannah Scott were cooks for the week - and we absolutely loved being cooked for with good ole Lancaster County meals!  Also former missionary Mike Fox was here, and Steve Stutzman - these two guys had enough energy & stories to keep everyone entertained all week!

 

We were sad to see our new friends leaving on Saturday, yet it was nice to just have our little family in our house again.  Fortunately I wasn't sick while they were here - unfortunately I got it a day after they left.  Spent most of Sunday night & Monday between the bedroom and the restroom.  

Now, Tuesday night, our children seem to be coming down with the same thing.  I hope they can bounce back quicker than I did.

And, for the other excitement in the Limes.  This afternoon, just after school let out - a gunshot rang out across the neighborhood.  Since there are supposed to be no guns in Grenada, that's a rare event.  Soon it seemed everyone was running to the corner of the pasture - and I joined of course, (but not too quickly) to find the recipient of the gunshot still withing in pain on the ground by the shortcut.  

Not sure what all transpired; but we do know there was an argument up by the shop - and one man walked across the pasture & was quickly pursued by a group of men who caught up with and shot him, then walked nonchalantly back across the pasture as if shooting a man in the leg was an every-day event.

I didn't know the man - but understand he was the father of two of our school students.  I don't know what the argument was about - but most crime here seems to be drug related so that's probably a good guess.  

I didn't feel I was part of the problem or the solution, so I quickly left the scene.  I was barely back at the shed again when Sammy hollered for me to come - and I rushed next door to find a man with blood on his face and more blood coming out of his mouth and nose.  Fortunately, no violence involved this time - for some reason the man fell while working on the addition to the house next door.  After quite a bit of excitement, we got some help from some people who were with the shooting victim and eventually got him loaded up and away he went in an ambulance.  

Here's the view from our back door.  The worker that got hurt was in the first room here, the man that got shot was by the fence that you can see about in the center of the picture.  After these two events settled down, we sorta looked around and said, "What next?".  It was a bit unsettling for all of us.  Nicki & Caleb both were worried about having bad dreams tonight - I think I'm worried too.

Let's pray.  No, I don't particularly feel in danger - but life is short & I'm reminded today of our mortality.

Only one life - 'twill soon be past,

Only what's done for Christ will last!

P.S.  And yes, more sickness. Nicki & Caleb have both thrown up in their sleep now... and are starting with the diarrhea excitement.  Looks like it could be a long night for all of us.

Dry Season

Yes, dry season is here.  The dust and dirt blows around and the grass is drying up.  They say that there has been more rain than normal for this time of the year, so we are grateful.  

Here is a little peak into our month of March.

Right after church one Sunday, we went on a church hike/picnic.  We crossed over this very nice bridge to an island called 'hog island'.  One idea is that this island looks like a hog head from a distance.

It was windy but beautiful.  The children enjoyed playing in the water and gathering sea shells.

These are two peas in a pod.  It's been so much fun having another girl in the family.

It is kite season so our family went on a picnic and tried to get our kites ready for the school kite day.

And no, anxious grandmothers - that's not a 30 foot drop off right behind the children.

  It's actually more like 40 feet. :-)

Morgan at 10 mo. old

This is also tourist season so we often see these huge cruise ships docked in St. George's.

 

Marv and I were still trying to wake up one early morning when our children blessed us with a show and songs.  Not sure what the dress-up theme was other than see how many things you can wear.

 

Grenadian's tie their goats out in the football field during the day and we enjoy watching these triplets dance around and play.  So cute!

 

We are having Easter vacation this week and next week.  We have been trying to fit in family time and 'getting ready for VBS' time this week.  The Faith Seniors from PA are flying in tonight (Sat.) and will be teaching VBS this next week.

Jen cleaned out her kitchen on Mon. and found an ice cream maker so we HAD to try it out.  We've had homemade ice cream twice this week now. 

On Thurs., our family plus Miss Wilma, hiked out to the end of the runway and watched 2 jets fly in.  You will notice on our family picture that the lights for the runway are right on the other side of the fence.  It's quite the feeling to be right under a huge aircraft that is seconds away from landing. 

And this is us! 

We are so grateful for God's grace in our lives. 

Please keep praying for us!