Summer Come Back! part 4

When Ryan comes we scout out a different place to see or something fun to do while he is here. This time we decided to take advantage of the low costs of a resort. Since tourism is down, due to the violence in Jamaica, we were able to go to the all inclusive Holiday Inn in Montego Bay for a steal. Needless to say, we ate ourselves silly and enjoyed both the beach and the pool till we were like prunes. It was a wonderful couple of days and I am anxious to do it again one day!








We ate in Ocho Rios before coming home. I love to have my camera ready whenever Ryan and Renee are together. They are so much fun to observe and be with!




The next weekend we spent our time in Bath. Since Ryan had heard so much about the Enola team being here, we wanted him to visit the church, see the new roof, and experience the mineral baths at the hotel. Not being a bath kind of kid, I knew that I would be lucky to get him in once! But we had success, Ryan, Renee and I took one together and he said, hey mom, that was fun! I love going to Bath for ministry, but I also love the mineral baths. I can never get enough. Daddy preached in the church on Sunday, I wish I had taken the violin so that the church could have heard Ryan play. They hear Renee and love her so much. I know they would have enjoyed her brother. Next time!

Summer Come Back! part 3

And then August came! This is the time that we had looked forward too for 8 months. The last time we had seen Ryan was at Christmas and these were long months. We miss him so desperately. I can't imagine the day when both Ryan and Renee are on their own and we are left with an empty house. These are not days that I look forward to, but as every parent knows, this is what we prepare our children for....real life.

But in the meantime we make memorable moments and fill up the memory tank till the next visit. When you have college age children, you put yourself in your parents shoes and wonder how they did it, the hole in the heart is so great. As a matter of fact, it is so great that at times Den and I feel like we cannot breath. The ache is so deep that the breath won't come. It is a feeling like none other we have experienced this far. Oh how we love that boy and that little girl. Did I even fathom 20 years ago when I delivered him that his departure would do this to me?

We absolutely couldn't wait for August 8th to arrive! We began the countdown a month before and then each day began other comments like....when Ry gets here, on next Tuesday we will be doing this with Ry. I wonder if Ry would like this for his first dinner or this. We began grocery shopping with only one person in mind!

The last time that Ryan had made the Jamaica trip by himself was May of 2009. We thought that we would absolutely squeeze the life out of him, we so missed his touch, his laughter, and his kindness toward us and his little sister.

It was a Sunday that Ry was coming. We went to church, had some lunch and then booked it into the airport for his 8 P.M. arrival. We got there at 6:00 and waited, and waited, and waited, and waited till midnight!




He finally touched down! We were so full of anticipation!





As always he was delayed in Miami, since everyone was starving, we stopped at Wendy's, so happy they were open late and Renee gave Ry a special gift that she had painted.





We arrived home at 3 A.M. and so Monday became a lazy day, all of us recuperating from the adrenaline rush and sheer exhaustion! The best part.....Ry was in the house!

Summer Come Back! part 2

The month of July was eventful as well! It was a wonderful month. Ryan traveled with Pneuma (VFCC ministry team) singing in camps, retreats, church services and Den traveled to Springfield, Mo. Our long ago home! He took another doctoral class at the seminary and that left Renee and me in Jamaica.

We took advantage of our time, swam, slept, played games like marbles! and traveled into Kingston a bunch of times for symphony rehearsals. The Jamaica Young People's Symphony was chosen for an event at the Pegasus Hotel. Many rehearsals were required, not only for the program sake but because the Governor General would be present! Big stuff.

The Jamaica Pegasus Hotel is a 4 star, lovely hotel located in the heart of Kingston's commercial district. We have never stayed there but many times when we have had immigration business to attend to, we have walked through the hotel and admired the beauty of it. One time I had my hair done there because it is one of the few places that has hair color like I am used to! We have also eaten breakfast in the restaurant overlooking the gorgeous pool. It is just a beautiful place, so when Renee's symphony was scheduled to perform there I was really excited!




From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Governor General of Jamaica

Governor General
Patrick Allen

The Governor-General of Jamaica represents the Jamaican monarch, and head of state, who holds the title of King or Queen of Jamaica (as of 1962, Queen Elizabeth II).

The Queen, on the advice of the Prime Minister, appoints a Governor-General to be her representative in Jamaica. Neither the Queen nor the Governor-General has any real authority in conducting the administration of the country (however, both possess reserve powers under the constitution which would allow them full control of the nation's governance whenever in their opinion a case of emergency requiring such action arises). Real legislative and executive responsibilities rest with the elected representatives of the people.

The Governor-General represents the Queen on ceremonial occasions such as the opening of Parliament, the presentation of honours and military parades. Under the Constitution, he is given authority to act in some matters, for example in appointing and disciplining officers of the civil service, in proroguing Parliament and so on, but only in a few cases is he empowered to act entirely on his own discretion.[1]




Sunday evening arrived and Renee looked beautiful as always! Ready to perform.



The concert was absolutely fabulous! I wanted to take photos of the entrance of Sir Patrick Allen and Lady Allen who was stunning, however, I didn't know if that was a cultural faux pas so I let discretion be of greater value and didn't do it! In the intermission the students were taken into a side room to meet the distinguished couple and photos were taken and he talked with them for awhile. Renee said it was pretty awesome! I just wanted to sneak in there and see!







Speaking of Renee and violin, another honor that was given to her was playing for her school's graduation at the end of June. She played Thais Meditation and it was so beautiful. God is so good to my little girl!

Summer come back!

And it's not the weather I am talking about! In Jamaica it is always summery weather! I have been hot since we arrived in 2008. I can't remember the last time I slept with a blanket. We live in an environment without air conditioning so the key word... HOT! Sometimes it is unbearable, other times it is bearable!

Our 2010 summer has gone into the memory bank as FABULOUS! It started with hosting the Enola,PA missions team in June. The pastor in Enola came to Bath, Jamaica, in 1984 as a college student. The 1984 VFCC team came alongside the Jamaican leadership and started the work in this small community and the pastor felt as though bringing a team from his church in Enola would give Bath a much needed boost.

The 2010 team did children's evangelism in the park, ministry in the schools, prayed at the police barracks, ministered in the church each evening, and paid for a new roof for the church building. Over 400 people received Christ during the week. They also ministered to the staff at the hotel in so many ways. Their last evening they did a program for the staff that was there and gave monetary and physical gifts to each staff member It was a fabulous week and I am so happy we were able to be a part.












Pastor Tim left the finances with us for the roof to be put on. How exciting it was to go with the contractor and purchase the materials and pay for the labor with the generosity of River of God Church, Enola, PA.






While Ryan was here in August we visited the church and the people are so grateful for the Enola team and their beautiful new roof. No more leaks! Now we are seeking a team to come in to repair the inside ceiling. It took quite a beating with the outside being put on. God has the team and the timing all in His hands. We are so delighted to be a part of evangelism in Jamaica.

Lost rings, a sick puppy, and a study in Genesis.

A couple of weeks ago, I experienced a really neat miracle....well maybe some wouldn't call it a miracle, but I will. For some, these kind of stories have no meaning...unless it is their ring that is lost!

On a particular Saturday we had to run into Kingston to purchase a keyboard for the team that would be arriving in the next couple of days. They would use it for their ministry and then bless the church with it when they departed.

On the way to Kingston I put on hand cream and inadvertently forgot to put my wedding rings back on. We traveled our one and a half hours, arrived at a very busy shopping center, jumped out, and proceeded to do our shopping. We were in the store for over an hour.

We came back to the car, jumped in, and proceeded to a fellow missionary's house for dinner. We got to their apartment and as we were chatting, I noticed my rings missing. I immediately went into panic mode. Den ran down three flights of stairs in record time and searched the car. Renee took the missionary's hands and my hands and simply prayed. Den returned from the car empty handed. At that point I remembered what I did. Instead of putting my rings on the console part of the car I put them between my legs when I put on the hand cream. When I initially jumped out of the car at the shopping center so did my rings.

My missionary colleague and I then went to the car and did a second search. I then ran back up the three sets of stairs and asked Den if we could drive back to the shopping center.

I knew by the look on his face that he thought it would be a waste of time and gas but reluctantly said ok. I guess we both knew that it would be a wild goose chase. Diamond rings are found by lucky people and don't remain in busy parking lots.

We quickly got in the car and drove in absolute silence. Both of us wondering if we would find them, both of us praying that God would again be merciful. Both of us realizing that even a cheap set would require more money than we have right now.

When we arrived at the very busy shopping center, there was no where to park so when Den drove toward the section where we had been parked, I jumped out. I walked past two cars and at the third one where I thought we had been parked I bent down and there behind the tire were my rings. I picked them up, dusted them off, and jumped into the car, it happened so fast that Den hadn’t even made the turn to come near the parked car where I was looking.

The rings were so close to the tire that it was a miracle they weren’t run over.

I got in the car and that is when the tears came. Den said this is a miracle. I said, He cares. He cares. He cares about the things that worry us. His intimate care once again shown for his children.

So here is the timeframe for someone to have found the rings. We initially arrived at the shopping center at 3:30, that is when I lost them. We returned to the shopping center at 5:30to look for them. God had them hidden from view for two hours, in a very busy plaza, in a very busy parking lot. God had them hidden just enough so no one saw them.

Only HIM.

I am grateful.

A funny note. When we were driving there besides praying, I was singing in my head, I left my rings in Sovereign center…to the tune of I left my heart in San Francisco…..

Just this week, Den's older brother called and asked for prayer for his dog. I know that kind of request makes people laugh but here is the story behind the request.

Inkie was the pet that Den's parents had before their deaths. Mom died in 2006, and Dad just passed away eight months ago. The brother that called lived with his parents and basically was their caregiver. He is very attached to Inkie, and with both of the parents gone now, I am sure Inkie is alot of company for him. After just saying goodbye to Dad, he is not ready to say goodbye to Inkie at this point.

The first vet said that it would be $2000 at least for surgery and such. Den's brother said that would be impossible for him financially, so the talk was of putting Inkie "down." He then took Inkie to a second vet, one that would discuss the surgery, if they would go that route. That vet said, Inkie's breed is known to have these problems with the back and legs. I think this is what you need to do. Inkie is 10 pounds overweight and needs exercise, so feed him less and get him walking.

That's it?

What an easy solution to something that was so serious to bring Inkie here in the first place!

People pray, God answers. Sometimes he answers in ways we like and sometimes we have to go down a difficult road. Still He cares. Still He answers.

A few weeks ago I started a study in Genesis. I read one chapter, meditate on it and write what God shows me. After I write my thoughts, I read the commentary for that chapter. This is what I wrote for Genesis 24. Genesis 24 is a love chapter, Rebekah's story. A story of God's direction, man's obedience, Isaac's grief, Rebekah's submission, Abraham's care for his son, and a servant's heart to please his master.

Rebekah had no idea that particular morning when she woke up, that it would be a day like none other. She had no idea that she was chosen on that day to become a wife. She woke up, did her daily routine, walked through her day, functioned as normal. She had no clue that someone was on the way to her town, to her well, to change her life forever.

It would appear to me that Rebekah lived her life without a script. She didn't have her day all planned out so that an interruption would totally throw her off kilter. She wasn't a control seeker. She would not appear to be driven by manipulation. The name, Rebekah, means beauty, favored, a mender, a binder, to tie, lovely, pure. Her name describes a really special person.

I can imagine that as she lived her life in those first, innocent days, that she was someone who walked uprightly and didn't ask for much.

As I have experienced God's intimate care I want to go back to a life of innocence. Just completely in love with Jesus. A life without cynicism and doubts. A heart that is not skeptical or pessimistic. I want to live a life that doesn't have my pre-planned script. I want to remember that Jesus, my friend, is near. He sees me, He knows where I am physically and emotionally. He sees my lost rings and guards them from all those who pass by.

When the dental hygenist comes to you!

When living in the states we were always very religious about visiting the dentist. As the saying goes, only brush the teeth you want to keep and seeing the dentist is a good thing! Since arriving in Jamaica nearly two years ago, one of the things we miss the most, dare I say, are our dental visits. We have been looking forward to the day when we could go home to the states and fit in a dental visit. Needless to say, when you don't have a dentist, you are more careful to brush longer and floss more!

Last week we received a call from a fellow missionary telling us that the medical team arrived safely at New Vision, the children's home near us, and along with Dr. Rich and his assistants, a dental hygenist was here! Wow, were we excited! Denny made our "appointments" and for two days, that is all he talked about! He was as excited for this appointment as he is for Ryan to come in August!!

Of course we knew it was going to be a little different of an experience,no receptionist to give us paperwork to fill out for this first time visit, no magazines to read while waiting, no xrays, no water spritzing down the chin onto your clothes, no suction tubes in your mouth, no bright lights, no whirling sounds, let's see what else, no carnations for when you leave the office! My dentist in Springfield gives out carnation when you leave, like the children get a pencil or a sticker! His office was the coolest place around. I really liked the whole experience there, if liking a dentist office is possible!

But when we arrived at our new place we were greeted by great Jamaican kids and a wonderful couple! John and Jennifer Elliott. They started a missions organization as a matter of fact, and this was their first official trip! Big Smiles Big Hearts, Inc. (www.bigsmilesbighearts.org) Great name for them, they have huge smiles and very large hearts! We were friends upon the first meeting, um..... dental visit!




John works for Sprint actually but he and their son Trevor came along with Jennifer, our wonderful hygenist! I was convinced of something right away. She is passionate about Jesus, missions, and teeth! I have never sat "in the dentist chair" with a big smile! Everything she told me made me smile. How God confirmed this organization, how this trip came together, how she was able to get ahold of a machine to sterilize her tools, how God met every need. It was amazing!



Now speaking of the dentist chair, it wasn't exactly that! Jennifer had a child size cot from New Vision in the corner of the room, her patient laid flat, and she worked! After 2 years of no dental visits, she really worked on us! When the plaque let loose, we grabbed the pieces that felt like huge boulders and wiped it on a cloth! I felt so bad for her neck and back. It wasn't like she could move the cot up and down to get comfortable. She was working on us even when the sun was starting to set, she really needed a high intensity light. Den got out his phone to try to help!I am sure the first person she saw after a week here was her chiropracter! She cleaned lots of teeth in a weeks time! Ministers and their family members, all the New Vision children, missionaries, people that came for the medical clinic, all the houseparents at New Vision, everyone she could get her hands on came away with clean teeth!





After the scrapping and scapping and scrapping and scrapping, well you get the point, Jennifer had kiddie packs with toothbrush, floss, timer and paste for each patient! She brushed our teeth with the same paste as she would at home, just without the polisher machine, you know that real gritty stuff. Thankfully I had a bottle of water in my purse to use to swish!! And then spit over the second floor veranda! WATCH OUT BELOW!!!








Junior and Travisa were staying real close, trying to figure out if they really wanted to be the next victims......um... "patients on the cot"!!




Since Dr. Rich was handy, he gave Renee a once over, and checked her heart and lungs, etc. We are so grateful for that as she hasn't seen a doctor for 2 years and it was just so wonderful of him to take the time for her. Dr. Rich has been coming to New Vision for 18 years, he sets up a medical clinic and when you go to New Vision you will see people lined up real early to get in. They go strong till dinner time and then do fun things with the New Vision children at night. What a wonderful ministry and calling upon his life. I had heard so much about him and when we met, I knew everything I had heard was true.



It was a highlight of our week to meet these precious people from the medical field.
Servants.....they come in all colors, sizes, and occupations. I have met so many, loved so many, ministered with so many. Servants.....they are everything they are cracked up to be! Just make me more like these servants Lord, that is my desire.....