A Simple Story

Today we gave each child a Wordless Book so they could tell others how Jesus saves.

Gold Page ~ Represents the streets of gold in heaven..a perfect place where God is

Dark Page ~ Represents sin..the things we do wrong..sin can not be in heaven

Red Page ~ Represents the blood Jesus shed on the cross for our sins so we can go to heaven

White Page ~ Represents a clean forgiven heart

Green Page ~ Represents spiritual growth after accepting the Lord

Thank you Church Hill Baptist Church in Augusta Maine!



Thanksgiving Blessings From Maine!

Yesterday in the mail came a box of 100 Wordless Books that these children from Church Hill Baptist Church in Augusta, Maine made for the children here on the island. What a WONDERFUL surprise just before Thanksgiving. Their moms, who home school them, met in September. The children worked very hard to measure, cut out and put the books together. Behind them is a lot of love and prayer. Also in the box were some Maine leaves, pretty in their fall colors.

Soon there will be a story about the Wordless Book and pictures of the children receiving them here in St. Croix. I believe God will use these precious children in Maine to reach children here for the Lord. It's amazing what children can be taught if parents spend quality time with them!

A BIG THANK YOU to Church Hill Baptist Church!

Pie Anyone??

This smile says it all! I have been smelling some delicious aromas coming from the kitchen above our apartment the last couple days. Kings Kids International here at Youth With A Mission are in the process of baking over 350 pies for Thanksgiving. I captured these shots just a while ago and wanted to share them with you. These are not your typical kids. They are working hard making pies (and having lots of fun!) to help raise money so they can go on a mission trip to Guatamala next summer. While there, they will be helping those in need and sharing the Good News that Jesus saves. 



Not sure if I am in trouble or what!?!



Sisterly love!

The "Boss" at work too!

He will make a good husband some day!

Cooking omelets with egg whites for everyone. Nothing goes to waste!

Apple pies are next!

Their hair nets are not typical either!

Only the second day...How many more pies to make???

Someone has to do the dishes!

This is how it's done!





No more room for pies on this island!









Putting on the finishing touches before baking!

Don't bother me, I am counting pie orders :)

Goooood omelets!

This will make good compost for the garden!

More ingredients!

The next time you see or hear about some teens getting into trouble...remember there are some awesome kids out there making a positive difference in the world!

"Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity." 1 Timothy 4:12

Money...or...God

Money or God?

Sometimes that is not as easy a decision as it sounds. Recently I received a call from the government school system here on St. Croix asking if I would be interested in a school nurse position. I was not even looking as I love the school I work at now. They had pulled my application I had filed a year ago before coming to the island. It was a full time job, excellent benefits and the salary was much more than I had ever made before.

Question...What do I do?

Keep in mind that the cost of living is higher on the island, we live in a basement apartment with the view of a laundry building and propane gas tank. We are living without health, dental and life insurance and no hope of making enough money to buy it.

Pray

That was the first thing I did. Then I made myself open to that possibility if that is what God wanted me to do. I scheduled a phone interview (the main office is in St. Thomas) and prayed a whole lot more. There were so many things to look at. The increase in salary would provide us a better, easier place to live in, some money in our savings account, new clothes and little luxuries, better dental and health care, and maybe a truck for Billy and his work.

The Cost is Too High

All these extra perks would mean I would not have enough energy left over at the end of the week to prepare for and teach Children's Church. There would be less time for Bible study, family time and the other things required to manage our home. We came to this island as missionaries with hearts to follow after God. 

So What Was My Decision?

God took care of it for me. My interview was for 11:00. Someone at work became ill and I had to cover that position and so was unable to make the call. God closed that door, gently but my heart knew He did. Peaceful acceptance because God knows what's best and what the future holds. Was I disappointed? A little but my trust is in the Creator of the Universe. He is my heavenly Father and owns it all. As His child I am an heir to all that is His. 

The souls of the little children here are far more valuable and lasting than any earthly possessions!

"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Matthew 6:19-21

God Looks At The Heart

Billy's car had a cracked windshield and before we could renew our auto insurance we needed to get it replaced. It was not a big crack and didn't affect the visibility in driving. But we knew it need to be replaced. Some friends had told us about a glass place and we checked it out yesterday. It was a nice clean professional looking office. They could order one for us and it would take two weeks before it arrived. It was cutting too close to the deadline we had for insurance renewal but we would ask her to find out the price. On the way home that sickening feeling came into the pit of our stomachs. Both of us were thinking, Lord, why does this have to happen just as we seem to be able to keep our head above water. But we have seen God work for us in the past and kept on looking for other possibilities. We had remembered seeing an auto glass place near where we lived but it looked like a pretty rough garage, not clean and professional looking like the last one we were at. Billy went inside while I stayed in the car to keep the A/C on (and to see if he survived going into the place!)

He came out with a piece of paper saying it would cost $400.00 and they have one in stock and can do it today. Surprise! We were wondering if this place would be a safe, reliable place to get it fixed. Well, we had to get it fixed so we said yes. As we left to go get the car we noticed an ambulance sitting there and remembered seeing police cars there in the past. If they trusted them to repair their vehicles, then we decided not to worry.

We dropped off the car, and got a call from the other glass company. They could order the windshield but would cost about $600.00 to have it installed. We had made the right decision!

We were reminded that you can not always go by the outward appearance. Sometimes you see a person or situation and we as humans tend to think the prettier, nicer one is best. Not so! Surprises come in places you least expect sometimes.

God looks into our hearts and doesn't call those based on their looks. He knows the deep secret places of our hearts and He knows whether or not we will serve Him. What does God see in your heart?

"..for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart."  1 Samuel 16:7