(thankful) for C-Bear

I have a 4 year old.  Who's almost 5.  She's very literal, particular, and is a thinker.  She'll never let you forget what you've told her.  She loves to do little girl things, like dress up, put on my make-up, play with dolls, take care of littler kids, and dreams of doing ballet.  However, she also likes to try to keep up with the boys...playing in tree forts, making mud pies, watching Power Rangers and Ninja Turtles.  I love that.

My girl is one who knows what she wants.  I usually love that.  She likes to be the boss, but is caring.  She's really smart, but not a know-it-all.  She loves getting toys, but has a giving heart. 

She loves praying for Papa when he's in Ethiopia...every morning we wake up when he's there she says, "Night night Papa!"  She also loves to pray for and talk about Sidise and Genet...our Compassion International girls in Ethiopia, and she's always thinking of different toys and clothes she wants to send to them.  She faithfully prays for a little brother and sister.  And she loves to pray for "Grammy, Holly, Molly, Daisy, and the kitties."  (**sidenote...Daisy is the dog and Molly and the kitties have already gone off to "animal heaven."**)

At this moment, C-Bear is upstairs and I'm down and I can hear her singing at the top of her lungs.  It's not pretty, but it sure is joyful.

I love this girl so much and as I think about her going off to kindergarten in a few short months, my heart gets sad.  She's growing up too quickly.  But I love seeing the little lady God is molding her to be.  She's brought so much joy to our lives and I couldn't be more amazed by this gift from the Lord.  I'm so thankful.

linking up with Carina

The Happy Day Project...Day 2

Yesterday we did Wednesday's project....water.  Yesterday was hectic...so I kinda took the easy way out!  I went online and through Compassion International, I donated money to help build a reservoir for families that don't have access to clean water.

This is close to my heart because of the ministry my family does in Ecuador each year.  In 2006, I had to opportunity to GO with my parents, an aunt, uncle, many others, into the Amazon Rainforest and tangibly share the love of Christ with the people.  We worked in the schools, had a medical set-up, a dentist, an eye-glass clinic, a vet....and a team of strong men building water purifiers.   It rains every day in the rain forest...so these purifiers collect the rain and purify the water.  Then the families from the village can come collect water there instead of in the river, where the animals bathe, dishes are washed, humans bathe, etc.  I realized on that trip how important clean water is for people, so hopefully our little donation can help one family be more healthy.

calm river at sunset

look how dirty the water is!!

Mom & me making eye glasses

our transportation for the week

I think they were looking for gold

a rainforest neighborhood

Ethia-opy

Ethia-opy is what Claire was calling Ethiopia this morning. :)  For those of you who know my family, you know Ethiopia has become a big part of our lives.  We sponsor a little girl there through Compassion International, and for those of you who know my Dad, you know he's there almost as much as he's in the USA!  We call it his home away from home.  Anyway, he's there right now with e3 Partners, who he and my Mom serve with, and he just sent the most incredible update email of the ministry that's going on there...thought I'd post it for those of you who might be interested...

Unbelievable day!  We visited in 4 different homes today with people who had all been trained last April to find out how they've done since then.  We were all overwhelmed with how faithful they've been in sharing the gospel, leading people to Christ, starting new churches and going to more communities to find a person of peace for the purpose of starting "2nd generation" churches.

me, Dad, Pastor (can't remember his name), Mom, & Katie in Ethiopia in 2007.

Home #1:  A young Orthodox Priest was led to Christ by a born again Orthodox Priest privately witnessing to him in Orthodox Bible School.  He's now leading church in his home and has started planting 2 more churches in unreached areas.  And...he's ALWAYS smiling...Jesus radiates from him!

Home #2:  A woman's husband went to prison, got saved came home and led his family to Christ.  Since then they've started a church in their home and have planted another in a different part of their larger town.

typical Ethiopian mud hut

Home #3:  An Ethiopian evangelist who had never led a church took our training and went home to start a multiplying church.  Soon he'd led nearly 20 to Christ, gathered them together for worship and instruction and trained them to go to other villages and follow his example.  10 other areas are targeted and have young Christian evangelists working hard to begin new churches.

this mom was SO pregnant, I'm sure she birthed the child right there in the field, as there weren't any clinics around.

Home #4:  In a village 1/2 hour drive from town a farmer who was saved, came to our training and while walking home heard the Lord speak to him to plant churches in his village of 2,500.  He wasn't sure how, but trusted God to lead him.  Not many days later he heard a loud commotion in a neighboring hut.  He went and found many people gathered around a woman who was demon possessed and close to death.  She'd tried everything for help...Orthodox Priests, witch doctor...but nothing helped.  He proclaimed to all who had gathered that only Jesus could deliver the woman.  He prayed and, not surprisingly, she was delivered and several came to faith in Christ. Since then, others have been miraculously healed, delivered from demonic possession and become followers of Christ.  A group of over 30 meet regularly...a "Mega Church" for this area!  And he now has several other villages that are targeted for new churches.

What a day!  We all are exhausted from praise and thanksgiving!

Katie & her translator helping someone get reading glasses at the eye clinic.

We don't always extend our trips to include "checking up" on churches that have been previously planted, but it sure was exciting to see how God continues the work of building His Church after we help start the process.  To Him alone belongs the Glory!!!

I love that my Dad has such a heart for missions!  Please pray for him and the team...God is moving in Ethia-opy!!