Sunday, October 31, 2010

storying


Learning Bible storytelling methods in Australia has turned out to be useful in a few settings.  I've been able to story in a woman's expat Bible study, at the Bislama girls' Bible study I'm currently leading, and also at a training for teachers and Sunday School teachers for ni-Vanuatu in Vila.  I'm thankful for One Story trainers and Backyard Bard trainers for passing on their skills!  Praise God for these opportunities to share God's Word creatively!

new church pics

I attend a ni-Vanuatu led, Bislama speaking church here in Vila.  Here are some new pics from there!  Also, one of my friends from church, Innette, a dear lady who was only 40-something, just died this last week, reportedly from asthma.  Please pray for her family and also for my friends here who don't know the Lord!  Medical care and accessibility just isn't here what it is in Western countries and people die here of things easily treated in the States.  That gives an urgency to sharing Christ and to communicating clearly in language and culture!
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Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Sleepovers

Saturday nights Jesiah, Gwen, and Addy rotate between sleeping over at my house.  I pick one up in the afternoon, we hang out until bedtime, do a few activities in the AM, then go to my ni-Van church and then back to the Richards for lunch.  Then I usually spend a few hours of the afternoon with the Richards on Sunday before heading back home. 
 It's been a fun routine and I really enjoy the one-on-one time with the kids.  We've made salt-dough creations, kazoos, paper chain people, napkin angels, and paintings in our times together.  Sometimes Si and I watch cartoons or dance clips from You Tube together too. 




Poor Addy's salt dough snakes burnt to a crisp since I forgot them in the oven...  And apparently I need to take some pictures with Addy!  Sorry girl! 


Wednesday, October 13, 2010

ni-Van family times

My parents got to experience going to see my friend Magreth when they were visiting.  Here are pictures from that time.  Also, Houghton helped me last month with some issues with Jaen's arms and legs and recurring sores she has so the last pics are from that. 
 The homes on the way.
 Heading down the road.
 Another house
 Papa, mom, Magreth, Mama Rupi, Jaen's daughter Morina, dad
 Being given an island dress. 
 And hugs.  Mama Rupi is good at those.  :)
 With Jaen and her 2nd youngest, Kalo.
 Meet the parents.
 Showing postcards of Montana.

Enjoying one of Rupi's great hugs.
 One of the cooking houses at Magreth's.
 The gate at the boundary of Magreth's family's ground.
 Neighbor's house.
Homes of others living nearby.

Below are pics of Jaen's legs (a bit graphic so if you're squeamish, don't look).  She's had a swollen right leg for a few months now.  :(  If you know anyone with an extra diabetes tester and test strips that wants to send it this way, let me know!  In the meantime, praying she'll be willing to go back to the hospital or if it be God's will, that He'd heal her!

 The black spots are old scars from old sores.  She's had these just on her arms and legs, for years, recurring in the dry season.
 Below is Houghton putting iodine on her sores after she's soaked them.  Prin is the teen on the left - Magreth's firstborn of her 3. 

We convinced Jaen come with us to the local hospital to get some blood tests to rule out diabetes or some other cause of these, but our first try was unsuccessful due to the hospital (socialized medicine here and VERY lacking) and the doctor being unwilling to take her blood at this time and the doctor's disinterest in her situation.  She was not interested in going back and wasting another full morning trying again (understandably) and has since gone to local workers of leaf medicine which did give her some reported relief for a few weeks but the sores and swelling are back and not going away.  :(  Please pray with me for her.

October newsletter

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