Christmas Notebook

Davey chose Scripture and developed questions for us to read and answer each day during our morning devotions. We go over them by ourselves in our quiet time. Later, in the evening, we will meet together to go over the same Scripture and the same questions, sharing insights and prayer time.

The bunk, the couch, the front porch…all good places for reading and studying God’s Word.

When’s the last time you cooked 24 eggs for breakfast? Liz can say, “This morning!” We love her baked eggs!

Prepraring sandwiches for lunch.

The gang waits for breakfast. Two deacons, a seminary graduate, and a doctor…who would’a guessed??

At the job site, preparing drywall seems an unending task.

But what a difference it’s making in Gloria’s home! Today she said, “It’s beginning to look like a house and not a shed!” 🙂

They’re smiling…I can tell…

As the work progresses, there is always someone in the prayer chair. This was Caleb’s turn.

Inside, the work continues.

We are very grateful for the lift!

Gloria holds down two jobs, but she makes time to come by each day and check the progress of her team. Please pray for Gloria, her family, and her home. We are so happy to serve Gloria with our efforts. We want her to know we appreciate the opportunity to show her Christ’s love in this way. Thank you, Gloria!

Talk about an answer to prayer! We didn’t know what we would do with all the construction debris. As the trash pick-up truck went by, someone flagged it down and they agreed, after a little coaxing, to haul it away for us! Thank you, thank you! These three men were an answer to prayer, and they were the highlight of our day! The team gave them thank you gifts of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and snacks.

Adam is planning, God willing, to go to Nairobi this summer as an MTW intern, to work in the slums of the city. Pray for Adam as he seeks financial support and please pray for his safety, for his work, and for his spiritual growth as he seeks God’s will for his life.

The team received another special visitor today. We were happy to see Doug Mallow, Sr. Project Administrator of MTW’s Global Support Ministries, who visited the site this afternoon. By good planning, he arrived just in time for lunch. He later joined us at the mission team house for supper and fellowship. His visit was a great encouragement for our team and for our team leaders.

Future leaders.

I’m sure everyone else is fast asleep by now…time for me to be the same. ‘Night! ~~Rhonda

Wednesday Devotions – Nehemiah 1:1-11, 6:15-16

This passage is a challenge for us to consider the importance of prayer and the power of God to answer prayer, even in the midst of oppostion. Consider areas of your life where you may feel opposition, or are enduring some kind of trial. Have you committed that to God in prayer?

Take some time right now to come before the Lord in prayer. Bring Him all of your burdens. God completed the enitre wall of Jerusalem in 52 days, despite opposition.

God wants to show us His awesome power and blessing. Take some time right now to pray for our work, for those we are serving for those with whom we serve, and for God to be glorified.

Lights on at 6:00 a.m., devotions, breakfast, good hygiene…all part of early morning on the mission trip.

On the way to the site, and the team is eager to get started.

Across the street, one house has been repaired, the one next to it is not. You see this same scenario street after street.

The frame around the fireplace was rotted from water damage during the hurricane.

Noah climbed down into the chimney to replace rotted framing.

Our team members have servants’ hearts. No job is too dirty, too hard, or too tiring to tackle.

Lunch break. The weather has been lovely, with temperatures in the lower 70s.

I’m hungry….

The first sheet of drywall goes up.

While waiting for supper, the team members look at yesterday’s pictures.

After a supper of noodles and spaghetti sauce, garlic bread, Italian green beans, and Pear-Walnut Salad, the crew enjoyed a Kings’ Cake, the traditional cake that celebrates the coming of the wise men to worship the Christ Child, the season of Epiphany.

After a time of devotions and prayer, we were entertained by Adam and Shane with a brand new rap song. You’ll have to ask for a command performance!

Please continue to pray for us. Pray for stamina and strength to do the necessary work, pray that the team is able to minister in a way the shows Christ’s love, and pray for Gloria who will go through a wide range of emotions as she watches her home take shape.

Good night, all! ~~Rhonda

We all join together for devotions after supper. I will post them after each day’s update.

Monday’s Devotion / Luke 17:7-10

After reading this passage, consider what it means to be a servant. What does it look like for you to be a servant?

Also to consider in this passage is what Christ means when he says we are unworthy because we have only done what was our duty. What do you think that means?

What does it meant to be worthy? Is it possible to be worthy?

I want us to take a little time each day this week to reflect on what it means to serve for God’s glory. Reflect on what you have learned about yourself, about serving, about your brothers and sisters, about God, about His Word, and how you have seen God glorified today.

Take some time in prayer to cry out to God in thanksgiving for all that Christ has done for you. Ask God to show you how to serve as Christ served and to give you visible opportunities even this week for such service. Pray that God will open your heart and teach things about Himself that you never thought to consider. Pray that this week will refresh your spirit and grow your faith.