flowers

"In the absense of any other proof, the thumb would convince me of God's existence" - Isaac Newton

Take a minute and observe those flowers. Do you think they also point to a Infinite Creator?

( Photo taken by Sveta)

Good days

VBS week

Some of the boys

Us, girls working on our life of Jesus Books

Emily with girls

Emily teaching

Here are some pictures back from the VBS we had last week.

May has come. In 21 days I hop on the plane for Haiti. People ask me if I'm ready my reply is "I'll be ready in 21 days". These past few weeks have been very fruitful and busy.

A couple weeks ago, I did an intensive study on "The Pilgrim's Progress" written by John Bunyan. "The Pilgrim's Progress" is an phenomenal analogy of the Christian life ... I found it extremely well written. (Maybe that's why it has become an Christian classic :) Aaron's father lead me in that study.

The next week was followed by Vacation Bible School. The kids were on Spring break. VBS was six hours each day. Good times. Aaron and Jumar would take the boys to a park in the mornings. Emily and I had the girls here at the house. We would progressively watch part of the Jesus film and then work on our "Life of Jesus" book. The girls seemed to get into the film even though it wasn't action packed. Different people brought lunch each day. In the afternoons, we had the girls and boys together. The first two days it was rainy. That means we had all of them in the house. To say the least, it got a bit hectic. Day three, the sun decided to show it's face. That day we had lunch park and spent the afternoon there. The theme in the afternoons was - We are more than conquerors.

It is emotionally exhausting thinking about the future of all those kids. The future of these kids are bleak without God. I want to make the kids choose the decisions which lead to life. All we can do is live out the truth, pray for them, teach God's ways, and trust God to do the rest. I am encouraged by these lyrics ..."Our God is mighty to save ... Savior He can move the mountains, our God is mighty to save He is mighty to save forever, author of salvation He rose and conquered the grave Jesus conquered the grave..." I thought if God can move mountains and conquer the grave. He can save these kids too. Jesus can show them another way to live...

Last weekend, Emily and I went down to see our family's. It was a wonderful visit. I cried when I arrived and when I left. One of my favorite parts of the trip was our Sunday afternoon hike at Colum Branch. At Colum Branch, we walk up a creek a little ways then through fields and woods. At one point we were at a little pond with teams of salamanders. Some of the little ones decided play in the mud. It was just relaxing. At one piont I asked, "Emily, what do you hear?" She listen for a long time and said, "No traffic, just running water and birds" Anywhere here you can hear traffic ... Sveta has pictures on her blog.

Vacation Bible School

Quote

"Let my heart be broken with the things that break God's heart"
-Bob Pierce, World Vision founder

Psalm 8

Psalm 8

O Lord, our Lord,

How excellent is your name in all the earth,

Who have set Your glory above the heavens!

Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants

You have ordained strength,

Because Your enemies,

That You may silence the enemy and avenger.

When I consider Your heavens, the work of your fingers,

The moon and the stars, which You have ordained,

What is man that You are mindful of him,

And the son of man that You visit him?

For You have made him a little lower than the angels,

And You have crowned him

with glory and honor.

You have made him to have dominion over the works

of Your hands;

You have put all things under his feet

All sheep and oxen -

Even the beasts of the field,

The birds of the air,

And the fish of the sea

That pass through the paths of the seas.

O Lord, our Lord,

How excellent is Your name in all the earth!

Mission to Milo II

Here are some more pictures from last week. They got all mixed up when I down loaded them.The sophmores had so much fun playing with the kids. Here's Taylor with a young one on his shoulders. I wonder if he'll get it in the hoop?

Sorting clothes at Victory Mission.

Hosanna in the Highest! Blest is he who comes in the name of the Lord. This week at Young Disciple we taught about Palm Sunday.

Here I am with some kidos.

Boys packing food at Victory Mission.

mission to Milo

This past week a group of high school sophomores came from East Liverpool Christian School to do "Mission to Milo". There were 3 girls, 6 boys, and 2 chaperone's. They learned about inner city ministry and did some service projects. Here we are. RXN Monday night we all split up in groups after Aaron taught a lesson.

Aaron with his "sons": Aaron Berry( the tall one), Jonathan, and another Aaron.

Tuesday night Emily made some delicious Chadean stew and rice. We ate in the traditional Chadean manner on the floor with a common plate. The girls served the guys. Us girls first brought around warm water, soap, and a towel for the guys to wash their hands. Then we gave them their platter. The dish was very delicious. Everyone liked it.

Girls table. Great fellowship.

Each day with the kids was full and dynamic. They arrived Monday and left Thursday. I actually rode back with them and am spending this week with Aaron's parents doing an intensive study on John Bunyan's book " The Pilgrim's Progress". On Monday, we had a cook-out before RXN. I know the boys had fun playing basketball. On Tuesday, we went to Victory Mission. It is a food pantry, clothing closet, and has chapel and free counseling. The guys mainly helped with the food aspects and the girls the clothing aspects. One other girl and myself got to help with the people that came. There was a blind lady that I got to help pick out clothes. That evening Aaron and Emily gave a tour of Columbus. Then they dropped us off in two groups in downtown Columbus and we were to find our way home using the bus system. Also, we were to talk to people and show an act of kindness. When we got back we were to have a person's name and a story... I talked to a boy at the bus stop. He actually knew Emily and Aaron. I guess he'd played ball with them. On the bus, one guy from my team and I talked another young man. We were all new to the bus deal ... When we got off at our stop at 2nd. The bus driver got off and asked if we knew where we were going. He was genuinely concerned about us. He said, Don't you talk to people and say you're not from round here"... I guess it's not to common to see a group of white folks getting off in the worst part of town. (I don't feel in danger here though). Wednesday, we picked up garbage and prayer walked in the 'hood. Wednesday night was Young Disciples. Thursday, we got packed up to leave... That's a short version of last weeks going ons.