Granddaughters

We are looking forward to being able to hug these sweet granddaughters as well as their parents in April and meet our new grandson that is due in February. There were a bunch of medical Dr's and nurses on the ferry ride over and back from Ebeye on Sunday. The Dr's are specialist from all over the US who are going to be spending two weeks at the hospital on Ebeye. They were telling us about how most of the US was frozen under ice right now. It was 86 degrees but actually not quite as humid yesterday so it was more comfortable than normal. I think all the Dr's were enjoying the warmth. Great bunch of people.

Crop

This is the best tomato crop I have ever had in mid January. The environmentalist won't allow any kind of bug killer on the island that you can use on your vegtables. It is frustrating to sit and watch the critters eat up your plants. A big thank you to Dean & Becky Lightfoot who sent a box of goodies for the kids. A huge thank you to Monica Wiggins and her family for more boxes of supplies and cash. Monica has been our most steady giver, sending at least two boxes each month. Both are part of Amy's Army, or as I like to call them our AA group. (I'm teasing Amy) Hope you are doing better Amy. Get better soon! Blessings to all.

Police Car Collapse

This is one of the police cars parked by the dock on Ebeye. I don't know how old this car is, but I would guess it was used five years or less. They have newer pick ups now, but I don't think this car will get them anywhere any time soon.

Cars, or anything metal will not last long in the Marshall Islands. The salt water just eats it up. The spokes on my new tricycle that we bought just before Christmas are already severely rusting. It is clear we will have to get new spokes in six months or less.

The kids were belting out the songs in class this morning. It is really cute to watch the littlest kids who usually cry the first time they see us to sit on the front bench trying their hardest to do all the hand signs and sing the songs when most of them don't understand English. It's amazing that several dozen cookies and numerous pieces of gum will change a cry into a smile. They are precious souls.

To His Glory

Lee asked me on the way to Gugeegue while going to church this morning, did you ever dream that you would be riding on a ferry in the Marshall Islands to teach Bible class on your 50 something (I don't have to tell and neither does my family) birthday? I told him, it wasn't even on my radar. We had a good service this morning. The kids are learning more every time we meet. On the taxi ride back to Ebeye the kids were riding in the pick up bed and just outside Ebeye they started singing "This little light of mine" on their own and sang it through the streets of Ebeye to their home. Lee and I were thrilled they were having a good time and singing about shining their light for God.

The Marshellese celebrated for three days into the wee hours of the morning so our numbers were down last week. Everyone was back today. The tiny girl sitting in her big brothers lap is one of our younger kids. She clings to her big brother like wall paper. If he walks off and leaves her she starts crying. The little boy sitting in the other boys lap is the son of a man Lee knows who works as a janitor on Kwaj. The little boys daddy asked Lee if there was a song about the rain coming down. The little boy can't even speak English. All the little kids when they first come to class are aware Lee and I are different. They are not exactly sure how we are different, but they usually cry if we talk to them. Several cookies and many pieces of gum later they will finally decide we are not someone to fear. This little sweety used to cry if I just looked at her. Thank you to Jennifer Voight, Kim Heinecke and Liesl Waldrum and the ladies from Paso Robles who all sent either money or Christmas goodies for the kids. Blessings to all who sent things for the kids during 2008. May God bless you all. Lee and I are coming back to the states for most of April. Right now there is not anyone else to preach while Lee is gone. There won't be anyone except women. A couple on Kwaj is going to donate their 27" TV. We are going to either buy or have someone to donate a VCR and DVD player along with a rolling TV cart and some kids Bible related DVDs for the kids to watch. We have several DVDs that have TV broadcast sermons from Christian Broadcasting Network that the women can watch. Even without any men to lead, they can still have a church service and teach the kids a Bible lesson and hear a sermon. If you have any kids Bible related DVD or VCR tapes that you are willing to donate, they will be put to good use. If you would like to buy a DVD on line and have it sent to us, we have used Christianbook.com many times. Tell them it is a gift and have them send it to us. If you would like to send a cash contribution, I have a PayPal account. If you already have a PayPal account all you have to do is pick the "send cash". Send it to Avis Cummings and give them my email address. nothertz@gmail.com and the cash will automatically be put into our account. If no one on Kwaj donates a VCR/DVD player, we can buy one from the AFFES store here on Kwaj for $89.00. If you can help, please let me know. Blessings to all. We pray you will have a wonderful 2009.