Two Years and Counting

It has been two years since Lee and I first planted our feet onto Kwajalein, Marshall Islands. Where did the time go? We had no idea what the Lord had in mind for us, but we knew he had sent us here for some reason. When Paul Hester sent us an email about helping to build a church building on Gugeegue, Lee thought, I have helped build buildings before. Here I am Lord. Lee started a new job and worked with the three preachers on his days off that were building the church building. And then there were no preachers. I think Lee was like Moses....I'm not a preacher Lord. Send a preacher! Lee struggled but he grew and now even the Marshallese can keep up with his messages. God helped Lee grow. Now the Lord is helping Peterson grow. Peterson lead several songs and lead the communion where he read from God's word where Jesus commands us to take communion each first day of the week. I knew Lee had wanted to do missionary work for the Lord for some time. I figured that I would support Lee in whatever God wanted him to do. Here's Lee, Lord, send him. There were about three weeks where it rained a lot and we could not travel the road between Ebeye and Gugeegue. We had just a few kids at church in Gugeegue. It had been thirty years since I had taught bible class but I had prepared a Bible lesson and a few pictures for the kids to color and relearned a few songs. We met on Ebeye at one of the ladies houses on and several kids showed up the first week. More kids showed up each Sunday we met on Ebeye. When we went back to meeting at the church building on Gugeegue, we had two pick ups loaded with kids going to church with us on Gugeegue. The kids loved it. They were like little sponges. Now we have several sisters who are teaching the little sponges Gods word in their language. Neither one of us had the vision to know where God wanted us to go. But, the Lord lead us where he wanted us in spite of our stupidity and lack of vision. To God be the glory! He has been better to us than we deserve. This is our newest baby girl. Don't you just LOVE that hair. What a sweetie! She is the reason God sent us to Kwaj. Praise God!

Worship

The kids are soaking up learning God's word being told to them in their own language like little sponges. The sisters are singing a few of the songs in their language too. Peterson found a song book in Marshallese and he is leading more songs each week. He is doing a great job. I think he is almost to the point he can lead all the songs in Marshallese. We had a little bit of rain on the way to church this morning. At least it was not a gully washer. These wonderful souls don't know what riding on a smooth rode inside an air conditioned car is like. For most of them, that five mile trip over the bumpiest rode ever is fun as far as they are concerned. Thank you to the Walnut church of Christ for sending school supplies for the next school year. You guys rock! You have been a huge blessing to the Gugeegue church. God bless you all.

Easter Celebration

We used three full taxi's to ride to church this morning. The kids learned about the story of Christ and the Easter story. The kids were given REAL decorated eggs. The adults learned how every Sunday is a celebration of the Easter story. Lee's sermon was about how we remember the life that Jesus gave to all sinners through the communion that we take each week. Praise God for Jesus and the life he gave to all sinners.

Singing Praise to God

We had a great day of worship on Sunday. Thank you to Jim Long for sending some more song books. We had two different song books but did not have enough of either book to be able to sing from one book. When we sang praises the guys had to announce two different numbers for the two different books. Now we can use one book. Praise His Name. Our Sisters are doing a wonderful job teaching the kids in their language. I have bought many books and craft supplies over the past two years. My spare bed room is crammed full. Right now I plan and put together everything for the classes, mainly because Lee is our copy man. I do not mind planning the lessons, but I would like to give the Sisters a chance to plan their own lessons. They will learn more that way. I have been working on getting everything labeled and put into a waterproof file box so we can carry everything to the church building. The sea air is a huge factor in keeping anything at the church building.Then all we have to do is plan far enough ahead so we can make the copies needed in time to carry them back to the church building. Be thankful for all the resources your church has at your building or at least near by.

The Lord's Work

Before Paul left he gave Lee a new Archaeological Study Bible to help him in his studies. Paul is like the energiser bunny, he just keeps on giving. Bless you Paul for all you do for everyone in Gugeegue. Thank you to Dean & Becky Lightfoot who sent a box of assorted needs for the kids this past week. You guys have been a great help to the kids. All of our Sisters are doing a great job teaching the kids in their language. Our Marshallese Brothers are doing a wonderful job at participating in the worship service. This pic is Peterson serving communion. Two of those kids up front are watching their daddy serve the Lord. How great is that? Peterson also found a song book that is printed in Marshallese. Lee and Peterson took turns leading the same song. Lee sang one verse in English and Peterson lead the next verse in Marshallese. It really turned out great.