I love my kids...

...Not that there was any doubt but I just had to share something that happened yesterday.

We started the One Verse Sonlight Project this week. It is a program to help build awareness for the need to translate the Bible into languages that do not have one and the many that do not have even one verse in their language. Part of the project is to save money to help translate at least one verse. They figure the cost of translating one verse is approximately $26. When I first mentioned it (before watching the videos, reading the story and seeing the slide show) both of our oldest were asking if we were going to make them give their own money. I told them no, only if they felt led to give but that as a family we could maybe make a special jar to save up money and see if we could at least raise enough for one or two verses. Well, after going through all the materials online, I simply told them to think and pray about two things: If they feel that God is leading them to give and if so, how much. I also reminded them that this was not required and that we were not forcing them to give anything.

A couple hours later, Josh comes up to me and says, "You know mom, I already have a leapster. I don't REALLY need the Nintendo DSI I have been saving for. I want to pay for a verse all on my own out of the money I have saved up." What you need to understand is that he has been saving up his Christmas money, birthday money and weekly allowances for literally months now with the hopes of saving enough by the time we go to the states next month so he can buy one there where it costs a lot less. He has talked a lot about this and was really excited about it. I know that for him this is a sacrifice but I am so proud of his decision. Shortly after this, Abby came to me and told me she wanted to pay for a verse out of the money she has been saving to buy a camera of her own. Once again, doubly proud momma here!

It also has gotten me thinking about those things that maybe I don't REALLY need and how I can be more giving and sacrifical. I love how our children can teach us so much sometimes.

Summer 2009 Edition of Eager Steps Now Available

Hot and humid greetings from the Baja!

While many of you may be feeling the start of fall weather and possibly never felt like you had much of a summer, we are still in the midst of summer weather here. Today's temperature was 95 with 36% humidity and heat index of 98. It hardly feels like the Midwestern Fall weather I am used to growing up! I just keep reminding myself that come December and January, I will be happy for our weather here.

This is to let you know that our most recent edition of our prayer letter "Eager Steps" is ready. All you need to do is click on the link to the left for our prayer letters to read it. It is in PDF format. If you do not have Adobe Reader, you can download it for free at www.adobe.com.

We apologize for the delay in completing our summer letter. We had several weeks with one thing after the other happen, starting with Hurricane Jimena. Our most recent "adventure" was with van problems which left us stranded for a few days in the capital of La Paz over the weekend. We were dropping off items collected by our churches here for hurricane relief in one of the cities North of us. We hope that you enjoy reading about what God is doing in Southern Baja and are able to pray for the individuals mentioned in our letter.

Please, keep us updated on your lives and ministries when you are able. We count it a privilege to pray for you as well.

By His Grace,
Pattie

Bits from the Baja E-mail Update: Sept. 5, 2009

Greetings once again!

Thank you so much for your prayers! We are happy to report that Hurricane Jimena did not hit us directly and did not cause the damage which a category 4 hurricane would typically do. We received quite a bit of rain, some wind, and a little loss of power (only about 5 hours) but nothing bad. Further up the coast, it was a different story. We would appreciate your prayers for these areas, especially Ciudad Constitución, which have quite a bit of rebuilding to do. Please pray for wisdom in how best we can serve and help with the needs they are experiencing.

We are praising God for quite a large number at our cell group last night, especially children (18!). There is a newer visitor who is bringing many from her neighborhood. Please pray with us that the parents would desire to come as well, to study the Bible and learn more about God. It was wonderful to see Jaime's friend "G" return. Please pray with us that he would continue to seek the truth and would find freedom from his alcoholism.

Tomorrow, Iglesia Emanuel will begin a series of monthly, workshops to help build marriages. Considering that the last statistics we read reported the divorce rate here as 70%, this is definitely a great need. Please pray that the couples attending would have their marriages strengthened and be shining testimonies of God's grace at work in their personal lives and as a couple.

Thank you once again for your prayers during the storm and your continued prayers, encouragement and support for our ministry.

By His Grace,
Phil and Pattie