Kids Camp!

I had an awesome time with the kids camp this 3-day weekend, and was reminded WHY kids are the Greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. 

Part of the Royal Tongan family came,and although we had set aside a special seating area for them, as part of honoring them and setting them apart...a little prince and princess ran around and joined in with the other kids.  I was so touched to see them dancing that evening with my kids and lots of other kids who went up to the front of the chapel during worship, singing and dancing, hands in the air praising Jesus! 

That's how children are, they are uninhibited by propriety and protocol.  When asked questions they answer honestly,they don't worry about sounding intelligent or holy.  When they pray they do it with a simple faith that whatever they asked for will actually happen.   Its no wonder why Jesus said  "Whoever humbles himself, like this little child, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."   Matthew 18:4

Evangelism ki ai!!!

Awesome time of outdoor evangelism on Sunday, in the village of Ha'atafu. 'Osi did a fantastic job sharing his testimony, and also one of the students.   The students' led in drama and music, which was very powerful, and the Holy Spirit moved the hearts of the people... Afterwards 20+ people stepped forward to receive Christ! 

Now our DTS students are totally fired up for outreach - 3 months of divine appointments just like this!

Check out our video!

Pastor Greg asked us to record a video greeting from our family to our church in Texas. and upload it onto youtube....If you would like to see a glimpse of our life and discipleship ministry in Tonga, you can check it out here http://youtu.be/1eN1n8OuzoE

2 Corinthians 9:8
And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

Why pray for patience when you can pray for humor?

Lately I have been asking God to help me face stressful situations gracefully by giving me a fantastic sense of humor.  I think it will be great having the ability to "laugh at the days to come".  So many of my friends (mostly Mothers with small children) say they are "praying for patience".  Praying for patience...Yes, it sounds nice, but what does that mean exactly? 
When I ask God to do something in me I need to be as specific as possible, because I truly believe He will answer in that specific awesome way, so I can give Him credit for it later. 
That said...Lord, please help me to laugh when I discover we're on "Island time" and absolutely nothing happens when and how I planned for it to happen.  Give me great joy, when all of a sudden with no warning, various Tongan relatives show up at our house (Surprise!) and announce they will be staying with us for weeks....or indefinitely.  Gleefully I will receive them, and delight in the way you ALWAYS provide enough for all of us.
Help me to count it all joy when facing challenges in ministry and the occasional back stabbing....Finally, help me not to compare my life to other people who look like they have it easier, because Erma Bombeck says "The grass is always greener over someone elses septic tank."  I am so excited for what today will bring...the good the bad and the hilarious. 

Umu anyone?

On Sunday, we have a tradition in Tonga, to cook food in an underground oven. 
'Osi loves this tradition, and is pretty much the only one on campus who makes the oven every Sunday, then other families bring their food to throw inside too.  Its alot of work, but tastes great! 
   We gather our supplies on Saturday night, because the shops are closed on Sundays.  Also on Saturday we pick all the "Lu" taro leaves we need, and dig up the root vegetables, because Tongans are not supposed to break the Sabbath by doing this kind of farm work on Sunday. 
Early in the morning 'Osi digs a huge hole and fills it with big rocks, then builds a fire on top.  He lets the fire burn for at least an hour to heat the rocks.

  Meanwhile I layer about 6 taro leaves on a square of aluminum foil, and pour chopped meat, onions, and coconut cream in the middle.  We wrap it all up, and after putting out the fire we pile the foil packages and peeled root vegetables on the hot rocks. We cover it all with coconut stalks, banana leaves big old blankets, and a mound of dirt .
And an hour later we feast!

He gives good gifts to His children

I know its cliche but I can't think of a better way to say it  =)  "Life is like a box of chocolates...you never know what you're gonna get."  Right? 
Serving Jesus is like that - and in all the mystery you know He wants to give you something delicious.
We experienced this lately.  In our December newsletter we finally worked up the courage to ask our friends/family to consider giving toward a car.  We said we would need to raise about $3,000 U.S. for a reliable used car, because that is about the going rate in Tonga (almost everything here is as expensive or more than what it costs in America, including food and cars because it all has to be imported.)
So we waited, excitedly, full of faith...and then the days and weeks went by and we were surprised that, out of 70 or so friends and family we sent letters to, not a single person gave a donation for the car.  So we started thinking maybe it was presumptuous and wrong to have asked, after all its not a basic need.  And of course the enemy tends to kick us when we're down, and make us feel like we don't even deserve a car.  After all we were not even good stewards of our bicycle, (a thief came last month and stole the wheels right off our bike in the middle of the night!)
But then on Monday 'Osi said he wanted to visit a cousin in a far away village whom we had not seen all year.   So he did, and turns out the cousin had a mechanic neighbor who was selling a car super cheap because he's in a rush to move back to New Zealand!  He only wanted $250 U.S. for it, because the engine was shot, but the crazy thing is 'Osi's cousin happened to have the exact same make and model engine in one of his cars that had a beat up body! 

Apparently there were a few other people who wanted to buy the car too, but the owner still lives with his Momma  who laid down the law.  She said "You WILL save that car for the nice missionary kid with the pregnant wife."   So then we had to find the money, which God quickly provided in its entirety through my college roommate who had just recently heard from God that she needed to donate to our ministry.  (Another cool story)  Plus we also had some savings to pay for the mechanic's labor...  
So they swapped the engines out and we have a fantastic car now....and a great story to tell of God's goodness and compassion.  God is so good friends, so generous. 
Never give up praying, God loves to bless you and He is able....but often it comes in a way we don't expect.  So that He will get the glory for it.
"'Its not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the Lord Almighty." Zechariah 4:6b

Beautiful, but deadly!

My boys love to pick flowers and bring them to me, sometimes they put them up in my hair like a real island girl  =)  A vast variety of flowers grow in Tonga, many have medicinal value.
One day in Eua I was sitting outside with my boys and a bunch of neighbor kids, and they kept bringing me these gorgeouss pink flowers.
Isaac started climbing the bushes the flowers were growing on, and I overheard the kids chattering in Tongan that he shouldn't climb those trees because they're poisonous.
"Say what??!"
I quickly called Isaac over to me, and the children explained that some people don't even touch that tree because the flowers are deadly.  After thoroughly washing my babies I asked the neighbor children "Why do you even plant these all over your yard?"   And they replied, matter of factly, "Because they are beautiful."

"Now isn't that just like sin?"  I asked 'Osi later.  Sometimes we don't even want to touch it, while other times we let it grow all around us, if its beautiful, and just hope it won't poison us or our children. 
Hmmm.  Makes me wonder...what kinds of flowers are growing around my family?   Are we flirting with anything poisonous?
  

Osi preaching

'Osi has been given more and more opportunities to teach and preach every week, since taking the Bible School for the Nations course.  The emphasis for this course is studying the entire Bible and learning how to teach it in story form, and also to put together sermons to teach the people. 
We recognize that 'Osi has a gift for teaching, and have been praying that God will use this course to develop it further in him.  Thankfully, God has been answering this prayer.  He has been growing in wisdom and confidence to share all that he is learning.

The Fakalolo Family

For weeks before we left for Eua, we had been praying for the host family we would stay with.   Praying that we would be a blessing them, and that they would enjoy our children...(Isaac and Allan are pretty active little boys, and lets face it not everyone enjoys active little boys right?)   We were not surprised when the Lord blessed us with a very special family to host us. 
Tevita and Naite Fakalolo and their 3 children were so kind to us.  We spent many hours together talking and laughing, cooking and chasing all the kids.  
      You can learn alot from living temporarily with another family.  We learned about generosity; yielding our rights; teaching our children not to jump on furniture before we bring them to visit other people;  learning to cook familiar food in new ways;  thinking the best about another person when "I don't really understand what they meant by that" .  haha
All in all a good time was had by all - and like 'Osi said "I am just so thankful to have a nice safe place to bring my wife and kids."

That infamous ferry ride!

We were really excited about taking the ferry boat over to Eua island.  For days we were psyching up the kids about it "We're going for a ride on a huge boat to Eua!"
But about an hour into the trip the waters became incredibly choppy and our huge boat was being rocked violently back and forth.  Back and forth...
That sucked all the awesomeness out of the ride as we all began losing our cookies, over and over again for hours....it was horrible.
By the time we got to Eua I told 'Osi "I am not leaving this place, there is no way I am taking that boat back in 10 days!  We might as well settle down here and start YWAM Eua, because I felt like I wanted to die!"
10 days later we loaded back on the boat again, but this time God calmed the sea and we sailed smoothly home.
This experience made me so thankful to be living in modern times though.  I have been reading a Biography of John Williams, one of the first missionaries to the Pacific islands.  And he and his wife Mary had to sail for 9 MONTHS from London to the Pacific!
Many of the missionaries on that boat were sick, and some didn't survive the journey.  I'm afraid I wouldn't have,  so I praise God for allowing me to live and serve in the Pacific in the 21st Century.   And thank you Jesus for airplanes!

Tongan youth

'Osi is gone for a couple of hours today to lead a small group of boys in another village boarding school. 
Its a Christian school, but the boys got into some trouble with the law a couple of months ago for fighting/violence with a rival school.
So they are under house arrest or some kind of punishment, and 'Osi and a few other men from our mission campus always go there on Sunday to encourage the boys.  They break up into small groups to for Bible study and discussion (please pray for 'Osi, for wisdom and an ability to speak straight to the boys about humility, and growing in the Lord instead of revenge and the ways of the world...)
The wonderful thing is young guys are attracted to 'Osi like a magnet, he tells them funny stories, and encourages them, and they just feel the love he has for them.   I see it all the time, and it humbles me.  Reminds me that our ministry in Tonga is not about the programs, but about the people. 
I'm so thankful God has given him such a heart for the young and misdirected boys in Tonga  =) they remind him of himself as a young teenager  =)  
Please join us in praying that God will turn them into great men of God also someday.

God bless our DTS students!

There are four schools running at the YWAM University of the Nations (missions campus) where we are living.  The first school, the foundation and entrance gate for all the other missions schools to follow, is the Discipleship Training School (DTS). 
Osi and I have a great love for the DTS because it is 6 months that can truly change your life.  We have seen hundreds Tongan young people take the DTS and their lives were transformed...so were are really excited that the campus leaders have invited us to run our own DTS someday.
While 'Osi felt he should take this time to prepare in knowledge and experience, he is taking the Bible School for the Nations course which is 3 months of intense Bible study and memorization and 3 months of outreach.  Where his team will go to Eua (a small Tongan island)  on a mission trip, and also to China for 7 weeks to share the gospel there.
So we are excited for what we are learning now - and at the same time we are wildly excited for the DTS.  The current DTS students have just finished their first month of the school, and they are just the sweetest bunch of kids.  They are working hard from 5a.m. until 8p.m. studying and learning in the lecture hall, and doing special programs in town, plus work duties around the base....but they always find time to stop and play with our kids or sit around on our porch at night to drink coffee and tell us what they are learning.
We just love these guys.
Please pray for them, that God will continue giving them energy and good health throughout this rigorous course.  Please pray for provision, that all of their school fees will be paid.  Also pray for open ears and open hearts to hear and receive all God is speaking to them.  Some of these students will go home in 5 months to bring their new knowledge and experience of God's love and plan to their village....and some will continue training here and go out into the world, like the hundreds of Tongans we have sent before.
Tongans make the BEST missionaries.

Home Sweet New Home!

There were 3 families who moved out of the missions campus this month, and it was very difficult for us to say goodbye.  We really loved them and their children.
But at the same time their house vacancy allowed us the option to "move up" to a cabin with running water and a bathroom!  Yay!
So here we are sitting in front of our new home.

Finger painting!

Allan and Isaac love to paint.  These were a gift from friends, but normally we make our own.  Here's a recipe you can try with YOUR children or grandchildren!
Mix 1 cup flour and 2 Tablespoons salt, whisk together with 1 and half cups cold water until smooth. 
Then bring it to a boil, and stir for a minute or two until it thickens.  Allow the mixture to cool then pour into separate little dishes, add food coloring to each dish to make different colors.  
Have fun and get messy!

Beach trip!

Osi's Bible School class took a trip to the beach, so we all got to go!

Kiko and Annie's wedding

Last Saturday we celebrated the wedding of Annie and Kiko here on our YWAM Tonga campus.  As usual the whole base, (and probably all of Kiko’s village =)  got together to decorate the chapel...and prepare food, feast and dance....it was such a blast and we are very excited for the new couple.  (unfortunately I didn't get a good picture of the wedding party, I was too busy trying to keep up with these rambunctious little boys =)

 (Oh and I was delegated to host Annies bridal shower which was super fun, even though we used a ridiculous amount of toilet paper making our model bride dresses =)   shhhh don’t tell the mission director.  We will recycle it all, promise =)

 

Monday night is ladies night!

Every Monday evening the Mom’s of the mission get together and boy do we have fun.  We take turns leading the discussion and sometimes play games.  We do alot of sharing, laughing, crying, and praying....I just love these ladies so much.

Let my people go!

Lately I have also been teaching the stories of Moses to my preschool class.  They have been SO adorable acting out each lesson after I teach it.  They have played baby Moses in the basket riding down the river, and Miriam, and the princess....then adult Moses and burning bushes....
Today we made little puppets of Moses and Pharaoh and it was hilarious to see them change their voices and make Moses demand “Let my people go!” 

Then Pharaoh replied in a less manly voice “No! I don’t know you!  I don’t know your God, and I won’t let your people go!”

Then some of the more aggressive little boys made all their puppets get into fistfights and.....yeah, the paper didn’t last very long.  But I think they got the main idea  =)

That's a good look for you honey!

Ósi’s Bible School for the Nations class is studying Moses and the Exodus right now (they are reading through the whole Bible in 3 months and trying to memorize as much as possible. So they can recite it in story form).  This day Ósi was teaching the class what he learned from Moses’ time in the desert.  It was so hilariously funny, everyone gave him an “Ä” for acting.