Everything Beautiful for its Own Time

Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.
Ecclesiastics 3:11


  I love seasons that make me feel like something new is beginning. Spring when everything blooms and grows, new school years when anything feels possible, and each January as a whole new year begins. As Aaron  and I sat down to map out hopes and goals for 2019, I was filled with an awe of all God has already done. It's amazing starting the year feeling established and at home here in St Kitts.

  Celebrate Recovery has become a fantastic and constant group of people. They are our special community here; those of us who have found our place where "it's ok to not be ok." 

Aaron teaching on SANITY: how to make different choices so that we can see change in our lives.

Our wonderful friend Kistian agreed to come and share his testimony with us this month. Having friends, especially church leaders like Brandon last month and Kistian this month, who are willing to be vulnerable with our group sets up an atmosphere of openness at CR. Thank you Kistian for showing us how God has done amazing things in your life!  

  

  Anthony, a super talented photographer at our church, snapped some shots of Aaron and I serving during our Sunday service. Even before we were in vocational ministry, we have been serving at our churches on a regular basis. It's a fantastic way to get to know people, feel invested, and to feel at home at a church. We highly recommend finding a place to plug in at your church community!
One of many things my amazing husband does each weekend; camera guy and editing the service! If you ever want to check out CCF's Sunday message, you can watch it our YouTube channel or listen at on the podcast!

That's me way up on the left! I get to do the weekly announcements. Mostly because I'm loud and can be easily, and sincerely, excited about everything going on in the life of our church! Hey, you gotta use the gifts that the Lord gave you. 


    Out of those announcements, weekly bible studies are some of our favorites. Our Ladies' Bible Study is back after a few months off! It's a very special time each week to study some great people of faith (currently Elijah) with a lovely group of women! We also have a co-ed Wednesday Bible Study and a Thursday ladies' prayer gathering.

Our mid-week Bible Study is diving into Daniel! Going beyond the picture Bible stories is one of my favorite parts of studying God's word.

The prayer gathering started with a group of us that have more flexible time throughout the week; moms, wives, and/or students taking less classes this semester. We eat yummy snacks, chat about life, and pray over our church, our island, and each other. All my favorite things!



  Many of you may remember that last year we helped lead a Christian kids' after-school club, called Good News Club, at SKI academy. The club has started back up, and having our kids as students at SKI makes it even more special! The kids' school is a small, international, private school. It is not, however, a Christian school. Being allowed to share the gospel on campus, and have fun with a this group of kids, is a huge blessing!

We sing songs, memorize scripture, play games...


Learn about Jesus through different stories...

and pray with and over the kids. 


  New Horizons Juvenile Rehabilitation Centre has been the one place where we have been constantly able to teach almost every week for 2 years! Now, with more girls coming into the center, we have been allowed to split the guys and girls. Aaron has continued to go every other week with the young men, and now I'm able to go on his off weeks to teach the young women! They are precious, and we are looking forward to the depth that can come by splitting up the genders. 

This is Mikey. He is the gate guard at New Horizons. As the very first person I met after pulling up to NH, a bit anxious and unsure of myself, his smile put me right at ease! Without Mikey, and the other counselors and guards at NH and the prison, we would not be able to come in and spend time with the residents of these institutions. They are a blessing to us! Mikey was kind enough to let me snap this photo of him on my way out last week. 

I also love January because it's my birthday month! I made 32 (as the locals say) and celebrated it all. day. long.

The kids woke me up with breakfast in bed! Yes, those are chocolate hearts. I've taught them well.

Aaron shuttled me off to the beach. That view makes me catch my breath!

I didn't get in the water (It's cold, it was only 80F that day! Yes, I know how silly that sounds), but I read a good book and soaked up the sun.

We ended the day eating AH-mazing food at Sprat Net with some of my favorite people.


Our friend Meena hosted a game night for the worship team (see, serving has alllll kind of perks ;) 



We ate and played and laughed all night. This crew shows up week after week to help us worship the Lord, so this was a well-deserved gathering. 

Ministry kids get to come to all things. 


Beacon of Hope, a church we have worked with in the past, invited us out for their Caribbean food festival. If there is food, I'm all in! And we really love our Beacon of Hope friends.



Salt fish, green banana, corn meal, dumplings, and fritters! I was in food heaven.


Our 3rd, and CCF's 6th, chili cook-off was last week. Having people from all over the world means we get chilis from all over the worlds well!

All over the US, St Kitts, Puerto Rico, Nigeria, Switzerland, Jamaica, and India are just a few of the countries our chilis originated from.

Announcing the winner!

The Judges

The chili cooks

The winner! Bhal, an actual chef, made a delicious and spicy chili. He did a fantastic job!



With our kids in a new school, we are having so many first this year! Thursday was their first Sports Day, which is what we call Field Day in the US. Running, jumping, skipping (jump rope), sit ups, and silly relays made for an exhausting, but really fun, day.

Kids gathering to do warm ups and say the school sports day oath.

A few handsome grade 1 boys.

Three of the lovely grade 4 girls.

Sit ups

Races

Snack Break!

Relays

Class games to pass the time between events.

Hanging with his boys

Dean was nominated to be the Yellow Grade 1 representative for the Fun Run!


Dean's team, the Yellow Falcons, won Sports Day!
Our kids set a goal to medal at least once, and Addalyn got 3rd in broad jump, Dean got 3rd in skipping, and he got 1st in broad jump! Both kids worked so hard and we were really proud of them.


Thank you to every person who has been praying for us since I posted about our struggle with the prison classes. You all mean the world to us! We can't do this ministry without your support and prayers. We will keep you posted as we have updates, hopefully next month!



  Two fun announcements; I have started volunteering for a ministry called Velvet Ashes by joining their Instagram team, and Aaron will be starting a local radio show on Saturdays! 

Volunteering for Velvet Ashes means that once a week I get to look at community members' posts, like/comment on them, and also make a couple of daily posts promoting the latest blog or featuring VA community photos. Velvet Ashes is an online community of woman serving overseas. They have been a blessing in my life as I transitioned to, and live in, a country that is not my own! If you are, or know, a woman serving overseas, then check out VA on facebook, instagram, or online.

The bigger of the two announcements: Hope & Recovery Radio starts Saturday, February 9th at 2pm (1pm eastern time) on Dominion Radio! A radio show is something we have been praying about for months now. Aaron finally felt the ok to proceed, and it was a breeze getting everything set up! It will be a great way to get the message of recovery, and hope in Christ, out into the community. Please pray for Aaron as he teaches, those listening to be open, and for churches around the island to want to learn how to start their own recovery meetings!  

  Whew! After typing all this up, I realize why I feel so worn out! It has been a busy month, but a good one. We have experienced struggle, exhaustion/sleep troubles, and hurt. But the enemy doesn't realize that because of Christ we have so much JOY (my word of the year) each and every day. And God is still causing GROWTH (Aaron's word of the year); in our lives, and in the ministries He has us in. He is such a good Father who cares for us so well. Serving Him is our greatest pleasure. 

  Thank you for loving us and being a part of this journey with us! 

A few more pictures from this month:





















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