tomorrow is the big day!

Tomorrow we start Youth Camp! My kids are so excited. They think that Camp is the greatest week of the year. They are just as excited as when we go to Disneyland! Eileen has been packed for 4 days already, getting all her outfits ready.

As for me, well, I am exhausted already. We worked all day today. Its a good time, but a stressful time for me, especially since I have Vanessa. I'd appreciate any prayers.

We have had our share of troubles, and the water situation is still critical. So, for any problems we have, I am expecting God to give us blessing.

So sorry for all you suffering freezing temperatures. Its hot here!

Eileens Crafts

I can do a lot of things, but I don't craft. Not at all. But that doesn't mean can't encourage my DD to do crafts. So, she is going to a class, learning how to do things. Here is a decoupage tea bag caddy. Its really cute. I told her so, and that I would put it on my blog. So here it is!

Vanessa Pictures!

Since there are so many big people in this house that love Vanessa and taking pictures, we have an abundance. Eileen just loves the digital camera. Anybody remember the good ole days when you had to buy film and get photos developed? I am sooooo glad that's over! I do have a little printer that prints up regular photo size pictures. I love it. I can easily print up what I want.

Anyway, Here's my little Vanessa as captured on memory card by her big sister Eileen.

Camp!

Yep, its that time of year again. Its warm and sunny. Poor Tori is dealing with darkness at 4 pm, and here it is, 8:30 pm, and the sun still has not gone down.

Camp starts next Tuesday. We still have a lot of work to do. I am waiting for Neil to finish writing the devotionals so that I can type them up and print up the booklets.....for both youth and family camps....before this weekend. Hurry, honey, please!

The theme for this year's youth camp is "I commit to serve the Lord in 2009" Not a really catchy theme, but we are excited about the possibilities. I have made 8 posters showing ways to serve the Lord this year. During the week, they can commit to one or several. They will sign the posters publicly to announce their committment. I'll take plenty of pics and post them when I can.

For family camp, the following week, our guest speaker asked to speak about money, and Dave Ramsey's total money makeover. His view on money and debt has changed radically and he wants to share. So many Americans are in debt, but they have jobs. Here everyone is in debt and jobs are so scarce. I am really hoping that Bro. Epifani can get through top them about this important issue.
We are going to play a game all week. We are going to give them funnymoney, and a chance to earn more. They will have to "pay" for their food each meal. If they do not have enough money, they will have to work or go into debt. We are hoping to have fun, and also to illustrate what they will be learning about savings, debt, tithing, work, and trusting God.

We do have one very special prayer request. The camp, on my mom's property, is supplied of water by a no-to-good well. The well goes practically dry every summer, and this year it is nearly critical. Please pray that God would miraculously supply us with water!

My blogging may suffer over the next few weeks, but I do keep reading. God bless each of you, my friends, and you know who you are!

A follow-up Dr. visit

When we left the hospital 10 days ago, the dr. told us that she would need a blood test in one week. Then, if the results were good, the next blood test would be in another 2 weeks, then another month. I was discouraged, because I didn't want Vanessa to have to go through another torturous blood test.
Tuesday, we took her to the German hospital. Even in the nicest hospital in town, a blood test is still a blood test. It took forever. Vanessa screamed and pulled. It took me and two nurses to hold her still enough to draw blood. They had to take enough for 6 different tests. We were both sweating when the ordeal was over.
The next day, we went to the Dr.'s office. She lo0ked over the tests, one page after the other. She said, "This little girl is well. No need for more testing!" Amen, glory halellujah! Prayers answered!

The "why"

So often we are not made to know just why suffering is allowed in our lives or in the lives of those around us. But every once in a while, God makes known his purpose.

When the doctor made us understand that Vanessa must be hospitalized, we realized right away that is must be at the Regional Hospital. The charges for the German Hospital would have run several thousand dollars that we didn't have. And since we would not be compromising medical quality, just comfort, we knew what we had to do. I didn't know how miserable it would be, or I would have chosen to go into debt! I know that thousands get medical care there, and that maybe I'm just too spoiled, but the facts are that I was miserably uncomfortable. Vanessa would have been uncomfortable anywhere, as needles were going to be a fact no matter where we were. But I would have been better able to care for her in another setting.

Anyway, I am not a pouter. I tried to make the best of things and to be positive around the other children's mothers. Nessa's crib was at the end near the door and the recliners. Next to me was a little girl, Connie, who had a severe infection due to sinusitis that had not been properly diagnosed. The dr. let her mother know that she was in danger of losing her life because the infection might get to her brain. Connie's mom and dad took turns caring for her. Neil was able, over the 5 days to witness to Cristian. Jessica, Connie's mom, told me that she had been saved and baptized as a young person, but hadn't been to church in years. She was so glad that her husband was listening to Neil. They have commited to go visit the Temuco church. Also, next to Connie was Javiera, with a severe urinary tract infection. Neil was able to make friends with and witness to Eduardo and his wife. We passed out tracts and Pastor Jaime passed out Gospels of John to all the parents and nurses. Jessica told me that she knew that her child and mine had been allowed to get sick in order to bring us together so that her husband would listen to the Gospel. We plan to keep contact with these two couples.

When Vanessa was born, we didn't have a baby dedication ceremony, as many here think of them as the evangelical form of infant baptism. But in our home we talked and prayed and dedicated our Vanessa to God. Sometimes God needs to use us or someone we love to reach others. Sometimes that means suffering. If God needed to allow Nessa to suffer so that he could reach those in need, then I need to not grumble. I give her freely to be of use in the Master's hand.