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Why am I always so surprised

Posted by Jonathan and Jenny on Wednesday, September 30th, 2009

Praise the Lord, He has blessed us with a WONDERFUL place to stay when we move to Wisconsin in early November.  This is obviously one of the things that we are concerned about as a family thinking about moving… a place to move into. :) He continues to provide for us, and come through over and over again…and yet so many times we are surprised when He does.  Like our housing situation for Wisconsin: we were unsure of how it would all work out, and the Lord allowed us to rent a place in the SAME neighborhood where we lived before leaving for training with New Tribes.  We will actually be like 3 blocks from where we used to live.  What a treat for us as a family experiencing so much transition and new living situations to be able to move somewhere familiar.  On top of that the Lord worked it out so we are blessed with AMAZING rent for the area, a lower security deposit, flexible term on the lease so that we can move on to French study as soon as we are ready, 3 bedrooms, and the list goes on.

I will post some pictures of our new place when we get settled.

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Cherokee Nation Celebration

Posted by Jonathan and Jenny on Saturday, September 19th, 2009
Chrokee Nation Celebration Powwow

Chrokee Nation Celebration Powwow

Elena at the Powwow looking over the back of the bleechers

Elena at the Powwow looking over the back of the bleechers

We attended a part of a powwow, a cornstalk shoot, and an ani Keetoowah dance this weekend.  There annual celebration of the Cherokee nation was this weekend and so we were able to join in and get to learn a little bit more about their culture.

We ended up learning that the Cherokee don’t have much to do with Powwow’s that is more to do with the plains Indians…but we did have an “Indian taco” that night which was served on Cherokee Fry bread…  It was still a neat experience for us to be able to attend the Powwow.

This morning the boys and I went to a cornstalk shoot together.  They shoot at a stack of cornstalks and you get points based on the number of stalks you penetrate with your arrow.  For the younger ages there is a time limit, and for the older groups were games to 50 points.

We were able to attend the Ani Keetowah dance with our language helper and his wife.  That was a good time to be with our helper and develop our relationship with him.  After the festivities we went out to dinner with him and his wife.

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Kids are doing well – so much to thank Him for

Posted by Jonathan and Jenny on Tuesday, September 8th, 2009
The 8 kids during story time - notice james sleeping in the background

The 8 kids during story time - notice james sleeping in the background

Elena in front of the "fort" made from a downed limb, shower curtain etc

Elena in front of the "fort" made from a downed limb, shower curtain etc

We have been asking for prayer for the kids to adjust well to our time here in Oklahoma. Thank you for praying. There is so much to be thankful for in this area.

  • The place we are staying has a wonderful cement slab that the kids REALLY enjoy playing on and riding their bikes on.
  • There is another family here with 4 children close to our kids ages and they are getting along wonderfully
  • We were able to coordinate our language helper sessions with the other large family and so we take turns watching all 8 kids
  • Did I mention the 8 kids are getting along remarkably well
  • The kids have built a “fort” outside that they are REALLY enjoying
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Another “two wheeler” in the world

Posted by Jonathan and Jenny on Tuesday, September 8th, 2009
Jada crusing around on 2 wheels

Jada crusing around on 2 wheels

On September 1st Jada told me that she wanted her training wheels off of her bike while we were outside together.  I borrowed a wrench from a classmate and took her training wheels off.  I set her up on the bike and off she went.  She rode in a circle the first time I go her going without crashing.  I will put some photos up of her riding that first evening.  It was great to see how well she did her first night.

As you can see, I couldn’t stand to see daddy’s girl crash on the slab. :)

I had to make sure my little girl didn't go down hard on the slab...not sure I acomplished my goal

I had to make sure my little girl didn't go down hard on the slab...not sure I acomplished my goal

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Setting up “house” in Oklahoma

Posted by Jonathan and Jenny on Sunday, September 6th, 2009

We arrived in Oklahoma and started setting up our “house” here for the next 7 weeks.  Hope you enjoy the pictures of us setting up our house here.  We told the kids we would be living in a “fort” for the next 7 weeks.  They really like their room a lot.

We are pretty well settled in now and getting into our routine here more and more each day.  Thank you so much for praying for us.

Van backed up to the wing of the building we are staying in

Van backed up to the wing of the building we are staying in

Our room started out with 8 bunk beds setup for summer camps

Our room started out with 8 bunk beds setup for summer camps

The beginnings of setting up bunks and mattresses to make the kids room

The beginnings of setting up bunks and mattresses to make the kids room

Kids Room. You can see their beds and part of our "closet"

Kids Room. You can see their beds and part of our "closet"

in bed in their "fort" they will be sleeping in for the next 7 weeks

in bed in their "fort" they will be sleeping in for the next 7 weeks

A closet to the right and the door to Jenny's and my room

A closet to the right and the door to Jenny's and my room

our Living room and our makeshift couch

our Living room and our makeshift couch

We used bunk ladders and later put boards on top to make a shelf

We used bunk ladders and later put boards on top to make a shelf

Jenny having story time on the couch one of the first nights

Jenny having story time on the couch one of the first nights

The slab where all of the kids LOVE to play

The slab where all of the kids LOVE to play

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Fun times with John and Erin

Posted by Jonathan and Jenny on Thursday, August 27th, 2009
enjoying some tacos together for dinner

enjoying some tacos together for dinner

A very fancy Tea Party

A very fancy Tea Party

Last night we got into Oklahoma city area after dropping our stuff of in Tahlequah.  We had a great dinner of Tacos and had a great time together.  If you are on Facebook you can look at our pictures from the zoo today.  We have been having a GREAT time together hanging out.

We had a great time at the zoo.  Here are some pics and a video that are pretty cute.

Walking hand in hand at the zoo

Walking hand in hand at the zoo

Our crew group shot at the zoo

Our crew group shot at the zoo

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On the Road to OK

Posted by Jonathan and Jenny on Tuesday, August 25th, 2009
Loaded to up to our eyeballs on the way to Oklahoma

Loaded to up to our eyeballs on the way to Oklahoma

We had an awesome time at the MTC and now we head off tomorrow morning to see some friends in Oklahoma before going to Tahlequah on Friday.  It is hard to believe we are already on our way to Ling Practicum in Oklahoma.

We had so much stuff to take with us so that we can completely setup house when we arrive in Oklahoma to 4 bare walls. :)  We never thought it would all fit. We even had some willing volunteers to take some things down for us…but Jenny worked her magic and got it all in.

Prayer

Please pray for the kids – this is yet another transition for them…and for us.

Praise

We had such a great time here in Missouri reconnecting with friends from our time here in the training.  We all wish we could move back in. :)

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Enjoying our stop through in Missouri

Posted by Jonathan and Jenny on Tuesday, August 25th, 2009

Having a good time in the pool at in Missouri

Having a good time in the pool at in Missouri

It is wonderful to be back at the Missionary Training Center, although it is just for a few days on our way to Oklahoma.  The kids love it here.  The day the kids played in the pool we ended up going down and enjoying the lake as well.  We have had the opportunity to connect with friends from our time here at the training center.  The kids have really enjoyed reconnecting with their friends as well.

We had the opportunity to connect with our church family from our time here in Missouri at Calvary chapel Lake Ozark.  It was AWESOME to be back and see everyone.  A group of us had lunch together and then took the party over to the custard stand.  mmmmm!!!  Good!!!!

Hope you enjoy the pictures of our time together!

Elena and her friend from church

Elena and her friend from church

Emmanuel and some of his friends from Church

Emmanuel and some of his friends from Church

Kids table at lunch after church

Kids table at lunch after church

Kids enjoying the custard and snow cones at the custard stand

Kids enjoying the custard and snow cones at the custard stand

James and Jada enjoying their snow cones

James and Jada enjoying their snow cones

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Moving, traveling, and quality education …

Posted by Jonathan and Jenny on Wednesday, April 29th, 2009
Jenny Teaching Emmanuel and Elena in the "Garage School House"

Jenny Teaching Emmanuel and Elena in the "Garage School House"

Not only will our children need quality education and care during the next few months and years of transition, they will need the same quality education while we are engaged in tribal ministry.

What a blessing that the MK Care and Education Department, located right here on campus in Missouri, provides home school support as well as international/MK school information and resources. Just last week I was able to attend a home school workshop held here, in order to gain more home school tips & resources. I browsed curriculum, learned tips & tools, and gained valuable insight from parents who have already successfully home schooled their children while ministering overseas.

Please thank the Lord with us for this support the Lord has provided, and be in prayer as we prepare to home school Emmanuel and Elena during the 2009/2010 school year during travel and transition.

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Decorating for Christmas

Posted by Jonathan and Jenny on Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008

This week we had one free evening and so we decided to get our our Christmas tree, manger, cross and our stockings.  We will be spending Christmas in North Carolina, but it is fun to have our place here in Missouri decorated as well.

The kids really enjoyed hanging ornaments on the tree that they made last year in preschool.  We were listening to Christmas music and pulling out the decorations.  What a great time.

Check our our photo slide show on our blog.

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Camping and Canoe Float Trip

Posted by Jonathan and Jenny on Wednesday, September 17th, 2008

Shortly after we returned to Missouri we were able to join our church for a camp-out and float trip. It was an awesome time to hang out with people we know from church and get to know some new people as well. Hope you enjoy the slideshow!

We borrowed a tent from someone at church, and so began our adventure. Friday night we had a camp fire: LOTS of marshmallows and pudgy pies around the fire along with some special singing by the kids. Geof brought his guitar and played and sang some songs with the kids.

Saturday morning the adventures on the river began. We divided our family into two canoes, so that I could fish with the kids a two at a time while we were headed down the river. What we neglected to think of was that this also meant there was only one person paddling each boat. Most if not all of the other canoes had two people paddling them.

Jenny and I definitely had our exercise after 8 hours or so on the river. There were some tight spots, and Jenny’s canoe almost got swamped when she turned sideways in a narrow part of the river.

It was a good time although as you can tell, there were some challenges to be overcome. We had an awesome group of culinary students come to the camp and make our meals for us. They really spoiled us.

We really enjoyed camping out together. The kids loved sleeping in the tent. It was so fun to watch the kids splashing in the water, enjoying swimming at our different stops and having a picnic lunch on the river.

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