June 13, 2006

Hello again! What a wonderful week we have had! We began our summer camp program with three teams of kids. Paul's team is called "The Mighty Lions", Dulcie's team is called "Starfire", and Miss Yanique's team is called "Powerstrikers". (Yanique is a young Jamaican lady who works for the Koch's) After a week of competition, Powerstrikers are in first place! The kids are accumulating points to win an ice cream sundae, but the winning team will get to go out to dinner with Papa Jim and Mama Penie. What an awesome treat for them! The kids are very excited and doing great with the games. In the mornings, after family devotions, we go outside to play active games for about an hour to an hour and a half, if it is not raining. After lunch, we have an hour of quiet reading time, followed by another hour or so of inside games. Most games allow the teams to earn points. We also have a weekly Scripture for them to memorize to earn points. We are currently learning 1 John 4:9-10 (last week was 7-8). The kids have amazed me with their enthusiasm in learning Scripture!
On Saturday, June 10th, a team from the Cincinnati area came down for a week of ministry. So Saturday was cleaning day! We worked hard until after lunch, then it was pool time! Once the team arrived, we spent time getting to know their names. Fortunatley, we already knew four of them; two of them are students of mine from CCA! Today, Monday, the team went to some local schools for ministry, while we had camp, and then after lunch, they put on a VBS program for some of the local kids here at the house. Dulcie and I were in charge of snack, while our four kids particpated in the VBS.
Our four kids are doing so well fitting in with the kids at My Father's House! Jaycee has started a friendly "pranking" with some of the teen girls. Hannah and Alyssa have got friends galore, and when Levi isn't playing with the boys, he's with the teenage girls! Of course, there has been lots of pool time and Sunday afternoons seem to be beach day! I'm loving that! (sorry dad!)
Dulcie and the girls have had an on going battle with the bugs! Please pray for them as they have been eaten up pretty badly. At times, it looks like they have broken out in hives, due to all the bites. Luckily, our deet arrived with the team from Cincy.
The food has been really good. Lots of rice and lots of chicken. The kids have been challenged in this area alot, but they are doing great! Today we had chicken foot soup, and yes, it has chicken feet in it...lots and lots of chicken feet. It also has dumplings, green bananas, corn and chicken noodles. I did break down and try a chicken foot, skin and all...I felt like I was on Fear Factor! I did it, but probably won't do it again.
Other than that, things are great! God is good and we are loving our time here. It's hard to believe its been two weeks. We are feeling right at home, except for the driving. I'm still getting used to being on the wrong side of the car and the road! But I'm getting better.
Please keep praying for us! We'll write again soon!