Birthday with Flat adventures

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This week was my b-day!  It was sooo fun.  We had my party on the beach.  At the party there were a lot of people, snacks, and also gifts too!  My favorite part was that I got sang to in 5 different languages and also the presents too.  Here are all the languages Spanish, Norwegian, German, Hebrew, and boring ole’ English too. The Saturday before that we got to go to a bird sanctuary and get ice cream since they weren’t open on Monday.  On Wednesday we played evangelism games. The last game was super funny so we laughed a bunch.  If you would have been there you would have laughed your head off!  Other than that we have been at home you know doing boring stuff.  Well adios until next week!!happy birthday, cake, candles-308576.jpg

 

This week was my sister’s birthday! We had a beach party for her.  I went in the ocean and got all wet.  It was really cold. We also went to a bird sanctuary with our friends from Norway.  We saw really cute turtles. We thought they were babies, they were so tiny.   After that we went to a super good ice cream place that has vegan ice cream.  My favorite is mango.   This was the first week we had a teacher come and teach us (just the kids).  She taught us Destiny by Design.  In class we took a quiz to discover our superpowers.  My two superpowers are victorious voice. I encourage others and often say not to give up.  My other super power is a powerful provider. I like to help people by giving to them.  I think that describes me pretty well.  Also we discovered that the things I play now like legos, can relate to my future job.  superhero, pop art, cartoon-2573131.jpg

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Flat Adventures Update 2 and 3

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Flat Emily

Hi guys, welcome back!  I hope you had a great week.  I sure have!  Have I told you that the bread here is amazing?  Well it is!!!  If you lived in Spain you would pretty much live on bread.   Enough about the bread, I’m here to tell you about the… beach!!!  It is sooo amazing watching the sunset, collecting seashells, and a bunch more.  But could you guess that if you threw bread in the ocean that seagulls and sea ducks would get?  Well maybe the seagulls but sea ducks!  They can dive down and get fish too!   

Here’s a picture of it.  It looks so cool and pretty!   Well bye until next week!!

Hola amigos!  This week I’m going to tell you about the Nerja caves.  The caves there are super cool, there’s also a park.  We (as in the group) stayed for 4 hours!  There we played soccer, the floor is lava, and grounders.  The caves are kind of like Mammoth caves but in it’s own way.  The caves have the world’s biggest stalagmite-stalactite.  It has a lot of stalagmites and stalactites.

Flat Etie

Flat Etie and I went to a really fun park close to the caves we explored.  In the caves it was really cool because there were lots of stalactites and stalagmites.  There was a giant column that is 42 meters high and in the Genus Book of World Records.  It is really cool because there used to be cave hyenas. I had no idea there was such a thing! The park was really fun to play tag in and we play tag a lot.  We also played Uno and The Crew(another card game) with the other kids.  We drove Estaban to and from the caves.  He speaks some English so it was good for both of us to practice.  

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Introducing Flat Adventures!

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We would like to introduce you to Flat Emily and Jr. Flat Etie.  They have been traveling with us ever since we left the States.  These two have been on many adventures already with many more surely to come.  We would like to use them as a way for the kids to share some of what is going on and ultimately as a way to share Jesus with others!  Check back for updates.

Flat Emily

Hi! I’m flat Emily.  I have been to countless places like Sweden, Denmark, the US, and now Spain!   When we left for Spain it was very sad saying goodbye to everyone but I made it through without crying.  ( I would have been one wet paper!) The airplane ride was SOOOOO long.  I have never been on one that long( it was 8 hours).  The layovers were very long too! On the car ride to Spain I fell asleep, that’s how tired I was.  The park here is sooo cool!  It has normal park stuff like swings, slides, etc.  But it also has a standing up seesaw, a super cool swing type thing, and a giant bowl swing.

Jr. Flat Etie

Hi my name is jr (flat)Etie my best friend is Winston.  I’m in a school with him.  I love the outdoors and God. I went to a castle, I loved it. We played tag. It was so fun. The plane ride was fun. I like Spain.

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God’s beautiful Creation

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Sometimes I just have to write things down to remember how abundantly blessed we are.  Most recently I feel that God has been showing me how much He loves me through His beautiful creation.  When we felt the Lord calling to a training school in Spain we knew nothing about the country.  In the months before we left for that school God just kept putting people in our path that had a connection to Spain and they would tell us how lovely the country is.  Since our arrival I have been continually reminded of what scripture says in Romans 1:20: For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. 

There is no doubt that our awesome Creator has made everything and wants to show us how much He loves us by allowing us to be a part of it.  And I want to express my praise to God Almighty for His gift and letting my family be a part of it.   Again like scripture says: Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it. Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them;let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.  Psalm 96:11,12 

So thank you Lord!

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Interview with Kati

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Kati had the opportunity to share about our journey and her faith walk in an interview with Jeremy Clark at South Union Christian Church. 

This weeks lesson was about Lydia from the book of Acts (See Acts 16:11-15).  Lydia is an example of a believer immediately stepping into service once she accepted Christ Jesus as her savior, even though she didn’t have all the details.  She offered what she had to the Lord’s work (v.15). 

Thank you all for you prayers, this was a lesson in trusting that the Holy Spirit will lead you.

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Minding, Loving, Living

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Mind your own business, Love one another and Live a pure life: Because the Holy Spirit was sent to help you!

For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 1 Thessalonians 4:7

1 Thessalonians 4 offers a timeless lesson for all of us today; minding your own business (v.11), loving one another (v.9,10) and living a pure life(v.7) are all biblical principles.  There are endless ways that our society justifies living the total opposite of each of these.  Living in a way that contradicts any of these principles is inconsistent with who we are in Jesus Christ.  He has sent the Holy Spirit to empower us to live holy and pure lifes, because we can’t do it on our own.  Just ask God our Father for help!

Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more, and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody. 1 Thessalonians 4:9‭-‬12

Here is what David Guzik’s commentary has to say:

The quiet life contradicts the hugely successful modern attraction to entertainment and excitement. This addiction to entertainment and excitement is damaging both spiritually and culturally. We might say that excitement and entertainment are like a religion for many people today.

  • This religion has a god: The self.
  • This religion has priests: Celebrities.
  • This religion has a prophet: Perpetual entertainment.
  • This religion has scriptures: Tabloids and entertainment, news, and informational programs.
  • This religion has places of worship: Amusement parks, theaters, concert halls, sports arenas; and we could say that every television and internet connection is a little chapel.

The religion of excitement and entertainment seduces people into living their lives for one thing – the thrill of the moment. But these thrills are quickly over and forgotten, and all that is important is the next fun thing. This religion conditions its followers to only ask one question: “Is it fun?” It never wants us to ask more important questions such as, “Is it true?” “Is it right?” “Is it good?” “Is it godly?”

  • We need to live the quiet life so that we can really take the time and give the attention to listen to God. When we live the quiet life, we can listen to God and get to know Him better.
  • To mind your own business: This means that the Christian must focus on his or her own life and matters, instead of meddling in the lives of others. “Mind your own business” is a Biblical idea.

 

*These thoughts are were taken from David Guzik’s Bible Commentary:  https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/1-thessalonians-4/ *

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Mexico Outreach October ’22

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Wow, I know I have said it before, but we are so blessed!  We just got back to the States after an amazing week in Ensenada, Mexico.  We would like to say a big thank you to everyone that supported us and our team to make this trip possible and to everyone that was involved in planning.  It was amazing serving with the other families from Boise and that the kids were able to be involved. Sometimes we don’t see or notice all the people and things that God arranges for us before we actually get to that step as he guides our steps.

A person’s steps are directed by the LORD. How then can anyone understand their own way?  Proverbs 20:24

This was an incredible trip and there is so much I could write about, but I will try to keep it short and give some of the highlights.  One of the most amazing things that happened was we (the whole team and some leadership help) were able to build a house for a young family in just 2 days!  These houses can change so many things for the families that receive them from better health to completely breaking the cycle of poverty.  The father of the family said he was already a believer, but when we were done said he is receiving God’s love even more everyday now! 

We were able to serve with two different child care facilities; one that is also a church and brings in kids that would be otherwise be left alone all day and feeds them  The other was a daycare and orphanage that also brings kids in and feeds them and cleans them, but also has 24 orphans that live there full time.  Of course these two places were our favorite places to visit.  We asked all the kids what their favorite food was and the overwhelming answer was pizza, and we were able to buy them all pizza for dinner that night!  The kids on our team also did a drama about Daniel and the lion’s den in Spanish!  

It was also great to see some of the other ministries that the Ensenada base is using to reach into the community.  Our favorite was the old school bus that has been converted to house a sewing ministry for the women living in the colonies to teach them a skill.  The bus also is used to teach the kids in the community about computers.  Please pray for this ministry, Hope Zone, as they have a vision to grow and purchase some land and establish a more permanent location in the community.  

This was a great reminder of how blessed we are to be in the United States, and to remember that even when we don’t think we have enough God has truly blessed us.  Probably the thing that sticks out to me the most is how much different life in Baja is even though it is so close to the US.  There is a Wal-Mart in Ensenada, but the family we built the house for has never been to it because it’s too expensive. Can you imagine not ever being in a Wal-Mart your whole life?  Please pray for the Ensenada community and that God’s light would continue to grow and shine there.  

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Just like the Redwoods

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This is a special post by Madalyn!

It’s amazing how Redwoods can start from a tiny seed and grow into a gigantic tree. We also start tiny in Christ and have growing stages as a Redwood does. While we may think we need other things but we need sun, soil, and water aka Christ. We may be young in Christ or young in age (like me I’m 10) we can still make a difference in the world!

Ask God how you can make a difference. Have a blessed day!

Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. James 3:5

I went down to the grove of nut trees to look at the new growth in the valley, to see if the vines had budded or the pomegranates were in bloom. Song of Songs 6:11

 

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Baptized in the River!

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And this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  1 Peter 3:21

On the afternoon of August 14th, 2022 Madalyn and Winston made one of the greatest choices that anybody could ever make in their life!

Earlier this year in April Madalyn said yes to Jesus and accepted Him as her Lord and Savior!  We had talked last summer about her giving her life to the Lord and then on the evening of April 24th the Holy Spirit stirred Madalyn to make the walk down the aisle and give her life to God!  We were overjoyed with her decision!  We firmly believed that it was her choice and so we talked about baptism and made sure that she understood what it is and what is symbolizes, but we wanted her to make that choice and not be pressured. 

For a few weeks in the church announcements we had been talking about getting baptized in the Big Wood River. Neither of the kids had said anything about it. Then on the night of August 9th Winston approached us about giving his life to the Lord. So we talked about it and we prayed  with him and walked him through what it means to commit his life to the Lord!  And again we were overjoyed but still didn’t want to put any pressure on either one of them to be baptized. Then on Saturday night right before the baptisms were to happen both of the kids approached us about being baptized in the Big Wood River the very next day!  We spent the rest of the evening talking about what baptism is and what it symbolizes. We talked to Pastor Konrad and told him the kids wanted to be baptized the next day. 

After church and a wonderful church picnic on Sunday we were able to go down to the river with both of our children and church family. I got one of the greatest honors a Father could ever have and baptized Madalyn and Winston in the Big Wood River!  It means more than they may ever know that they wanted me to be the one that baptized them into our Lord Jesus Christ!

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Why can you trust God?

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Why Can You Trust God?

1. Because His Word is true! (John 17:17).
2. Because His plans are set! (Ephesians 2:10).
3. Because His faithfulness is forever! (Exodus 34:6).
4. Because His justice is perfect! (Job 37:23).
5. Because His love is unfailing! (1 John 4:16).
6. Because He gave His Son for you! (John 3:16)

Truly there is no reason why you can’t trust God because He loves and adores you!

The Bible is the Word of God!

“In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God.”
‭‭John‬ ‭1:1-2‬

– The Bible is active. (Hebrews 4:12)
– The Bible is light. (Psalm 119:105)
– The Bible is wisdom. (Proverbs 2:6)
– The Bible is spirit and life. (John 6:63)
– The Bible is the way, the truth, and the life.(John 14:6)

Do all the good you can by all the means you can in all the ways you can, in all the places you can,
at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as you can.
~ John Wesley

Thanks brother Eddie for the references!

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