This very different Christmas!

 This Christmas will be the sweetest ever! Scripture teaches bend low, love seeketh not her own way, humility is the way of a Christ follower...what better example than God in a manger on His way to the cross?

Being completely insulated from commercialism has been a gift already! It is freeing to not even want what you don't need. I pray all of you can steal away time alone with God this Christmas season and enjoy soaking in the Son's love. Ironically, or maybe not so, NOT having the gift buying power this year forces us enjoy Christmas in the truest way!

 Our middle son Steven will leave on his own obedience adventure at the end of this year, we may not see him for 3 years! I am filled with joy for him I couldn't have had a year ago. I know tears will come:) Obedience IS worth the sacrifice of separation, now I know that, before moving to Belize it was just knowledge, not reality. God is always working...always. We can't see around the bend, but trust Him! I think that the verse we have quoted here most is "The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps." (Proverbs 16:9 ESV) we surrender our plans to follow his steps daily, hourly, really!

Belize...what a wild month!

We enjoyed the team at Thanksgiving from Tx. We are always encouraged by others sacrificing a week to serve alongside us. Light of the Valley Church is involved in the Feeding ministry at Light of the Valley school. It is so good to see the body of Christ serving others!

 Konnect 56 (standard 5 & 6 ministry) enjoyed cupcakes and a movie last week. We ended the unit study of our Covenental God celebrating the Covenant fulfillment in the birth Christ.

I have enjoyed seeing patients from the medical clinic. It is so encouraging to pray with them in their homes and see the impact of education. Some have lowered their blood sugars and blood pressures, taking their medicines regularly so Ms. Shirley won't "rail up" on them! 

 My Saturday girls, as I have come to call them, came to our house for spaghetti lunch, movie, and pot holder making to finish our Genesis study! We had a blast...even Ms. Logan helped out;) These girls have been my bright spot, some weeks they kept me going with their eager minds and hearts to know Gods word. I am grateful for them.

Please pray:

- Continued relationship building in Belize, we love so many here now it's harder and harder to leave. 

- Refreshing time with family and friends, especially Michael, Amy and Steven, before Steven leaves.

- Reliable internet continues to elude us, complicating the ability to have employment for Todd

- House in Alabaster ..contract fell through. Pray for buyer ASAP!!

- Sale of Todd's truck while we are stateside

Fall in Belize

Fall, I've decided is far superior here for those who can't take the cold! I have worn a robe and slippers on the porch in the morning cool of 70ish??and the humidity is well below 90%;) even the rainy season brings showers mostly at night with bright sunny mornings and overcast afternoons of 80ish.  Heard my first Howler monkeys this week, imagine Chewbakka in the jungle!! Hope they stay by the river!

We are more settled in a good way. Relationships are forming, at church and in our community. It is good to be known, feels more like home. It is always the people, never the place. Light of the Valley and Pomona churches lift us up and minister to us and with us here, as well as all of you who pray. We are blessed!! Churches here celebrate Harvest this time of year and it has blessed my heart to see a visible offering of first fruits given to the Lord, oranges, sugar cane, plums, cassava and coconuts. Our harvest offering is our time and He is blessing it so...

Konnect 56 groups, after school Standard 5 and 6, are as different as their villages, some are strong some are hesitant, even resistant. Pray for trust to develop and our persistence in steadfast love. The younger girls are a joy on Saturday mornings, we are digging into Precept Genesis. They are my encouragement!

Ten days of guests here at the camp was a whirlwind! I can't thank you enough for coming, it is so encouraging to have people visit, us personally and the ministry. (kidzkonnect4jesus.org for future trips) The dental team that came is the first dedicated to coming back, the Stop Hunger Now team was amazing help at both dental and medical clinics, the Texas Macgyver team fixed some things we couldn't and medical team finished the week strong with 280 patients seen at LOV Saturday. We saw salvation come in several lives and I now have 28 patients to follow up in these next few days. Fun, fun, fun!

Laura did super school nights and weekends so she could help with the clinics and kept up, very proud of her. She still has no idea what she wants to do with her life, pray for God's direction and her determination to seek Him first. She hopes to be more of an administrative help in the ministry while she is here, that is her gift. Obviously from God and Todd!!

 Todd has started thinking about who has water and rice and a vehicle in his sleep ;) the logistical side of things is challenging at times, gas is outrageous so we try to drive wisely; and nearly always one vehicle is down ;(  His mind is filled with the taking care of us and selling the house and truck. We are giving up on consistent Internet or cell service here, please pray for God's provision in a job for him, and how that will work.

Missing the ones we love is the price of this work, but we are more content than ever, knowing God has us here for now. We pray for you to know that peace too and be blessed in your obedience of faith. 

Much love,

Shirley 

Halloween at Camp Legacy 

Callie gets a manicure, she only lets Edward!

Clifton the IT major may be thinking dentistry now:)

My new dishwashers...Laura and Dion

New School year Beginning

Thank you all for your prayers,

Our time back in the states was bitter sweet. I don't think I'll ever get used to feeling not at home there. We loved seeing family and friends, but also don't ever feel like we spent enough time with enough people. God is so good to have blessed us with friends and family and friends that are family! You all are a part of us here. 

Your prayers sustain and encourage us, please pray:

Our home is on the market with Kena Perkins. Please pray it will sell quickly.

Todd's truck continues to be ours and we don't need It!!

Michael and Amy and Steven are doing great, but we miss them terribly.

 

This new school year is exciting!

 Todd, Laura and I will lead smaller sized bible study groups for Standard 5 and 6 students; 2 in schools and 3 after school...All in different communities: Middlesex, LOV, Steadfast, Alta Vista and Hope Creek. We are offering a curriculum, written specifically for developing countries, beginning in Genesis. So exciting and much more in line with our abilities than large group raa raa stuff. Karen will resume that teaching and leading at all the schools. (This had me doing the happy dance) Todd and I will have the time to join women's and men's fellowship groups with LOV Baptist and grow those relationships. I will continue seeing Hopsice patients a few times a month and Laura will have plenty of time for her Sr. Year of school.

Below is newsletter for the entire ministry, if you've already received. I know many of you are on multiple email lists for KK4Jesus and I don't want to bore you;)

 We are excited to implement this year's theme of "Hope" in every aspect of ministry to equip, educate and empower through discipleship.

School ministry this year will include the addition of smaller group bible study for Standard 5 and 6. Some of these times are during school and some are after school. Our prayer is greater growth can take place in a smaller, more voluntary setting. Larger group ministry will continue in all our schools with all of the excitement and energy Ms. Karen brings!

Our theme verse this year is:

Guide me in your truth. Teach me. You are my God my Savior. I put my hope in you all day long. (Psalm 25:5 NIrV)

Two days were spent organizing and delivering supplies to the school teachers. Much needed!! Thank you Church partnerships. At one school the allotment for this year was 3 pieces of chalk...that was the entirety of resources given to each teacher. They were ecstatic with the paper, chalk, markers, crayons, glue, composition books, etc. they received. We have pix to share:) it is tempting to forget in light of the materials absent, the presence of the gospel, prayer and bible teaching in our schools far exceeds any materials. Pray we are wise and provide to needs not wants. We want to guard against negating the truth that Jesus is enough, by "helping" where there is no need. This is a spiritual battle, please pray!

Everything is a means to an end ...the gospel.

The medical clinic ministry has potential impact in amazing ways. God is revealing so many potential partnerships there. Pray for God honoring relationships to develop and wisdom as we partner here. Definitely we will add the much needed touch of follow up visits after the team leaves. In all things, we will be connections to the local church for spiritual needs and to local medical support for physical needs. New roles in each clinic will ensure as we get busier, the spiritual health of each patient is addressed.

Legacy camp is going to undergo a transformation beyond description now! The goal is a peaceful, simple environment for families and marriages to flourish under biblical training. Pray, pray, pray for funding, workmen, and wisdom as these projects begin.

Stop Hunger Now has provided seeds!! Every school will begin gardening this year! We pray this sparks community gardens..come one, come all farmers!

There is an excitement on many fronts that God is opening doors to equip, educate and empower like never before and our konnections with the body of Christ is His method...has always been so! May we be faithfully obedient to all and only He is doing.

Finally,

Pray about your involvement in ministry here. We are planning to engage Partners in Trade training, the first will be a teacher training group prayerfully in Feb. These US "experts" will come and come back! Areas of expertise we have identified in those who have come in team settings are pastors and church leadership, carpenters, electricians, farmers, teachers, seamstresses and cooks. We desire a 2 year commitment to come and teach/train/disciple 2-4 times a year. A primary partner will "own" planning and coordinating then offer to any other stateside partners to join. We will provide konnections here to help ensure relevance. The body of Christ coming together to show commitment with continuity is in itself a testimony to His great love.  Another means to the end, the gospel. 

All our love,

Todd, Shirley and Laura 

This was on our door when we arrived last Thursday!! Sweet friends living at the camp now are such a blessing to us.

"Alone" in August

The month in Belize "alone" was good. We were forced to figure things out and enter a new level of dependence on God. That is always good, yet seldom our first choice.

 We hit a wall as a family. Snarky is the best way I could describe us. (Thank my good friend Caleb Hughes for that adjective.) We pushed through and remembered the gospel must be preached first to ourselves daily, then to each other before we are of any use to our King. Tears are almost always a part of the journey, but we will start each day back at Calvary. Humility is a constant struggle, but there is no substitute for it. We are most grateful for the faithful prayers that get us through those tough days. I wouldn't have admitted to you I was proud a year ago, but I'm learning self-sufficiency is just a good cover for it. It is a lie! We need your prayers! Thank you for interceding for our family

We are each dealing with common and different stress; we need grace extended to each other, not short tempered meanness. We were all missing family. We were all HOT all the time. Laura was hit with the start of her Sr. year in high school, without her. I had an infection in my finger that nearly drove me to the airport,and Todd has the constant tension of providing for us, finding his place and waiting on God to show him what the next step is. Our life in Belize is not hard. It is inconvenient and unfamiliar, exhausting and humbling and at the same time glorious and beautiful and adventurous and exciting!

Pray for communication. It remains our biggest struggle. Of course with family and friends; we miss everyone, it's hard. Todd had planned to job hunt this time stateside, but the job he was planning to hunt is not possible without dependable Internet; again, no surprise to God, so we wait. He is working out all things for our good.

Marian and Victor and the kids moved into the caretaker cottage on the Legacy property; we enjoyed welcoming them, praying with them, working with them and the celebration and adventure that planning a Belizean wedding afforded! That is Todd's story to tell, if you see him! We both have driver’s licenses and have started the very complicated process of a bank account. I began seeing hospice patients and what a pure privilege that has been. Some things are the same all over! We see God opening doors everywhere.

 

Pray we are always willing and obedient to His lead. Our passion to bring as many as possible to obedience of faith has not wavered. In the month the Rhodes were gone and we expected to "settle in and rest", we had people from church over for meals, Laura and I started 2 bible studies and Todd was asked to lead men's fellowship. I'd say God is moving. And may we never forget it is Him leading, moving, guiding, teaching through us. No one in Belize or anywhere else needs us, but the gospel answers everything. Never give a man less...

"The gospel offers a man life. Never offer a man a thimbleful of the gospel. Do not offer them merely joy, or merely rest, or merely peace, or merely safety; tell them how Christ came togive them a more abundant life than they have, a life abundant in love and therefore salvation for themselves. Many of the current gospels offer a part... peace not life, faith not love, justification not regeneration. Men slip back from such religion because it never really held them. Their nature was never really in it. To love abundantly is to live abundantly, to love forever is to live
forever... love is supreme, it is eternal... because in the nature of things Love is going to last. It is something we live now, not when we die...there is a poor chance we will get when we die if we are not living it now..."

    - Henry Drummond The Greatest Thing in the World

Please pray:
Renewing time with family and friends
Laura's college visits to clarify Gods plans for her
Steven has orientation in October and will leave in late December
Michael and Amy as they figure out married life
House in Alabaster to sell
Truck to sell

 

Exodus

We are left in Belize with some wonderful folks, but the vast numbers that we came here knowing have left! Today, one week after the exodus of three teams, the Rhodes and Ashby and Neely, we are having an unusual day...So far boring house cleaning, screen fixing, cooking, laundry. And I am ever so grateful for it! This summer has been a whirlwind of hard work, spiritual warfare and victory, and an emotional roller coaster of joy and depression. We are so much richer for it. 

The highlight has to be the visit of our home church team Westwood and Christ Central. A few other friends have come as well, you will never know how much it meant that you CAME. We needed the encouragement more that we realized. Sharing time and worship and prayer with that group was a special gift we truly appreciated. New friends have been a blessing too, two families from Texas spent the summer, the Glass's and Jones' have been so generous to let us enjoy their house on the beach on occasion. We are ever grateful for Karen and David, and the passion they have for ministering to the people here. They have been open to ideas and the change it has been for them to include us has not been easy, I'm sure:) We all love each other and time will teach us how to serve most effectively together.

God has shown us that humility is His way, not ours, but His word and His presence continue to guide us almost hour by hour. Not much has gone as we expected, but we are learning that's ok. We have made some friends here we will learn much from...Aldolpho Lopez, the block maker and builder and his family at the end of our road joined the team from Westwood in ministry the week they were here. We also met several other families in Hope Creek, we can't wait to know better. Our time at Light of the Valley Church has proven fruitful and we will have a family out this weekend. Making friends in a new place is something God was preparing us for in our previous moves, but it has been a long time. Most exciting for me, I will start a girls precept study with 9-10 yr olds in Steadfast, next week on "How to study your bible". Pray for that. 

We are always looking for opportunities to disciple and God has proven faithful to provide them. Our neighbors across the road have a little girl, Josenia, who has been a friend to us all, she is loving and thoughtful, visits just to spend time on the porch. I gave her a Jonah bible study and she completed in 2 weeks what should have taken 6!! And most exciting of all, Laura and I are going to study together!! Pray we make that happen, I'm feeling the Senioritis even from here:)

Todd is pouring into the boys that come out here to work and they have surprised him with their insight sometimes. Edward and Clifton are growing spiritually, reading daily a bible that Ashby left them. A surprise addition to the team has been Alex Guerra, who graduated from LOV last year, he asked to come work and has fit right in. God is bringing the ones He would have here. Pray for the family moving in next week as caretakers, Marian and Victor with their 4 children. God has been working in there lives as well and He is bringing us all together for His purposes! I might just kiss their feet!!

Laura is excited, this weekend we will have the girls who graduated Standard 6 here to enjoy a day of fun at the river. She has enjoyed this month with no school and will start when we get back. She is missing Ashby and Neely, they were great company to her especially, giving her some time away from Mom and Dad. However, she came up with our family acrostic we had challenged each team to do...Serving Together Or Never Ever...pretty appropriate for this family adventure. 

We miss our boys like crazy and though we knew that would be the hardest, knowing it hasn't helped any. They are fulfilling Gods call on their lives, Michael as a new husband and Steven, preparing for the mission field. We couldn't be prouder of them, but it is hard to not communicate whenever we want. I especially miss getting to know Amy more.

All in all, we didn't know what to expect and wisdom may have been not to move in the middle of the busiest time, but I'm sure God is using us. That is as much as a Christ follower can hope for on this earth. And I still have to pinch myself with the privilege to call this place home for now...

Pray!

For our house in Alabaster to sell

For Todd's truck to sell

For new believers and discipleship here

For Gods direction on specifics of school ministry for this year

Start of Summer

We enter a new time of ministry in Kidz Konnect 4 Jesus Medical

Ministry, we will be completely mobile again. This will afford us the

flexibility to work with the Ministry of Health and visit areas

without clinics at all. Please keep the next Medical trip in your prayers July

24-26. We have nearly moved out of ItVet completely!

The last weeks of school are here and graduations begin tonight at LOV

for standard 6 and next week for preschool. These average age 13 year

olds will be facing their occupation of helping supporting their

families or if they have the scores and money, on to high school. As I

watched them in practice, I was struck by the difference in our high

school graduations. What's missing is joy and life in their eyes. Out

of 33 I have seen a spark in fewer than 5 of them. Hope is so powerful

and they just don't have any. Pray this class will know their hope is

in The Lord, and pray we have the courage to say that to children who

are facing much more difficult days than we can imagine.

We were asked to go and bless a house yesterday for a teacher at

ItVet. As we listened to her anxiety and the things she needed, a wash

basin and a table top for her electric burner, I felt the guilt of

plenty. I would gladly give her the things she is asking for, but God

just didn't let me.  Pray God will move in her life and I will be wise

and generous as God leads me. Sometimes I can't trust my heart!  We

don't want to perpetuate the lie that the answer is in the table or

wash basin. The paradox is sharper here, the reality is the same in

the states. The fake desires taking up all our heart and we never get

to our hearts truest need...peace with God. Pray we can discern the

difference.

Ashby and Neely are a joy, they are college interns this Summer,

though Ashby has been here 9 months working in the discipleship

program. Their courage and faithfulness give us encouragement. The

camp will be lonely when they leave at the end of July.

The boys that lived here in discipleship are off on their own. Pray

for them as they seek to live out their faith where they have

influence and where temptations abound. Edward is here today chopping

and cutting grass the camp. We have had some good conversations with

him, it is good to have him at the dinner table. We fell in love with

those boys in a very short time! They bring such perspective to life

here. Pray God will use our relationships with them to further His

kingdom and to grow us all.

Laura completed Writing and Grammar yesterday! 4 more subjects to go...pray for her diligence. This year life has been about much more than school, I don't regret that one bit. But, unless I want all my education friends at my doorstep to take her away, we must finish 11th grade soon!

The Lord has met our every need, and in the places we are uncertain, we cling to Him. That's the point, I believe. We very much needed a touch from home and our "niece" Brittny and the Fochtmanns from Westwood provided much laughter, adventure and perspective for us. We so appreciate all who sent things our way via them and I can't even list all the things Scotty, aka Macgyver, was able to accomplish. Praise God for their faithfulness!

Thus says the Lord : “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let

not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in

his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands

and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love,

justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I

delight, declares the Lord.” (Jeremiah 9:23, 24 ESV)

My porch view every morning...

Blessings,

Shirley

May is ending...summer is here!

We have returned to Belize! It is home. Kidzkonnect teams will begin arrinving on June 7th. We are excited,a little nervous and humbled to serve with teams this summer in new roles. Schools are out the last week of June here, so we will minister at Light of the Valley a few more weeks. It will be so sweet to see their faces again!

Please pray for us as we retreat with KK4J leadership team June 1-2 to pray and plan for our next steps of obedience in ministry. Godly wisdom is our desire, the ministry opportunities are myriad. Pray we correctly discern the direction God has planned for us.

Our first trip back to the states left a lot of friends unvisited, time was flying by and full. I am sure we will learn to do better! And I'm sorry we couldn't  "do it all":(

 Pray for the family we left in Alabama. Michael and Amy are doing great and it looks like they will remain in Birmingham for now. We are so happy for their new life together, and Amy has melded into our family as a daughter. Steven graduated Troy and will work at our church in Alabaster, Westwood part time for now. He is living in our house until it sells...another prayer area needed. 

Thank you is insufficient for those who helped in this transition phase... cleaned, packed, cried and prayed with us. Prayers of our family and friends the night before we left are ringing in our ears...may we love each other well in this unsettledness and share the gospel to the glory and praise of God. 

Pray for

Todd's truck, Steven's truck and the house to sell

Leadership retreat 

Much love,

Todd, Shirley, Laura

Whirlwind Days

What a whirlwind of emotions these past 2 weeks...

 Michael and Amy's wedding brought newness to our family on another level:) we couldn't have asked for a more blessed union for them. The wedding was flawless! A glorious spring day and a gospel centered ceremony to begin their lives as husband and wife...priceless. Our hearts are full of joy for them!

We wept with our sister in law as her father was buried last Friday, the service of a retired fire chief is an emotional ceremony and very fitting to honor Mr. Golden's 35 years of service. A time to remember that souls and the word of God are the only eternal things we experience. Our hearts are heavy for her grief.

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. (Romans 12:12, 15 ESV)

It's fitting to swing so emotionally these past couple of weeks, reminding us that Christ must be the center and supreme to endure all this world has to offer. We must stay the course. Belize and all the adjusting we are going through is painfully humbling in too many ways to list. But it is all good, very good. God is changing us, teaching us. We had to follow Him to the beauty and foreignness of Belize to walk like children in vulnerable, dependent faith. BUT he never disappoints and He is making us new daily. We ache to be back in Belize, but it is good to feel that and let it really begin to settle that this is not our home...not Alabaster, AL and not Hope Creek, Belize. We are citizens of a heavenly city. May we never feel so comfortable on this planet again, that we forget the urgency of obedience of faith. Easter celebrated with our family at Westwood was a fitting way to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. Anything or anyone else will be disappointing.

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, (Philippians 3:20 ESV)

Prayer needs ...

-For the school and church Light of the Valley, that we find our place of service in both, that we build relationships and multiply disciples.

-For our house in Alabama-everything must go:) pray for God's favor to sell the house quickly. 

-May 17th a yard/garage/estate sale!

-Steven graduates May 9th, will stay in Alabaster for the summer.

-Michael and Amy start their new life together, we will soon be far away...Please pray for them in this honeymoon phase of marriage:)

Moved In!

     What a whirlwind of moving and ministry since we last posted! I'm not going to make promises we will be more regular, but we will keep trying! We are almost box free in the house, thanks to the guys here at the camp.  There is no way we would be as far along without them! They have been such a blessing and we are grateful to be working alongside them. Please keep Michael, Clifton, Edward and Joshua in your prayers  as they are being discipled in the life of a Christ follower. Also remember Ashby as he leads them. What an encouraging thing to  behold!

  Ministry at Light of the Valley was almost familiar this week as we led large group worship on Tuesday.  It is hard to leave, but I am thankful we will have 4 weeks left in the school year when we return. Maybe they won't forget us over summer:)

     Laura is getting in school work wherever she can.  Please pray for her to finish well. It has been impossible to have a routine since January but she has done well. We have to remind ourselves  the reason we started homeschooling was  so she would have the flexibility!

     Todd is learning that the pace of details here is as slow as any other bureaucracy, but the newness and strangeness of everything is stressful for sure. He is loving time with Ashby and the boys.

This morning I read, "May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.  As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good." (2 Thessalonians 3:5, 13 ESV)   Please pray that for us as we pray for you.   We are motivated by the love of God and following the example of Christ's steadfastness  and we will continue this walk of obedience!

We love you and covet your prayers!

 

 

Blessings,

Shirley

 

Last Days

  Last days at the schools are hard. These are the verses from my
bible reading for this "last" day. So glad Gods word speaks such
perspective and truth no matter the circumstance.
  For these teams they will leave and prayerfully find ways to keep
Belize in their hearts. We will stay and find Gods path for us here.
Hopefully the stuff will join us soon. But we have SO much to learn,
we are far from idle. Please pray for balance, rest, work, school,
family, ministry... All in Gods design!
  We covet your prayers, feel them more than I believed possible. The
team leaves Sat. That will be hard as well, but the wedding will be a
great celebration. Grateful for the plans to be in the states so soon.
  For the students in Standard 6, they have a test on April 7th and
May 5th that will determine their continuing on to high school. The
pressure is high. Pray we can be a help to them next week!

To our friends...
I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of
mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your
partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure
of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to
completion at the day of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:3-6 ESV)

For us...
Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so
that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that
you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by
side for the faith of the gospel, (Philippians 1:27 ESV)

Much love!


Blessings,
Shirley

Firsts

The first week on the ground was very, very good. The challenges of leading teams that we don't know are looming large, but that's another day. Last week could not have been more encouraging, God put the first team together perfectly as He always does, our familiar family to serve and love along side us.

 The Lord started my week before I left Alabaster with Isaiah 66:2b. "This is who The Lord esteems(looks on ESV) , he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word." I've felt trembling since first considering this move and serving here, I didn't know what to call it. I knew it wasn't fear, but something like it. So...that is how the team started, with that verse. We will tremble at his word and the task to rightly declare it and live it, but we will be bold to proclaim it! It is hard to bend low and recognize our American, arrogant tendencies to assess, judge, fix and move on. This is not my world and I have to fight the urge to move past assess, observe, take it all in and learn FIRST. 

God continued to speak through his word this past week, Let your light shine before men so that they see your good deeds and glorify God...we know the gospel, we struggle with wise deeds. Each day a team member shared how God spoke through the devo or just their quiet time, precious and always right on! 

Please pray for wisdom and discernment. We have to be as wise as serpents and innocent as doves, the issues children and parents discussed with us are weighty, but the hope for them all is only in the gospel. Only God is in the transformation business. It occurs to me all these things are present in Alabaster City School system, but I am not welcome there to point them to the gospel, here it is encouraged. It is such a joy to take the fearful and hopeless and point them to Jesus. Apart from him, we can do nothing! Abiding in him, with Him nothing is impossible. These children stretch me, do I really believe that?...then it truly is better than life and I can't offer them anything less. Their smiles are brave, I love them to pieces:)

Worship and Sunday School with Light of the Valley church was good. Laura is so brave, off she went with a new friend to the youth class. I could see her blond hair blowing in the breeze under the tree, a good Mommy moment!

It was good to have Steven here last week, he and Laura served in a class together. It did my heart good:) Laura had the sweet time of being with her mentor Janna and her mentee, Sydney last week. She is feeling her way, I am seeing some of her Fathers discernment. We all loved leaving the school last week, with the words, "see you Tuesday". 

Todd and I need to learn our rhythm here, pray we can be in our lanes, but stay close like one side of the interstate, going in the same direction. Our stuff didn't ship, should Monday. Details...his lane, but SO necessary, we have been married 27 years, but this is a new adventure and we will be stretched. I think it takes some years of marriage to bear the weight of this change! Prayers are vital, we thank you so much!

Much love!

Shirley

We are here!

March 9th

We saw our house! it is more like a home:) Painted and ready for the shipment of stuff, hopefully will get out of customs this week.

The first Westwood team is here!! We have begun. 

Today we will worship at Light of the Valley Baptist church. Pray for those we touch today, that we will be bold with the gospel and obedience and humble and contrite in our spirits.

 We are excited to have Steven with us this week, for his first visit to Belize. It is good to see through his eyes.

 Plans for the team are to work at the camp tomorrow plumbing, cleaning whatever we can do to ready it for use again., there is no school here tomorrow. Then on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday serve the students and teachers at Light of the Valley School. Pray for connections in the gospel and relationships to begin and be strengthened with the Lord and each other. 

Thank you all for your prayers!

Much love,

Todd, Shirley, Laura and Steven

So close!

The last few weeks have been an emotional whirlwind. God is not bound by time and one day we won't be either. Good bye seems silly in light of spending eternity together, until we meet again is much better! The tie that binds brothers and sisters in Christ is not one that is ever broken! The support from our families is so foundational for us. I don't think we realize how much the confidence we have to believe God, is birthed out of love from our family and friends. For that reason, you all will be a part of whatever God does in and through us in Belize. We love you and are grateful for each of you.

Our Belize belongings are on the boat shipping out today. I cannot thank the myriad of special people who made that happen. Truly it was not of us! We have enjoyed the receiving end of love in Christ through so many. Humbling to say the least. I know in Belize there is much being done in the middle of busy ministry to make ready our house...thank you Karen and David and others I'm sure!

Current Prayer Needs

- details of getting the shipment out of customs and moved into the house on the hill

- we can quickly be truly helpful to ministry there, not consumed with move

- Laura to quickly develop school routine in Belize and finish well!

- friends will be house sitting until we return in April

- house on the market in May.

Humble obedience... Hurry up and wait!

God continues to amaze us and keep us dependent on Him. From packing and loading our stuff to pulling it to Ft Lauderdale...all accomplished through the help of friends! Brothers and sisters in Christ we are honored to run this race alongside. I can't even begin to say thank you to the friends who endured shopping with me last week...I HATE to shop, and the ones who packed my nightstand drawers and bathrooms....may you be forever mute! Those that loaded appliances and fed us and listed inventory to unpack by. Another friend is loaning us a truck sufficient for the load we have assimilated to be driven by a other family/friend to Ft. Lauderdale next week. All not us! All very humbling. The move is very real now with a folding table in the dining room! It is good!

Please pray:

- Christ will be made much of as we talk to different church small groups, God will show us how to be sent and remain connected as we go... NOT good bye

- safety of Rich Dennison as he drives the trailer 

- peace as Todd hands off job duties next week

- Steven, as he goes to Richmond this weekend to explore what the Journeyman program could look like as his next step in Jan 2015

- Michael and Amy as they seek The Lord for jobs and a home after the wedding

Prayers for Belize 

- there is a critical meeting in the next few days to determine the new contract with ItVet, the high school we currently house food and hold medical clinics. Pray for God to move in obvious ways to accomplish His will through this partnership, or show us where to go next.

- necessary paperwork is completed for the qualified retirement program

- Ashby Pruitt as he completes his first week in the discipleship program for young men at the camp

- Karen and David- always strength, endurance with joy according to His great power at work in them.

Huge thank you to those involved in planning all things rehearsal dinner in my absence! Di Wash, Lisa Dorough and Lisa Hall.

Mach Speed

I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High. And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you. Sing praises to the Lord, who sits enthroned in Zion! Tell among the peoples his deeds! (Psalm 9:1, 2, 10, 11 ESV)

Dependence....Thanksgiving...Dependence ...Thanksgiving

these are the lessons God is teaching!!

The week we spent in Belize...

The medical mission trip without doctors, very different! but SO God. When will we cease to be amazed that his ways are not our ways and his plans are not ever thwarted? Thankful for plans that were changed! We were able to stay in our house for 10 days and nights before it becomes our home, priceless time. We learned so much and will be moving all the wiser. 

Connections were made with the Ministry of Health officials that will bear much fruit for the Kingdom. We were invited to monthly community health meetings so we will know what they are teaching and better complement the local medical community. The flu was epidemic, people would have come and spread it...if we held the clinic. God is bigger, wiser, more powerful than any scheme of man. He alone is worthy of praise and we give it all to him! Even when He has to use ice storms to keep us on His plan!

Things are moving at Mach speed it seems...answered prayers of you all! 

We bought a vehicle in Belize! Never even dreamed possible, a neighbor of the Rhodes just happened to have THE truck we needed in his yard while we were there! 

Trailer- check! God provided a trailer the week before we left through a friend of a friend, Chip Pearce! MUCH nicer than we anticipated! It will double as a dental clinic when it graduates from moving:)

We have decided to put the house on the market to sell the first of May. We are beginning to sell furniture, to offset buying mattresses and appliances, and shipping costs. Packing party Valentine weekend:) Some of you have asked to help financially, it is humbling. The easiest, tax deductible way to do so is through the Kidzkonnect arm of 4ever Hope, you can visit there and find us under donation to missionaries.  

 4everhope.org or 

http://www.4everhope.org/#!donorformdon/c1vvt 

As of March first we will be without income for a while, another total dependence on God lesson for us. We've not had that feeling since we were each 15yo:)

AND we were so blessed by Michael and Amy's first shower yesterday. They are in need of prayers as well, as they seek The Lord in where they will serve and live in their new lives together. We are blessed, we are humbled, we are thankful to God. 

In Christ,

Todd, Shirley and Laura

Tears come more easily now, I can't write of it, but I can't leave it out. Those in Alabaster will see them. They are sweet, because of love not sadness, just a warning:) 

Shirley 

The first short blog:)

 Please pray for the first medical team headed down with Kidzkonnect in 2014. Jan 29-Feb 2, a team from 4 states will work together to meet needs, physical and spiritual. 

God is moving us!

We have a trailer! Thanks to Mike Kent and Chip Pearce! A hot water heater is close to being donated:)

God is moving in our kids lives!

Showers for the engaged couple are planned and Steven has been invited to the Journeyman's Conference in Richmond, Va. in Feb. Laura amazes us discipling younger girls and being discipled! She has a strong group of friends who faithfully love her.

Imagine all the details of moving with the plan of being back 6 weeks to marry a son and graduate a son...and please, please pray! God is teaching us to live fully in the present, trusting Him, following Him.

Grateful!

Shirley

Thank you to the church!

We want to say We LOVE the Church. The body of Christ is THE most
beautiful bride of all time and eternity! In preparation to leave, I want to share our own church story.

For Todd and I, First Baptist Thomasville and Baconton Baptist
churches were where we learned that the stories in the Bible were not
just stories, but real accounts of what God can do through weak and
selfish and sinful...willing people. We learned that Yes, Jesus does
love us SO and we believed it, because the Bible tells us so.
In college we met at the Baptist Student Union. Perhaps the only place
we heard truth our whole college careers was in conjunction with that
little building from a selfless young married couple, Marshall and
Beckie Kerlin. I'd love to find them now! Thank you!

We married and moved 5 times, living in 3 different cities in 3 years. Those years were dark spiritual places for us. We were always pulled to the church, but agreeing
on one though was difficult. The most peace and light we knew in those
tumultuous years were in the church always reminding us that God is what
our marriage would rest in.

Carrollwood Baptist in Tampa, Fl, was our first church home
together. This was the place we grew and served and watched Michael learn to
love and believe Jesus. Todd and I learned God can be trusted with our
lives and the lives of our kids.  His church is worth fighting
through difficulties to see Him work out the good and a faith family
has roots much deeper than blood. Do. Not. Kid. Yourself. A church
family is vital! We were made for relationships that spur us on in
faith, love and good deeds. Under the watchful eye of Odie and Mona Clark, we
grew. They opened their home, kitchen, and hearts to us. We can only
continue to offer ours to others as service to Christ as they modeled
in hopes we will come close! The friends there are too many to name,
but we learned from them all. Community makes this life sweeter, oh so
sweet to laugh with those who laugh and mourn with those who mourn. We
learned to love one another! No matter the cost! We fell in love with
Jesus all over again during this time.

Our brief time in Bradenton taught us the responsibility of teaching
and discipling our own children. We attended First Baptist Bradenton and Woodland Baptist church.  The authenticity of Tim and Jennifer
Passmore and the courage they have to push the envelope of expectation
in the spread of the gospel to ALL people was and is refreshing. We
learned sometimes you roll up your sleeves and work harder and when
things need changing you stick it out and change them...together for
the Gospel. Thank God, He does that with us!! Grace abounded there for
those who needed time to learn their place in the family of God.
Steven learned those Bible stories were true, Laura first heard them
there and Michael, got the first inkling he would serve The
Lord in full time ministry, We are blessed!

Westwood Baptist Church, our current church, there are not enough words for the church that loved us through the teenage years. Michael was drawn in at 13, then later
Steven and Laura also.  They have been challenged, exposed to mission,
service and leadership. We too learned to lead here. We learned to pray
here and are still learning. Thank you Westwood for your safe love and
grace extended to all the Stones when we've messed up. Les and Page
Hughes know us inside and out and still they love us:), pray for us,
challenge and encourage us even from Louisville. The leaders who
poured into our children...Matt Haines, Jenny Funderburke, Jeff Long,
Jeff and Lori McKenzie, Micah Millican and now Kenneth Bruce...you are
our heroes! We are so thankful for being under your care, your
friends, your family. We lived life with a band of friends that
constantly pushed one another to obedience from the heart! We have poured
into precious teenagers, men and women who mean the whole world to us.
Now to Matt Brooks who challenges us and makes us not really want to
miss a thing that God is doing at Westwood, we owe the peace in
leaving. Peace that God has brought a shepherd to our church who will
stay humbly at the feet of our Savior on behalf of His church, who
will faithfully pray and courageously obey with the greatest love of a
people in the shortest time we've ever seen.
We don't leave the church as we go to Belize. Please know we carry
with us all of you that have helped us believe that God is who He says
He is and he can do what He says He can do!

Thank you for already responding to our needs.  We have found one hot water heater unit from Tampa! A friend of a friend is on the hunt for a 20 ft covered trailer and boxes are trickling in, still faster that I am packing:)

Please Continue to Pray:
We plan to put the house on the market in May.
Todd will be traveling most weeks with work until we leave in March.
Pray our application to enter the country is processed quickly so we can ship our belongings.
Our dates we will be in Belize are March 6-April 15
During April and May we will be back for weddings, graduation and the job hunt!
In June we will leave for Belize with a one way ticket!!

Blessings,
Shirley