Fun With Friends

Elijah and his buddy Silas are making memories together.

Big boy driver!

Colorful balls....content boy.

Fun little friends.

I love my boy!

Learning to Speak

Fun Laugh

Growing Up

Elijah seems to have grown up overnight! He started scootching and moving all around. I'm gonna have to reorganize the house! He loves the cards and games with all the little pieces, of course. He's even trying to pull himself up to standing. Watch out world!

Thanks, Grandma and Grandpa! We love the presents (to both sets!).

Elijah is crawling around the bed trying to escape. He is a fun little guy!

Standing on his own in his crib...Elijah is a happy little boy.

Before and After--Adopt-A-Sister

I asked the women in the Bible study to write three wishes that I could choose from to give them a big "reward" at the end of the 12 weeks if they could quote all their verses. I was overwhelmed when I read what they wrote. The basic needs they wanted to see God provide for were beyond any money I could come up with. Then as I prayed, God gave me the idea for "Adopt-a-sister". I wrote to 12 of my friends in the U.S. and Canada, and they adopted the 12 sisters (and recruited their friends to help too!).

Here is Ruen's house before she was adopted. A picture is worth a thousand words!

When it rained everything would get wet through the holes in the "roof". The kids would sometimes fall down these "stairs".

A ladies' Bible study group in Canada adopted Ruen. Now she has a whole new house thanks to God's provisions through these generous sisters. There are no leaks, and there was even money to put cement in the foundation and to make a sink for the kitchen. What a testimony this was to the neighbors. They thought Ruen was moving because someone must have funded the new house. She was able to testify about God's Word and His answer to her prayers of 3 years!

Here is Ruen's neighbor and sister, Weng-Weng. She also prayed for house repairs. She holds Bible studies for neighbor ladies out on this little bamboo bench. If it rains they go "inside".

Weng-Weng was also adopted and her house is being repaired as I type. Praise the Lord for His provisions for His people through His people!

Transformation--Grace's Gulay

Here is Sister Grace posing "before" she was adopted by some sisters from the U.S. As you can see from the picture, she sells vegetables (gulay) outside her front door. The roof was simply a tarp with holes, and the vegetables were laying on a make-shift table. Often the vegetables would go bad if no one bought them because she had no ref (refridgerator).

Even though she was making do with what she had, Grace was still happy serving the Lord for her family.

However, God answered her prayers and more when she was adopted by generous sisters in the U.S. Now this is the front of her house and the store, where she sells gulay. You can see the transformation! The neighbors wondered how she got the money for this and she was able to testify about God's provision and the scripture she had memorized.

Business is great! God also provided a brand new ref for her to keep the vegetables fresh. It came with a freezer, so she is also able to sell ice candy.

Grace has not stopped praising God and shouting from the rooftops how thankful she is. The day she received the certificate that she was adopted, her in-laws were staying at her house. They were doubtful, "I don't think you'll really get the money for that." But the very next day when they saw a new ref come through her door they believed. Then they started telling others too, "Walay imposible sa Ginoo" (Nothing is impossible with God!).

Adopt-A-Sister

Here are some of our ladies from Bible Study. After they spent 12 weeks memorizing scripture they "performed" all of the verses aloud in a recital for their husbands. God provided for some of their prayer requests through sisters from the U.S. and Canada. The neighbors saw and heard about the blessings and many started telling others too, "Nothing is impossible with God!"

Here is Emi's kitchen and floor before she was adopted. She was several months pregnant when she fell through this hole in her floor.

God provided for this wonderful sister so she could not only repair her floor but repair the entire house. Here is the place in progress. (You don't even know where she used to live a year ago! God even miraculously provided this lot for her too through a generous believer in the U.S.)

Now here is Emi's house! She made use of space by raising the house up. I love the balcony with the breeze. Now everyone doesn't have to sleep in the same room. They also have a kitchen below and a place for her mom to have her own room. (This picture still shows the lower level in progress). Praise God for His provisions through the generosity of His people!

God also provided for Ate Inday so she could begin a little store outside her house, called a "sari-sari" (Small store). Now she has a way to bring more income to her family without having to leave the home. She prayed for this many years, and now here it is!

Now I Have A CR

Sister Inday lives near the river. She used to have to walk several "blocks" to her relative's house whenever she needed to shower or use the restroom (called a CR here for "comfort room"). This is her yard before she was adopted by a sister from the U.S.

Now sister Inday can walk out her door to the CR here, newly built (I took the picture before the roof was built, but you can see the progress and the smiles!).

God also provided for her to have running water. See the water flowing now? What a blessing!

This is Emi's mom explaining how her bones hurt when she sleeps. She piles up clothes on the floor like a mattress to sleep.

God provided for her a new bed! (and even new clothes!). She is sleeping so much better at night now--look at that smile!

God also provided for Che-Che a new sala set (couch and chairs) for her Bible study ladies to sit on. Her sisters from abroad also shared with her to have a new stand fan so she is not so hot at night.

The Many Things God Provides

Mengay used to wash clothes by hand and carry her own water. God provided for her through a sister in the U.S. for a water connection and a new washing machine.

Also with Ate Dula...her hands are worn from scrubbing clothes by hand. Now--no problem! God also provided for her a bike for her son so he can ride to school and not pay money for the fare.

The pastor's wife can now assist her husband from home. God provided for her a computer, printer, monitor and everything! This came just in time for her work with Compassion International. Just when the kids are being processed, she is able to manage the project through her new computer. Gina also got a new living room set so when they have Bible study and meetings, people don't have to sit on the floor.

Sister Alma also has Bible studies in her home. Now the ladies don't have to sit on the floor. Praise God!

God also provided for her a new foam mattress. Now this pregnant sister doesn't have to sleep on the floor!

Baby's First Christmas--The Beach

This year we did something new for Christmas. Since we were away from family and since the Philipinos celebrate more on the 24th like our New Year's, we decided to spend the night at the beach. We took a boat at sunset. Elijah was looking all around, as you can see--so curious!

Elijah had fun watching the water moving as we took the boat across to the next island. What a fun guy!

We made it--the Becker fam on Christmas Eve. It was not crowded and the food was great! Elijah tried fish for the first time. He loves it.

Christmas morning Elijah explored the water and swam in the sea for the first time. We brought his little fishies from his bath tub, so he really focused on getting them. He always had to hold BOTH of the fish at the same time.

Child at play. Toes in the sand. Warm water. Loving it!

Manly bonding. What a precious sight for a momma--father and son together.

"I must have both fishies. Don't swim away, buddy!"

What a great morning we had enjoying God's creation together. It was the first year ever that we did not open presents on Christmas at all. It was kind of nice--just enjoying God's presence, singing His praises and being together as a family. We enjoyed opening our mail from the U.S. and also eating the amazing food prepared fresh from the sea. Mango shakes, grilled bangus and barbecue pork. Yum!

You would not think this was a family Christmas picture if you are where I am from, but indeed this is Christmas day in the Philippines!

"Would anyone like to buy a buko? I think this is bigger than my head!"