1.26.2008

Student Baptized

For our date night last night, Nate and I went to a baptism service! How exciting! The most wonderful part is that one of my students was baptized. I taught him in 6th and 7th grade Bible class, and now he is 13. In chapel he stood before his peers and declared his faith in Jesus and his desire to follow Him the rest of his days!

I don't remember the last time I went to a baptism service. We should have those more often! I know there is also one on Sunday at our church, so it is baptism weekend. I know some of my students have been baptized since I have taught them, but this was the first time I witnessed it! Oh, my heart rejoiced and my eyes spilled over. Praise the Lord!!

I pray that many more students will follow the Lord, whether in ministry, a calling, in baptism, in salvation, however. Just follow the Lord Jesus! Thank you, Lord, for Your salvation!

1.18.2008

It's A .......!!

My apologies for the lull in Becker blogging! I'm sure you've all been busy too. Where does the time go?!

Here is a photo of me today at 24 weeks! Sorry about the background in the picture. I was too embarassed to go outside my office to take self-timed photos of my baby belly. Everyone and anyone feels completely free to go ahead and pat my belly and stroke it as though they are touching the baby, not me! I'm told this is common, but you have to realize it is even MORE so in the Philippines! (I won't add too many details!). It is nice to know our baby is so loved by the community and that everyone wants to reach out to touch the baby.
I'm sure you've seen these types of photos before, but for us this time it is OUR baby! How exciting to see! God's creation is absolutely miraculous. When I see this teensy person with a heart beating and everything, I can't help but praise our Creator God! This was taken in November, but I like it because you can see the whole body. (Can you recognize the head on the right, face, ribs, heart and legs? Amazing!)
When I saw our baby's face, I screamed out "Hello baby! Mommy is here!!" and it seemed like the little person was looking right at me smiling! How fun and special those moments! (can you recognize a face here? Don't answer that! I know I'm a proud mommy!).
I wasn't expecting to find out the gender that day (or else I would have had Nate come with me!), but our child turned and opened up to show us his male part! It's a boy!! The doctor shouted the news and I almost cried with joy! Oh it is much more fun to pray for HIM specifically by gender. I'm sure when he is 16 he will not want to know his mom posted his little parts up here on the internet, but I hope he will understand how happy we are!

Another great fact is that my sister is ALSO expecting a baby boy (Feb 22!), and we are expecting a boy on May 10!! So, we are overjoyed at God's creation inside both of us, and our mom is equally thrilled to have her two daughters with child at the same time. Baby boy cousins are expected soon!

Thank you for praying for us and for our boy! Please pray for continued health and great growth. Praise God for the wonderful pregnancy so far!