Typhoon Pics and Some Extras

 I have a few pics I collected off the internet to show you Typhoon Bopha.  Please pray for those who lost homes, loved ones and who are still recovering their livelihood.

 Many people depend on the agriculture for their income.  This was all destroyed.

 Food hard to come by, people buried in the mud and floods.  Some still missing.  Pray for those involved in the relief efforts, including people from our church.  Pray that through this calamity many will put their hope in Jesus for salvation.  He is coming again and will rescue us from every disaster and disease forever!

 The day of the Typhoon our boys played in the mud.  There were torrential rains in our city as effects from the nearby storm.  We praise God that our family and home were kept safe, though we pray and grieve with many who suffered deeply.

 The boys like to practice being heroes and planning for emergencies.  Elijah likes to say if there is a fire "It's a good thing we have a hose!"  He decided he will help our family in a fire.  (Pictured is Malachi acting like older brother).

 Here's Luke, the innocent one-year-old.  He is just a joyful guy playing with his toys and doesn't know all the things that go on around him.  How lovely to be so trusting and peaceful!

I post this one for my mom most of all--hope you don't mind the skin!  Luke usually cries when he gets in the bath, so this was the first time he actually enjoyed it!  Yay!  Progress is made!  We are thankful to be back in our home!

Mama Diding--Present With the Lord

 "For me to live is Christ

and to die is gain"

Philippians 1.21

Emi and Ate Bebe's mom died Thursday morning in her bed.  Today we buried her.  

Here is a picture of my mom with "Loreta" a.k.a. "Mama Diding" in 2008.

 Here is Mama Diding on her 70th birthday.  Ate Bebe (left), me and Elijah, and Emi (right).  They are my closest Filipino family of anyone.  We will miss her much!

 Emi says she is known as the "Hugs and Kisses Mama".  She gives huge smacks even to pastors and anyone.  So much love!  This is Nate's brother, Stephen, visiting in 2010.

 My brother, Daniel, and sister, Sarah, also came to visit in 2010.  Mama Diding was known as a faithful prayer warrior.  She said "I always pray for you every day in my quiet time."

 We just got back from America.  I didn't have a chance to visit the first week because I felt so weak and dizzy.  It wasn't until Monday that I finally visited.  Mama Diding had fallen and broke her hip.  Ate Bebe thinks she had a minor stroke when that happened.  I was shocked to see how much her health had deteriorated since she fell.  This is the last picture I have of her (taken last Monday).  This is where she died on Thursday morning, as she had prayed, peacefully in her sleep.

 I had a crazy day on Thursday, since we were supposed to fly with Elijah to Manila for his passport at the embassy.  That morning I went to be with Emi when they took her mom's body.  Then I went with Ate Bebe to the funeral home to help with the coffin.  Among other things, it was one full day.

This picture is on Saturday, all 5 of Mama Diding's kids were there.  It was their first time together in 22 years!  The oldest (in the middle) flew down from Manila on his first plane ride ever.

 The 5 of them wanted a picture with our Becker family.  We feel like a part of their family.

 My mom and dad sent their love from the USA.  I know that would mean a lot to "Loreta", and it meant a lot to the family too.  Thanks!  (If you think the flowers look unusual, these are the most common Filipino flower arrangements for funerals that you will find--very culturally appropriate).

 "We would prefer to be away from the body

and at home with the Lord"

2 Corinthians 5.8

 At her funeral this morning I have to admit, I felt jealous of Mama Diding.  I have such a longing to be with the Lord forever in glory, and she is now experiencing that joy eternally!  No more pain, no more crying!  We who are still in the body are still groaning and longing for that day.  She is free forever!

"Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead

with our heavenly dwelling..."

2 Corinthians 5.2

 We buried her body in the ground today, but she is very much alive with Jesus.  I like the custom in the Philippines of actually standing there and watching them lower the casket and shoveling the dirt onto the grave.  It brings closure.  Everyone throws flowers in the hole where the coffin is lowered, and then they shovel the dirt right then and there.

We will miss you, Mama Diding!  You are a faithful prayer warrior and loving Mama and Lola (Grandma).  You are now receiving the goal of your faith: the salvation of your soul.  Good-bye, until we meet in heaven.

Pumpkins, Taylor, Cousins & Costumes

 We're soon flying to the Philippines!  Praise the Lord!  I'm just reflecting on the fun cultural things we've been able to do these last few weeks in America.  The full album is on my Facebook (join as a friend!), but here are some highlights.

My mom and I choose some pumpkins--whose is the biggest?!

 Nate and I team up to carve our first pumpkin together.

 This just makes me laugh--Luke is not a happy cow!  Try getting your three boys to pose in their costumes!  So funny!  (Malachi is a Kangaroo with Monkey legs, if you were wondering).

 Fun to spend a holiday with cousins!  We called it "costume day".  It was the boys' first time to wear costumes and get candy!  They loved it!

 Luke's first haircut---not too happy!  Haha!  I had to get this one for his baby book--he will laugh one day.

 I have to leave my journals at my mom's house!  I got sidetracked as I packed my latest 12 journals (written in 2 years!).  I found this precious entry in 1986 when I was 6 years old!

"Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

Matthew 5.10

Thank you, Lord, for giving me a hunger for your Word even at a young age.  May the same be true for our little sons!

 Fun to spend time with my life-long friend, Trisha!  She did a great craft with us so we can bring autumn with us to the Philippines!

 Taylor homecoming--we got to see many special friends, including our special family the Stevensons!!!  So happy!

 Face painting was another first for the boys.  Malachi wanted a flower with a bee.  Cute guy!

 Elijah and Sojo!!  "I missed you!"

 Getting hoods--cold weather coming!!

 I wish I had the "before and after" for you.  We have pics of me and Nate at this sign when I first met his family, then later with our baby Elijah, and now all 5 of us!  Who knows, maybe someday we'll be back to send our son to college!

Beckers 5 at the pumpkin patch.  We're ready to fly!  Thanks for praying for us, for partnering with us, and for sending us!  We will see you on the other side!

Wolves in Wolves' Clothing

Since it is Halloween, a day of costumes, I thought it would be fitting to share this journal entry I wrote on 04.22.12.

We were in line at MacDonald's, and a big purple character [Grimace] came past in costume.  I pointed it out saying "Oh!  Look!  There's a purple guy!", thinking it would be fun.  But Malachi's eyes grew wide in horror.  When the character walked silently by and touched Malachi's arm, he screamed in torture.

Oh my tender boy!  His framework has no room for scary blob characters in costume.  It was his first time to encounter anything like the Grimace.  As adults we just register that there is a nice guy inside the costume and he's dressing up for fun, but for him it was a wolf in wolves' clothing.

"Watch out for false prophets.  They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves."  Matthew 7.15

To make me feel even worse, as I was comforting him and holding his hands as he sat in the stroller, the robber character then appeared from the back and walked right past us.  The look on Malachi's face was terror as if looking at a real lion or seeing a demon.  He shrieked a scream of pure fear and asked me to hold him.  I feel so bad!

What kind of character is the robber anyway!?  A huge scary-looking guy is supposed to make little kids giggle?  Malachi could see it for what it really was to innocent eyes--something that doesn't belong in our world as usual.

"Therefore Jesus said again, 'I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep.  All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them."  John 10. 7-8

Other people have reprogrammed their minds to include foreign creatures like that, but 2 year olds know they don't belong.

"When [the shepherd] has brought out all of his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.  But they will never follow a stranger; in fact they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice."  John 10.4-5

We were talking about the soul in book club Thursday [Renovation of the Heart by Willard], and how our world now as we know it is not "normal" but we've come to accept it as though it is.  Homosexuals on TV or walking around, sex displayed on public TV, violence, killings, shootings on the normal nightly "news".

It's "usual" but not "normal".  It's our world distorted by sin and twisted to where we are supposed to think it's all fun and parties when really it is a scary character in costume that doesn't belong.

Lord, what scary things do I see that are evil to you, too sinful to let innocent eyes see, that I have reprogrammed my mind to think it acceptable and fun?  What do I try to laugh and smile at because I'm "supposed to" (for the "birthday party', or to "fit in"), when really I should scream in horror at it and be shocked at it?

What things to you are wolves in wolves' clothing when we think it is a cute cuddly sheep?

"Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.  It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness."  2 Corinthians 11.14-15

Two Weeks to Departure!

Hi Family and Friends!

I am sending out an email update, so please take time to read that.  We are hoping to leave for the Philippines in 2 weeks!  Please pray for us as we prepare to depart and as we trust God for the remaining partners we need to join our team.  We can't wait to get back there, though we will have to also face the tears of good-byes again.  We're keeping our eyes on Jesus and focusing on eternity together!

Here's an article that was published in Canada after my visit there.  I hope you enjoy reading our story through another author's "pen": http://www.briercrest.ca/bcast/news/article.aspx?id=1593&type=5

There are 2 new posts below, one on Micah's wedding (and some autumn pics) and another on my "Highway to Hibernation" (just for fun).  Hope you enjoy!

Thanks for your prayers and encouragement!

Autumn in America & Micah's Wedding

 I LOVE autumn.  While I do not miss snow or winter, I do miss the glorious autumn season.  I praise God every time I see these colorful trees!  It has been a picture for me of my spiritual life--and the life of others.  Change happens one leaf at a time.  Slowly and surely the whole tree turns into another color (and other trees change at a different rate).  So in my spiritual walk.  Soon the Lord's transformation in me will be a glorious testimony to our Creator, and at the same time others will change at a different rate and give a different color.  All to the glory of God!

 I got to be in Omaha for my 33rd birthday!  (you can see my Mom's brilliant idea of having 3 + 3 candles).  What a special treat!

 I love my sisters!!!  How sweet to be with Erin, Ali, and Sarah for the wedding weekend!

 Micah, what can I say!  I LOVE YOU BROTHER!!  This pic is just moments before the wedding began.  I praise God for doing this work in your life.

 Walking down the aisle!  I love the perfect blue skies and my Dad's smile =)

 I now pronounce you Mr. and Mrs. Micah Bruce!  You may kiss the bride!

 The Ghormley clan!  What a special gathering!

You can see an album of 66 wedding pictures on my Facebook.  Friend me if you haven't already:  Jessica Nell Becker.

 4 boys in a bath!  We are having fun staying with our life-long friends in Zionsville, IN!

 Luke took his first steps (finally!) yesterday!  Yay!

My life-long friend, Trisha, and I are enjoying time in person together--precious!  How fun between us we have 5 boys!  Active times--get these guys moving!

You may wonder where Nate has been in all these pictures!  Well, he's been doing so many things!  What a man!  Visiting schools, making connections with people, speaking at church, watching the boys so I could go to the wedding.  We have't had as much time together that I would like in these last few weeks, but I am hoping we can make it through this home-stretch and find ourselves back home in the Philippines in two weeks!  Pray for us please, thanks!!

The Highway to Hibernation

It's been a while since I have blogged, written or taken pictures.  The travel and not having my own home really hit me when I landed in Indy from my trip in Canada/Montana.  The Lord used this time to really teach me a lot about my weaknesses and my need to rely totally on Him.  He has been renewing me and filling me with His Spirit, praise Him!

As I sat in the Chicago Midway airport on my way to my brother's wedding, I realized how easy it was to fly all by myself!  Then I started thinking about how many airports and cities I have been in.  For fun, just if you are curious, I wrote this out from memory.

(number)=how many of us were traveling together
A= stands for airport
B=a main base (more than 4 weeks)
C=if we went by car
V=if we also visited specifically

Summary:  24 states, plus DC, and 4 Canadian provinces: CA, FL, GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TX, UT, VT, VA, WV + DC
PQ (Quebec), ON, AB, SK

A, B Davao, Ph (5)
A Manila, Ph (5)
A Xiamen, CH (5)
A Guanzchou, CH (5)
A, V Los Angeles, CA (5)
A Dallas, TX (5)
A, B Omaha, NE (5)
C Lincoln, NE (5, 1)
C Grand Island, NE (5)
AX3 Atlanta, GA (5)
A, V Orlando, FL (5)
CLICK TO SEE MORE

Travels: Montana, Briercrest, Alberta

 Life as nomads has gone better than I had imagined, though of course it has its challenges!  We're praising God for giving us quite good health, strength and provisions along the way.  It does get wearing of course, so if you see lots of cool pictures just remember these are "Highlights" and not the full picture of our lives!  Thanks for your prayers as we have been on the road!

 After Nate and I flew in with the boys to Indianapolis (where we will soon be basing), Luke and I flew to Montana!  Nate took the 2 boys to Michigan and Chicago, but with only one camera between us you will not get to see their adventures.  What a vast place!!!  I love it!

My dear friend, Laura, and I got to have time in person together!  Also her family graciously loaned me a car, a crib and a car seat.  Without them this trip wouldn't have been possible!

 Luke also looks cute in the wheat fields (newly harvested).  Such a peaceful land with nothing to hinder an open view.

 One of the precious things I got to do was spend time with my dear friend and mentor from college days, Beckie.   She and her small group of ladies had adopted one of our Filipina sisters back in 2008, when we did the "adopt-a-sister" project.  They helped Ruen build a house, a kitchen, and get new teeth over a period of 4 years.

It was so special for me to meet the Canadian sisters in Beckie's group, but also to give them a surprise Skype introduction to Ruen herself!!

CLICK TO SEE PICTURE OF RUEN ON SKYPE, PICS of BRIERCREST and ALBERTA