Cebuano Ladies

Now that I am home more, I have the chance to get to know the Cebuano ladies in my neighborhood better. I'm still getting better at the language "hinay-hinay" (little-by-little). Here is Elijah's friend--they were both born May 8th! Maybe they will have to celebrate their 1st birthdays together!
Elijah was trying to shake hands with his new friend, but the ladies laughed and said he was trying to do a boxing move for fun like the national Filipino sports boxer Manny Pakaw (sp??--sorry people I'm not a boxing fan).
On Wednesday afternoons it is fun to have the ladies over for Bible study. My friend and helper, Emi, is the leader so we prepare the study together. It is funny to learn more cultural differences. For example, in the U.S. most people offer a drink when you first come in. I did that same thing by serving the ladies some juice, but later I found out they thought it was "bag-o" (new) to have the drink before. So the following week I served the drink after.

Also, I thought I would try to provide a snack they liked, so I had a Filipina lady make something Filipino that they are used to. Later I found out that they were curious what kind of food they would eat at the "Americana's" house. The next week I made banana muffins and they loved them! The bowl was empty after that meeting. Lots to learn about hospitality and cultures!
It is great to see the ladies study the Bible in their own language. They say when they hear it in their language it is like a "bull's eye--right to the heart."

Back to School

Another school year has begun. This year is full of changes for us. One great change is that while we were gone the school built a new band room for Nate! We were really surprised that when we left it was grass but when we got back it was like this! Wow! Praise the Lord that work continues on the new performing arts building, so we won't have to have concerts on the covered court anymore.
I LOVE to visit beginning band class the day they play their first note. I wonder how long it would take to load a video of the note that I took. Well, just imagine middle school students making their own sound all at once. Elijah was startled to hear the loud sounds! We know from experience that soon they will be playing as a band together.
Elijah was excited to visit his daddy at band class. He wanted to play a new instrument, too, so we chose the Suzaphone. What do you think? A great first instrument, I'd say!
We always wondered if the suzaphone was so big you could fit a student in it. Now it has been done. Does he even know what we do to him?
Yesterday, Nate was teaching in the middle school chapel. He is responsible to oversee all the chapels this year in the elementary, middle and high schools. Here he is teaching students strategies to memorize God's Word. Pray for him this year as he has this important role in teaching students about the Lord.

Where Have We Been???

Hello everyone. This has to be our longest lull in blogging--24 days! Yikes!

Where have we been??? Why don't we blog?

1. We were traveling to the Philippines on five airplanes and three airlines, stopping in Seattle

2. When we got back we had major jet-lag and then got sick with colds

3. We didn't have the internet hooked up at home, so if I had internet time it was only a few minutes before Elijah was crying (parents, you understand)

4. I was afraid the blog would turn into an "Elijah blog" since the only pictures I really took for three weeks included Elijah in every one! (SO cute, who can resist!)

5. After such a long lull I felt like I had to post something good, so it kept becoming a bigger task

Hopefully I will be back on track now because I got the internet at home and I'm getting the feel for when I can do things like blog. Right now Nate and Elijah are sleeping, so here at 7 a.m. I am able to share with you!

Here are some of my Elijah pictures--I can't resist! I'll try not to make every entry about him, but oh, he is a big part of our lives now.

Our Filipino friends were very excited to meet Elijah! They were there to greet him right when we got home! They are already teaching him Cebuano!
This is Elijah's first time to the ocean!! I'm sure it won't be his last. I just love the ocean and meditating on God in His Creation. Here Elijah is three months old!
Elijah loves his daddy!! Sometimes he cries and then I pass him to daddy and he is all cheery. There's nothing like a Daddy's sweet kisses!

Nate and I led worship at the staff retreat. I am learning that if I agree to do anything it will certainly include Elijah too! These are early music lessons from two music teachers--maybe when he is 5 he will play all the instruments =)

The people at church were very happy to see us return as well as to meet Elijah. It is wonderful to be so welcome here and loved by the people. We love the Filipinos!

Elijah can smile now and is very precious when he greets people. It is hard to get places fast because everyone stops to say hello. He helps us make lots of friends. The Filipinos first impression is that he has a dimple in his chin like his daddy, but they call it a "divided chin". Do you think Elijah is already thinking of his Creator? He loves to look around and see the world. We're praying that he will come to know Jesus as his Lord and Savior--pray with us.

Here is my friend, Emi. I was so glad to be back and to be able to catch up with her. We will be spending lots of time together now that I am a mom too.


Good night, everyone! I love watching him sleep! Well, he's awake now and talking so I will end here. I hope you enjoyed the pictures!

11 States and One Country, So Far...

We decided to collect state sign pictures of every state Elijah has been to so far in his little life. Maybe someday soon he will catch up with his mother's record!

"Oh, Canada! Our home and native land!" Notice how I dressed him in white and red. I love Canada! Soon to the Philippines!

Road Trip Highlights #2

Elijah turned 2 months on July 8th. Isn't he precious! As he grew older, the traveling got easier. He didn't cry as much during the night or day. Thank you, Lord, for Elijah Samuel and his good health!
For our 3rd anniversary on July 10th we got to go to Niagara falls!! What a blessing and a special date! Praise the Lord for a wonderful marriage.
Here we are speaking at one of the churches. We were able to share about our ministry in the Philippines with many people. May the Lord use our words and message for His glory.
Once again we got to have a four-generation photo! This time it was in Pennsylvania with Nate's family. What a wonderful blessing from God!
Elijah's first friend--his cousin Jonas! Aren't these little guys precious gifts from God?!

On The Road

We have been on the road for a while now, but we have the internet here. I thought you'd like to see some pictures from our trip! Thank you for continuing to pray for us as we travel. Pray for safety, continued health and strength and for rest. Pray that God will use us to spread a vision for missions and Bible translation to many people in the U.S. Praise God for a great trip so far! We started our trip in Kansas City. It was both Nate and Elijah's first time there. We got to see some special friends, and they had a great time meeting our special boy!
We then traveled to Joplin, MO where Elijah met one of his protectors--the little dog, Muffin. It was so sweet to see Muffin sniffing Elijah when he came in and how excited the dog was to meet a little baby. We've learned that dogs somehow know when there is a baby. When Elijah would cry, Muffin would be right there ready to help.
The next day (yes we kept moving on), we went to St. Louis and had a great time reconnecting with some more special friends. It is amazing to see how fast the kids in our life grow up! Sarah is already 16! That just goes to show us how fast Elijah will grow up--people have told us, "Enjoy every moment!" We certainly will take that good advice!
Yes, I know, there are lots of pictures of Elijah. We are just having so much fun watching people love him--especially his grandparents! This was the first time Elijah's grandparents, Nate's parents, met their first grandson! How precious!
We had a great family reunion in Meramec State Park with Nate's whole family. These times are rare and precious indeed.

Nate celebrated Father's day for the first time. It was so funny because last year our pastor in the Philippines gave Nate a corsage in good faith that "Next year you will be a Daddy!" Sure enough, here is our son just a year later. What a great dad Nate is.
Elijah is quite the little tourist, just like his Momma! He got to go through security (an experience that will prepare us for the international travel!) and up the St. Louis arch to the highest point yet in his little life. He was sleeping the whole time, so that was a great treat.
Now we are back to one of Nate's towns--Indianapolis, IN. I love watching little children, like Faith here, holding our little baby. The children really are drawn to babies and seem to have real tender hearts toward holding him for the first time.
On Monday we had some time alone together as a little family. We were able to go to a very special place on a beautiful day--the Indy Canal downtown. This is the place where on July 10, 2004 Nate and I had our first kiss! Just one year later on July 10, 2005 we were married! Now three years after our wedding we are back with our first son. This is the exact same spot where we took a picture when we first started dating. What a special place and a fun day together as a family of three. Who knows how many we will be next time we get to visit this place of memory.
Our boy is getting used to his mommy's camera--Flash! He is getting good at posing, don't you think? Well, thanks for praying for us. It is quite a life moving around lots, but it is wonderful to see so many loved ones and to be able to share what God is doing in the Philippines.

Dedicated to the Lord and Ready for Travel

Here we are, folks--Elijah Samuel is ready to become a world traveler. Doesn't he look excited?! He is a true son of his mother--the woman who had to see every Western European country before age 22 and visit all 50 U.S. states before getting married. Who knows how many stamps he will get before he has to renew it at age five. We were so impressed that by two weeks of age, Elijah already had his official U.S. passport! Way to go--National Passport Authority!
At just 2 weeks and 3 days of age, Elijah Samuel Becker was dedicated to the Lord during the Sunday worship service. It was also the same day as my parents' 33rd wedding anniversary. In that same church, on that same stage just over two and a half years ago, Nate and I got married on my grandparents' 62nd wedding anniversary! We want our son to be raised to know the Word of the Lord and to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ. Pray that he will one day put his faith in Jesus as his Lord and Savior.
Here is the photo I have always dreamed of--four generations! God is so gracious to us! I love that verse from the Psalms: "You have given me the heritage of those who fear your name." Thank you, Lord, for godly grandparents and parents. Help us to follow their example as they have followed the example of Christ. Thank you for answering their prayers for us and for Elijah!
Sisters!! What a wonderful year--we both had baby boys this year. I love my sister. Now she is also "Aunt Sarah" to our son!
Here are the "ladies" as Clara likes to say. I just love getting to spend time with Clara Grace. I was her age when my sister led me in a prayer to receive Christ. Wow!

Now I will mention how things are going with us. Elijah is now 4 weeks old, and he is so cute! We are crazy about him and are getting to know him tons each day (and NIGHT!).

A book that has been extremely helpful was recommended to me by my sister: "Secrets of the Baby Whisperer." I read just a few pages and then I can immediately apply them! The secrets really do work, and we've been able to hear less crying as we figure out Elijah's "cry language." I recommend this to every new mother--and don't wait too long to read it.

I want to include a quote from another book here that makes me laugh and laugh, because it is so true! If you are a parent, you can totally relate. It is from the book "What to Expect the First Year." (You can tell I need lots of input in learning to be a mom!).

This is the author's response to a mother's concern: "I'm a nervous wreck when I try to put my sleeping baby down in his crib. I'm always afraid he'll wake up--and he usually does."

The author responds and I can totally relate!.....

"He's finally asleep--after what seems like hours of nursing on sore breasts, rocking in aching arms, lullabying in an increasingly hoarse voice. You rise ever so slowly from the glider and edge cautiously to the crib, holding your breath and moving only the muscles that are absolutely necessary. Then, with a silent but fervent prayer, you lift him over the edge of the crib and begin the perilous descent to the mattress below. Finally, you release him, but a split second too soon. He's down--then he's up. Turning his head from side to side, sniffing and whimpering softly, then sobbing loudly. Ready to cry yourself, you pick him up and start all over."

Well, if you are a parent, hopefully that gave you a laugh. People say it is a transition, and they were right. But we love our boy and are enjoying every stage of growing with him.