Elijah is 4 Months!

New Building and Little Missionary

Praise the Lord for providing for the building of a new performing arts center! We are so excited to see how much the music program has grown these last few years. Soon the auditorium will be finished (Lord-willing) and we will have our first performance in there!
When we left for furlough this was just grass. The principal and builders worked hard to surprise Mr. Becker when we returned! Here's the band room all finished and brand new. Lovely! (A student walks to put his trombone away before school).
You can see it is half finished. The other side has a vocal and drama room--a major improvement from the kitchen I used to teach in!
Here is Mr. Becker, the chapel coordinator, and his son, the new little missionary! Nate is using Elijah as an example to teach about the Father's love for us! "Lessons learned from the life of Elijah Samuel." The students loved to meet the little Becker Baby that they prayed so much for.
Last week Elijah was baby Jesus and Nate was Jesus on the cross. Look at these two! What a pair of actors!

I was Mary in New Testament class--guess who was baby Jesus! He even let out a cry at the perfect time--what a dramatic family.
Jesus, Emmanuel--God with us! What a message to declare!
Thank you, God for your Son, Jesus, (and for our son, Elijah!).
My husband acts as my son, Jesus dying on the cross. "He was still her little boy" plays on the CD as I cry over my son's death.
Ohhh!! A kiss from Mommy! "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me." Isaiah 49.15-16

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?!