December Moments

 December was full for us, as it was for most of you!  It is now January 17, and I am finally attempting to blog some highlights from last month!  Here we are having fun as a family of 6 for Emily's first swim!

A tiny disclaimer to ask your forgiveness for my lull in blogging (and thanks to you who have been checking if I have put up anything new!)--I DID try a handful of times to post, and the internet was slow, or the picture wouldn't load, or I couldn't even sign on to blogger.  My excuses, yes, I know, but truly it can be a defeating thing for me to plan on blogging and then have some internet delay.

ALSO I did post some albums on my facebook page of these events, so if you want to see more go see Jessica's Facebook album.

Here we are visiting the Japanese Tunnels from 1942 with our friends.

Our first family of 6 mini-vacation to Eden--we were thankful to have 2 nights at a mountain cabin near our city.  (Mountain does not mean snow--it just means getting higher than sea level for a cooler breeze!).

The Becker guys are ready to go on the big zipline!  Even Luke was a brave little guy.

Love the Philippines!  Cool trees, fun to climb.  Thanks, Lord, for time in Your creation!

Fun to fish for lunch!  Each boy caught a fish, and then they cooked it for us to eat!

We did other fun things like ride horses, go on the ziplines, I rode the sky-cycle, and Nate took the boys hiking and swimming while I napped with Emily.  See the album on Facebook for more.

4 Becker Kids all piled up.  Fun!  Elijah-5; Malachi-4; Luke-2; Emily--6 months.

Finally, on January 6 Emily turned 6 months!  Elijah wanted to be the first one to feed her "real food".  Fun brothers!  What a precious little doll.

Let us stay connected this 2014!  Thanks for your prayers for our family and for your friendship.

Best Book Read in 2013

"Future Grace" by John Piper was the most helpful book I read all year.  It gave me keys to the power of God to conquer sin in my life and to make me more like Christ.  It helped me to understand my faith and the motivation for obedience.  It made me hungry for God and His Word.

I spent 3 months digesting it page-by-page, though with 31 chapters you could read it in a month one chapter at a time.  Watch this 2 minute video from the author, and then put it on the top of your reading list for 2014!

Top 10 Quotes:

• Sin is what you do when your heart is not satisfied with God. No one sins out of duty. We sin because it holds out some promise of happiness.  (Loc 282)

• The faith that justifies also sanctifies. (Loc 567)

• Let us make war, not with other people, but with our own unbelief. (Loc 1307)

• The commandments of God are not negligible because we are under grace. They are doable because we are under grace. (Loc 2918)

• Loving your enemy doesn’t earn you the reward of heaven. Treasuring the reward of heaven empowers you to love your enemy. (Loc 3046)

• The way to fight sin in our lives is to battle our bent toward unbelief. (Loc 4083)

• If you hold a grudge, you doubt the judge (Loc 4899)

• The test of whether our faith is the kind of faith that justifies is whether it is the kind of faith that sanctifies. (Loc 6025)

• The faith that delivers from hell delivers from lust. (Loc 6031)

• Salvation is owned by faith. Salvation is shown by deeds. (Loc 6601)

MK Christmas Special--Elementary Musical

 Last week was the elementary Christmas musical: "The MK Christmas Special."  Here are the students practicing for one last run-through before the big show on Friday night!

Here is a photo that I smile at.  Mr. Becker is directing there, and in front of him is our son, Elijah!  It is the first performance in 9 years here that our son is actually in the program!

 Father and son, matching outfits!  Elijah and I both spotted this shirt in the store, and we knew we had to buy it!  Now they can be twins!

 On the day of the performance it was Miss Roseboom's birthday party in Kinder class.  Elijah is sitting at the far table with the light blue shirt.  Notice that Malachi and Luke wanted to join the class and are sharing a chair as guests.

What a blessing Miss R has been to our school this year, and especially to our firstborn son!

 Malachi loves to bake!  Here are the gingerbread boys ready to share at "Elijah's concert".

On our way to the concert--3 ladies, 3 trays of cookies and 3 kids!

 Let the show begin!  When I see pictures like this I still praise God for His provision of an auditorium with stage, lights and sound!  We did this same musical 8 years ago on wooden platforms on a covered court outside.  What a difference!  Thank you, Lord!

It was great to do the "MK Christmas Special"especially since it teaches our "missionary kids" that there are others like them in other countries around the world, like Latin America, Africa and Australia.

The music was powerful in teaching the kids (and audience) many of the names of Jesus that we can worship: "Jesus the Bread of Life", "Jesus the King of Kings", and "Jesus the Living Water", to name a few!  It was precious to hear our Malachi learning the songs at home too, and his eyes fixated on the performers.

 "Mama is proud of you, Elijah!"

A fun preschool photo of our gingerbread house activity.  Let the count-down to Christmas begin!  Merry Christmas everyone!  We are thankful for YOU!

Emily 5 months

 November 6, 2013 Emily Amor is 5 months!  What a growing lady.

 I love her blue eyes with those purple flowers.  Thanks, Aunt Martha, for this dress!  I saved it until today for her 5 month pictures.  It has been hanging on the curtain rod since you mailed it.

 Mom, we are still using the Phil and Ted stroller!  Now Emily can sit in the front seat!

 Smiles!!!  Mom, here's another outfit from you--thank you!

Nate and I bring Emily on our dates.  Here they are today--precious!

 Here's a little bonus picture that Elijah's teacher took of their class on the day of the 5.5 earthquake last week.  Notice the 2 chairs that moved out of their place while the class was evacuating the room.  I was on the field for my morning run when I saw the whole earth moving.  "He's got the whole world in his hands."

Luke is a precious 2-year-old boy!  Papa hands him a candle during the Christmas party last night.  "Silent Night."  Lord, may each of our children grow to love you more and trust you as Savior.

Totally Christmas

 A week has already flown by since the performance of "Totally Christmas"!  Nate and his high school vocal music students worked hard to prepare for this special night.

Aldeza, Amor and I also performed that night!  I did sign language worship to "Wonderful, Counselor..." and the 2 ladies did a few worship dances to other songs.  Lovely to praise the Lord with dance and singing!

 I love this one with the ribbon dance.

 Candles are always lovely!

Mr. Becker--what a handsome director!  I love to be his wife!

 Later that week, Malachi and I went to choose a Christmas tree.  "Hmmm, should we pick a pink tree? Purple? Blue??  Black???"

Malachi was excited about the cute little green "Linus" tree--2 feet tall for 45 pesos ($1).  He had fun decorating it at home in his room with lights and ornaments!

 Here's our 4 kids decorating our living room for Christmas.  Malachi is working on setting up the nativity, Elijah is sporting the Santa hat while putting ornaments and lights on the little 3 foot 99 peso tree, and Luke is sharing something with Emily.

The boys put "Baby Jesus" on Emily's lap.  She's wondering, 'Hm, what are these crazy brothers up to behind me?"  Fun kids!

For a great free song praising Jesus for this advent, go download this for yourself.  I love this one:

http://thegospelcoalition.org/exultinthesaviorsbirth/

Carnival and Chapel

Here's Elijah's Kindergarten class (just the boys) with their teacher.  I love how Elijah has his hat over his eyes.  What a fun guy!

Sorry this post is so delayed.  I tried 4 or 5 different times to upload the pics but had some frozen internet problems.  Hope this works today!

 Here is the dunk tank.  Notice Elijah is hitting the target square on while his Papa sits in the dunk chair!  Ah!  Got him!

 Down goes Papa.  Good shot, Elijah!

Through the money raised from the carnival, our school was able to send relief funds through a local church to the victims of Typhoon Haiyan.  We also collected canned goods and foods that were sent in a truck to those who lived through the disaster.  Continue to pray for our country as many people rebuild their lives and go on without the ones who were lost.

Malachi gets a turn.  Good shot, M!

 Mama and Papa compete for the fastest boat race.  Elijah and Malachi cheer us on!  Hey!  Mama got first place!

Papa and Elijah pose in the fun photo booth.

Here is Luke playing with the thanksgiving plates Aunt Sarah sent us!  Fun!  Since we have missed 9 American thanksgivings, and while I studied in Canada I missed 4, this holiday has become much smaller for me (no turkey, no pies, no football games).  Yet we are thankful for so many things, especially for the Bible in our language, our family and friends, and for salvation in Jesus!

 Last week Elijah's class led the chapel.  It was precious to hear and see them singing and worshiping Jesus.  If you want to see a video, check my Facebook page.  May they follow you all their days, Lord!

They did a drama from Max Lucado's book "You are Special."  Cormac was Punchinello with all the dots.  They did a great job acting out this story!  May the message stick in their hearts.

Super Typhoon Haiyan

As I type, possibly the biggest super typhoon in recorded history is hitting our country.  The eye of the storm is crossing the islands to the northeast of us.

WE ARE OK.

Please pray, however, for the many thousands of people who are taking refuge right now and are evacuating the emergency areas.  Pray also that through these events many people will turn to Jesus and put their faith in Him for salvation.

"You have been a refuge for the poor,

a refuge for the needy in his distress,

a SHELTER FROM THE STORM

and a shade from the heat...

.

He will swallow up death forever.

The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears

from all faces;

he will remove the disgrace of his people

from all the earth.

The LORD has spoken.

In that day they will say,

'Surely this is our God,

we trusted in him, 

and HE SAVED US.

This is the LORD, we trusted in him;

let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.'"

Isaiah 25

Happy 95th Birthday Great-Grandpa Ghormley!

 On Monday, November 4th, my Grandpa, Malachi's Great-Grandpa, turned 95!!  He was born in 1918!  Imagine all the history he has lived through.  AND he is still walking and still married!  Amazing!  What a testimony of God's grace and faithfulness to let him live to see his children's children's children!

Malachi made him this play-dough cake and put as many "candles" as he could on top.

Here I am with both of my grandparents one year ago at Micah's wedding (Oct 2012).  This is the last time I saw them!  I hope to see them again in this life, but I know they love Jesus and will be with us forever with Him if God decides to take them before I get back to America again.

Thank you, Lord, for blessing my grandparents with a long life, with health and many children.  Thank you for their faithful prayers for each of us daily, and for their faithfulness to you.  YOU have been faithful to them, Lord, and we give you praise for 95 years!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDPA!!

"And many more!!!"

Cornets, Clarinets and Claves in Concert Concoction

 Last Friday Nate directed the middle school band concert.  It is so exciting to see the band program growing and the students learning so much music!  I am so proud of Nate!  Thank you, Lord!

 Thank you for partnering with us in teaching these students.  We get to help them in their formative years develop as musicians and as young Christians.

 Pray that another fine arts teacher will be able to come join us here at Faith Academy Mindanao.  Nate has had a full load this year doing everything in the department from grades K-12.

Pray also for Nate for his heart to be strengthened by grace and to grow in faith.  Pray for health and stamina to continue in this ministry.  Pray for our family to continue to stay unified in Christ and keep Jesus at the center!