How long can the dog's leash . . .

Stay on the back of the car?  Well, today it was about two tenths of a mile - while traveling at 30 mph!  

We're coming back from a trip to the library and Micah says, "Mom, look!  A leash in the middle of the road!"  And I ever so wisely replied, "That's Annie's!" because I also remembered where I had left it.  Opps!

SMURFIN' AROUND!

Give a bunch of people who hang out in the children's wing at church blue paint, and what do you get?  Obviously, paint on the carpet, paint on the doors, and without a doubt - paint on each other!  We looked like a bunch of smurfs! 

Now, I have to admit that it was Micah's idea that we volunteer.  I'm not sure if it was a sweet prompting from God or the fact that we would be getting pizza for lunch!  But we had a blast - a 

BLUE BLAST!

(The pictures just make the walls look green!)

 

Cross Country . . .

. . . has been crossed out!  Micah decided this morning that she truly didn't want to run cross country and has chosen to withdraw from the team.  While we would have liked her to finish the season, we get it and we stand with her. 

Our pleasure . . .

And what a pleasure it was to come together before the Throne on Monday morning and pray over Sam's school and for his co-workers and for the students he will be teaching this fall.  Blessings to those who prayed . . .

There is a ship . . .

Full of people currently docked in Tenerife, Canary Islands, waiting to hear where they will go next.  As you pray that God would make known His plans for them, here's a ten minute video on how He used them in The Republic of the Congo this past field service.  If you don't have ten minutes, try to catch the last two or three.  
 
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152595317203960&set=vb.627768959&type=2&theatre

I Must Pray . . .

How my heart hurts for my brothers and sisters in Africa, specifically those in Sierra Leone and Liberia whom I walked among and worshiped with and prayed along side.  And so this morning I determined that I will be praying for them daily until the World Health Organization declares the Ebola crisis no longer a crisis in these countries.  How will you know I'm praying?  Check my jewelry.  Until it ends, it will be from Africa.  And I do have extra if you'd like to join me!  "Almighty God, heal this land and its peoples from Ebola . . ."

AUGUST FAMILY PHOTO - II

Some opportunities are just too good to pass up so when when the phone rang yesterday and the caller asked if we wanted to go, I said, "Yes!"  Here's to more 3FT (forced family fun time!) and finishing off my bucket list for the summer!  Thanks, Heidi!  We had fun!

Surely there will be more to come . . .

In the last week, there have been suspected cases of Ebola in Benin and Nigeria that are being monitored.  Since Ebola has symptoms that are similar to a few other virus/bacteria/parasites that people can get in this part of the world, suspected cases must be confirmed before it is known that Ebola has indeed migrated to a new country or not.

In light of this news, the ship will now remain in the Canary Islands until the end of the month.  Tentatively, they are schedules to sail out within 2-3 weeks, but the destination is now uncertain.  Nigeria and Benin are being given a little time to show if there is a cause for concern or any further spread of Ebola to those areas.  Leadership is actively discussing the situation and Mercy Ships' best response to it.

The ship is not set up to treat Ebola.  It is not a medical hospital, it is a surgical hospital.  So they are waiting and considering contingency plans and countries.  Life is now a little uncertain, where will we sail?

 

There is no doubt that they will be where they are needed, and where God wants them, no matter where they go.  The change in dates, though, causes upheaval.  Plane tickets for those starting or ending their time with the ship are being changed, plans modified.  

Pray for wisdom and guidance for those that make the final decisions for the ship.  Pray for those dealing with the Ebola epidemic, and for the health and safety of the people of West Africa.  Pray for those struggling with the uncertainty of this season, and for unity on the ship as they look to the future.