what i've been up to

we've been so busy this past summer that i almost can't believe it's just been two months.

early April we had our first ever Bible Boot Camp for the youth at church, and was it fun! it seems that the boot camp opened so many doors to learning that we never knew existed. we saw a glimpse of just how much we want to study and learn and teach the kids. we had classes on cooking, arts, prophecy, gardening, church history, health, and music. and the kids bonded so well and just had so much fun.

of course, it wasn't all fun for us teachers. but it was a boot camp we wouldn't mind having again next year. in fact, we'll make sure to have it again next year. i'm already starting on my lesson plan. :D

just a week after boot camp, we had our camp meeting - the most interesting part being the presence of Pastor Patrick and Dr. Diane Herbert. having them is always a huge, huge blessing to us. theme was "No Time to Lose: Be Ye Holy" which brought so much needed reminders to everyone who attended. for the young people, there was a presentation about a God-approved boy-girl relationship. there were also hydrotherapy lectures and lots of singing.

on Sabbath, we had baptism and child dedication. and the ordination of our new church pastor.

two weeks after camp meeting, we had to be ready for Vacation Bible School. the kids from the community were all excited and eager to learn. some of them come to the church grounds so early their older brothers would come fetch them so they'd get to bathe first. lol

so that was boot camp, camp meeting, and VBS - each a week-long activity. and we did it all in six weeks. God is so wonderful.

the sad parts were that one of our older members passed away just before camp meeting started. but we rest in the hope of the resurrection of our brother through our Lord Jesus. also, one of our members had a stroke during the camp meeting. he's now recovering in his home and we all continue to pray for him.

so yes, it has been a wonderfully stressful two months. and we needed to have a good break afterwards. so we retreated toward our highland campsite. more on that and the details of the summer events in the next posts. ciao for now!

The Princes and I

Vacation Bible School 2012

A Song I Wish I'd Written Myself

BLESSINGS

Laura Story

We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights 
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we have faith to believe

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights 
Are what it takes to know You’re near
And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know that pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home
It's not our home

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise