Posts Tagged ‘friends’
Saturday, October 31st, 2009
The house is getting a whole lot louder
A house with three boys in it is usually a loud one. But, believe me, a house with three boys and two African drums is MUCH louder! Micah and Malachi have been wanting drums for a very long time. For my sanity level, I was trying to hold them off as long as possible. Then came the news that their friends both had drums and were taking lessons in town. I knew the battle was lost at that point. There is just no way I could see the disappointment on their faces as they watched Corbin and Elijah get out their drums and pound away. So, we went to the wood carver and saw the drum that had already made. We asked him to make an identical one for Malachi and to get them both all “tuned” up so that they would play correctly. We told the boys that they would have to pay for the drums on their own with their allowance money. With no hesitation at all, they handed over a years worth of savings. (Side note: allowance money seems kind of silly most of the time since there isn’t anything to really spend it on) Today the boys did a little practicing for Gramma and Grampa via skype. Pretty amazing that they can see and hear them all the way in Michigan – technology is pretty awesome, huh? Ephraim is still waiting for his drum – I told him that he needs to wait until he’s six. So, I’ve got a little over a year before my wonderful boys are all pounding away.
Tags: boys, friends, host family
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Tuesday, October 27th, 2009
Signing Mo up for classes at his school
I walked into their house the other day and saw him sitting at the table working so hard to practice his writing. I sat there grinning like a proud mama as he worked to write his letters. We wrote about our little buddy, Mo, in our last newsletter and our desire to see him get a good education. He is such a special little boy and I know that God has brought him into our lives for a special reason. I know that it’s hard for him to focus on school because so many of his friends in the neighborhood are not going to school at all. It would be easier for him to just run free all day and play. But, I am so thankful that his mom wants to see him getting a good education as well. His home is not a safe place for him and we were working really hard to find a spot in a boarding school, but there was not a place for him to start this year. But, we have found a private school in town where he will get a good education in French. We pray that he will continue working hard in his studies. Please keep praying for him and his family. I went to see his mom the other day and we talked about the people living in their home that regularly beat on Mo. She is worried for his safety and yet there is little she can do. I pray that we can be a source of love and hope for him – even if everything else around him is darkness. I long to rescue him from his life, but I can’t. I have to trust that my friendship with his mom and my words to her will give her a desire to speak up. I have to trust that God can use what the world means for evil to somehow bring good in the lives of him and his family. I have to just speak truth to his family and put Mo in God’s hands. Please keep praying that through us he would see Christ.
Tags: faith, friends
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Tuesday, September 29th, 2009
I am quickly becoming the village photographer. I love carrying my camera around when I’m in the village trying to capture life that is so different from our life in the States. I have taken lots of pictures of different families and I’m excited to have my mom bringing them all with her. I know that everyone in the village will love having those photos of themselves to keep. The other night one of the teens who hangs out at our house came over over with his little sister. He said his mom wanted us to take her picture all dressed up in her new outfit. This is one of the pictures I took. Isn’t she such a cutie? I love that taking pictures is another door that God is using to make friendships with those around us.
Tags: Africa, friends
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Monday, September 28th, 2009
After a great day at the beach
I kept telling myself that I would be more faithful at just getting on here a couple of times a week and writing about whatever was going on. But, the days seem to go by quickly and honestly, usually when there’s a free moment at the end, I am ready to just fall asleep. But, I sat here for a minute thinking what I could write about and immediately I knew what God has blessed me with. I am so very thankful for the people in my life. We’re going through a very discouraging time right now – the outcome is still unclear – and it feels very dark in this valley. But, we sent out an email to our supporters yesterday asking their advice on this situation – asking them to be praying for us – and I we have been overwhelmed by the love and support that’s been sent our way. Honestly, I have cried through several of them. To know that we are so loved, so cared for – even from so far away – is truly a beautiful thing. It’s a God given thing. I thank Him that He speaks so clearly through those who love Him. I thank Him for blessing us with such a team of encouragers. I thank each of them for their prayers for us. We are blessed.
Tags: Family, friends
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Saturday, August 22nd, 2009
We absolutely love getting packages from home! It’s so encouraging to open those boxes and see notes, treats, pictures, and other great stuff that has been sent from all over the states. Our boys are always so thrilled to see food from home and treats to share with their friends.
Such a happy day when packages arrive from the States
We are so thankful for my mom and dad who work hard to pack everything up and send it all to us. I can’t imagine how many times my mom has run to Target to get me just “one more thing”. She’s amazing. We know that there are so many people who take some time and pick up something for us and put it in our bin at church or mail it my mom. You have no idea what an encouragement and blessing you are to us. Steve and I never take for granted what an amazing team we have standing behind us in prayer, in giving and amazing packages!
Tags: friends
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Saturday, April 18th, 2009
A time of the day that we all look forward to is the sunset hour. The HOT sun is going down, the breeze is coming in and our boys are happy to be outside with all their friends from the neighborhood. (more…)
Tags: friends
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Saturday, June 7th, 2008
The school year ended with a lot of fun activities for the kids and it was a little sad for us to see the year end and know that the boys won’t be back in the fall. We’ve really enjoyed the teachers that the boys have had at Cascades and the boys have made some great friendships. (more…)
Tags: friends
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Sunday, May 25th, 2008
We’ve been really blessed with good friends to hang out with since we’ve come home from Canada. The kids are all about the same age and 95% of the time they get along great! The boys have gotten used to hanging out with the Sexton’s and Beadenkopf’s quite a bit and even Ephraim asks if they’ll be with us whenever we go somewhere. It’s great to have friends that you just call up last minute and say “wanna grill out?”. In the last few weeks we’ve had birthday parties, Memorial Day fireworks, picnics…lots of great times together. We tried to get all seven kids to sit still long enough to get a picture and this is the best we could come up with! It’s not an easy job to get seven kids seven and under to all smile nicely at the same time!
Tags: friends
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Wednesday, April 25th, 2007
Just when it’s time for a week of end of the semester exams…something wonderful happened! The snow melted!!! Now where you are that might not be such a big deal, but here in Quebec it is a beautiful sight to behold. We have grown weary of sledding and snowball fights in the Cretsinger household, so to see the green grass was really exciting. (more…)
Tags: friends, learning french
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Steve and Casey Cretsinger Experiencing Tribal Missions in Guinea, W. Africa 
