New News!

New News:

*Today was Makarios School's last day of the school year!  As a family we watched the children give a performance for their families and receive awards in their classrooms from their teachers.  It was exciting to see the children's excitement as well!  We are proud of the way our staff has poured into the lives of these sweet kids.

 *Our staff and students have off for the upcoming week before summer programs begin.

*Also, our nanny, Kelsey arrived yesterday!  The kids are taking a liking to her already.  Finley was ready to knock on her door at 6:30 this morning.    I think the message Finn hears when we say  'nanny' is really 'personal playmate'.  Kelsey  will spend this week settling in and just get familiar with us and a typical routine.  She will be helping me out with our kids and will be here until August 7th.

Kelsey, aka Nanny

* Summer groups begin June 1 st and will come every other week for the duration of summer.  It will be busy!  Josh has been working with the staff here, the staff in Austin, and the leaders for each group in coordinating service opportunities when the groups arrive.  As for me, I am getting my menu ready to feed the many that stay with us at the 'Mak house' this summer.

* Chester (our dog) has a new home.  No, Josh didn't run him over like he did Max the cat (R.I.P. Max!) We gave him back to Lucia (who gave him to us).  It was like having a sixth child-a toddler at that!  We decided that it was one less thing for us to have on our plates :)  Chester now is reunited with his brother. We are thankfully able to visit him whenever we want too !

The last of the 8 chicks...

Getting ready to take on some locals...

all boy...

* Kids are well! We think we figured out Parlyns diaper issues... we switched her to soy milk and she seems much happier!  Oliver had an alive snake the other day and was playing with it and hanging it over the cats head while the cat graciously was batting it around.  Finn is starting to learn about lying.  We asked her if she ate licorice and she denied it 5 times.  When we pulled the chunk of licorice off her cheek, showed her, and asked again...her big brown eyes were the size of quarters and...then she denied it with great assurance.   Yes, we had to laugh too but did it discretely.  Aribella is ready for the groups coming - for she loves to cook.  Tate is making new friends and uses his small amount of Spanish he knows... I hear him talking to his friends and I don't think he realizes that he is 'ordering them around'.  I give him credit for trying!  I am so proud of Tate, Belle, and Ollie.  For I am seeing their hearts change and be sensitive to the Spirit.   We are seeing them repent on their own.  We brought Tate a new bible and when we told him it arrived he went running for it with excitement (he has been reading through the old testament)...that just blessed us.  We pray that excitement for Gods Word continues his whole life!

Happy 11th Babe!

*We celebrate 11 years May 19th!  Love at first sight, 3 months later we "knew", 3 months after that, engaged, and 6 months after that married! 11 months after that, pregnant! Every two years, a new baby.  A masters degree and 3 jobs for Josh. Transitioning into living on the mission field now.  We have been through some hot fires together, and praise the Lord He is still today refining us and our marriage.  I am thankful for the Lord's hand in putting us together and for giving me a man that loves his God more than anyone or anything.  God is truly good...

*Again, thank you everyone who is praying for us and partnering with us.  Though I have days when I wonder what the heck we are doing here, its just then God gives us a little window to peek into & assure us that we are right where He wants us.  He is working here despite us!

Thats the latest!  Stay tuned...

Jen