Mission Trip and other news

A short-term mission trip is in the works for Ethan this summer! In July, Lord willing, he will be heading to Kenya for two weeks with Training Leaders International and then afterwards will go to Ukraine for another week. He will be flying through Europe for the Kenya trip so it will not be too much of an expense to add a trip to Ukraine. We are excited for more teaching and learning opportunities that these trips will open up.

Thankfully, more work has opened up for Ethan through his landscaping job, as well as a new job working for the U.S. Census. The census job will take 8 eight weeks beginning Tuesday. Seminary classes will end the middle of May, but we are hoping he can take an "independent study" class during the summer to keep things rolling. We were invited to stay longer at Ethan's parent's house as they will be working out of town for the summer and fall at a church in ND. This will provide an opportunity to continue his seminary classes for now. Praise God for His provision and direction for now.

Broken Down Dam

Not too far from where we live there is an old dam that broke many years ago. It is now a park for people to enjoy. We have had such a dry spring that the roads and trails are practically free of mud. While Ethan is out of town working, I decided to take the kids there today to hike. Here are some photos of our hike:

Beautiful!

Here it is with Peter John in the forefront.

At the top of the dam.

I was amazed at Amy's ability to hike up and down the steep path.

Still a little snow left in the shady spots.

Gardening Progress

My sister in France asked me to post some more pictures of our gardening progress. Yesterday I planted two types of onions, and earlier this week I planted carrots. We also have spinach, lettuce, radishes, and beets. The lettuce and radishes are growing beautifully.

The radishes are sprouting here!

Luther's rhubarb has taken off this year! This should make up for the cloudy summer last year.

The greenhouse flowers and vegetables are also doing beautifully. We borrowed a small rack greenhouse from my parents. We have flats of tomatoes, peppers, basil, thyme, habaneros (thanks to Ethan), and many different varieties of flowers. I am looking forward to planting them at the end of May.

Take Note

I wish there was an online version of "How To Be Free From Bitterness" by Jim Wilson, published by Community Christian Ministries. This booklet has truly helped me to pray through situations that resulted in feelings of hurt and thus unforgiveness. After reading it a few times, I have gone directly to God in prayer asking for forgiveness for my unforgiveness and bitterness. God has set me free over and over again. Please order it and read it if you are a human being and thus prone to sin in your heart over painful situations resulting in bitterness in your heart. Do as Jesus did, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” I love you, Jesus.

"bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do." Colossians 3:13

You can order this booklet through the Community Christian Ministries website. It costs $1.

God bless you.

Christ is Risen!

Happy Easter Everyone! Jesus Christ is risen from the dead!

Amy on Grandma's slide.

Peter with Grandpa Frank at his house.

Hi Grandma!

Peter's on the move!

Lizzy with cousins Isaac, age 4, and Max, age 1.

Amy and Gretchen finding eggs at Grandpa and Grandma Frank's house.

Lizzy found one!

My beautiful kids! I sewed the girls' dresses this year with patterns I bought second-hand.

Amy, Peter John, Gretchen, and Lizzy on Easter April 4, 2010.

God Makes Things Grow!

2 Corinthians 3:5-11

5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? ⁶ I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. ⁷ So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. ⁸ Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.
⁹ For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you areGod’s building. ¹⁰ According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it.¹¹ For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

The Man In A Tree by Gretchen

Our daughter, Gretchen, age 8, wrote a paraphrase of the Bible story, Zaccheus. I told her I would publish it here, because I really like how she wrote it.

THE MAN IN A TREE

Retold by Gretchen Larson

copyright 2010

One day Jesus was going to a town to preach. Jesus was in the middle of a huge crowd of people. There also was a man who everyone hated, a tax collecter! He was very short. His name was Zaccheus and he was at the edge of the crowd. He tried and tried to see Jesus but couldn’t.

He looked around and saw a big tree. He could see Jesus from there! He quickly climbed the tree and saw Jesus coming down the road. Jesus saw him too! Jesus approached the tree and said “Zaccheus, come down for I’m going to your house today.” The crowd started mumbling. Zaccheus could not believe his ears. Jesus, a great teacher wanted to stay with him. He excitedly climbed down the tree.

when Jesus got to his house, he ate and drank, and during the feast Zaccheus said

“I will give back the money I took and will pay them 4 times as much.”Jesus liked this attitude and left the house.

we should be like Zaccheus by saying sorry for what we have done. We should be kind and forgiving just like Jesus was.