With Prayers and Blessings

After NINE years of service as Missionaries overseas....
After much prayer and seeking God's guidance...
After praying about our needs as a family and what God's will would be for us now at this time in our life...
We have officially given our resignation...

THANK YOU for all your prayers and generous gifts that has enabled us to reach out to the next generation of Missionaries (the MK Youth at Faith Academy and at Black Forest Academy) as well as our German and Filipino friends.

We will be settling in the Kansas City area for now. We would love to hear from you! If you are travelling nearby we would love to see you!!



With many prayers and blessings ~ to you and your family,
Lovingly,
Erin, Christa... Paul, Samuel, and Amy

A4J update!

Even tho we are on the other side of the ocean, away from our ministries in Manila, things need to go on without us...
This is the first year in 5+ years that Erin has not been with A4J, helping or running the program. He often mentions how he misses the kids!
Recently we recieved a note from our Missionary friend who is overseeing A4J while we are gone.

• the weekly numbers are down from last years 300 to now aprox 150
• Filipino seminary students who teach the Bible lessons were recently 'switched around' by the seminary- we lost 8 of the 11 teachers and were only given back 3, new ones.
• The vendor who supplies the weekly fruit, took off with the large deposit of money given to him, and did not leave any fruit...

Please pray with us and the current A4J leader, for encouragement, for good attendance, and for God to supply the finances needed to run the program!

Below are some pictures from this years Registration Day.

kids lining up outside Faith Academy's property, getting ready to come in.



Leaders, preparing the tables of shirts to distribute to the kids.





heading up the steps to the covered BB court area, to begin the day



a favorite activity!!

Beginning to sort the kids by age group...

Activity time, coloring a paper with the Bible verse and lesson on it.

Thank you for praying for the kids at A4J!

Autumn Activities

The month of October we have been busy visiting Churches and helping in a Missions Conference. But we have taken many opportunities to savor God's beauty in the Autumn season...

Our kids are enjoying the many piles of Fall leaves! A first experience for some of them!

Concrete Pumpkin Patch

The first weekend of October we got to do something 'American' again!
After 6 years of 'NO' Autumn/Fall experience I (Christa) was excited to experience the little things that this season brings.
We took the kids to a nearby pumpkin patch and enjoyed picking out pumpkins.

We actually didn't get to wander in a REAL pumpkin patch, because they wanted to charge $7 per person to go farther into the property where the patch was included, so we stuck around in the greenhouse and had PLENTY of pumpkins to choose from.

God is good in that HE always gives good gifts. I am truly enjoying the sites and smells that His GOOD gift is sharing this Fall.

Festival in the Park

In our neighborhood there was recently a Festival.

What a wonderful 'cultural' experience for our kids!

There were several days of fun activities including carnival rides, a Car Show, and a parade.

One evening the kids enjoyed several rides and at the end we all tried a funnel cake!

The kids had never had one, so it was quite fun to enjoy this experience with them!

Beginning of a New School Year

Summer had a nice ending.

The kids enjoyed many hours of fresh air! We are so glad!

We enjoyed helping at a VBS during the summer and recently Erin was also able to share at a Church. We have seen many wonderful friends and supporters and its been enjoyable to be able to reconnect with so many of you!

Here is a quick picture of the kids on their first day of school. It was a last minute 'don't forget the picture', so its not the best, but at least we got it!

Paul turns 12!

Happy Birthday to a WONDERFUL young man!
We love you and are so proud of you!

GBC Vacation Bible School

In July we ha the opportunity to share at VBS. Each day we shared a little about the Philippines plus each of the different ministries we have been involved in.



Erin did a wonderful job speaking to the kids. We hope and pray that the seeds that were planted will root and grow as God plans!



Paul enjoyed the opportunity to help out and be in charge of the Power Point!

What to do??

Its Summer time--- so what should we do??



Maybe a little jumping?



How about a back hand-spring?



Perfect landing!



So much fun!!!

End of the School year 09-10

This is almost a month late in posting.... but when you also pack up your home and travel to the other side of the world, I figure its ok :D



Paul is standing there on the far right. These were the 6th grade Student Senate Officers for the year. They each received a certificate of recognition for their work.



Last day of school.... hanging around before we went home.




The graduating class of 2010!




Coach Fish with some of the Varsity Soccer players at Graduation...