Power...

It has been interesting here as we deal with the constant power outages, Kaya beginning school, Janna beginning teaching, and of course KAYA'S BDAY.

Kaya turned 4 and had a great time playing with her friends and getting a minature kitchen set. She likes to have tea parties and play with toy food. We are absolutely amazed that our youngest child is already 4. Unbelievable. We continue to pray that God will work in our children's lives as often we feel so inadequate as parents. God be gracious to us.

The title of this blog is "Power" and it has a two fold meaning. One is that our power is off so often and continues to be a stress in our lives. But two is the power of God. There are always things happening on the mission field to missionaries as well as to the school where it just seems like Satan is working. One of the mission leaders the other day said, "Now we have front row seats to see God work." This mission is going through some difficulties right now and it is amazing to hear these types of sentences coming from people in the midst of struggle. But it is so true, God works when we cry out to Him in times of stress and struggle. I have just been amazed at the attitudes of people here while under extreme stress. Praise God.

Please continue to pray as we live here. Thank you so much for remembering us in emails.

Survived the beach but here comes Monday...

Wow the beach trip went great thanks for all your prayers. Here is a little run down of the beach trip. I left for the beach with 6 students to set up the beach for the rest of the high school on Wednesday at noon. We arrived and began set up at around 4:30 pm. We worked well into the dark and then had to wake up early the next morning to finish it off. The rest of the high school then showed up and we set up camp and had a great couple of days snorkeling, beach soccer, fishing, listening to a speaker, working, and just hanging out. Great way that our high school tries to bond right at the start of the year. I returned home to Janna and the kids Saturday at 4:30 pm. Great to be home with the family again.

Monday. Oh precious Monday. Today here is what is on our plates.
Janna - gets everyone ready for school, teaches preschool, coaches volleyball
Darren - have to find teams for the volleyball teams to play this Friday, teach, find refs

After I write this down it does not seem that bad. Hopefully the day runs smoothly. Please pray for Janna as she begins to teach preschool. She has done tons of work preparing and I just really want it to be a positive experience. Good luck to all. God bless.

Off to the beach

Off to the beach I go with 6 of the grade 12 seniors. We are going a day early to set up the entire camp for the high school beach trip. Our high school every year at the beginning has a time of bonding and spiritual renewal as we begin the year. I have gone 3 other times in the past but never as the initial set up man, so it should be interesting. Please pray for the students as we begin the school year. Also there is malaria in this area so please pray. We always take all the precautions that we can but there is always that one mosquito that wrecks it for us.

Also please pray for Janna and the kids as they stay home and look after everything here. Jalen is enjoying school and still has a cough.

Thanks for your prayers. Darren from Papua OUT

First week of school is done...

Well the first week of school is done and things are beginning to be worked out. God is good and His plan is perfect. That has been the theme as we have opened up this school year. So many things happening and many of them we do not understand but God's timing is perfect. This concept is a difficult one at times to remember but it is in those times that we must remember it.

This morning in chapel one of the teachers shared with us some of her life story and how when she was young she began building up "theological" walls around her heart. She knew what she believed and so when her husband died suddenly from falling off a roof she had those walls which she knew she had to stay inside of. Very interesting to me, to think that we have to prepare our hearts today with the truths that God has given to us so that when we face difficulties we can hold onto them. We do not suddenly have the truths the second we face hardships if we are not prepared before hand.

Take the moment we have now. So often these past two years I have found myself thinking "Oh when we do this then I will be fulfilled and happy, Oh when I get to Indonesia I will be fulfilled and happy, Oh when our AC is installed I will feel fulfilled and happy, ..." I have been realizing that we never reach that "perfect" time or place. Grab the moment NOW and just decide to be fulfilled and happy.

Rambling thoughts of Darren on this first Friday of the school year. Talk to you again soon.