Well, over the last few days we have had the old Internet problems again... off for hours/days and then on for a few minutes! Aaaaggh. So annoying. Anyway, like my granny used to say, "Ah well, you can't make a better of it." I am hoping that this is a temporary blip and that normal service will soon be resumed. Pray this is the case for my (and Keith's!) sanity.
Apart from that, we are doing well. This is a bit of a catch up blog and I hope to get back on course with my blogging next week. Why do I always seem to say the same thing every week? I should know by now that there are no 'normal' weeks here at Sefton and you never know what is around the corner.
Here is some up to date news and reports:
* Well, recently Mary and I celebrated our 11th Wedding Anniversary! Haven't I ... I mean she... eh, I mean we done well! We were married in Wick on March 30th 1996 and the amazing thing is that is the exact place and date of Mary's mum & dad's wedding 30 years previous! Imagine my surprise (and horror!) when we found out that the gentleman who was going to take our photos was the same guy who took my in-laws 30 years earlier!! But, he was very good and the pictures were great. If you are reading this and you were at our wedding, why don't you 'comment' on anything you remember about the weekend. It would be good for us to reminisce!
As you look back on married life, there are many milestones - our honeymoon, our first house, our ministries, our call to the Philippines, our first child ... followed by our second, the vision of God for our lives etc. Yet, alongside these there are many difficult days, things to work out and through, trials and difficulties. I just thank the Lord for Mary and her commitment to me, our kids and the Lord. Not many would leave the UK to come to an uncertain future in a far away land. I am a blessed man and I pray for many more years together as our family grows up.
* Selina - Selina's arm is healing up really well. She has been on a strong course of anti-biotics and also we have been applying antiseptic cream on her burned arm. So it is looking much better now and is much more tender. We hope to get her operation next week as the Doctor is back in town. Pastor Winston is going to see him today to set things up.
Selina is a happy & beautiful little girl. She loves coming to Powerhouse and she has a cheeky wee smile! This photo was taken a month ago so is a little out of date, but I will get new picture next week.
Pray for her family situation. Her father is not coping well with his son's death and has turned to drink. He cannot control himself when drunk and he becomes very abusive towards his poor wife. Pray that the Lord will give us wisdom to handle this delicate situation.
* Mary Grace - Well, thanks for your prayers. The Lord has rescued this little girl from the brink of death, and now she is thriving! She was 4 kilos before .. and now she is over 6 kilos after only 3 weeks. Her skin is beautiful, she is always smiling and she has become so content. Marilyn, our Social Worker (above), cannot believe the difference in a few weeks. Even our local Pediatrician did not recognise her and took photos to show her fellow doctors. She was amazed. It is more than a medical success ... it is a miracle of God. Please continue to pray for Mary Grace and all the aunties.
* Judah Benjamin Kooistra - Mary has been very busy this week as good friends of ours from the Wycliffe Base in Bagabag gave birth here in Santiago. Jan came to Santiago with David her husband and two of their three kids. What they thought would be a regular check up ended up to be the real deal! Jan gave birth to Judah, David was there with her and the two kids stayed overnight in our house. As you can see, Lydia and Josiah are delighted with their 'sorta cousin'!
*Celebrations - This time of year is full of all sorts of parties and happy events and in the last week I have been busy doing all sorts of great things. We dedicated two houses, celebrated a birthday of a little girl from Cornerstone and on Tuesday we dedicated the little son of Marlou and Cristina Javier, who are two of our Church staff. What a great afternoon. As I dedicated Mark David Javier (what a fantastically superb name eh?) he just gazed into my eyes and laughed for ages. Wonderful moment.
* Next few blogs - in the following days I have so much to share about ...
An amazing testimony of healing
Cornerstone Easter Celebration
SOS Evangelistic Programme
Another amazing testimony of God's protection
A vision God gave me a few years ago about the Cost of the anointing
Our kids update
Keith & Anne
Matthew & Claire Kerr
I have just noticed that we have had over 10,000 visits to the blog since June 2006. Wehey! Another celebration...please tell your friends and family about our blog and spread the news about what the Lord is doing here.
But right now I am happy to even get this blog out! Lord, keep the Internet going and make this blogger patient...
Blessings and have a great weekend.
Apart from that, we are doing well. This is a bit of a catch up blog and I hope to get back on course with my blogging next week. Why do I always seem to say the same thing every week? I should know by now that there are no 'normal' weeks here at Sefton and you never know what is around the corner.
Here is some up to date news and reports:
* Well, recently Mary and I celebrated our 11th Wedding Anniversary! Haven't I ... I mean she... eh, I mean we done well! We were married in Wick on March 30th 1996 and the amazing thing is that is the exact place and date of Mary's mum & dad's wedding 30 years previous! Imagine my surprise (and horror!) when we found out that the gentleman who was going to take our photos was the same guy who took my in-laws 30 years earlier!! But, he was very good and the pictures were great. If you are reading this and you were at our wedding, why don't you 'comment' on anything you remember about the weekend. It would be good for us to reminisce!
As you look back on married life, there are many milestones - our honeymoon, our first house, our ministries, our call to the Philippines, our first child ... followed by our second, the vision of God for our lives etc. Yet, alongside these there are many difficult days, things to work out and through, trials and difficulties. I just thank the Lord for Mary and her commitment to me, our kids and the Lord. Not many would leave the UK to come to an uncertain future in a far away land. I am a blessed man and I pray for many more years together as our family grows up.
* Selina - Selina's arm is healing up really well. She has been on a strong course of anti-biotics and also we have been applying antiseptic cream on her burned arm. So it is looking much better now and is much more tender. We hope to get her operation next week as the Doctor is back in town. Pastor Winston is going to see him today to set things up.Selina is a happy & beautiful little girl. She loves coming to Powerhouse and she has a cheeky wee smile! This photo was taken a month ago so is a little out of date, but I will get new picture next week.
Pray for her family situation. Her father is not coping well with his son's death and has turned to drink. He cannot control himself when drunk and he becomes very abusive towards his poor wife. Pray that the Lord will give us wisdom to handle this delicate situation.
* Mary Grace - Well, thanks for your prayers. The Lord has rescued this little girl from the brink of death, and now she is thriving! She was 4 kilos before .. and now she is over 6 kilos after only 3 weeks. Her skin is beautiful, she is always smiling and she has become so content. Marilyn, our Social Worker (above), cannot believe the difference in a few weeks. Even our local Pediatrician did not recognise her and took photos to show her fellow doctors. She was amazed. It is more than a medical success ... it is a miracle of God. Please continue to pray for Mary Grace and all the aunties.
* Judah Benjamin Kooistra - Mary has been very busy this week as good friends of ours from the Wycliffe Base in Bagabag gave birth here in Santiago. Jan came to Santiago with David her husband and two of their three kids. What they thought would be a regular check up ended up to be the real deal! Jan gave birth to Judah, David was there with her and the two kids stayed overnight in our house. As you can see, Lydia and Josiah are delighted with their 'sorta cousin'!
*Celebrations - This time of year is full of all sorts of parties and happy events and in the last week I have been busy doing all sorts of great things. We dedicated two houses, celebrated a birthday of a little girl from Cornerstone and on Tuesday we dedicated the little son of Marlou and Cristina Javier, who are two of our Church staff. What a great afternoon. As I dedicated Mark David Javier (what a fantastically superb name eh?) he just gazed into my eyes and laughed for ages. Wonderful moment.* Next few blogs - in the following days I have so much to share about ...
An amazing testimony of healing
Cornerstone Easter Celebration
SOS Evangelistic Programme
Another amazing testimony of God's protection
A vision God gave me a few years ago about the Cost of the anointing
Our kids update
Keith & Anne
Matthew & Claire Kerr
I have just noticed that we have had over 10,000 visits to the blog since June 2006. Wehey! Another celebration...please tell your friends and family about our blog and spread the news about what the Lord is doing here.
But right now I am happy to even get this blog out! Lord, keep the Internet going and make this blogger patient...
Blessings and have a great weekend.
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