When God shows up...

He shows up BIG!

What an amazing past 2 days it been. We still haven't quite recovered from Field Forum and all the traveling- but there is nothing like being home! Last night was a special night at the English Cafe. Scott and Lauren Trickett came to play, sing and share- as well as just interact with the students. Scott and Lauren are from Long Beach Alliance Church. They came to Forum, along with several others from their church to minister to us and our kids (Scott and Lauren led worship and their group also did VBS for the younger kids and a program for the youth). We're so glad Scott and Lauren had the opportunity to come back to Ekat and minister at EC. We rented a room in a restaurant at a local Hotel and had great desserts and coffee for everyone. We sat around small tables, played little games that were on each table, hung out, and enjoyed Scott and Lauren's concert. We gave away door prizes and the students tried to figure out some American riddles that were at each table. After Scott and Lauren played, Scott shared about creating art and how a bit of the creator is in each creation. Then at each table we discussed 'creators' and led to THE Creator. There were so many significant conversations that happened around the room- God was there last night and the Holy Spirit was moving! And, how exciting that we had our highest attendance yet- we only reserved the room for 40 people (which is more than we've ever had at any EC)- and it turned out there were 50 of us there last night! Wow, God!

Then today was our ladies outreach. We meet at a local hotel (a different one from where we met for EC). We made cards, jewelery, scrapbooked and just spend time together. Each time we get together we discuss a chapter in the book Calm My Anxious Heart by Linda Dillow. Tonight's topic was on forgiveness. Wow. Not only did 20 ladies show up (twice as many as we usually have!!!) but it was the most open and honest they have ever been. Believers and Nonbelievers alike were eager to talk about forgiveness or lack of forgiveness in their lives. God was moving in a way we've never seen there!

Please pray for our friend Alyona- she is one of our babysitters (she usually babysits for Cami- Jason and Carolina's daughter- but we use her whenever we can!) . She is a young (20) and very insecure about her faith and life in general. She has lived with her mother her whole life and they have never had a healthy relationship. Her mother is against her being a believer and is far from kind and loving towards her. Her father had been an alcoholic for some time and has only just returned home from the rehab center this year. He is not yet a believer, but very close. He has been working with our Pastor (Edik has his own frame making business) and living in their cottage outside the city. He has been working very hard to get together enough money to pay for a room in an apartment for Alyona- so she doesn't have to live with her mom any longer. Anyway... Alyona just moved into this room yesterday and is already very discouraged and wants to go back home. Her rent and bills are paid for by her father but she still has to pay for food, transportation to school and her cell phone. She only makes 25$/week babysitting. She was in tears tonight telling me how badly she wants to go home and how shocked she was to go to the market tonight and spend her whole salary on just a few pieces of fruit and some veggies! Please pray for her as she comes to mind. She has been heavy on my heart since I left her.

We're so sad to say goodbye to our friends, Steph and Terry, this week. He plays his last volleyball game Wednesday (we're going!) and they get on the plane with their daughter, Sanoe, on Thursday morning to return to Canada! We've had such a great time getting to know them and we're so sad they won't be back (if it weren't for the awful experience Terry has had playing here- ie- they haven't paid him since October!!!!) they would come back to Ekat :( Tomorrow night we're getting together one last time and then we'll see them Wednesday night at his game. I hate goodbyes. They don't get easier the more often you have to do it...I think they only get harder!

On another note, our house is now home to a PS2- for the first time in our married lives! JB and Gavin were playing Antz this morning- this is the first time G has ever seen a PS2 or anything like it- now Gavin keeps asking to "play movie"!!!

The last few days have been beautiful here- we're actually starting to see green grass popping through the mud and it's been in the 60's...until this afternoon when temps plummeted and we saw snow! It was -2C on the drive home and snow was falling... when will spring REALLY arrive?!!!