What About The Shorts?

The skirts were a complete blessing, both to those who received them and to me as I saw how important they were to the girls and their moms.

When I was there and I suggested to Sierra that we ought to make skirts for all the little girls, my motivation was simply that since I have access to so much fabric, trim,and patterns why not do something special.
I really did not realize the impact one skirt would have on the people, but they have.

The only problem has been that the boys are upset...They want shorts:)
So Michele went through he village and measured 22 big and little boys for shorts.

My next project is 22 pairs of shorts. Hopefully to be done before February 1....
At least the shorts don't need to be trimmed.

So let the challenge begin....seriously how hard can it be..ha...

Merry Christmas to You...

It's Christmas Eve in America.....
And Christmas Day in Vanuatu....

"Hi Grandma, I got my truck. Thank you for my trucks. Me like them. Me likes them alot."

How special is that?

First time in all these years that we were able to talk to the grand kids on Christmas Day.
Skype is awesome and God is good..

"For today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior; who is Christ the Lord."
Luke 2:11

May the savior who was born to bring salvation to all the world, bless you and yours this Christmas.
What joy to know that God is with us no matter where we are this holiday season.
This truth brings peace and comfort when we are so far apart.

"Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace among men with whom
He is pleased."Luke 2:14


Happy Birthday Jesus.....
Thank you for being the Savior of the world....John 4:42

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAVID....

TODAY IS DAVID'S 9TH BIRTHDAY.....
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAVID
WE LOVE YOU LOTS
AND MISS YOU ...


look at that smile....

A Very Special Skirt....

This is Lafosa...
I thought you might enjoy seeing this picture...It was taken at a special ceremony that took place this week in her honor.
Notice the grass skirt...Her mom made it and painted the design on it...
That is a beautiful skirt.

Praying for the skirts: Part Two

Lord I just praise you for who You are..
I thank you that you have sent your son to be a covenant to the nations,
To open blind eyes and to bring out prisoners from the dungeons, and those
who dwell in darkness from the prisons. Is. 42:6
Lord, I feel that these people walk in the darkness of their traditions and
culture, but Your son can set them free...and when the Son sets us free
we are free indeed. Lord, I don't know how that will look...different than
here I am sure, but Your freedom in any culture brings peace and wholeness.

Lord, here is a whole generations of young girls.I just lift them up to you
Lord would you work in their hearts and give them the desire to learn,
to read, to write to apply their hearts to instruction and their ears to
words of knowledge Proverbs 23:12

In learning to read language they will be able to read Your translated Word!
Let it bring joy to their hearts. Jeremiah15:16
Let them behold wonderful things from your law; things that they have not
seen before Psalm 119:18, and give them understanding to these things.

I pray that the written Word in the Nafe language will go out in Your power
with the Holy Spirit and in full conviction bringing change to this generation. 1Thes. 1:3

Let the truth of the gospel permeate the hearts of these young women to understand
their value in Your eyes.
That they are fearfully and wonderfully made; that their frames were not hidden from
You when they were made in secret, but instead that it was You that formed
their inward parts and wove them in their mother's wombs.
Help them to understand that Your thoughts are are precious toward them, O God!Psalm 139
Let the knowledge of these truths make them better women, better wives and better mothers.

Jesus, You said that with people some things are impossible but with God all things are possible.
Matthew 19:26
I love this truth, God, I don't know how it will all come to look for this generation but nothing is impossible
for You to accomplish.
So I pray that these girls, on this island,
will sing to You a new song.
That they will Sing Your Praise from the end of the earth!
That they will lift up their voices and give Glory To God. Isaiah 42:10

Praying for the Skirts...

On the island of Tanna there is another family of missionaries. Ken and Mendy have children the same age as Erik and Michele, and the families are very close. I like that my grandchildren call them Uncle Ken and Aunt Mendy it gives them family in this place.

One day on my last visit we decided to go visit them. This family lives very close to the active volcano on the island. Yasur is a favorite tourist attraction and roads in and out are well maintained at least until we reached the 4 wheel drive road that led right into their village, rain during the week made this part of the road more of a challenge, but this was a clear day and I could see the volcano in the distance rising high into the sky with clouds of smoke surrounding it. Yasur volcano is an awesome and humbling sight no matter the distance.

It was Sunday; a day of rest in Vanuatu, and the families had decided to hike to a distant waterfall. I volunteered to stay back and babysit my youngest grandson knowing that the long trip on foot would be to daunting for both of us. I gathered some toys and Joel and I went to sit on the front porch. I watched children playing in the community lawn in front of the house, and as I played with Joel two teenage Ni Vanuatu girls came to the porch. They silently approached me and sat down right next to me. This was unusual. I find that the people are curious about me, but they usually stay at a distance and stare, sometimes for long periods of time, they will stand and watch me. Not sure what to do and because of the language barrier I just smiled and waited to see what they would do next.

"Hello," said one of the girls.

I was surprised at her English, and I responded quickly,
"Do you speak English?"

She smiled broadly; the Ni Vanuatu women have beautiful smiles.
"Yes, I go to school, and I came to speak with you so that I could practice my English."
She began to tell me her story.
"My name is Naug."

"My mother died having me, and my father left and went to live in the city of Port Vila. I do not know him well. My grandparents live here in the village and they raised me."
" I go to school, it is very unusual for a girl my age to go to school past the 8th grade, but Mendy's mom pays for my school. She love Jesus and she pays for my school. I love Jesus; He has blessed me so I can go to school."

"I saw you here and you are like her. I wanted to come and talk to you and say thank you. Thank You for Ken and Mendy, and thank you for your son and his family. I see them here sometimes, and to tell you I am so thankful that I can go to school."

She continued on to tell me more about her desires to better herself in school. She told me more about her village, and throughout her sharing she would often stop and praise Jesus.

There are times when I am visiting that I sit back and wonder if my children' s lives and sacrifices are making a difference in this place. Sometimes the needs and work is overwhelming, and sometimes the difficulties of every day living here is overwhelming , I am sure it is the selfish pondering of a POM, but that day, listiening to this young girl speaking to me boldly in English with such conviction I was completely taken aback. With tears in my eyes I thanked the Lord for this moment and this girl. It was though He spoke directly into my heart that day:

"They make a difference Karen...Trust Me....They make a difference...."

Later in the day, I asked Mendy about Naug.

"Can they make her quit school?" I asked.
"Oh yes ,when the elders in the village say so then she will have to quit school and get married. She is marriage age. Her grandparents have fought for her, and so far they have let her continue, but that could change any time."

I can't tell you how that grieved me, and at the same time gave me a focus for my prayers for Naug. This was the first time I had heard or seen such desire in this place. This was the first time someone had shared with me the difference Jesus love had made in their lives.

Vanuatu society is carried on the backs of the women. It is the women who do most of the work. Bearing and raising children starts at an early age. The women maintain the gardens; do the cooking, washing and cleaning, and whatever else that keeps the family and the village running smoothly. Women here carry a great burden and live hard lives.

I pondered on this story this week as I looked at the pictures of the girls in my skirts....a whole new generation... God has put a love in my heart for these young girls...how do I pray for them?

Lord Show Me.....

Let the Holiday Begin...

The e-mail read: I gave out the skirts early because many are going to celebrate in different villages. The girls loved it, they clapped and giggled and they all fit!