Uncategorized

  •  


     


    Haven’t contributed much lately..


    (a little bit of writer’s block, among other things), but wanted to share this update from Rachel


    ( those who know me will remember that she’s my oldest daughter)

    Racheletal2


    “When you’re gone, colors seem to fade…or do they?”




    “And I’ll take with me the memories, To be my sunshine after the rain, It’s so hard to say goodbye to yesterday.” Boys 2 Men


    “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature ” 2 Peter 1:3-4b


    So I’m going to be one of those people who talks all about how great it is not to be around you. What? Are there really people like that? Okay, maybe that came out wrong. Let me start over.


    I remember my High School graduation. One of my fellow classmates (there were only nine of us, mind you) got up to sing the Boys II Men song “It’s so hard to say goodbye”. It was very sweet and touching, until he started to give his speech after he sang. He started out by saying, “It’s really not hard to say goodbye, it’s time to go…” Now he was right of course, we couldn’t very well stay in high school forever and the time had come for us to leave. But, man, what a way to say it! Just to boldly proclaim “It’s easy to go!”


    That’s how I feel lately. In case you didn’t see me there or you didn’t know, I recently took a trip home for about a month before returning to Ghana. I have to say I was really excited to get there, and enjoyed my time a lot. I got to see friends and family (including a new niece and nephew!), got to visit churches, meet with my Pastor and other spiritual mentors and take some time to rest and recoup. But to be completely honest, I was probably more excited to get back to Ghana than I had been to go home in the first place. Now, before all my family and friends stop reading and cut me off for saying that I’d rather be here than there, I love you all and I would absolutely love to be around you all the time. I just think that would work out better for me if all of you packed up and came with me


    Something that I’ve been coming to realize is that, having once tasted of the plans God has for you, nothing else is quite as satisfactory, no matter how wonderful it may be. I would probably have said before that I knew this, or something along those lines, but there are just some things that you don’t really know until you’ve experienced them firsthand. Of course, this doesn’t mean that everyone should move to the mission field because you’ll be so much happier than you ever were before. I think most people wouldn’t love it for long periods of time, not because they’re not cut out for it…it’s just that not everyone has the same purpose in life. That’s why God made some people to be missionaries and some people to be pastors and some to be businessmen and some to be…I don’t know, astrophysicists. My point is that I’m where I’m supposed to be right now and I love it.


    Ghanaalia


    So what is it I love exactly? Well, lately I’ve been keeping pretty busy. We’ve made several trips to the orphanages we work with since I’ve been back…taking them food and soccer balls and just going to hang out with the kids in general. One thing that has made this in some ways even more fun for me is my new camera… While I was home someone got me a new digital SLR camera and it is totally awesome! Point being: up till now we’ve usually gotten a photographer to come on these trips so that we can send pictures to supporters who sent money to buy food or whatever the case may be. However, with that method we ended up having to scan the printed pictures before we could email them at all. So with the cost of the photographer and the hassle of scanning, it was taking a lot of time and money to get pictures. That is no longer a problem thanks to me and my new Rebel xTi–with my handy digital SLR I am now, more or less, the official photographer for…whatever. So I get to go around snapping pictures of everything that’s going on, and let’s face it, every kid loves having their picture taken so it makes me even more popular than I was before. Plus the pictures come out amazing. (Can you tell how much I love my new camera?)

    Ghanaplay

     

     

     I think I’ve mentioned both of these before, but two of the ministries we’re looking at starting are a prison ministry and something along the lines of a soup kitchen. The prison ministry is one I’m especially looking forward to, having heard about the conditions of prisons here and the complete lack of even the most basic necessities like toilet paper and enough food to eat. The soup kitchen is also an exciting prospect, but will definitely start slowly. We want to reach out to the elderly in Tema who might not have family that can take care of them and so can’t really get enough to eat or enough social interaction for that matter. We’re looking at starting by hosting a meal once a week or so, providing haircuts and other needs, and eventually maybe doing the meal on a more frequent basis. One of the main things to figure out is where to have this take place. We definitely have room on the base here, but whether it’s too far out of the way/too much trouble for people to get here would be the question. On top of those, the next Discipleship Training School starts up in July. We’re praying for lots of students and for God’s provision for them for their school fees, so join with us in that!

    I’ve really been blessed by something over the last couple of months. In the past couple of years I’ve managed to accumulate friends that have ended up flung far and wide across the globe. Not that long ago, the only possible international call I could have considered making would have been to Mexico. But all of a sudden, I find that I have friends in Singapore, Ukraine, Tanzania, Costa Rica, Holland, Iraq, South Africa, Switzerland, Romania, Nigeria, Israel, Sierra Leone and probably some other places that I’m leaving out (if you’re there please forgive me). Most of these people are in missions in some way, and I get reports from them as to how things are going. I cannot tell you how encouraging it is to hear what God is doing all around the world. I get to read about orphans in Ukraine, Iraqis showing interest in Christ, border guards along the Gaza Strip risking their lives to bring a sick child to a waiting medical team amidst falling bombs, Bengalis hearing the Good News in a foreign country and then going back to Bangladesh, and the list goes on and on.


    Our God is a wonderful, caring, compassionate God and I am blown away by His love for us.


    Grace and Peace to you all!


    Rachel


  •                                                     Spring Comes


     


                                          Spring comes
                                                       calling                                 IMG_0665           


                                                           with sweetened breath
                                                                  dispelling death
                                          Spring comes
                                                      enticing
                                                            with fragrant hair
                                                             and greening wear

                                         and whispers                                                 
                                                            ”Death is gone
                                                         today the dawn
                                                                    of life is gi’en to all.”

                                            The world in bloom
                                                           decries the doom
                                                            of weary days
                                                            and hopeless haze
                                                                         of fear.                             IMG_0591

                                             Christ comes (alive)
                                                          calling
                                                            Oh, so sweetly
                                                            
                                             and says
                                                       ”Life is near
                                                         for all who hear
                                                             and ask to take it in.”

                                               Jesus, bedecked in joy
                                                           offers the spring
                                                            the life
                                                            the healing heart.


                                              Spring comes.
                                                                                              copyright May 2008 james a. smallish
                          


     


                             Jesus answered, “…whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst.
                                Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” 
                                                                       John 4: 14          


                                  
                                                                 
     

  •  


    006_3 


    We all know the parable of the Sower.


    Too often, I feel, we become bogged down in stewing about what, or even worse, IF
    we have anything to sow.
    Let me assure you. If you are  God’s.
    and Christ is yours


    you have seed(s) which are precious to God and the world.


    My friend and pastor told this story yesterday:


    He was taking a walk some time ago (recently), and passed through
    a pleasant semi-wooded (nice and private) area
    on a path through a park in our town.
    As he passed through, he came upon a man “stretched out” on the ground,
    apparently soaking in the nice day and surroundings.


     The man saw him, waved and said “hi”..nothing more.
    My pastor smiled, returned the greeting pleasantly,
    and continued.


    The next day on his walk through the same area,
    he came upon a pair of police officers, who greeted him and asked if they could talk.
    They asked him if he walked there often, discovered that he had been there the
    previous day, and asked if he had seen a man matching the description of the man
    my pastor had greeted.

    The man had comitted suicide.
    The pastor had very possibly been the last man he’d spoken with.


    Now my pastor is a wonderful, tender man…his comment was,



    “I determined to be more diligent in looking in every situation
    for the opportunity to give and share (God’s seed of love).”


    Some speak, some sing,
    others share and use no words at all.
    Some mend, some heal,
    some lend hands
    when people come to fall.


    If you are not a giant
    nor preach the way of Paul,
    It’s who YOU are
    God want to share;
    For Christ through each will fill His call.
                               ©james smallish 4.28.2008


     


    God Bless you in being YOU


    jim


     


     

  •  


    Okay, over a week,(NOT tomorrow, as I thought)
     a LOT of overtime,
    and one nasty cold (I’m just getting my voice back) later,
    I’m just going to BRIEFLY
    synopsize the rest of the mission trip:


    to whit:


    We were able to do a tremendous amount on the porch enclosure,
    Nolan2
    get much of the house sided,


    and in the meantime were treated to
    wonderful Cajun hospitality—
    FeastCajun Dinner

    delicious local food,


    tours of the area in a V6-powered “mudboat”,
    Mudboat


    and some good old silliness with a ‘gator
    Gator Silly

    Captors


    (safely brought to us by our hosts)

    as well as the bonding and fellowship that only happens in
    living , working, and praying together with brothers and sisters in Christ
    while working to Godly ends.
    I am amazed not that so many come, rather, that so many more do not,
    and that so many think working for Christ is a “sacrifice”…


    I beg to differ.


    from Psalm 133:1 “How good, how delightful it is when God’s children dwell together in unity! It is comparable
    to the sweetest things known in this life.” (Jimmish expanded translation)

    from John 13 “Jesus said..”A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
    By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

    and from John 17, “(Jesus prayed) “Father…I have given them the glory that you gave me,
    that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me.
    May they be brought to complete unity
    to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”

    How good, how delightful, indeed!

    OurGang     


     



     

  • WOW!! I’ve been working overtime (Karen, you know about those 12 hour shifts);
    I’ve mainly been sleeping and working…pretty much zero internet time.
    I have the morning off tomorrow-Monday, and will start filling in the blanks then.
    (I’m taking a minute to type this while at the old “salt mines”..ha,ha)     


    Signpost


    signpost at the camp where teams can place directions home 


    Soooo… March 2nd we arrived in Houma, La., after driving for two days…about 1100 miles.
    We moved into the     PDA camp,
    HoumaPDA


    were assigned to work crews, and prepared to
    spend a week in post-Katrina-Rita repairs. 


    OurGang 


    our crew, left to right
    Kathy,  Joan, Bob,Ben, Jim(mish),Lee, Allen, Terry and Bob


    Nolans


    On Monday we were introduced to our project;
    closing in a weather-proof deck on a home
    which had been at ground level during Rita,
    and subsequently under 9 feet of water. 


     


    We set to work
    Bayou3



     


     


     


    Nolan1


     


     


     


     


     


     


     


     


    Nolan2


     


    …cutting, framing, insulating, enclosing and siding….
    there was plenty to keep our group busy.


     


     


     


    Tomorrow….the week continues


     


     


    Gator1Gator2


     


     


    Crawfish


     


     


     


    Mudboat1


     


     


     


    Mudboat2


     



     


    Summary: Good work, good friends, good times;
    al    l under the banner of Jesus Christ! 

    Jambalaya


     



     


     


     

  •  


     


     Hey, Cher!


    jus’ got back from da bayou
    (bin down deh fixin’ houses)
    got to go woik a couple days,
    den I be aba to update mo’.


    meantime, ‘joy dis zydeco video
    (down an’ to da lef’)


    bon temps, chers


    jacques/jim


     


     

  • val7


     


             . . .  some of you will recognize this from last year…it is, indeed a “retread”.
              You may recall that I had a little trouble with the format I used then;
               and some couldn’t read it. I thought I’d give it another shot, and it’s helpful
             because other things have diminished my ability to post lately….
    God Bless you all
             Looking forward to more free time soon
                             Jim


  •  


     


    Oh, for pete’s sake!!


    After working a bunch of 12 hour shifts, and then
    sleeping the next few days (really!) , I had planned to FINALLY
    get back on line today, and catch up here..


    this morning the van quit….sigh.


    SOOO as I was saying,


    (just a sec., the shop’s on the phone…
    Great…$105 for a new battery, too)


    ..as I was saying, I began bidding on the Crib, and after
    an exciting last 60 seconds…won. Great news… even with the 100    Bucks
    shipping charge, it would still save 100 Bucks over the price in the local store.


    Further, I called the seller on the 1973770714[1], and they agreed to sell
    me a second one
    ( remember, these are for  Sarge‘s  158548911[1] ),

    for the same price as the winning auction bid;
    With one ..teensy..change…
    the shipping charge was 200    BucksBucks…

    …    EACH!!!!!!!!!!!

    Neither     Carol  nor Jim (uh, that’s me)
    had noticed the disclaimer at the bottom of the seller’s webpage
    which pointed out that the quoted shipping ONLY applied
    the  area around …


    3177910256[1]…


    With lightning-quick (that is, “frantic”) mental calculation
    I concluded that the cost of     gas-can[1] for me to drive
    to     3177910256[1]
    would be about the same as
    the original, quoted shipping, and would give me the chance to take a
    little break, as I was at the beginning of a week off work
    chaingang. (ha,ha)
    I called the sellers, told them I’d be there soon,
    and began making plans.

    “May ( the Lord) give you the desire of your heart
    and make all your plans succeed”
    (Psalm 20:5)


     


     


     

  •  


     


    It started innocuously enough…
    about a week after the twins  (Braden and Emma) were born, the phone rang     1973770714[1].



    It was Carol Carol(my ex-wife..that’s not a bad thing; we’re good friends…really!)

    She had a question. “Say, do you still have an     Ebay account? “ 


    Unsuspecting, (well, okay, kinda suspecting, but interested) I answered, “yes, why do you ask?” 


    “Well, there’s a chance to save alot of Bucks on a crib Crib I’ve been interested in”, she replied.

    I heard “..save     Bucks ”


    I was hooked…we discussed the limit as far as 
     Bucks was concerned, and I hung up.


    I immediately signed intoEbay, and began bidding.


     


    (next…”complications”)


     


     

  •  


     


    Question:
    What do  


    Ebay


     


    Twins


     158548911[1]


    and my car

    Car


     have in common?


    …..ROAD
    TRIP!!!


    (details later today)