party time

We packed the kids in the car and headed to Warwick today for a birthday party. It was a party for a very sweet little girl who just turned three. And what do three year olds get up to? - well she seemed to be enjoying herself just playing with friends, eating little pink cupcakes, playing on the park play things and made a little 'camp fire' with Joshua. She was happy and smiling most of the time - just soaking up all the love and attention that three year olds love.

Here is the little sweety-pie:

We are always touched by the hospitality

of this beautiful family. So nice to catch up again!

And Daddy - so nice to have you here with your little munchkins again!

Geometric extravaganza

Today we indulged in a little geometric extravaganza. Joshua has been learning about polygons, 2D and 3D shapes so we decided to make one. This one definitely needed both hands on deck (and we had 6 pages of net shapes to cut out - much to Joshua's disgust). After much folding, a bit of problem solving (on the part of Mum - the net shape is quite complicated (especially when you forgot to write all the matching up numbers on the back of the shapes:( ). Anyway it worked out (with a huge supply of sticky tape). I think both Joshua and I now have a new appreciation for the making of soccer balls (and those poor Chinese people in sweat shops making them!) Joshua tells me it took 20 hexagons and 12 pentagons in total!

Now Joshua, don't even think of it!

puny teeny weenies

Daniel 4:35

He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven

and the people of the earth.

No one can hold back His hand or say to Him:

"What have you done?"

Tonight at dinner David was sharing with us a story he read from the news. Astronomers have calculated that in the year 2035 a huge asteroid will come close to the earth (closer than our moon, at any rate). You can probably imagine just how the mind of a seven year old begins to tick over - wondering just how devestating the impact, wondering just how big such a thing is, and if indeed he would survive!

How absolutely reasurring that as for all things relating to the peoples of the earth, God is in control - completely (and how timely this Bible verse we have been learning with Josh)!

and...

what makes it even more amazing is that he would take an interest in us and our puny little problems/issues!

Here are a few of my little 'issues'... they are the most precious ones of all - only the last couple of days I have had so many soiled nappies/pants, wet beds and runny noses.... Some days it seems that there is only a few minutes to breath between nappy changes!

family

Family. Noise. Fellowship. Food. We enjoyed all of it last night. We all came together at Dad and Mum's house. We were all keen to see Dad, to enjoy the precious time we have with him. Dad seemed to enjoy himself. He was even able to play the keyboard for us which was just beautiful. He played some requests from the children, Jesus loves the Little children, This little light of mine, and Bananas in Pyjamas! I particularly enjoyed hearing Dad and Mum together singing/playing, Turn your eyes upon Jesus.
We love you Dad
We love you so much!



...and the things of earth will grown strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace!

Most

David ordered a short film called 'Most' (pronounced with a short o - means bridge in Czech)

http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=13a4a045cd290bc2ae2d

after seeing the film in CZ. We watched it together tonight. It is a beautiful film, made from the illustration of a loving father who looses his only son on a drawbridge in order to save the passengers in an oncoming train. It speaks of the sacrifice God made for us. What struck me the most is the fact that the passengers on the train were oblivious (apart from one) to the sacrifice the father had made. His precious, sweet, loving little boy had been crushed so that they could live. It was his only option if he was to save the people aboard the train. They remained unaware, sitting on the train - engaged in the pleasures of their own lives... The film really presented so many different facets of the ultimate sacrifice. I thought it was really well done...

Here is one comment on the back cover:
"Conveys its allegorical themes of sacrifice and redemption with formidable power and not a speck of preachiness or sentiment" Chicago Tribune

Dad Campbell

Life is precious. I am more convinced of that than ever. God has surrounded each one of us with people who love us, who care for us and who are there. David's father is in a hospital not far from us. Last Thursday he was sitting at his dining table with Mum. They were chatting away. Part way through his sentence Dad started having trouble... he couldn't manage to get out the words he was wanting to say. So unlike Dad. Mum let him struggle to say what he wanted but noticed something was quite wrong. She had trouble getting in contact with a couple of doctors and in the end called for an ambulance. Doctors suspected a lesion on the brain. The doctors have now concluded that he has melanoma cancer (second stage) in his brain (9 tumors - one the size of a fist) as well as in his abdomen and lungs. We have all been in shock. Dad is surprisingly doing ok - says he is in no pain and can communicate though does have trouble with putting his words together to answer more difficult questions. Dad is so precious to each of us. From our human perspective we all so desperately feel we need him here. The Lord knows and it is so painful to hear the doctors say he has months/possibly weeks to live. We grieve.

David returned from the Czech Republic today. He has been to visit his Dad. So thankful that he can be here again.

We rest in the fact that Dad Campbell loves the Lord. He is not fretting, though of course it must pain him to see his love ones watching - knowing that they are likely to loose him soon.

We trust you Lord, knowing that you are aquainted with grief and suffering.

Help us through this time, we pray.
Amen

My other half on the other half of the world

My beloved, who is on the other side of the world has been teaching english (some English classes are run at the airport and some in highschool or evening classes), sorting our belongings in the Smith's attic (we still have loads of boxes up there from four years ago when we were living in CZ) and catching up with some of our dear friends. There are still a few believers in the church who we remember but of course there are new folks too. Sometimes over time it is sad to see a few that are either discouraged in their faith or seem to have no faith at all. We continue to pray for the church in Kladno - for those that have remained strong and for those who are following the world. One young man we knew has grown in his faith and was actually the interpreter for David when he preached last Sunday. We praise the Lord for His outworking!

Thank you Lord for sweet blessings

I have just (and I mean only minutes ago) been really blessed by two sweet girls from our local church. They dropped in tonight (checking to make sure the lights were on so it wasn't too late) with a meal and a dessert. They were wanting to bless me with a meal while David is overseas. I was so blown away! They came together and presented the lovely dishes and Vanessa had even thought of Joshua's love of insects. She had a little box with a butterfly painted on the lid. Inside is a beautiful, yellow butterfly with intricate markings. I can't wait to show my insect-loving boy in the morning when he wakes up (of course, he may just spot it first!).

And I only wish I had the camera (hubby has it overseas) to show you the lovely meal and the two sweet girls who delivered it but a photo of our church will just have to do (I know, I know, it isn't nearly sufficient is it?)

Don Francisco

Here's a song I have been enjoying lately (in light of Easter)
Not quite the same just reading the lyrics i know...

He's Alive!

The gates and doors were barred
And all the windows fastened down
I spent the night in sleeplessness
And rose at every sound
Half in hopeless sorrow
And half in fear the day
Would find the soldiers breakin' through
To drag us all away

And just before the sunrise
I heard something at the wall
The gate began to rattle
And a voice began to call
I hurried to the window
Looked down into the street
Expecting swords and torches
And the sound of soldiers' feet

There was no one there but Mary
So I went down to let her in
John stood there beside me
As she told me where she'd been
She said they might have moved Him in the night
And none of us knows where
The stone's been rolled away
And now His body isn't there

We both ran toward the garden
Then John ran on ahead
We found the stone and empty tomb
Just the way that Mary said
But the winding sheet they wrapped Him in
Was just an empty shell
And how or where they'd taken Him
Was more than I could tell

Oh something strange had happened there
Just what I did not know
John believed a miracle
But I just turned to go
Circumstance and speculation
Couldn't lift me very high
'Cause I'd seen them crucify him
Then I saw him die

Back inside the house again
The guilt and anguish came
Everything I'd promised Him
Just added to my shame
When at last it came to choices
I denied I knew His name
And even if He was alive
It wouldn't be the same

But suddenly the air was filled
With a strange and sweet perfume
Light that came from everywhere
Drove the shadows from the room
And Jesus stood before me
With his arms held open wide
And I fell down on my knees
And I just clung to Him and cried

Then He raised me to my feet
And as I looked into His eyes
The love was shining out from Him
Like sunlight from the skies
Guilt in my confusion
Dissappeared in sweet release
And every fear I'd ever had
Just melted into peace

He's alive yes He's alive
Yes He's alive and I'm forgiven
Heaven's gates are open wide
He's alive yes He's alive
Oh He's alive and I'm forgiven
Heaven's gates are open wide
He's alive yes He's alive
Hallelujah He's alive
He's alive and I'm forgiven
Heaven's gates are open wide
He's alive He's alive He's alive
I believe it He's alive
Sweet Jesus

And why is this funny looking boat picture here? Simply because I like it!! (and couldn't find a suiltable picture for the spot... Hee hee:)

On the other side of the world

Well if your wondering how David is going on the other side of the world here are some photos for you.

Firstly he enjoyed a Czech BBQ with a church in Usti. Czechs like to BBQ sausages (sliced diagonally on each end) and eat with mustard

He also enjoyed some fellowship with the church in the pastor's back yard (they recently moved to a house which had a stack of cherry trees in back yard - too many to use, so here they are sitting on what is left of them)

And the church in Usti where David had the opportunity to preach (via translator)

And then off to central Asia

He tells me he has done all sorts of things here including hiring a taxi for a bit of a tour around (much cheaper than in OZ) He has enjoyed time with friends and even enjoyed some cultural festivities. In the photo above the women are dressed in traditional clothing.