Dominican Trip 2010

The students working on the trench.

This was the eleventh trip Freedom Christian School had taken to Juan Tomas, Dominican Republic. There were 20 students and 4 leaders that went on this trip. They departed at 4:00 a.m. on April 1, and arrived safely at their destination at 10:00 p.m. with all luggage and tubs in tow. They had made it through customs without delay and quicker than they had in the previous five trips down, according to Freedom alumnus, Beka Bole who has gone on this trip previously. It had been a long day.

The next morning, they toured the goat farm the missionaries depend on for a living. After the tour they started with their work assignments for the week. While they were there, they painted, dug holes, put up fencing, and leveled some ground for a laundry area, put up beams for swing sets. Keith's group worked on digging a 250 foot long trench, 2 feet deep through stone, clay, and rock. They mostly used pick axes and put in an inch pipe and put in an electrical line on top, cemented every ten feet so the piping could not be pulled out and then buried it all back up. It was very hard and hot work. This project was completed in six days.

Freedom kept the tradition of working hard on the projects given while there. The missionary and the director of Partners in Christ both agreed they were very encouraged with all the work that had been accomplished while they were there.

The team agreed that even when there is a language barrier, everyone can praise God and be so blessed. The Dominicans have so little but love the Lord. They all realized that we Americans have so much to be thankful for. The teens came back with a greater appreciation of what they have and not to take what we do have for granted.

They also had an opportunity to visit a Haitian village in the Dominican. They put on a 3-day Bible Club. One of the teens commented how you could see the sadness on the children's faces. They were awstruck when they saw the living conditions of the people there. They go to a place to pump water and carry it back to their homes. There is an 80% unemployment rate.

The final Saturday they were there, they visited a market and then were able to visit an all-inclusive resort. They spent the day relaxing by eating and swimming and just having fun before heading back to the US. It was a wonderful way to end the week!

Some of the things that Keith took away from this trip: How blessed he is. Sometimes people get so wrapped up with material things, we lose sight of what we do have. He has learned to be thankful in all circumstances. His prayer life has deepened. He has learned that he needs to depend on God in every situation he faces in his life. He also grew by having been put in a leadership role.

Keith is very grateful he was able to go on this trip.

A Tribute to Mom....

Today my mom celebrates her 82nd birthday. Mom is such a beautiful lady, inside and out. She always taught us to do our best when we were growing up. I can remember when I came home from school so worried because I was going to get my first C+ on my report card. She told me that it was okay, as long as it was the best I could do and that I had tried my hardest to get help with the subject.

I also have fond memories of Mom always putting us kids and others before herself. (I know, now, that's what a mom does! ) Instead of her buying a new dress or shoes, she would buy them for us. Even though she worked outside the home at various times, I always remember our house being neat and clean and homecooked meals on the table at meal time.

Mom has been through a lot physically. Through all her ailments, though, she keeps on going and never complains that she's in pain. She suffers with arthritis and has had a knee replacement along with several other ailments.

We were always taught right from wrong as well. Mom has handed down her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ to us. We were taught that in order to get to Heaven, we needed to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and accept Him as our personal Savior. I did this at the age of 9, upstairs kneeling by my bed. When I was done, I immediately went downstairs and told my mom. :)
Even though at that time, I didn't know all there was to know about living a life of faith. It wasn't until I got to college that I realized I needed to be living this faith day by day. I thank God for Mom. She is a great Mom and grandma (and now, great-grandma) and loved and appreciated so much. She certainly has a love for her family. It's the most happiest times for her when we can all be together with her and Dad.

Happy Birthday, Mom, with our love!

Jess Arrives Home for a Weekend Visit...

Jessica arrived home Wednesday night. She came home to attend a wedding of a high school classmate, Alissa, on Friday night. Thursday evening, a group of former high school friends all got together for a bachelorette party and hung out for awhile. It was a fun time of catching up with each other, finding out what everyone is doing with their lives now. Jessica totally enjoyed the time with them.

While at home, Jessica always makes time for one of her best friends, Karley. They always try to do something special when she's at home. Last night, they went to dinner at a nice restaurant. Then, she ended up staying at Karley's house for the night and then going to church today and then home.

Of course, when Jess comes home, I let her take my car to do her running around...and she puts gas in it for me, so that's always nice! Plus, I don't mind, as I don't usually go too many places on the weekend that I couldn't use Keith's car for anyway. Well, this morning, Keith left for church after 8:00. I listened to the service, as usual, online. Right after the service was finished, the phone rang and it was Jess. She was on her way to church. She wanted to know what to do. She was at the corner of the East Beltline and 28th St SE (one of the busiest corners in West Michigan) and my car died! I immediately called Keith and left him a voice mail and called the tow service, which said they would be there in 30-45 minutes. What a morning! A couple of nice people did end up stopping to help her get the car off the street into a parking lot, thankfully!
Since it was going to take so long for the tow guy to get there, Keith ended up taking Jess to her church and returning to the site to continue waiting for the wrecker. The car was towed to our mechanic's business and will be taken care of tomorrow, I'm sure. No worries. God is good to have protected her and myself. I feel like if something like that was going to happen, it was nice that she had a cell phone to call people. If it had happened while I was driving the car, I would have been stranded without a phone. I'm not saying I was glad it happened to her. But, just the fact that I could have been on my way on the highway driving to my doctor downtown Grand Rapids and something could have happened. For that I am thankful.

After Keith and Jessica arrived home, we had dinner, she took a little nap, and before we knew it, she was on her way back to the airport! :( It was just great to see her and have her coming and going, etc. Even though she's a busy girl when she comes home, it's just so nice to see her and be able to love on her for a short time. :)

Thanks Jess for a wonderful weekend!! :D

Your thoughts and prayers are being answered...

Just an update on how things are progressing along with my latest ailment, my toe! I am very happy to report the doctor says I am progressing along very well. In fact, I don't have to return to see him, unless it would get infected or red and pain would develop. He said it will be AT LEAST 6 months before a nail will grow back; and that would be fast. Our prayer would be that it would grow back in a normal fashion and not have to have anymore surgeries or problems.

Thanks again for your thoughts and prayers! God is SO GOOD!

Your prayers are so appreciated....

I have just returned from my visit to the podiatrist. One look at my toe and he said, "You have an infection. Because of where it's located, there is no way any antibiotic would get to it to heal it completely. You could take them for 500 years and it still wouldn't heal. The only way to deal with it is for me to remove the toenail." [My thoughts: owwwwwwie, oh boy, I wonder what that's going to feel like, etc....] Anyway, I was thinking the next statement would be something about scheduleing at time to do it, etc. [You know, more time for me to have to worry about it!] He took it off today! He also said he was going to "watch me like a Hawk," because of me being on Humira, and to absolutely not take my medication, at least until after he sees me in a week.

Please continue to pray by having this removed, it will heal completely, so I'll be able to take my medication next week. My next appointment with the doctor is on Wednesday, unless I would have some complication.

Thanks again for upholding us in prayer.

No Answer For Now...

I went to the doctor today and he examined my toe. At his examination, he stated he felt there wasn't any infection. However, tonight, when I took my sock off, there was some drainage on my bandaid. He also "left it up to me" as to whether to take my Humira injection or not. After discussing the situation with him, he thinks it would be beneficial for me to see a podiatrist. I agreed. I did wonder, though, how long it would take for me to get an appointment. They were going to call me with the appointment later this afternoon. Later this afternoon, when I arrived home, I received a phone call from the foot doctor's office. Tonight, we are praising the Lord I will be able to see this doctor tomorrow afternoon! I have opted to not take the injection at least until I find out the diagnosis.

Please continue to pray that whatever this "stuff" is on my toe, that it will heal quickly, and most of all, that it would not be a fungus.

Thanks so much for your love and prayers,

Marsha and Keith

Prayer Request for Marsha...

Two weeks ago last Friday, Marsha went to her primary physician for a possible infection of her toe/toenail and was given an antibiotic. She took the medicine and then informed her gastroenterologist about the situation, since anyone taking Humira should not take it if they have an infection, since your immune system is low while on Humira. The following Monday, she went to the doctor again, to see if he thought it would be okay to take her injection. So, she did.

Last week, once again, the toe began draining again. So, she called the doctor and asked to be put on yet another antibiotic, with hopes this one will work. She started it on Saturday and has been taking it since. Today, she was due for another Humira injection. Since her toe isn't better, she did not take the injection. She was on the phone today with all her doctors' offices, and it ended up that she needs to go in again to the primary care physician to have him check it to see if she is clear to take her injection. At the present time, the toenail is not cleared up. But, she'll have to see what the primary doctor has to say about it. Please pray that this is an infection that can be taken care of with antibiotics and not a fungus that will take a long time to get rid of. If it is a fungus, we are pretty sure she won't be able to take the Humira until it's all cleared up.

Thank you for your love and prayers and encouragement at various times. We really appreciate you all praying for Marsha and this situation.