life

Hello!! We are happy to be back in the city for the evening, where will be able to skype with our families and do a quick grocery run before heading back to the ranch tomorrow morning. Things are becoming very busy as we get settled into our new jobs.  Below is a summary of an average week:

Monday through Friday
5:00 am-- Kelli starts a load of laundry.  We currently share 3 washers and dryers with about 80 other people, so we have a scheduled laundry time. : )  The ranch kids wake up and complete their morning chores.
6:00 am-- Clara and Linc are awake and ready for the day. Breakfast!
8:00 am-- John and Kelli drop off the kids at "school" (the nursery class for kids under age 5). Kelli begins her day at school, training to teach levels 2 & 3 and practicing the kids' performing arts. John begins planning meetings with the church staff, organizing church events, and writing sermons.
11:30 am-- Lunch time in the cafeteria for all!
12:00 pm-- Recess! John takes a break to play with the ranch kids, too. : )
1:00 pm-- Kelli picks up Clara and Linc from school and takes them home for a nap.  John continues working.
3:00 pm-- Family time. We all go to the playground, watch a movie, or play in the house together.  On some days John also has a meeting during this time.
5:00 pm-- Ranch kids are out of school.  Play, play, play!
5:45 pm-- Dinner in the cafeteria (or, if we simply must eat American cuisine, at home).
6:15 pm-- Back to the house, showers and storytime for Clara and Linc.
7:00 pm-- Bedtime for Clara and Linc.
9:00 pm-- Bedtime for John and Kelli

Saturday
9:00-11:00 am-- Mission of Mercy kids church. This is a sponsorship program that provides children in the local village medical care, school supplies, and clothing.
1:00 pm-- Praise & Worship music practice
3:00 pm-- Small groups. (We lead a young adults small group).

Sunday
9:00 am-- prayer time
9:30-11:00 am-- church
1:00-4:00 pm-- youth group

I just wanted to give you an idea of what we do every day. Like I said, life is busy, but we are still making time for our family to relax and spend time together.  I (Kelli) am only working half-days until June so that I can ease the transition for my kids, who have not been in a nursery school program before.

Right now I am working on performing arts with the kids. This is an event that they hold every quarter in which students choose a talent, choose a piece to present, and prepare a presentation.  Most of the kids sing, dance, or do a drama.  If you know me, you know this is right up my alley!  I love rehearsing with the kids and seeing their self-confidence build up. I can't wait to post videos of the finished performance!

John is spending a lot of time organizing people and events, and if you know him, you know he is so great at that! He will be preaching his second sermon this Sunday morning. I am so proud of all of the hard work he is doing.

Life in the Philippines is slowly becoming just life.  Not in a bad, "this-is-so-boring" kind of way,  but in a familiar, "hey-i'm-getting-used-to-this" way.

To sum things up:            WE ARE HAPPY!

We are so so thankful for your support. Your monthly donations provide the funds we need to pay for our home, food, insurance, etc. and they make it possible for us to keep doing this. Thank you.

Talk to you in a few weeks!