Attitude

I wanted to take some time and "introduce" you to our new herd-the group of folks that we are blending into a "family."  We have five boys, two are business kids, and three are missionary kids.  And we have six girls, all missionary kids.  They range in age from 12 to 18, from grades 7 through 12.  Here is a picture of our boys, and one of the girls.

L-R: Cale, Jacob, Arnold, Wyatt, Yohan, Astract, Josiah

Bottom Layer: MJ, Emma, Natasha
Middle: Gloria, Victoria, Sophie, Alina
Top: Seun

We also have four pembantus, Indonesian house helpers:  Ibu Elizabet, Ibu Dina, Ibu Nora, and Ibu Yopita.  The first two help in the kitchen and the second two help with the cleaning and laundry.  They come in everyday from about 8 until 2 or so.

L-R: Ibu Dina, Ibu Elizabet, Ibu Nora, Ibu Yopita.

This is the first time that our kids are living with their peers.  Before when we were here, we had no teenagers of our own. Now we have two.  Wyatt and Emma are living with kids they go to school with.  We have 6 middle schoolers and five high schoolers.  That changes the dynamic.  It seems to be good for study groups and working on projects, and keeping each other accountable on homework.  But we are finding that it sure makes things much more busy.

This morning I was reading in Hebrews the verse in chapter 12 that says "...let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles..."  I was talking to the kids about how often the thing that hinders and entangles us is our attitude. Our choice to be grumpy, or full of complaints hinders us from "running the race" as the rest of the verse says.  You can't run if your feet are all tangled up.  God's desires for us to be free of those sins so we can run after Him.  The next verse tells us how we can do that.  "Fix our eyes on Jesus."  Look up.  Look at Him.  Take your eyes off of yourself.  Follow the One who is going before You, watching over you, tenderly loving you, and always available.

Love you

Rachel

Our new home, Hostel 2