Sunlight after the Flood

After long days and hours of flood clean up, we put our house on hold and got back to work. We bought storage shelves and boxes and stored our things downstairs until we could eventually buy furniture. It was time to head to the jungle...

The girls enjoyed exploring outside, riding mules, and eating camping pancakes. We started homeschool to keep up with Edens lessons, and tried to get some routine going. We were happy to be at our jungle home again!

I (Aimee) stayed busy with teaching English classes at the local elementary school, for a small group of Rangers, medical students, and women. I also taught GLC (Good Life Club) and Advanced GLC classes to train our rangers to facilitate quality children's programs. One of my favorite projects though, was a new women's training project I started this year, where guest trainers taught several subjects including Coping Mechanisms for Children, Baking, Budgeting, Candle Making, and Gardening. Every weekend I hosted a movie night for local kids and facilitated a few craft times. Towards the end of our trip, I helped coordinate some Christmas parties with activities for kids, "shopping" with donated clothes for the adults, and gifts for all the school children and teachers. Overall, I felt so blessed to have this season in the jungle and was filled with joy to be together with loved ones there.

Unfortunately, I don't have many photos of Adam from this trip, but this one says it all. Adam's main project was coordinating a more quality Advanced Ranger training program along with the support of some of our other volunteers. He was with this group all the way and was able to develop some deep relationships. He was up before 5:30 am every morning running PT for his students and sometimes he was still teaching, meeting, and working late into the night (9:30 pm and beyond). Sometimes he was even up in the middle of the night running exercises, or sleeping in the jungle with his students. Out of all the trainings we've done, I've never seen him so busy, but the product was really beautiful. This photo was taken the night before Adam left the training to return home. The students surprised him by coming over late at night with snacks, gifts, and a guitar. They sang songs for him and the students took turns speaking about his leadership and how he had blessed them during their time together. I'll never forget this moment and how proud I felt of him and that I get to be his wife. Their love for him was so apparent. They prayed for him and we parted with prayers for one another. Sadly just two months later, one of our students was killed while giving aid on a relief mission. Unfortunately losing students has become too common for us.

Thank you for all your prayers for us during the CM flooding and also during our jungle travels. We appreciate your continued prayers for all of our students as they serve in many different areas- for safety, and spiritual and mental stregnth. Please pray that the Lord leads our family into His plans for us and that we have unity.

And so I'll leave you with a few things we are greateful for and a picture of me holding this monkey...

-Our house in CM is finally finished! All furniture has been replaced and delivered, the kitchen was build, and we are back to full function! (it took about 5 months between all our trips)

-All the funds we needed to replace items from the flood were provided through the GoFund me set up by family and friends!

-My mom and Greg came to visit and help with the job of resetting our house and it was so encouraging and helpful.

-Adam's parents, sister, and nieces arrive tomorrow for a visit and we are taking a vacation with them after some exhausting weeks of work.

-Quinn just finished her first year of Thai school!

We feel God's provision and grace in it all :)