Really Moving This Time (I hope)

Hold on to your seat folks! The Aquino's are about to move to Fremont.

We're off to the Mission San Jose hills area. Mission Blvd Exit off of 680/ Warren exit off of 880. We've moved every 10-12 months for the first four years of our marriage before our current house that we've been in for 11 years now!

Back to the new house. We are on a month-to-month lease, so who knows what this means for us. We are gaining a bedroom and a family room. And did I mention 13,000 sf of unadulterated yard, ready for holes, forts, composting, and general kid stuff. The best part is it can't be ruined, it's pretty rough looking, so likely can only get better with some TLC.

I'm thinking 'Going Tribal', open house on Friday afternoons, jump on the trampoline(looking for one), dig a hole, climb a tree or two.

I laugh because the kitchen is a smaller than our soon to be old one. Humility, and blessing. They go hand in hand. I've been on this kick about Americans wanting so much more than we need, and wanting a bigger everything. Well, I am a typical American, in process of heart change. Trying to figure out where material needs and blessings and blessing others all fits in my life.

All right, I'll sign off now and post pictures later. We will be getting the key Saturday, Aug 30th. Lord willing. I've said things and been wrong too many times. For those just tuning in, this is a rental house, and we are renting our house out.

We are renting our Hayward house to our next door neighbors. Great guys, 6 dogs. I know, I know. They are planning on staying till 2012, and we've lived next to them for 5 years, even house-sat for them, and their house was cleaner than ours. That's enough out of you. Stop laughing! The dogs do sound like a pound when they get barking, as little dogs do. No situation is perfect, however, good tenants, with proven track record. I'll bet on them. Why would our neighbors move next door to our house? Their landlord is the sister to one guy, too much drama to go into, but they want out. Guess we'll be painting different colors on the duplex huh?(we own one side they own the other)

Backyard Camping

The night started with a dog-pile on Mama to watch the closing ceremony for the Olympics. I have never watched the Olympics so much as I did this year. Caleb and Malachi really enjoyed them, he and Malachi would root for the US, and loudly, unless they were lame, then they'd root for the best competitor. Silas would do jumps and imitate the moves he saw. Diving was an interesting one to imitate!

Yesterday they created the Vault(gymnastics) in the backyard, which turned into camping.Going to bed. Eating dinner, camping style, hot dogs/sausages wrapped in a corn tortilla. When camping use what you have...

Lawrence: Can I have a bite Silas.

Silas: No this mine Papa.

Making fun or a funny, can't remember which.

3boys in a tent, 2 for the whole night! And they say if you let the kids sleep in your bed they'll stay forever. Here's some proof to the contrary.

Being Right

What is the purpose of being 'Right'? The hope/fantasy in marriage often is to change someones behavior. As long as you insist on being right, you are too pre-occupied with changing the other person. Yes, you may be right, you probably are right, the other person is probably disrespecting you, not doing what you 'know' is best for the kids, but so what. How does this serve you to insist on being right? Knowing how your husband will do or not do what you wish he would, plan around it. Expect it and stop withering his bones (proverbs). Just a thought for the day, forged from 7 years of being right, therefore 7 years of pain and broken friendship where there could have been more peace.

On to other news. We've just turned in our latest and greatest application for a house to rent in Mission San Jose hills. The house is on a 13,000 square foot lot. The yard is in a very natural state, at best:). however it serves our purposes in raising boys. The house is 10 minutes from church, and a bit more from many/most of our current Fremont friend's, but..... we can see the potential blessings of this yard/house with hosting get together as well as day to day life. The dining room is carpeted, ARGH, but you can never get all the things in one house you wish for. It has 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, living room and dining room. It does have an avocado tree, so come harvest time, please come over and take them away! There are many great tree's to climb and provide shade.

The kicker, the bonus, God always has one you know..... when I turned in the application, the landlord said the owners were devastated on the condition of the house after the last renters, they tore down the deck, as well as many other fixes in the house (22k worth of them), and are planning on replacing the deck at some point as well as re-landscaping. I have no idea what this means for us, but that place really needs a deck!

I am cautiously optimistic. The last house I knew was a sure thing, well, we're not there now are we! God has his best plan for us, and I want nothing less. We've been praying he slam the doors clearly to where we don't need to be, and he has been faithful in doing that. Resting in Him....I haven't completely got that down yet, but I'm sure there will be plenty more opportunities to work on it.

OK, I know pictures are easier to get through then reading. The kids went camping in our backyard last night. Caleb and Malachi stayed there all night! Lawrence, bless him, slept on the living room floor to be close enough to hear and be available. Silas got scared and came inside and slept inside the tunnel in the living room till about 12m. We ate camp food last night. BBQ'd Hot dogs, microwaved smores, (but we ate them outside!). Took pictures so they can remember this later! I'll download and post, hopefully:)

I'm So Proud of My Little Sister

The excerpt from an email from my sister Elizabeth. She has her masters in City Planning from Penn University. She works in Sacramento doing??? planning stuff.

"The short version... I have an opportunity to volunteer as a planner with a group designing a new village community for widows and orphans in the Congo. The trip is from September 19th to September 29th... so soon! It costs $4,100. I'm wondering if folks would be interested in supporting me to go over and volunteer as the group planner. Any contribution is tax-deductible."

http://elikiavillage.wordpress.com/about/ *for more info on this project

If you want to donate you can by credit card or check to following:

Credit Cards: You can use your credit card on-line on EMI's website. Write in the comments that your donation is for project #10005 - DR Congo (Elikia) - Elizabeth Boyd. https://emisecure.org/donate.html

Or you can mail a check to EMI, 130 East Kiowa Street, Suite 200, Colorado Springs, CO 80903. Include a separate note with your donation that it is for project #10005 - DR Congo (Elikia) - Elizabeth Boyd.Elizabeth has always been one to dress in the local fashion. She spent several months 2 different times in India working with the mapmaking company TeleAtlas, before getting her masters.

Some funnies

The Return Of The Mysterious Bump

The mysterious bump has returned, however, it has moved locations. It has even changed kids! The most recent appearance is on Silas' left eyelid. Lawrence and I thought his eye would be swollen shut by this morning, but the bump disappeared as mysteriously as it had come. These kids are sensitive to mosquito bites. So we chalk it up to some random mosquito or bug bite.

Caleb is turning 8 tomorrow!! I remember being 8. We had a party for him on Saturday and took no pictures. How sad is that. I do have to say, it was a fun and mellow party, so low stress, but no pictures.

Lawrence and I have been reading Revolution in World Missions by K.P. Yohannan. This book has been taking us to the next level in what God is putting on our hearts. Truly a life-changing book. If you want a copy, either get one, http://www.gfa.org/ (gospel for Asia) or ask me, I will give you mine. If I share mine with you, I can get another one for free, fabulous way of spreading this information.

Food for thought: What are the non essentials we have in our lives? What are the basics we need to live, sure, in the society we're in. Post a comment with your thoughts on this. We certainly lead complex financial lives.

1. Computer, Internet access, hardware and software associated with using a computer
2. house, electricity, water, garbage
3. microwave, oven, fridge, dishwasher
4. phone service- do we really need 2 lines home and cell? perhaps, We just ordered Magic Jack, I'll let you know if it's as good as advertised. 39.95 plus s/h and 20 a year
5. car/gas/insurance/maintenance
6. life insurance / 401k / future planning
7. food- groceries (we have typically spent a lot eating out, a luxury, NOT necessity)
8. Digital camera
9. I'm sure there's more but this is what I came up with on the fly

I'm interested in hearing your comments on the necessities. Where can we cut to give more generously to those who have nothing. I'm not talking about guilt here. Take it as you will though. In the new Testament, the wealthy believers in Christ sold their properties and provided for those who had nothing. Did they sell their homes they were living in? I haven't studied specifics here, but I think they sold their extra properties.

Those of us who are Christians, we have brothers and sisters not eating daily. It is so far removed from our reality, we can ignore it, until this moment, not realize it, or any number of reasons not deal with it. Went through the drive through and spend roughly 13 dollars on myself and family. According to K.P., founder of Gospel for Asia, $30 can feed and provide living needs of a local missionary for a month. The concept of local missionaries is new for me too. But think of it. A western missionary from anywhere in the US going to anywhere in the undeveloped world is not going to live like the natives. Sure, there will be concessions, they will feel they are lowering their standard of living in extreme ways, and likely they are, but our standards are just so much higher, therefore costlier. To support a western missionary couple or family abroad comes with such a high overhead. To add to the daily living costs, they must go through cultural training, probably basic language training. And after all these costs, they are still foreigners bringing a foreign religion. There are Christians excited to share the gospel of hope through Jesus Christ to their countrymen in many of the 3rd world nations already.

Some excerpts from Revolution in World Missions: "Many native missionaries and their families experience days without food - not because they are fasting voluntarily but because they have no money to buy rice. This occurs especially when they start new work in villages where there are no Christians."..........."Many North American Christians live isolated from reality - not only from the needs of the poor overseas, but even from the poor in their own cities..........I have found that believers are ready to get involved in almost any activity that looks spiritual but allows them to escape their responsibility to the Gospel...........Often when I spoke at a church, the people would appear moved as I told of the suffering and needs of the native evangelists. They usually took an offering and presented me with a check for what seemed like a great amount of money. then with their usual hospitality, they invited me to eat with the leaders following the meeting. To my horror, the food and 'fellowship; frequently cost m ore than the money they had just given to missions. And I was amazed to find that American families routinely eat enough meat at one meal to feed an Asian family for a week. No one ever seemed to notice this but me, and slowly I realized they just had not heard the meaning of my message. They were simply incapable of understanding the enormous needs overseas."

OK, I think that is enough to blow any ones mind. I confess, I'm the American he's referring to. It has been easy to be touched when seeing a presentation of the needs of any impoverished group of people. Easier to forget after doing what it takes to alleviate the sense of responsibility. I cannot live in ignorance any longer.

I grew up with a sense of not having what others had. A sense of being less than, based on having less than. Disenfranchised. If you have running water in your home, heat in the winter, flush toilets, drinkable water from the faucet, you are blessed. Don't believe otherwise. Electricity on demand. That is wealth. A hospital a phone call away, and they'll pick you up! I've been blessed with that ride a couple of times.

Lest you think I am advocating throwing out all our conveniences and living as if in a third world, I am not. Rather, exposing you to this truth, bringing it to the forefront. Our brothers and sisters deserve our prayers and thoughts and our money, if you can share it. Many of us are enslaved to our employers because we have created a lifestyle which confines our lives. We are enslaved to creditors. Freedom is not where some live. But to aspire to free ourselves by re-thinking the essentials in live. Be dramatic in cut backs to get out of slavery. We are ensured freedom by our Constitution, and yet, most Americans have chosen the bonds of slavery. Something to think about.

If our freedoms were ever taken away, I wouldn't want to look back at the wealth I had at my fingertips and regret the way I squandered it. Rather, I would have it be my servant, working for me, for people, for blessing, not just serving myself, and ultimately causing my own enslavement.

Living in Fremont by September

The time has come. Our family has wanted to move to Fremont for several reasons. Cutting Lawrence's commute, being closer to church, closer to buddies. Moving presents opportunity. The house we have now has been a blessing from God. We are satisfied here, however, have both felt the desire to move to Fremont, and so far the lights are green. We have renters planning on staying at least until 2012. We've decided for now to rent a home.

Opportunity. We have a small yard. With a Charlotte Mason education, a natural style of learning, kids should spend time outside, exploring nature. Easier done with a larger yard. Can it be done without a yard at all, sure, just more work on my part. Really, with boys, they should be living outside irregardless. Trampoline, sandbox, trees, composting, climbing trees, play structure, blessings for lifestyle. We found a modest house in a fabulous neighborhood, tree lined street, and it has a HUGE yard. There are fruit trees, lawns and the landlord pays the water bill, oh yeah, and they provide a gardener!

The house is smaller than our current house, ironic since I wanted to upgrade square footage and yard, but this is short term. And did I mention the yard is HUGE? The bathroom has a serious case of 60's pink tile explosion, the landlord doesn't want us to paint, which is a way to modernise crazy tile color schemes, but there is a freedom in this. My kids don't have to tread lightly in this house, it comes with smudges, not dirty, but smudged. I see the cringing in some of you, but with 3 boys and a short term rental, it can be quite exhausting making our house ready to rent, then prepping a new house, and then fixing it back up in a short time to move again, and the cycle continues. Freedom and provision. God knows what we need when we need it.

When we were homeless (I use the term loosely) 5 years ago, we stayed at 4-5 places. The way I was raised, you leave a place better than when you found it, especially when hospitality has been extended. So scrubbing, cleaning, from one place to the next, quite exhausting.

I still haven't given up on Dennis Court either. This leaves the door open for possibilities, yet gets us into Fremont, so we can take advantage of having great longer term tenants ourselves. We could live here 6 months, a year, or who knows.

Backpacks for $2.99!!!

I haven't seen it, but have heard that "Office Depot is selling backpacks for $2.99 each and have Lot's of school supplies ranging from .01 to $2" The sale lasts until Saturday 2 August. I haven't made my big campaign yet, but for those of you who are planning on buying school supplies for your kids or Wontok Children, BULK UP NOW.

Back to Wontok Children. Lawrence really wants to supply the kids in Papua New Guinea where the need is more dire. Shipping is more costly, but if this is where God calls us to bless, then, the bags and supplies will get there. The kids in Papua New Guinea (PNG) are destitute. We need to look into the cost of school tuition. The street kids, usually AIDS orphans (more about that in a moment), don't have the uniform and shoes to be allowed in school. Buy the supplies anyway, because we will either supply a School in Philippines again, or find a good place in PNG.

The orphan situation in PNG is bleak at best. The AIDS epidemic is not just in Africa, but spreading throughout the world in epidemic proportion.

In PNG traditionally people live in villages. They rely on the Wontok system, the Wontok way of life. If you are from the same village, you are a Wontok (One talk) in that village. If you need food, shelter, help, the village has your back so to say. If a child is orphaned in a village, they will be taken care of, yes, yes.........it takes a village. (These sayings do come from somewhere!) When people leave their village, move to the city in search of opportunity, they often find unemployment, violent crime, similar to any inner city really. AIDS. When people die of AIDS in the city, away from the Wontok system, their children have no one to look out for them. There is a stigma on these children. This is a relatively recent epidemic of AIDS orphans, street children. PNG doesn't have many orphanages. No state ones, the last time I researched.

This gets to the real heart of Wontok Children. Our hearts are inclining toward PNG's lost children. Ultimately, we'd love to provide a home, boarding school style education. God is just beginning to open our eyes. Who knows where this will lead.

Wontok Children - School Supplies

Wontok Children Summer 2008 Supply List
We will be delivering supplies both with and without backpacks this season. Cases of supplies welcome.

1. Crayons
2. Pens
3. Pencils
4. Spiral Notebooks
5. Glue Sticks
6. Scissors
7. Pencil Sharpeners
8. Soft Toothbrushes
9. Dental Floss
10. Washcloths
11. Stickers
12. Small toys (no liquid or chemical filled toys) Think longevity, able to get dirty and still be usable
ie: small balls, matchbox cars, marbles,

Backpacks

Shipping
$80 (cash donations will go to shipping costs unless otherwise requested)

Children’s bibles
(There are many ‘creative’ children’s bible’s, listed are biblically accurate, great children’s bible story books)

1. Egermeier's Bible Story Book - by Elsie E. Egermeier
2. The Child's Story Bible – by Catherine Voss
3. Children's Illustrated Bible - by Selina Hastings
4. The Picture Bible – by Iva Hoth

Questions? Suggestions?

Leave a comment in the blog.

Who is this for? Children in Mapandan, Pangasinan Province in the Philippines

Rapha House

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9

"Rapha House is committed to rescuing young girls who are victims of slavery, sexual exploitation and prostitution by providing them with a safe home where they can heal and receive an education, which will allow them to make good choices for their futures." http://www.freedomforgirls.com/

Yesterday I was sharing with my mom how I've long been drawn to learning about the plight of women in prostitution, forced and otherwise. Lately, slave trading, exploitation of especially children, has been in my heart, to what end, I don't know, but God always has a purpose in bringing things to our attention. Turns out, the preacher from the church I grew up in, Kerry Decker, has been sending her emails about a non profit he's involved with, working with victims of exploitation and human trafficking. He has an incredible blog, terrible, heart wrenching, and incredibly moving.

Read it, pray. We are so blessed and protected. To whom much is given, much is required. What is it God might have for you? What kind of a world do you want to live in?

If you have ever wondered how a good God can allow such evil, read his blog entry on Sunday, May 11, 2008, The Type of God He is. http://freedomforgirls.blogspot.com/

“All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” --Edmund Burke

Unbelievable generosity. Check out his blog entry Sunday, May 6, 2007. Kerry Decker was in Africa, where he is/was working with AIDS orphans. He shared about the girls in Cambodia, and what they have been through. The outpouring of love and care, and selfless generosity by these impoverished orphans. Wow! As Kerry says, "Most people I know give out of their surplus. But that night, I witnessed people giving out of their poverty."

I agree, it is too awesome, too much to save the world, but how about this, the next coffee or fast food you were going to do, or actually do, match a donation to Rapha House. Just help where you can. Skip it if you can't afford both. To give go to: https://www.donation-net.net/transaction/transaction1.cfm?dn=1132&source=8&CFID=5507048&CFTOKEN=53938029

Real Estate and God

Reporting on the house in Fremont we bid on months ago........

A few weeks ago, we were told the bank didn't like any of 7 the offers, so put the house back on the market. No bites... The bank seems to be working through several offers quite a bit higher than ours, and one by one they are backing out. Now, the only offer above ours is only 10k higher! Now, the real miracles.....Our home value has dropped 220k! We will not be able to sell and pay commission from the sale. Miracles would have to abound here. If this house is for us, we'll get just the right miracles, and not before we need them.

Lawrence and I have decided to go ahead and pull our credit reports, work on our credit to make it as high as possible. We'd been avoiding this to not make our credit go lower, you get a small hit with each time you check your credit. The lenders are getting so strict, great credit is not enough anymore. Just doing our part..... It's so hard not to get excited. Seeing the 'strong' offers falling away. The Realtor said the property is very possibly going to foreclose, in that event, it may take a year. Never know the plans God has for us. All I do know about His plans is this: "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future". Jeremiah 29:11

Gardening

Inspired by Paula, photos of some of our flowers.This sunflower came to us from God. Planted itself. As the stalk kept growing, it became nicknamed 'The Beanstalk". We can look out our bedroom window, 2nd floor, and see it!

Sunflower larvae.

'And now you know..... the rest of the story'.

Mysterious bump

Malachi cooking pancakes!! The audience.
Yesterday was the first day of VBS for Malachi and Caleb. They had fun, and Malachi brought something extra home, a mysterious bump on his temple. He doesn't remember being hit, falling, bumping it.... If a brother pokes him wrong at home, there are blood curdling yells, and cries going and going, and going.... When an injury happens to his legs, he has been know to come down the stairs not using his legs. He actually looks like a paraplegic when he does this. He has even climbed up onto the couch to sit with me, all without using his legs. This can go on for 1/2 hour!

Back to the issue at hand. He has the largest egg on the side of his head . No bruising that I can see, no puncture marks from a bug. I'm trying to remain cool as a cucumber, but, I am slathering arnica gel on it, hoping it will just go away. It has changed since yesterday. It was hard, now it covers more area, but is soft and squishy. The doctor, yes, you experienced moms, I called the doc, said to watch it and if I still don't like it by Thursday she'll take a look at it then.

The ham is happy even now as he sees himself. "Me, Malachi, me, Malachi.....".

The bump as it looks this morning. Dispersed, covering more area, less red. The shining is the arnica.

Fun Fun Fun

La piece de resistance.

May I present the completed work bench in it's new home. Already has some interesting paraphernalia on it. The straight lines you see are where Lawrence drew so the kids could nail to their hearts content, and they did, as you can see below. Malachi straightening that nail. Caleb watching Papa in the shed. My friend Amber has a diaper business. What is unusual, is you can purchase pre-cut, pre-washed fabric and sew yourself and save a bundle over most diapers out there and have great all in one diapers. She's spoiled me by giving me prototypes and misc along the way. One of the features I like, among many, they are so adjustable, allowing you to skip sizes. I'm so thrilled to have these diapers! Here's the link to check it out. http://www.diaperkit.com/ This is what the 'kit' looks like. I never made the plunge and bought a whole luxurious set, until now! We've been using, Indian unbleached, I know, I just started talking a foreign language. Bottom line, I don't sew, Lawrence was going to the Philippines, so we had him bring the kits with him and find a seamstress there. They weren't ready when he left, so his Auntie Berna graciously brought them back with her. We just got them today, and needless to say, we're all excited about them, just look at the Aquino men folk. Lawrence is wearing 3 I think. Silas enjoying his new diapers!

Lawrence, leading the fun. He is so able to not take himself too seriously. I love that about him.
While the following was taking place, Silas was in Spotland. What's the deal with that Spot? And on to the wall climbing....... Glad I painted this hallway!

How about this way?

Ninja Jr here. Missing is the door-jam photo. If you look at the series, you'll notice he's climbed down the hallway. This is truly the 'Jumping Spider'.

Kickin' back And done!