Update on Alice.

We found out that Alice will be in the hospital for the entire week (5 days) to take antibiotics through the IV. Fortunately, she is not "high risk", so that is encouraging. :)
Visiting her today she was a bit cranky (who wouldn't be after being stuck and not able to use her dominant LEFT hand?). She did overall well. I think she might be ambidexterous. She was writing notes to Mommy with her right hand!
Her infected leg looks bad, but it's getting better. The doctor used a permanent marker to "give her a tattoo" and see how the healing is coming along with the antibiotics.
I know you've all been praying for her and for us through this time, and we really, REALLY appreciate it. It nearly brought me to tears thinking about how many people on different continents and in different states/ churches are praying for our family, and at this time especially little Alice. Thank you SO much, it means a lot to us. You are a blessing, and God hears your prayers. :)
Love from a grateful dad, Jared

PS for the more medical minded folks, I'll add some closer pics. I put them at the bottom, just in case someone didn't want to see. :)
Using her RIGHT HAND to write...and she's a leftie! :)

The bubbles in the middle are the blisters.

URGENT PRAYER NEED!

Please pray for Alice. She will be spending the next 48 hours in the hospital. She has celulitis(sp?) from an infected sore on her legs. She will be recieving IV antibiotics four times a day. Thank you for all your prayers. Alice is a real trooper and is being very brave. Cheri will be staying with her while she's in the hospital and I'll be home with Bethany and Cameron. Thanks for praying! We'll keep you updated. -Jared

Prayer Update! :)

Hi folks!
Thanks for your prayers and interest in our family and in this ministry. We have a lot of stuff coming up VERY soon! Here's a prayer update I just sent out. :) God bless! Jared for all

Dear Prayer Partners,

Thank you so much for your prayers and support of our family as we serve here in Australia. We couldn’t do this without you! A lot has been happening with us lately, and there is much to be thankful for and pray about!

Praises:

1. Cheri’s job is going well.

a. Prayer: Please pray for Cheri and her co-teacher, Sheila(indigenous lady), to do a good job with the kids and to teach them well in Kriol as well as English. Please also pray the kids would respect them and obey them during class time. Pre-schoolers are a challenge sometimes! J

2. Working on “Luk” (Luke) DVD.

a. Prayer: In a few short weeks, we will be recording what has been completed for the Luk DVD. We are still in the thick of editing/timing to make sure everything fits in the spot it’s been allotted. There are three of us currently working on this project: Jared, our team member Rachel Borneman, and Margaret Mickan(team leader). Please pray for us as we work together and separately to finish this task before the recording time, so no time is wasted! I (Jared), am working with a group of Kriol speaking ladies as I edit the script. They are a blessing, and I’m so glad they were willing to help me with this, because I couldn’t do it without them. J

3. My cousin and her husband are coming to visit for a couple of days! This is extra exciting because this is the first time we’ve had family visiting our home here! We are very excited to have them and are looking forward to showing them a little piece of what life is like here. J

4. Religious Instruction(R.I.) at the school has been going well.

a. Prayer: Please continue to pray for the ladies as they lead these classes in Kriol, using the Kriol Baibul to teach from. Please pray for the students to take the stories to heart, and realize that this is not just a story, but history. Pray God would work in their hearts and draw them to himself.

b. Prayer: Please pray for the ladies’ health. Several of the ladies are getting older, and want to be part of teaching R.I. but health conditions get in the way.(Asthma)

5. Kids are adjusting well.

a. Prayer: Pray they would be a light to the other kids.

b. Praise!: They are all learning bits and pieces of Kriol, with Cameron using it often! He cracks me up sometimes. He’ll say, “Ai laigum yu, dedi!” (“I love you, Daddy!”)

6. There’s a SS workshop coming up from April 2-7!

a. Prayer: This is the first workshop we’ve had an active role ins. In the past we were observers. Jared is in charge of drama. Cheri has been assigned to organize meals/preparation for the group.

b. Prayer: Pray for effective teaching that will help and encourage the participants. Also, pray the dramas would be reproducible when the folks go back to their communities.

Thank you SO MUCH for standing with us in prayer. You are a huge blessing, and it is a privilege to have you on our team.

Serving Him Together, Jared, Cheri, A, B, and C

Haircuts (and a frog, for good measure!)

Well, Cam and I were both looking a little shaggy around the edges, so I gave him a haircut, and Cheri gave me one! Team work at it's finest! Enjoy the pics. :)



Before.
After



Before! (With a friend... :) )



AFTER!
And for Grandpas and Grandmas, Aunties and Uncles, I took a short video of Cameron as well. I hope you like it! :)

Why I look forward to the weekends...

Picnic on the Cruiser tailgate! :)

Life can get pretty busy during the week! The kids are off at school(and so is Cheri), I'm at home working on various projects (anything from Wycliffe to dishes!). Life can get a little stressful at times, and our family doesn't get to spend "fun time" during the week. It's just the weekly routines in action. THAT is why I look forward to the weekends.
During the weekend we try and do something special as a family, whether it's playing UNO or taking a hike at a national park, or swimming with the crocodiles(just kidding! However we do swim!) or simply going to "town" and getting a 50 cent icecream cone from McDonald's(WAY AWESOME!) and running errands.

Nitmiluk(National Park) has become one of our family's "fun" places to go here in the Katherine area. It has beautiful views, and is a fun hike for us! Alice LOVES hiking, and Bethany really likes climbing the rocks with Daddy! :) Cameron is happy with both, but likes the hiking. ("I can do it myself, Daddy!" or "Das a big rock, hold my hand.")
Here's a few pics from our trip to Nitmiluk today! I hope you enjoy them, and thank you for all your prayers and support for our family, you are a blessing!

Cam the Man!

Bethy made it! :D She's a little mountain goat!

Cameron and Mommy liked climbing too! :)