Recap of 2009

When we returned from the states after Camas and Emily's wedding, we made a big decision. It did not affect the operation of the mission here in Helene, but it DID change its name. Alternative Missions who established the site here in Helene beginning in the mid '90's decided to concentrate their efforts in other directions and release the Helene ministry. It was suggested that we form our own mission organization to continue on the island until we felt we could successfully leave the ministries in the hands of the nationals. After much prayer and counsel on the matter, we started efforts to become Mission Encounters International. This was quite a challenge to initiate from a third world country! Due to the efforts of a number of folks in the U.S. we were officially MEI in November. We even have a website www.missionencountersintl.com!

The staff left Helene during the first week of December with plans to return in February. The first Board meeting for MEI was held the last weekend of January on the Outer Banks of North Carolina in the middle of an unusual storm for this area - SNOW! It was a special time for our family to be together as Larry and Emily joined Heather Campos, Jim Dale, Scott Griffith, and Burnie Staples, our new Board of Directors. We praise God for these people and their sacrifice.

What happened in July?

So the last entry in my blog is the end of August. I was actually trying to catch up on the summer months, including Camas and Emily's wedding and getting back to Helene. What happened to four months?? I get the bad, bad blogger award. Will put aside all excuses and cover the past territory and move on to what is happening NOW. It is absolutely amazing how God's timing and work has brought us to this end of November and what He seems to be designing for us in the next month and year 2010. Wow.

First, let me tell a little of our latter half of the year. As my last post showed, we were blessed with two young ladies to be here in Helene as interns and our dear friend Sharon while we were in the states for a whole month to celebrate a special wedding. Dominic and Deirdre were the only fulltime staff here in Helene during that time. What a terrific trip it was, spending time with family and friends. The time was all so short, of course, but what a sweet wedding ceremony and fun reception we had in July. I only wish we had had more time with our families (relatives) and Camas' family. What a treat to have my sister and nephews, too. (I so regret I cannot load pictures onto this post, but my computer crashed.) Larry and I were so blessed to spend time with Camas and Emily - in between their work shifts! We really absorbed the time we spent with granddaughter LucyKate, Bethany and Josh, and Susanna. It was hard to leave, but after all, it was only for four more months. Little did we realize how those four months would challenge us in some new directions! Next post will fill you in...

Here's a random shot of our fulltime staff this year in Helene (compare to the picture when we arrived in March).  When we realized we would be leaving in July to come to the states for Emily and Camas' wedding, we did not realize David would be returning for a short trip at the same time.  Praise the Lord (!) we had two interns arrive who would be here to serve during our absence.  Deirdre and Dominic directed the routine activities and kept things going.  The next pictures are showing Jennifer and Jessica, our summer interns who have a special place in our hearts and our history here.  

ReadAloud

One of the special experiences many mission teams talk about is their opportunity to be in the English School.  Everyday we have a break in the middle of our day.  It's the perfect time to have ReadAloud.  Here's one of the team members reading a book to the first graders.  

Here we are - teaching staff and STM celebrating our newly remodeled Teacher Resource Area!

As it turns out, the minister who was to do the ceremony felt the water was too rough that afternoon to come, so Larry ended up doing the wedding with another islander.  Larry's knees were bothering him that day so he came by speedboat, docked just outside the house where the ceremony had begun!