October Legacy Conference Readout

Thank you all so much for praying for the Legacy Conference last weekend. It was an incredible time, below is a readout of the time together! We are so thankful that you believe God with us and fight for the upcoming generation of young leaders. What a blessing it its to give ourselves for God and others.
The conference began Friday evening with students arriving in the rain... again! You may notice that it rains the first day of EVERY Legacy conference! We are confident that it's God's confirmation that we're moving in the right direction! There were about 70 youth from a number of different churches including one new church that we've never connected with before. We emailed you a few weeks back about the decision to split the Legacy Conferences into 2 different age groups. (Thank God for His wisdom as we would have been overwhelmed if we had both ages groups!) We believe this strategy will help maintain a more solid, consistant standard of discipleship, giving more contact time with each youth. We also wanted to give opportunity to some of the stronger, older youth to help facilitate and serve in the November Conference for the younger age group. The response to that offer was overhelming and so encouraging, it looks like we'll have some helpers for the November conference! We are eager to begin working alongside these youth and multiply the truths and values God has given us.

The theme for the conference was "Free to Persue Your God Given Destiny". We invited Pastors from local churches to share with the youth. The message was precise and consistant throughout the whole weekend. There was special emphasis on the decision and choices that affect the different decades of our life. The challenge was put forth over and over to be "all out" for God leaving no room for mediocrity and walking the middle ground. Sunday night worship and response time finally had to be cut off at midnight, much to the youths dismay! There was such passion and transparency during the worship times, sessions and small groups! What a blessing to witness the cry of these young people and to see God come answer them individually, and corporately!

As you know the DTS was involved with the conference as well preparing, serving and helping to lead the small groups. They were SUCH a blessing and it would have been extremely difficult without their help. The youth took up an offering for the DTS outreach and gave $1,035.00! With joy these young people gave, some of them even solidified a call to "go" in this session! A number of young people approaced us later sharing their desire to do a DTS next year or in 2009! So exciting!

Finally, on Monday we sent them back to their home, back to their churches to serve and live the life God intends for them to live. Again, what a joy and a blessing to be a part of what God is doing in the nation of Belize. We are eternally grateful to Him and thankful for your joined faith. To God be the glory....

The October Legacy Crew!

Here is the entire crew from the Legacy Conference this past weekend. I'm working on an update to let you all know how it went. All I can tell you right now is that IT WAS INCREDIBLE!

here we are!

It's a Jungle out There

Well... here's the latest update from my mom who is visiting us for another month or so -

"Anyway, all thirteen chicks were running around and being chicks. Pooping, and pecking, trying to get in the house, a regular farm. I was a little concerned about the screen door, so I asked Keilah to put them away. It was getting dark anyway. Sort of rainy looking. So, she and Judah start catching them, and trying to throw them in the little pen without smashing them, or having them escape. You gotta be fast with the door. I got a bucket of feed, I am quite the chicken lady ya know, and clucked clucked them over to the door, a few accidently went under the cage, instead of in. so, Keilah and Judah were down on their hands and knees trying to grab the three or four that were still under the cage. Suddenly, Keilah is screaming, and Judah is running, and I am left there watching as they run away screaming "SNAKE!!!!" am a little slow at this point. Huh? I lean down, in my flip flops and look under the cage, and sure enough, there is something about as big around as my arm, wound up around baby chicken. All I could see is the wing. But, I did know it was a snake. Besides Keilah was by now in the house screaming " A snake is eating my chickens!!!" I kept my head, or perhaps not, but I reached under and grabbed the remaining, uneaten chicks, threw them, yes THREW! them in the cage and slammed the door, before I too joined the screaming frenzy!!!! I saw it. I almost touched it, I can hardly believe it at this moment. I yelled for John, the closest neighbor, no answer, Rich came out of the house with a broom! (Of all tings!) Judah was looking for an ax. Yes, 5 year old
Judah! Good thing he didn't find one! The kids were running around, I was trying to comfort Keilah and yelling for the upstairs teenage boy, and looking for a bag to breathe in al. at the same time. Sara and Jason were gone, and Elijah, Judah and the two other neighbor boys wanted to see the whole thing! Phillip came running down with his gun, but opeted to use the ax. He and Rich poked and got it out from under the cage, so we could all get a good look. BIG sucker! Long. The thing was biting the end of the broom even after it's head was cut off. He made quick work of the 4 foot boa, but alas... too late for the little chick. he didn't get to eat it though! HA! So the charmed life of Keilah's chicks seems to have come to an end. At least for one of them. I have no idea how the rest are. I haven't had the nerve to venture outside again yet. After all, "It's a jungle out there"!
The kids are fine. I am told, the snake is not venomous, but he definitely could have bitten them. But I say, he'd have to catch them first, I have never seen two kids move so fast! But we also know, as their Daddy told them, they are protected by angels all the time, and I definitely saw the evidence of that today. So, I am off to dream of large snakes, and little peeps. Sounds like I may need a nite nite pill!

sleep well, Love Indiana Sal

13 Baby "Peeps"

We had an exciting day here to day. In case you haven't heard, Keilah got some baby chicks. Cute little buggers. Growing fast. they live charmed lives. One got stepped on. We thought it broke it's leg, we didn't think it had much of a chance but it came back a few days later and you can't even tell which one it was. Another one, or maybe the same one, got stuck in the screen door. This was a bit more serious. It seemed to have a broken neck, couldn't hold it's head up. It couldn't even stand at first. But, just like the other one, day by day it came back. First it lifted it's head, then it drank some water. It stood up and propped itself up against the side of the box....sort of leaned in to the corner.To keep from falling. Some of us have been there, right? But it couldn't lift it's head still. But, by some miracle, it is now standing, and running, and eating and almost completely healed. Keilah had it out airing just today. Visiting with the other chicks. but they were a little rough still, so she is still in her private suite. Anyway, all is well with these newcomers, we're having a great time!

The DTS Class

Here's the DTS class of 2007. Actually the tallest guy there, second on the left wasn't able to stay. But the rest are still here, having a blast! They are a GREAT bunch, we luv 'em!

We're alright

Hey, just a quick note to let you all know that we are fine. Hurricane Dean went north and touched down in Mexico, and hurricane Felix went south and touched down in Honduras and Nicaragua. Thank you for your prayers, we see another Tropical storm developing off the coast of South America named Tropical Storm Ingrid. We're keeping a close watch on it and will let you know. We love ya all!