March Newsletter '12

Greetings,

How is it that the shortest month of the year has the most packed into it! We are looking towards a fantastic March and praising God for a very full and successful February. We had a special visit, a birthday, Micah had his sports day, and Emily's favorite: Valentine's Day.

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Camping and Valentines

For a long while we've been wanting to go camping by using our minivan as an impromptu tent; we take the backseats out and it becomes a virtual mobile home. It just so happened that Valentine's Day weekend was the first weekend where we didn't have any students left on campus, so we took the opportunity to go on our first camping trip as a family.

It was so much fun. We cooked hotdogs and marshmallows, Micah had a great time. The waves were lapping on the shore and the night was just a perfect temperature. Because of church on Sunday, we only stayed Friday night, but we sure wished that the trip could have lasted longer - even Tag came along and had a good time. Emily and I made a parody video from a Discovery Channel show, you can view it HERE.

Valentines day was fun as well. Church had some prizes for the best dressed and some Bible trivia for the congregation. Everyone had a good time. Emily made a bazillion cupcakes and I paid the girls from the 12th grade to sing to her and present her with a Valentine's day teddy bear.

To see pictures of Valentines Day go HERE
For the video and pictures from our Camping Trip go HERE

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A Visit from Our Director

My good friend and our director from North Texas Missions, Bob Johnson, made his premiere trip to Eleuthera to see Windermere first-hand and to spend some time with us this past weekend. We had a wonderful time during his visit touring the island and experiencing the breadth of Bahamian culture and coussin.

North Texas has invested teams in Windermere and now they are looking to see how they can be contributing and praying for the expansion of the school and development with personnel, resources, curriculum, and vision. Bob and I had some great conversations about what the future of Windermere can look like, and we spent considerable time praying for God's direction as we move towards our plans, asking Him to direct our steps.

Micah had a great time with "Mr. Bob." Everyday it was, "Mr. Bob, can you play with me." Bob helped him build a sandcastle at the beach and we all had a wonderful time together. On Bob's last day at the school he preached a chapel message to the children from the book of Esther, encouraging them to understand that God is forming them right now in school through their trials and triumphs for a purpose in the future that they don't yet even know.

Click HERE to see pictures and find out more about Bob's visit with us

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Update

Like I mentioned February was a busy month. Just yesterday we had the Missionary Flights drop off two truckloads of supplies for our upcoming School Fair. Everyday has been full and fun (for the most part). We are all doing great, and everyone is healthy and ready for a busy March.

Emily turned another year older and we had a small party. Apart from the rainy weather, it was a very fun birthday. I made her an ice-cream cake (and made a total mess in the process). But it was fun to celebrate it with Micah and Bob.

Click HERE to see pictures of her birthday celebration!

This past weekend was a full one. It was the first 4-day weekend we've had all year as we had just finished up with our Term 2 exams, for what the school calls Midterm break. The timing was perfect in that Bob visit and Emily's birthday all coincided with our brief respite. School has been going well, and the completion of Term 2 offers the students a fresh start to earn good grades and do their best, although not all the students take advantage of that opportunity.

Micah is doing great and he has had a fun month with 2 sports days at school! He is also very excited because just yesterday he got his first brand new "big-boy-bed." It is just a new twin bed, because he finally grew out of his little-boy-bed. Emily and I assembled it, and Micah wanted to help the whole time. She was a little sentimental to see Micah's little-boy-bed days come to and end, but Micah just jumped up and down on his new bed, excited as ever.

Go HERE to read more and see pictures of Micah's Sports Day Article

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Prayers and Praises

We are just praising the Lord for a sweet time with our friend Bob Johnson, for safe travel and for the bright future filled with potential
Praise the Lord for some restful days and for the celebrations of Valentines Day and Ems birthday
Praise for the Lord providing some key funds this past month to cover the costs of our supply flight

Pray for our Fair Day this coming Saturday - we need to raise quite a bit of money and it will be a very busy day for all the staff involved in hosting the fair
Pray for our students, and that they would avoid pollution by the world, and would grow in their relationship with God
Pray for the future of the school as we plan our ideas and move forward with God's direction

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Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers and your involvement in our ministry with God's mission. To find out more about support CLICK HERE.

- Ryan Emily and Micah Flunker