strawberry picking

This week has been nice, as it is my week off between training and clubs. I am thoroughly enjoying it, even though it has been busier then anticipated. Today was special though, because the three of us females, plus Grandpa decided to go strawberry picking. The lady was not kidding, when she said it was the tale end of picking. Picking started June 10th, and this would usually be at the peak, but due to weather, the strawberries are just about all gone. She also warned us that we would really have to work for what we got, and she was not kidding. We worked for a while, and ended up with around 15 pounds (give or take a few). They were small, but they are still delicious, and maybe even tonight we will get to enjoy strawberry shortcake. It is just the simple traditions, and the rewards (fresh strawberries) that make for a fun morning with family!

More Than A Song

training week

Training of week is done, but I will say that I feel as though the week was very beneficial and productive. I have been blessed in getting a lot of this training previous years from a past CEF lady in preperation for our church Vacation Bible School. It was very long, but I am so thankful for the skills I was able to sharpen during the time.

Just a brief overview, there were 42 'students' training to go out and be CEF summer missionaries both in the state of Vermont, and New Hampshire. We had a tight schedule packed full with teaching/classes, demos, and study halls. Each part played a vital role in the overall training, but as weird as it may sound, I most appreciated the time being evaluated during study halls. To rewind a little bit, you learn how to do it in the class (whether it be how to use the wordless book, or how to teach a Bible lesson with the gospel truths), we would then watched the experienced demo it, and then we would study and that have to go do it for an evaluator where we would either "proceed" or "repeat". At first, it was a little nerve-wrecking having to be evaluated as you were teaching a lesson, but I grew to love that time by the end of the week. The evaluators impacted me in just the way they handled the evaluations. They cared about us enough to not be afraid to have us repeat if the truth of the gospel was not clear. I enjoyed the conversations I had with them about the strengths and weaknesses I had, and how I could best improve the clarity of my teaching. The evaluators I had weren't just there to evaluate me though, I had some blessed conversations with each of them where I was encouraged, and where they inquired about what I see for myself in the future. They were each a huge encouragement to me that teaching really is my calling.

I came home feeling very dirty, but very excited. I look forward to teaching the clubs and actually getting to teach several children, instead of one adult with a pencil and clipboard (might I add, an adult who knows all the answers). I have been lazy, and still have yet to unpack or do laundry.

A huge praise is that we have our first week of clubs set up, along with who I will be working with, and who we will be staying with. This is a huge praise because at the beginning of the week, we did not have a host home, but I was able to remember that we have some friends who used to go to church with us who had moved up to the area. They are looking forward to having us there, and I am looking forward to catching up with them. Praise the Lord, for answered prayers.

A prayer request is that I not get overwhelmed, but that I be able to have clarity of thought and that this coming week serve as a restful, rejuvenating time. Also, please pray that I have the right heart attitude throughout the summer.

Thank you all so much for your prayers. Each and every one of them are treasured.

time for training.

I can't believe I leave tomorrow for training. I am so thankful for the training I have received up this point. Through VBSs, college, church, and life, God has taught me so much, and has continued to kindle my passion for teaching and for children. When I sit back and think about my passions, I am just amazed that God has made it this clear to me, this early in life.

For those of you who do not already, this summer I will be working Child Evangelism Fellowship of Vermont. I will be involved with five weeks of 5-Day Clubs. These clubs are designed for children ages five through twelve and will be ninety minutes each day, including: singing, games, a Bible story, a missionary story, and some other little things. I will be working with at least one other partner where we together will do two to three clubs a day in an area. During these weeks, we will be living with a host family from our host church (this is probably the part I am most nervous about). I will leave each Sunday afternoon to go to the host church that evening, and will be able to come back home on Friday after my last club.

This coming week is when I receive my official training. I will be there from tomorrow (Saturday) through next Saturday. I really don't know many details at all concerning my schedule or how many people will be there, but I am excited for what I will be learning.

If you think of me, please pray that I will a vessel for the Master's use, and that I would be relying completely on Him for words and wisdom. I am excited, and thank you all for your support. I will try to keep you updated on my blog just on what is going on and if there are more specific prayer requests!

"So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that any one of

these little ones should perish."

(Matthew 18:14)

a re-blog

I was encouraged this morning when I checked out Chris Booth's blog. I encourage you to read this particular article In Which the Inexplicable is Explained to Me, and even to check out his blog.

it's Friday...hooray!

Well, I can't believe it's Friday (and you thought I was going to say "I can't believe it's not butter"). This week has flown by with just different things going on around the house. At the beginning of the week, I thought I had my math CLEP test on Thursday, but it ended up that I won't be taking that until the middle of August.

Monday, I had a blast and got to spend my day with the beautiful Sophia, and Tuesday was spent studying for the CLEP exam (at that point, I was still planning on taking it Thursday). Wednesday was rather productive with little things such as continuing to unpack from college, balanced my checkbook, and went through all of the notes I had gotten during my spring semester at college. It is nice, because I had forgotten about a lot of them, therefore they were encouraging to me all over again. Yesterday was a lazy day as I was not feeling well, but I did get my prayer cards for the summer done with a ton of help from Tim. Today's agenda includes some studying, and then this evening I head over to some friend's house to help them organize some things to go on ebay.

I am sure many are wondering what I am doing summer job wise, and I would be happy to tell you (even if you aren't wondering). This summer, the Lord opened the door for me to be a summer missionary with Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) doing 5-day clubs throughout the state of Vermont. Training starts a week from tomorrow (June 19-26) and then the clubs start July 5, and my last day of clubs is August 6. The beginning of my summer has been spent with a lot of time at home just trying to lighten the load for Mom by taking over on the cooking, and doing a lot of housekeeping, along with doing odd things such as helping Scott, going to work with Dad, babysitting Sophia, and working with this friend to help organize things for ebay. God has filled up my time in what I feel to be a productive way.

I would appreciate your prayers as I officially start my summer ministry with CEF. Some specific prayer requests would include:

• For the week of training June 19-26
• For the other Vermont CEF summer missionaries
• That I raise the required funds needed
• For churches to host the 5-Day Club
• That many children would attend
• That the children’s hearts will be softened
• That my life be changed for Him

Without prayer, my ministry is not possible. If you are interested in praying even more specifically then that, I am looking for people to commit to pray for a specific day of the week, each week that I am ministering. If you are interested in making that commitment, or interested in getting updates from me via email, please email me at rebekah.hewitt@abc.edu and I would be happy to give you the exact dates, and to let you know in advance if something special is going on that day. Each lesson we give, the gospel will be presented, and our ultimate goal with these 5-Day clubs is to further their walk with the Lord, whether that be through encouragement in the Lord, or through introducing them to the Lord. Please be in prayer for this ministry.

"But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven."

(Matthew 19:14)

another lovely day with the little lady

What a fun day today has been. Sadly, we had to say goodbye to Tim and Beth as they head on in their travels. I had Sophia again today and what I noticed most specifically was her vivid imagination. I love her age, and the way her mind works. This little girl is three years old and is so smart. While eating breakfast she informed me that she came over to take care of me so that I wouldn't get scared since Aunt Debbie had to go into town. Today she overcame the obstacle of Hershey (our lab-beagle mix) and was learning all of the commands and will go out and play with the dog. She helped me hang clothes out on the line, and she would pick out the towel, shake it out, and hand it to me to put on the line--what a big helper! While cleaning the kitchen later and doing dishes, I heard her talking and noticed she was taking things out of the cupboard and playing with them. My mom has this measurer mixer thing-a-ma-bob from Pampered Chef that became Sophia's baby, and at one point, I caught her 'milking' my mom's handheld strainer. Another time I got to see her imagination in full bloom was when she rearranged our dining room chairs to make a bus where she put her stuffed animals and she was the driver (complete with honking noises). She announced when they had arrived at school and helped the children into the 'school building'. We then picked fresh lettuce and walked to the mailbox where she said "Becky, I am glad we went on this walk. It is such a beautiful day." What an encouragement she is to me and a reminder to be optimistic. She loves sitting on the counter as I work at the sink or am baking something, and I love her positive presence. This summer has been such fun as I get to spend time with her and watch her grow up and mature. I am excited to watch her as she matures spiritually and blossoms into the godly woman God has planned for her. I am working on that stage right now of my life, and one verse that has particularly been on my mind lately is, 1 Peter 3:3,4 "Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear—but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious."

busy day

I woke up this morning in time to be able to talk to Daniel. Wasn't bad, I woke up at 8, and it was 10pm his time. So I got to talk to him for a little bit, then went upstairs to prepare dinner. I made pancakes...yummy! I then talked with Beek and we found arrangements to getting to the hair salon this morning for our 10:30 appointment. I quickly got ready and drove Tim and Beth's car to Price Chopper. I met up with Beek and we headed to Turning Heads to get our hair cut.

Beek and I decided over a year ago that we were going to grow our hair out for Locks of Love. She was wanting to do something different with her hair so I said she should do something different by growing it out, and I would have to do something different by having it cut short. Well, about this time last year, I got my hair trimmed a little shorter then anticipated, so our plans were set back a bit. Beek was getting sick of her long hair and we needed to get it cut. The appointment was set for today, and Abby (a mutual friend, and Beek's roommate) decided to join us. Our experience was awesome! Our hairdresser, Tammy, was loads of fun and was so knowledgeable. She did a great job with the three of us. Both Beek and I got ten inches off, and Abby lost roughly seven inches.

After we received our new cuts, we headed to Mr. Twitters to show Beek the new cut. She didn't even recognize us at first. We then headed over to the lake for the RACS' alumni picnic. It was good to see Caroline and hear about her first year of college, and her summer plans. We only stayed for about two hours, and then I rode back to Ira with my family. We went to Andrew and David's graduation party. When we got home, I worked on dinner, the family enjoyed it, and am now about ready to crash.

I get to teach Mom's Sunday School class, and tomorrow is my first official Sunday as the kiddos teacher- so excited. If you get this in time, please be praying for me, and ask how it went, I would love to tell you.

Have a blessed Sunday (tomorrow) worshiping the Savior.

he made it!

I got an email from my missionary friends in Papua New Guinea (PNG)...including a picture of them with Daniel. Daniel is at his final destination safely--Praise the Lord! They had him over for dinner last night (which isn't really last night, it was their Wednesday night) and got to know him a little bit.

Just a reminder, you can check out his blog at http://letu-daniel.blogspot.com.

I have so much to be thankful for

This morning, I was in the kitchen making meatballs when I realized just how much I have to be thankful for. Some of the things that came to mind are...

• I am home with my family...I have a family.
• Daniel's travels are going so well (especially compared to spring break) and he is safely in Papua New Guinea.
• I am going to be an aunt, and my niece/nephew is healthy and doing well.
• I have food to make meals and to cook for my family.
• Our lawn is mowed (which is a big deal)
• It is raining outside, and just yesterday I was saying how badly the grass and plants needed watering.

I can honestly say that I am so thankful for the rain. It is so beautiful, and everything is SO green right now. There is a peacefulness about the rain, and a cleansing.