Email from our Mentor Mom

Bonjou,

I had a few minutes so Doug helped me post pictures on my Facebook. Go to Niki (Seth) Briggs. You don't have to be a "friend" of mine. I opened it up so everyone could see them. We worked at El Shaddai school today. The kids were wonderful. I absolutely loved working with them. I was also teaching one of the teachers. They have no teacher training, so some concepts are difficult for them too. They're teachers make between $125-$250 per month. The kids area is next to the school is a garbage pile that loose pigs, roosters and goats frequent.

I am very tired though. My "friend" (a rooster I have affectionately named "future chicken soup") starts crowing at about 3:15 a.m. (after 5:15 it's every 14 seconds--I timed him!!), so I only got about 3 hours of sleep last night. Running on adreneline mostly. We walked to town tonight to get some groceries. Some boys in the store helped me practice my Creole which was nice of them. I made them laugh since my pronunciation is so bad. :)

So many people. So much garbage everywhere in the streets and in the rivers. It leads right to the ocean (see facebook). The recycler in me makes it difficult to see. We were absolutely covered in dirt when we got back, as the roads are dusty. Have to be careful when you walk on the streets. There is a hierarchy: who is ever the biggest gets the right of way. Truck first, then cars (not many), then motorcycles, then bicycles, then walkers. Felt the rush of a truck about 2 feet from me, so I definitely stayed out of the way after that!

There are two RN nurses staying here as well. They held a clinic outside today. About 100 people came. They got paid in coconuts and eggs. So many injuries/diseases we do not see in the states. Gangrene, Tuberculosis, etc. Brian (one of the nurses) is going to send me his pictures when he gets back to the states.

Olivier (the little orphan we picked up in Port) came to live here as well. He is 8 (see yesterday's email below). Junior is 11 and is living here as well. Both boys are so cute. They made a fort today out of a box. There is so much poverty all around. It is difficult to put into words. Hope to do something at the orphanage tomorrow. Please forward this as needed.

God bless, love, and miss you all.
Niki

Is Your Spouse Your Best Friend?

"Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up." Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (NAS)

Although I can say today that my husband Scott is my best friend, that hasn't always been the case. When we first were married, I was so close to my twin sister that Scott felt excluded when the three of us were together. Gradually, however, we both learned to develop our friendship with one another.

We reached a big turning point when we left Atlanta, where I had been single and then newly married, and moved to Florida for Scott's new flying career. Living in a new city where we knew few other people, we learned to depend on each other for friendship in a way we hadn't learned before.

Scott now is the one I turn to first just to be my friend, not in the way a girlfriend is a friend, but in a way that only a husband can be. The support that this kind of friendship brings is reflected in Ecclesiastes 4:9: "Two are better than one."

What are some specific ways we can develop a close friendship with our spouse? First, we can take note of what's going on where we each spend a great deal of time, the workplace Has he talked about a stressful project? Has she said how energized she is by a new assignment? Follow up by asking for more details and remember to pray for these situations. This shows your thoughtfulness and support. If she's a full-time homemaker, acknowledge that you know her job never ends and that you appreciate her.

Secondly, a great way to forge bonds of friendship is to share an interest. What do you both like to do? You may need to think about what you did while you were dating. Our friends Tracey and Ron take short trips to the mountains. It's more Tracey's passion than Ron's, but he's learned to enjoy it too. My mom and dad are great cooks and have created some incredible meals together. Scott and I have watched countless basketball games together. If you don't already have a shared hobby or pastime, start trying out some activities. It's easy to let the day-in and day-out responsibilities of life to crowd out time for relaxation and laugher, so you'll have to make the choice to have fun together.

Finally, we need to ask ourselves if we're making friendship with our spouse a priority. Do we save our best energy for developing friendship with our spouse or are we too busy? Sometimes we have to say no to other pursuits so we can have time to protect and nurture the gift of friendship in marriage.

The seeds of friendship we plant today will continue to bloom later in our marriages. We've all seen older couples sitting at restaurant tables, eating their entire meal in complete silence. I don't want to look like those silent couples, and I'm sure you don't either. I want to grow old relishing my friendship with my husband, a friendship forged over years of sharing interests and making each other a priority.

Dear Lord, show me ways to nurture friendship with my spouse, so we can continue to enjoy each other through the passing years. Lord, today, I commit to making friendship with my spouse one of my top priorities. Where I need to give up some activities so I'll have time for friendship with my husband, give me eyes to see that. Thank you for the lifetime friendship you've given us in marriage. In Jesus name, Amen.

Related Resources:
What a Husband Needs from His Wife by Melanie Chitwood

This devotion was adapted from What a Wife Needs from Her Husband. Order your copy today!

Visit Melanie’s blog – What Matters Most for more marriage encouragement.

Application Steps:
Plan to do something fun with your spouse. Do this within one week's time, and don't let anything interfere with these plans.

Reflections:
What do you want your marriage to look like ten years from now? What can you do today to reach your desired outcome?

Is there room in your life for friendship with your spouse? Is there anything you can take out of your life to allow space for your friendship with your spouse to grow?

Power Verses:
Genesis 2:18, "Then the Lord God said, 'It is not good for the man to be alone; will make him a helper suitable for him.'" (NAS)

Ephesians 5:28, "So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself." (NAS)

Taken from "Proverbs 31 Ministries" by Melanie Chitwood

Food for Thought

You've got to think about what you think about. Cause you think about something all day. It can lead you right or it can lead you wrong. Whatever's in your heart and mind affects your actions every time.

Taken from desk calendar "If you Can't Lose It - Decorate It!" by Anita Renfroe

One Heart Seminar

YOU'RE INVITED !!!!!!

What: 17th Annual One Heart Women's Seminar

Where: Ballroom @ Wintergreen Hotel & Conference Center in WI Dells

When: Saturday, February 27 - 8:00am - 3:00pm

Looking for a day away to be refreshed and refueled? Join me for this year's One Heart Seminar ...

I will be one of the speakers and will also be leading the worship at the One Heart Seminar the year and would love to see you there !! If you have not experienced One Heart in the past - you need to come this year !! The morning will start with registration at 8:00am and the conference starting promptly at 9:00am. The day will consist of music and speakers that will seek to touch your heart, drawing us closer together and most importantly closer to God as we seek a deeper relationship with His Son, Jesus Christ.

Included for $30 is your registration to the conference, conference materials, coffee and muffin and a wonderful sit down lunch.

Reservations can be made by sending your check (payable to One Heart) to Reva Barron W6659 County Road O Endeavor, WI 53930

Please include your name, address, email address and let Reva know if it is your first time attending

Scholarships are available

If you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask - I would love to hear from you !!

Also please email me and let me know if you are coming and how many will be in your party as I will be reserving tables and would love to save you a seat !!

God Bless ~

Faith

Upcoming Events

Hi Ladies

Our church is sponsering The Strength Team. The dates of this will be at 7:00 pm Feb 10-14 at the Al Ringling Theater in Baraboo. The admission is FREE

The Strength Team essentially is a group of Christian muscle men that perform 'feats of strength' and present a high character, moral message.

The Team will also be going into the schools during the week and presenting the same message there. They will give a baseball type card to all the kids with the strength team pictures on it and all of the evening event information.

Spread the word and tell everyone you may know to come!

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me. You can also go the their website www.strengthteam.com. I will also have some flyers and cards out on the registration table at next weeks day meeting.

Thanks -

Faith, Hope and Love -- Christy

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations" MT 28:19

Prayer Request

A friend of mine went for her 20 week ultrasound this week and was told her baby had died. They induced and delivered the little girl early this morning. Please pray for Jill, her husband and their three children still here with them. And, of course, for their littlest one who is in Heaven now.

Thanks.
Lisa M.