Christmas Singing in Zambia 2008

Just wanted to share a video that The Cooks in Zambia took just the other day. Thanks, Nikki!

A Few Christmas Morning Pictures

We had the dollhouse and all the rooms set up for the girls to see when they walked into the room. You can see what Levi made a bee line for...

Notice his barnyard and tractor off to the right...
Opening presents...

Got any more chocolate in there?

Playing with some dollhouse acessessories...

All dressed up...

Creative Play, Zambian Style

Just wanted to share a few pictures of some Zambian MKs. These are three of the Bowman children - Luke, Abby and Anna- who live in the North Eastern Province of Zambia. I loved these pictures. Yes, these children do have all the "normal" toys but chose to spend the day outside, making their own armor out of leaves. What fun they must have had!

All Dressed Up...

Litumezi, Salamat, Zikomo, Tack, Spacibo, Ashoge, Kamsahamnida, Chjoonta, Obrigada, Danke, Gracias....Thank you!

Just wanted to share a post from The Rodgers in Zambia. They wanted to say "Thank You" for all that you give to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. This offering has always had significant meaning to us as we have benefited several times from your gifts to Lottie Moon but as we look at the possibility of going back overseas with the International Mission Board to Zambia - it has taken on another dimension. Please check out this post . It really does say it all. From just a few of the different languages of the world, THANK YOU!

Mary, Did You Know?

Christmas At Our Home

The girls and I put together this gingerbread house today. Ya know, those aren't as easy as they say they are and ours was all pre-made! Anyway, it was fun and we kept Levi busy with the candy as he was stuck in the high chair the whole time....
The girls ate the gingerbread man and the gingerbread snowman.

Levi finally got to eat the gingerbread Christmas tree.

This is our olive wood nativity set that was made in Israel. I desperately need the Little People Nativity Set so that the kids can play with one, though. Each time they go to grab one of these, I about have a heart attack!

The kids had fun decorating the tree last night. I know! I know! We barely got it up before Christmas!

A Glimpse into Candidate Conference

We are here in Richmond, Virginia at the International Mission Board (IMB) for our Candidate Conference (CC). We have had our (very detailed) physicals, publicity photos, meeting with our Richmond Associate for the Central Eastern Southern Africa (CESA) region, another in depth staff interview by a different OMP person, some (lots) really great food, another meeting on the huge Manual for Field Personnel (MFP), some break out sessions, medical information seminary, wellness/member care seminar and in a few minutes, we will begin a seminar/conference on FPO (Field Personnel Orientation that will take place at the International Learning Center-ILC- for 7 weeks), then another session on MK/TCK (third culture kid) education then supper! Whew-that's alot of stuff for one day! Tomorrow is a little more of the same then we leave Saturday afternoon to go back to Texas. Also, can you tell that the IMB loves their acronyms: CESA, IMB, FPO, CC, MK, ILC, MFP, TCK, OMP - and really, the list goes on.....

Please pray...

I am not one who often asks other to pray for me. I loved to lift others up to our Father but rarely ask others to do so for me. But today, I am asking. As you know, we are in the process of applying to become career missionaries (again) with the International Mission Board. Sunday, December 7th at about 6:15pm Central Standard Time - Jeff will be sharing with the church about this process. We have already begun to tell a few people in our church - FBC's ministry staff, the chairman of the deacons and few other very close friends. Now it is time for Jeff to stand before our beloved church family and share with them about the process of becoming IMB missionaries. Please pray that Jeff will approach Sunday night with the boldness and confidence of one who is filled with the knowledge that he is being obedient to Christ above all else. Pray that the telling will go smoothly and the receiving will be joyful.
Please pray for FBC's church family that after they work through the initial shock that they will rejoice with us and be supportive of us as we continue through this process. We will need their prayer support in the days to come. We are also going to have to tell our children on Sunday. We have not figured out how to do this as children, at least mine, tend to tell everything they know. I could list a hundred ways that you could pray for us on Sunday night but I won't. I'm just asking you to PRAY.



We leave for Richmond, Virginia for our Candidate Conference on December 8th and will return on December 13th. This week will be full of more interviews, medical evaluations, conferences and lots of information. Evidently, there will be about 65 or so missionary candidates at this conference. I am looking forward to going but that also means that we have to leave our children for a week with Jeff's mother, MeeMee. It is never easy to leave my children and I have never left them for this amount of time. Please pray for MeeMee and the kids that they will be able to find their own routine and that the week will go smoothly.