Monday, January 31, 2011

Did I Read That Sign Right?

TOILET OUT OF ORDER. PLEASE USE FLOOR BELOW

In a Laundromat: AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINES: PLEASE REMOVE ALL YOUR CLOTHES WHEN THE LIGHT GOES OUT

In a Memphis department store: BARGAIN BASEMENT UPSTAIRS

In an office: WOULD THE PERSON WHO TOOK THE STEP LADDER YESTERDAY PLEASE BRING IT BACK OR FURTHER STEPS WILL BE TAKEN

In an office: AFTER COFFEE BREAK STAFF SHOULD EMPTY THE COFFEE POT AND STAND UPSIDE DOWN ON THE DRAINING BOARD

Outside a secondhand shop: WE EXCHANGE ANYTHING - BICYCLES, WASHING MACHINES, ETC. WHY NOT BRING YOUR WIFE ALONG AND GET A WONDERFUL BARGAIN?

Notice in health food shop window: CLOSED DUE TO ILLNESS

Spotted in a safari park: ELEPHANTS PLEASE STAY IN YOUR CAR

Seen during a conference: FOR ANYONE WHO HAS CHILDREN AND DOESN'T KNOW IT, THERE IS A DAY CARE ON THE 1ST FLOOR

Notice in a farmer's field: THE FARMER ALLOWS WALKERS TO CROSS THE FIELD FOR FREE, BUT THE BULL CHARGES.

Message on a leaflet: IF YOU CANNOT READ, THIS LEAFLET WILL TELL YOU HOW TO GET LESSONS

On a repair shop door: WE CAN REPAIR ANYTHING. (PLEASE KNOCK HARD ON THE DOOR - THE BELL DOESN'T WORK)

Mean while Bob and myself put in a shower in the Barn bathroom




This is so neat, Ryan and Blaze have taken half of the roof off.



Monday, January 24, 2011

A friend of ours that comes here a couple of times a year to help out at the All Saints Camp

Hello to my friends & family in our Lord!!!

Our team of 6 had an eventful week at All Saints Camp. What an awesome God
we serve!!!
We had people cooking, serving, writing and reading pen pal letters,
feeding, bathing, singing, and many other wonderful gifts being put to use last
week. We praise God for the help that He is sending.

I would like to share a story of a little 4 year old girl. She has been my
God sighting for several months now. I call her my little girl. We have
become very close since things have happened.
Can you remember when you were a little child? Think back. Maybe you can
remember fond memories of your parents taking you to a carnival, or your
mom's awesome home made soup, being tucked in at night in a warm bed, mom &
dad hugging you and telling you that they love you, cuddling up together
under the warm blankets, and the list goes on.
Well.....my little girl doesn't have that big of a list. She was born into
an environment where most of the people around her were sick, both parents
are HIV positive, she is sometimes abused both mentally & physically, and
within the last year, she has been abandoned by both of her parents.
She walks around her environment grasping on to people for love. She calls
me mommy often. I guess she is trying to fill the void of not having one.

On my last trip to visit, I invited her over for dinner and a bath. During
the evening sometime I asked her of she remembered her mommy and daddy.
She looked at me and began to cry. I held her in my arms and cried with her. I
told her that God can help her if she prays and asks for His help. Well,
just when I thought that it was a hopeless moment, God showed up. My little
girl stood up and prayed as loud and as hard as anything I had ever heard.
The Holy Spirit came to her, and she was praying for healing for her
parents, and for herself.
When she was finished calling out to God, she jumped for joy around the
house and said...God gonna do a miracle in my life.
That moment, God brought joy to my little girl, and I reminded her that no
matter what goes on in her life, that God will never leave her nor forsake
her, and that is a promise.
She said to me......do you pinky promise? And I said, yeah, pinky promise.
So we locked pinkies and laughed.

Great joy was brought to her since that night. I know that she still has
very difficult days, but because of God's promise, my little girl knows that
she can get through it.
We praise Him for his goodness, mercy, and grace.

I would ask that you all please pray for her as she has a long road ahead.
With our prayers, God will listen and continue to provide her with hopes
and big dreams.

In service for our Lord and soon to return King Jesus,


Colleen Colella

Agape Missions
1-856-513-0707

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Some more work on the Dinning Hall roof.




This is a friend of mine, Harri's son.

Many of you have been asking about Jeremy's biopsy results. Well, he
got word yesterday that the results are positive. The nodule is
cancerous! It's called 'Papillary carcinoma of the thyroid'. It's the
most common cancers of the thyroid. Fortunately it was detected very
early and is extremely small in size. He will see the surgeon, a very
good one, on Jan. 31 to discuss how to proceed.
Carol & I spoke with him tonight and he is very upbeat and relaxed about
this. The medical personnel are also very encouraging and this is
helpful to him. So, we thank you for your prayers and would ask that
you continue to pray. Also, pray for his wife Melanie as she is
expecting their 1st baby! A boy!!! :-) which is due late Feb to mid
March.

The LORD be with you!!!

Clarence & Carol

Monday, January 17, 2011

Billy and Leha had a baby girl.

I am sorry to say, not sure of the baby's name. I know they told me, but I have slept since then. Last night was a time just sit around a nice new table, that Billy got at Best Buys here for a song. I would like to tell you every one's name but my spelling skill is pretty bad. So I will not even try.
This home of Billy's is a place that Bahamians that have gone through Ranfurly Home will always have a home here. This is Billy's and Leah's heart to help and guide the next generation that is growing up here in the Bahamas. One day Billy would love to have his whole house full of these students that are trying to make it this world. When you live in Ranfurly, the age of 17 you are to move out and find a place to live and make it on your own. That sure can be a hard time to be able to start on your own. So I thank Billy for his heart and willingness to just open his home to them.
The woman that is holding the baby is Leah's mom, Marie. If you have seen any of my old blogs, you might have seen her before. It was one year ago this week I flew up to Charlotte, NC for a month to relax and just get away. Marie is the one that talked them into letting me stay there and live for four weeks.

Sunday night at the Slaters"


Sunday, January 16, 2011

We have had a couple fo addtions to our farm


These are our children from Calvary Bible


Friday what a wonderful day

It sure is neat to have others help. Yes this last Friday I had Harri and a new guy named Blaze to get some work done. We cleaned out all of the Christmas items that Abundant Life let us use. Remember all the things that was had for the Christmas Drive Thur? Well I believe they have what they brought over, back in their up stairs store area. It only took us four full truck loads to get it all there. So Christmas Drive Thur is done in my book. Wait until next year? Can Not Wait!!!!!!
We put a large piece of rubber on the roof of the red container, this one had some big holes in it. Then we moved some things there and here and I am so happy to have that all done too.
I have some more good news to share, Bob and Faye are on their way here this next week. They will fly in on Tuesday. I think I told you about their son Rob, he had a heart attack about two weeks ago. He is doing well and he is back home now. So Bob and Faye e mail me Friday, and will be here this next week.
If you have been reading my blog lately, you can see why I have been asking for prayers on all that is going on here. The reason is I can not do it all and now our Lord is answering my prayers and yours. People are coming, not in my time but in His.
Yesterday I took a beautiful bicycle ride half way around this island. Boy I surely needed to get out and breath some fresh air. It was so great and wonderful to just ride and look around and enjoy God' land. I am so blessed to be part of His plan and I am so great full that He lets me do it.
Oh this week end that is going on now, Calvary Bible has a group here now. They are the youth from there. Pastor Michelo is over seeing them. I was watching them yesterday afternoon. They were playing Laser Tag. It really looked like they were having a lot of fun. Plus I saw the food that Pam and Linsy have been cooking up for them. Really think they are blessed to be part of such a good church and people. Today I get to take them back to the church at 1 pm. So I will not be able to go to service today, but I will go to Sunday school and drop off Blaze and I will pick him up when I drop the kids off.
Tomorrow my main thing to get this place clean up the camp again and make sure Bob and Faye room is some what ready for them. They will be staying in Cabin #3. I know, but that is where they love to stay.

It is so good to have help.




Thursday, January 13, 2011

Think about this and say which are you?

A Holy man was having a conversation with the Lord one day and said, 'Lord, I would like to know what Heaven and Hell are like.'

The Lord led the holy man to two doors.

He opened one of the doors and the holy man looked in.

In the middle of the room was a large round table.
In the middle of the table was a large pot of stew, which smelled delicious and made the holy man's mouth water.
The people sitting around the table were thin and sickly.
They appeared to be famished. They were holding spoons with very long handles that were strapped to their arms and each found it possible to reach into the pot of stew and take a spoonful.
But because the handle was longer than their arms, they could not get the spoons back into their mouths.
The holy man shuddered at the sight of their misery and suffering.
The Lord said, 'You have seen Hell. They went to the next room and opened the door.

It was exactly the same as the first one.
There was the large round table with the large pot of stew which made the holy man's mouth water.
The people were equipped with the same long-handled spoons, but here the people were well nourished and plump, laughing and talking.
The holy man said, 'I don't understand.

'It is simple,' said the Lord. 'It requires but one skill...
You see, they have learned to feed each other.
The greedy think only of themselves.'

When Jesus died on the cross, he was thinking of you.

Check this out and see who realy is what?

*Just in case you ever get these two environments mixed up, this
comparison chart should make things a little bit clearer:** *
**

*@ PRISON* You spend most of your time in a 10X10 cell
*@ WORK* You spend most of your time in a 6X6 cubicle

*@ PRISON* You get three fully paid for meals a day
*@ WORK* You get a break for one meal, and you have to pay for it

*@ PRISON* For good behavior, you get time off
*@ WORK* For good behavior, you get more work

*@ PRISON* The guard locks and unlocks all the doors for you
*@ WORK* You must carry a security card and open all the doors yourself

*@ PRISON* You can watch TV and play games
*@ WORK* You could get fired for watching TV and playing games

*@ PRISON* You get your own toilet
*@ WORK* You have to share the toilet with people who pee on the seat

*@ PRISON* They allow your family and friends to visit
*@ WORK* You aren't even supposed to speak to your family

*@ PRISON* All expenses are paid by the taxpayers with no work required on your part
*@ WORK* You must pay all your expenses to go to work, and they deduct taxes from your salary to pay for prisoners

*@ PRISON* You spend most of your life inside bars wanting to get out
*@ WORK* You spend most of your time wanting to get out and go inside bars

*@ PRISON* You must deal with sadistic wardens
*@ WORK* They are called 'managers'

*THERE IS SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE.*
**Now get back to work. You're not getting paid to check
emails!!!!** ** *

Sunday, January 09, 2011

Just to get you all caught up with these last days

The pictures below are of the last night and day of these students that stayed at the Camp.
Friday night we took the students from the hotel to Calvary Bible and spend some time with the kids from here. It went pretty good. The sad part was I really didn't see the kids connect with each other. I was there and watched as our students (USA), pretty much stayed together in their own groups. Then I saw our students here (Bahamas) pretty much the same. But it was okay of a time. Now you can see how many students we brought to Calvary. It was only half of them. The reason was the students staying at the Camp got sick. We think it was a stomach flu. I even started to feel sick that night too.
David and I drove the kids back to the hotel and we went back to the Camp. Mean while back at the Camp. Michael and his leaders had their hands full. There was 30 some kids that got sick. The boys stayed in the Dinning Hall and the girl stayed in the Camp house. Okay now I was feeling really bad. You know how it goes. Every one had their own bucket. The one you see below was mine.
Saturday came.
Mark and I drove the students that stayed at the Camp to the airport. During this whole time one of the leaders asked that we all stay quit and pray. The trip there was so peaceful. We got this group off. Mark drove back to his home. I drove back to the Camp and Crashed. Boy I was felling really bad now. I slept for about three hours. Got back up and loaded up the students that were left here to fly out with the others. Tim drove the Blue bus (ocean bus) I drove the large bus (World bus) and I called Mark to let him know we were on our way. Mark calls me back and tells me that he has a flat tyre. I just could not believe it. A WHAT? We loaded up all the luggage on the World bus. Then loaded up as many as we could on the Ocean bus. I drove the luggage to the airport. Tim drove the kids. We got there and I dropped the things off. Tim dropped the kids and left again to get the rest of them. Mean while I was waiting for a student that was flying in to help us at the ALC for the next couple of months. I sat in the bus waiting and he came out and told me that they would not let him stay here. The reason was he didn't have a round trip ticket back to Sweden. So I asked God what is going on? I called Mark and told him. He called the airport and we worked it out. Blaze is his name and he got in okay. Blaze will be helping me out at the ALC and Camp. He is a blessing and I just was not felling well at all. I just am a amaze how God does His thing. Tim dropped off the last group and Blaze and I went back to the hotel and loaded up all the things that they left there. We brought over last week 12 mattress and coolers and pretty much every thing that they would need to have breakfast and lunch there. Blaze and I drove over to pick up Mark. We all got back to the Camp and Mark took Blaze around to show him all we do here and I went start to bed and Crashed and slept until this morning until 6 am. I am up and still not 100% Closer to 80% maybe?

Some pictures to show how much fun we had Friday and Saturday





Friday, January 07, 2011

Happy Friday to allllll

I am not sure if you have been keeping up with all that has been going on? That's okay if not, take a few minutes and check some older stories that I have written.
Okay Now I am not sure if you know this or not? Today is Friday. Yes Friday January 7th 2011. Is this not amazing, Friday. The only reason I let you know that is we are almost to the end of this part of my life with CCA. I am not saying any thing bad about this time. I am just relaying a fact.
We have been with 154 people since Monday and our Lord has been in it all. I just look around and see His hand in all we are doing and what we have gotten done.
All three buses are running and the Camp has not been burned down by all the fires we had each night for the kids.
They all have been doing work projects and today we wind them down. I just want to pass this on to all, that have been praying for us and just knowing that I know that is the only way this could have ever happen.
Today is our time to finish what we have started, here at ALC. You know cleaning up Christmas lights and containers and just over all, making this place more organized. I am so happy to let every one know I am doing very well and our buses drivers have been doing a bang up job too. No I didn't mean a bang up like the buses are getting hurt? No John and David have been driving every one around this island during these last week and they have made it back each night with every one.

Thursday, January 06, 2011

Just to show you what a bus battery looks like.

Hump Day, Wednesday

All I can say is, we have made it to the middle of the week! That alone is just so neat. Hey we have had some troubles but in the long run. All is WELL. Each day I wake and ask my Lord, what will you have for me today? By His grace it has been working out great.
Tuesday I had around 40 students and leaders all day long.
You Have seen in other pictures on my blog how many Christmas lights we had up? Well in one day they pretty much had taken down every one. Now while doing that they were testing them and pulling out the bad ones. You know the ones that half the string was working or some thing like that. I am to say I think IF we do the Christmas Drive Thur next year we should be in good shape on working lights.
Okay now we have all of these lights and things. Where do we shore them?????
Behind the kitchen at the Camp we have two containers.(blue and red one) Both of them are some what full of things. Now yesterday was a day to find out what we need and what we can move some place else. I had 10 students and a couple of leaders do the move and start to bring the lights and things over to store them in one of these containers. Now in the blue one, we found lots of Ram Noodles, and corn fakes. There was around 30 case of noodles and 5 cases of corn fakes. We loaded them up and I took them to Calvary Bible to give to our soup kitchen. Then I we found some new tools, rakes, shovels and three wheel borrows plus some other things. So like I said the students started putting the lights and things into this one container. Today I will take some pictures to show what I am trying to explain. Over all we should finish this today, by God's grace and helping us.
Mean while the other groups have been going to different places, Ranfurly Home, Elizabeth Estates Home, All Saints, two different schools and Bilney Lane Children's Home. So you can see they have been doing ministry and work at all of these site. I am sorry but I really have not been part of these places. If I was, you would see pictures. I have been trying to keep the buses running and keeping the students I have busy as much as I can. So the pictures are few. Maybe some of the leaders can share some with me?
Just to let you know our Jungle Bus last night had some problems. The battery went dead and now have a flat tyre on the front. So today guess what I will be doing? Oh I think you have a idea?

Wednesday, January 05, 2011

This is all about Him Jesus Christ.

The reason I say this is, there is no way we could have gotten this far with out Him. Just think 154 people, two different locals, three buses.
Monday the 100 came in. We put all the luggage on the large bus. Then used the two smaller buses for the people (100), it all worked out. They all got back to the Camp, and unloaded. Then got them over to the Centre for lunch and letting them see what we do here. Mean while the group that is staying at the hotel. They spent their day at the Straw Market. Plus just looking around down town.
At around 1pm we had every one at the Centre. We did some explaining and just letting them know the rules and pretty much just having a time to get to know each other. They went around and check the place out and even went in the play ground to slide down our slide. It all came together.
Back in Oct when Mike, Marty and myself were talking about trying to get this all together. I just looked at both of them and said, what ever. I really not sure how this is going to work out.
Monday night we all had a nice dinner, pork chops, potatoes, peaches for desert. Then we all came back to the Camp to get everyone ready for tomorrow. Set up the coolers and got the group that was going back to the hotel their stuff to take with them.
Yesterday, John had the hotel group, they went to Ranferly Home. David took one of our groups to All Saints Camp. I stayed here and took around 45 to Adventure Learning Centre. Here they took down Christmas lights and all that deals with that. By 1pm they have pretty much gotten them all down.
Mark helped out with the testing of the lights. He though, why put the burned out ones back in storage? So he set up about 20 girls to test them all. It all really worked out great. By the pictures below you can see some of them working. The guy sitting in the van is Mike, he is the one over seeing all of this and he is just in hog heaven. I spent some time with him yesterday, driving around making sure everyone is in good shape.
Last night dinner was not as nice. The reason is it was called the Feast Of Nations. The reason it is called that. 8 people get steak, potatoes and pretty much anything they wanted. the rest only got rice. This shows how USA is so rick and spoiled, then the rest of the world is so poor. Plus there was a lot more. But it shows these kids, what happens in the world each day and how we live well.
Then we had another bomb fire. Boy it really was neat to see it go up and how the kids just loved it. They sang songs and had time for a devotion then a time of prayer.
Today we will see what happen and I know I will be praising my Lord again tonight.

It is Wednesday today, Hump Day.





Jeanne saw this place and had to stop.

This restaurant in on Rt. 60 heading from 95 to downtown Vero Beach. Autumn's Crab .  Walked in and sat down. Really kind of quiet for b...