SURPRISE!!! Furlough in Texas.

For the past few months we have been planning our furlough in Texas. Through prayer and discussion we also decided to surprise our families with a much needed extended time during the holidays. We shared with our family that we would be returning on Dec 4 for Christmas but bought tickets for Nov 13. This would allow us to also spend Thanksgiving with our family and friends. As we put out our need for transportation, housing and finances there was a need of secrecy for the surprise. This created a particular challenge since we couldn't use the typical means of communication through social media etc. Through prayers of many to our Father, finances for our airline tickets and transportation was provided quickly. Father decided to notify us of our housing on Nov 12 the day before we returned. He always has perfect timing.
This set the stage for the video above where there was a birthday party planned for Jeffrey's brother Chris at a restaurant. Jodi's parents were also invited to the same restaurant by some friends for dinner. To both of the families surprise they were at the same place on the same night. Our flight landed at 4:15pm, some friends met us at the airport and drove us to the restaurant where we waited to see everyone arrive. As you can see from the video it was a sweet time of basking in the love from our family our Father has provided. Thank you to all that prayed for this time and continue to pray.

Zachary One Year Later

 

Zachary loves to dance with his sister Allison. Wanted to update you on Zachary. If you remember a year ago we took him to the hospital here in Jamaica because he continued to throw up. They ran some test did a spinal tap, admitted him for 24 hours and treated him. There is a little more to it than that but you can read about it in an earlier post from last year.  We left the hospital with no problems. We thank God for protecting Zachary and answering our prayers for a healthy boy. 

Teams, Teams, Teams........

So far this year we have been very, very busy!!! We have another team coming in on Mother's Day, who are a group of speech therapists, and will be with us for 2 weeks!!!! They will spend half their time with an autistic school, as well as here at the CCCD campus.  We have had numerous teams, ??? to be exact.  We've hosted many friends and visitors, too!!!! It has been a pleasure to meet so many people, even off the cruise ships who "pop-in" for a quick visit.

     Jeffrey has been in his new "role" for just over a year and 3 months and is doing a marvelous job.  Many different projects have tackled, started and completed in his time as "Acting Campus Manager", or as I refer to as "Head Hauncho!"

   We celebrated Erin's 9th ,Zachary's 1st and my ??? birthday in the last several weeks in between all the teams. The kiddos have been doing great overall with homeschooling and welcoming in the work teams!!! They thrive when they are here.  Our family truly enjoys the teams. Bubba likes to be the supervisor. Pickle and Allison like to set up a lemonade/water stand for the teams!!!! Lexi likes to get out there and help especially when she doesn't have to do school work. No worries, she makes up for it later! Erin loves to take pictures of the teams working.  Can't forget about little Zachary....he's so close to walking all on his own. He has been a trooper, being the youngest family member to grow up in this hot, humid place. He's developed quite a personality, is learning sign language and is learning to talk as well!!!! It's never a dull moment in the Daniel household!!!!

  We've had some trials on campus that have made us stop and wonder why we are having to endure this....but we know that God has brought us here and He's not through with us yet so we persevere and walk in faith that He's in control and not man, He's our Rock and our Fortress, Our Protector, our Healer and Our Provider...Whom shall I fear? God's got this!!!  Who are we to doubt it??? He never promises that life will be easy, fair, or a bed of roses!!! We just ask that you continually lift up our family in prayer. We are so grateful for the love, generosity, and thoughtfulness.  We appreciate those who give prayerfully and financially which allows us to be here on the battlefield for our Lord!!! -Jodi