Started the day with one of my boys standing at the screen door of the classroom and burping very loudly. So it goes...
Dickie and I have given up trying to dry clothes on the line. I now go the laundrymat each Friday afternoon or Saturday morning. Last Friday Dickie went with me and we were sitting outside reading while our clothes washed and dried. Will and Teresa passed by on their way to Youth at Calvary and saw us out there. They got a real chuckle out of that sight.
We have new neighbors at the Ranch. Ms. Grell (Kindergarten teacher) and Ms. Hunt (1st grade) have moved in with their daughters (6 yrs. and 4 yrs.) Needless to say, the apartment bulding has come to life! We are one big happy family! I told the little girls that if my door is open they are welcome to come in. The other afternoon I was cooking bacon and eggs and they knocked on the door and said "We smell bacon! Do you have any extra bacon, Mrs. Rhea?!" So I let them come in and have one piece each and told them the rest was for Mr. Rhea. They are really cute and a joy to have around. I even got to read them a bedtime story the other night.
The boys and sweet Rebecca come to visit 4 weeks from Saturday! I can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!

The Lord knows how to encourage us just when we need it! This was brought in by one of my little girl students this week:
"Jesus is great because He has done a lot of things for us. He saved us from our sins. He helped us wake up in the morning. He helped us sleep in the night. And He helps us do our work. He is strong and He is the Lamb of God. I even believe in Him so much that I will never forget about Him. And He's my Savior. And He created the world. I love my christian school. We talk about Him every day."
That pretty much says it all!!

We are receiving a lot of information about relief projects in Haiti. It seems there are many aftershocks occurring, and the conditions are still dangerous. A cargo ship is coming by St. John in 2 weeks, so our island is in the process of collecting needed items to go over. We are also aware of a flotilla of yachts going to Haiti soon. These boats hope to reach the parts of the island not receiving help from Red Cross and others. Check out Good Samaritan Haiti online.

It's been somewhat of an adjustment to return here after being in the States for over 2 weeks. We thoroughly enjoyed our time at home seeing family and friends. The time away from home has put a lot of things into perspective, and caused me to appreciate more about my life than I did before. Like I've said before, God is certainly using this time to teach me about myself, other people, and Him. One thing has been on my mind lately: I don't want this time of special service to become mundane and routine. I call it "special service" because we left home to serve here for a very specific time; however, wherever we are living at the moment is where we should serve Him. So, even though we "come down the hill" each day to work at the same job, I want to remain fresh in my outlook for opportunities to be a witness, and to keep the same attitude when I return home. Hope some of this makes sense.

I want to go to Haiti! I feel so sorry for those people, especially the children. We are off 5 days at Easter, and if there were any way to get there, I would go. God will lead.

If anyone wants to come down for a visit, let us know. The Newcomer Motel is open to all!

Wow! So much has happened since I last wrote! We enjoyed a wonderful trip home to see friends and family. Stephen and Rebecca had an engagement party in Birmingham, and we met all of her family - very large and wonderful! Since we have returned to St. John, it's been mostly school and more school. We did meet this week with some folks God has brought to this island who have the connections and resources to build a sanctuary - very exciting! We attended a movie (my first here) on St. Thomas last Saturday with youth from Calvary and had lots of fun. Dickie is teaching at Three Sail church each Sun. morning in January and anywhere else he is needed. We will go Sat. to help Calvary members clean up the piece of land they have on the beach. There will be a community family outreach there at the end of this month. We will make visits for that this Sun. afternoon. Tonight, Pastor Terrence Jones and his wife, Sharon, are coming up to the Ranch for dinner and a long overdue visit. He is pastor at Grace Baptist on St. Thomas. So, I must get to the store to find something to eat tonight!!
We are very burdened about Haiti. Would like to go there someday to help out.

So much happening...Had a nice relaxing Friday night with Claire and Stuart. After Will and Teresa left us at dinner to head to Calvary, we took the kids for ice cream, rented movies, then went to their house to watch movies and last episode of Monk. They are dear children! I slept most of the day Saturday...not feeling 100%. Still have health issues but am having some testing done this month. I'm sure it's minor. Thoroughly enjoyed the AL and FL match but didn't expect FL to perform so poorly. TX game was good also. Sun. morning Dickie spoke at Three Sails. We met at a nice home out on the deck by the pool. Dickie kicked off his flip-flops and taught the lesson barefoot. Next Sunday he will be back in long-sleeved shirt and tie. Ya gotta go with the flow! Like I've said before, flexibility is the key. Sunday evening we attended Cruz Bay then went out to eat with Will and Teresa. It was a good time for us to regroup, compare notes, and discuss some things we need to commit to prayer. Dickie and I will attend a pastor's meeting on St. Thomas Tues. night to make 2010 plans with them. We hope to have some ideas and dates for Calvary Tupelo people who are interested in coming down between January and May. Can't wait to come home in 2 weeks!!!!

We had a beautiful sail to the British Virgin Islands over the Thanksgiving Holidays with the Newcomers. They are so generous to share their boat with us and it was a neat experience. We attended the "Singspiration" last Sunday afternoon at Calvary Baptist Church. Mark this down - the Newcomers and Rheas (Rheacomers) were asked to get up and sing a song, and we did! Life is an adventure. Had a good first Advent Bible Study with Three Sails group on Tuesday night. Teresa led and did a great job. We will meet on Tuesdays during December. I'm trying to get into the Christmas spirit, but it's hard when the temperature is in the 80's, and we can go swimming any afternoon. Must get my Christmas list out and get started soon.
It's interesting to be this close to Christmas and not feel the stress of it. Our decorations consist of a red bow and a string of lights. There is no Christmas baking to do because my oven doesn't work. Maybe it's better to focus on the real meaning than on all the "extras" we pile on ourselves during the holidays.
Counting the days till we go home on the 21st. I can't wait to see my boys!!!
Spent some time in the clinic last night and this morning. Been having chest pain but we've ruled out heart and lungs. Probably just gas! Will wait and see what develops.
Please pray for patience with my second-graders at this time. They are all worked up about the holidays and discipline problems seem to escalate.
Thanks for reading!!

Still very hot here - supposed to be high 80s - 90 this week. We are excited about going on a Thanksgiving sail with the Newcomers. They didn't want me moping around missing the boys, so they are taking us to the British Virgin Islands nearby. Looking forward to seeing the sights - just hope I don't get seasick!
Dickie is speaking at Three Sails Church this Sunday. They're the church I told you about before that met on the beach, but now Park and Rec has asked them to leave that area. They have met in 4 locations in 4 years! Now they are meeting in the home next door to Will and Teresa. How awesome is that!! God definitely has a plan. The Newcomers will begin an advent Bible Study in their home on Tuesday nights beginning next week. We have met so many people and it's nice to have someplace to invite them to worship and study. Can't wait to see where God takes this.
I have a quote I use down here at times: "Where am I?" I use it when things happen like driving down the road in the dark and almost hitting a huge cow by the side of the road; when I see a large iguana at school; when I see a head of cauliflower that costs $8.50; when I try to understand people who speak at least 3 different Caribbean dialects!