Vaccination Day

It's December 2nd = vaccination day for Katie and Kent. Leading up to this day I was happy to tell them that when this nurse gave me my shots (5), before my trip to Cameroon, they were almost completely painless (they do a very good job at the Midland County Health Department). This seemed to be a great encouragement to them. :)

They were in high spirits when we first arrived, Katie read a book and Kent enjoyed posing sorrowfully for the camera. Then reality started to hit and even though they knew they were getting off easy with just one shot, it was still a SHOT!

As we entered the room Kent skillfully maneuvered so Katie would get the privilege of going first. She did a good job and was rewarded with a sparkly band aid.

It was a mistake to have Kent go last, his courage had crumbled a bit after peeking past me and seeing his sister receive her shot. He climbed up on my lap and held on with a few tears rolling down his cheeks and let me know he was scared but soon the deed was done and he also received a cool band aid and sticker.

It didn't take long for his good spirits to return and soon they were both showing off their muscles, stickers, and (if I would have let them)blood. The final comment came from Kent, of coarse, who said, "Wow, I am glad we don't have to get those "visas"(meaning vaccinations) every year. She was slow (this was said with actions). I wish she would have just popped me one quick and been done. Whew, I am glad those visas are over!"

Ah, the things we do for Jesus!

(For more pictures see my facebook-dana derscheid herring)

Good Friends, Good Fellowship, Great God

Mid September we were able to share the experience of crossing the boarder into Canada with our children. It was their first time leaving America and even though it wasn't that far out of the country it was a big deal for them. Kent said, "we get to use our passports for the first time!" and we practiced asking questions of him that the boarder patrol might be asking. He took the job very seriously but when it came time to cross over they never even asked him anything.
It was an exciting trip for them and they kept asking, "is this what it will be like in Cameroon?" :)
For Drew and I it turned out to be a wonderful blessing. The Dawn Valley Church Family were wonderful and such an encouragement. It was great to be able to spend some time with them. Seth and Heidi Wetherald put us up for the night and after a delicious Sunday dinner we sat around talking and enjoying the company. It is one of those times were you just thank God for the blessing of good friends that we are able to connect with.
I believe God cares very much about our relationships. He knows the power and strength that is found in true friendship and he blesses our lives with them to keep us encouraged and reminded that God's people everywhere.

God's Birthday Gift to Katie

September has been a great month. It has been filled with a variety of things. We were able to celebrate 3 birthdays, Drew's, Katie's & mine. I was praying that God would help me to make Katie's last birthday in the states very special and full of good memories with her friends to carry with her as we head off to Cameroon and He helped it to all work out. I was reminded of how we don't need to beg and plead for God to be good to us. God is a gracious and generous Heavenly Father who delights to give His children good gifts. Now we might not always get what we want and when we want it but that is also because He is a good Father. He knows what is best and He knows our hearts needs and that day He saw the desires of a little girl getting ready for a big change in her life and knew her need. I believe He was just as delighted as I was to see the smiles and laughter of a little 12 year old girl and her friends that day. He gave her the gift of good friendship and a day of great memories. I am so thankful for His goodness. He cares for everyone of us and is always present. What a joy to serve such a God as ours!

July: Celebrations, Camps, and Connections!

God Bless the USA! At a reunion the other day someone started to lead out in "God Bless America" and I was shocked when someone else said, "No one is going to know that song," thankfully it continued and most everyone did know it.
I have always been patriotic and I believe Christians should be the best citizens. As thoughts of leaving this land I love for Cameroon wash over me I realize that even this wonderful country is not our true home, we are citizens of another country, Heaven. Now, while we are here below, may we do our best to be lights to all around us and keep Christ as the centerpiece of this gift we call America.
July 8th Drew will be a delegate for our church at general conference then July 9th-18th will be Family Camp at Rock Lake Bible Methodist Campgrounds begins. We are looking forward to it so much. When we come with seeking hearts God never fails to show up! Drew will be running the sound booth again this year, and I look forward to helping him there.
The following week we are looking forward to heading down to Illinois to be a part of the Crusader's Family Camp. Drew was blessed to meet some gentlemen who were part of the crew that roofed the orphanage in Cameroon and we look forward to getting to know them better.
What a full month but we look forward to what God is going to do.

Challenge and Blessing Time

The past 3-4 weeks has not been an easy time for us. Different medical things have popped up as well as some work challenges that are to be expected when working in Drew's line of work which is with the abused and neglected house of a juvenile delinquents home. It can be a very rewarding work but it comes with many stresses and disappointments as well as needing to be aware of some physical threats as well. The past month seemed to hit with one thing after another and we were having trouble, like all of us do from time to time, keeping our smiles on, but also in this time God has been bringing blessing as well.
As December seems to be getting closer and finances are on the mind we were blessed by a call from Drew's parents to hire him to re-roof their house. Not only was this a financial blessing but also a good family time as we all climbed up the ladder at some point to help tear off or lay new shingles down. What a blessing during this time to have Bro. Bob Picket join in on the last two days when they were really pushing to get it done.
Also during that week we were able to go out to dinner with Anne Decker and John & Chris Buntain as well as their daughter, Elizabeth. What an encouragement and night of learning that was. We know they are a God sent to us. With Anne's cheerful outlook and John & Chris' straightforward common sense approach we left feeling refreshed and ready to go.
The latest blessing came from my dentist's hygienist just 2 days ago. Our dentist has a wonderful office team that makes you feel like one of the family, and as she asked me how everything was going medically and found out I was dealing with shingles she asked if it was stress induced and then proceeded to tell me about a speaker she had just heard that talked about stress being a symptom of having our eyes too much on self and not enough on God. We try to fix things and do things instead of just letting God take it and fill the need. I realized I needed to be hearing this and by the time my teeth were shined and polished I felt like I had just been in a church service. Isn't God Good?
God is preparing us and we thank Him that He never leaves us to stumble along but give us what we need for the next step. God is Good, All the Time!

Much has happened since my last posting. We have visited with the wonderful people of Whispering Pines w/ Rev. Joey Kretoski, Village Park Bible Methodist in IN w/ Rev. Stetler, Bible Methodist Church also in IN w/ Rev. Decker, Hilltop Chapel B.M. w/ Rev. Rosa, Greenville B.M. w/ Rev. Johnson, Ironwood B.M. w/ Rev. Jason Lindahl where we were graced with Bro. Sam Lindahl singing "Please Don't send me to Africa" which gave us all a good laugh and made us feel at home, and lastly we were able to hold a children's service at the Reed City Nazarene Church w/ where our friends Jim & Reah Quales are assisting. That was a fun service! 40 little guys from preschool to 5th grade. Drew was more nervous about that then our other services :)
After Youth camp this next week we are scheduled to be at Garfield Country Church w/ Rev. Seth and Heidi Wetherald so we are really looking forward to that!

Cedar Springs Service

Last night we enjoyed being with our friends at Pilgrim Bible Church in Cedar Springs, MI. It was good to be with some old friends that we don't get to see too much. The nerves were a bit better and the kids were given a break from singing, due to time, so they were happy, expecially since their cousin, Alissa came along to keep them company.
I am loving going around to different churches and catching up with people that I have lost touch with. I am reminded of just how much God has blessed my life.
Kent was told he reminded some of Grandpa Derscheid and I received the compliment of being told I reminded some people of my father & others of my mother, I only wish I could be more like her. I was reminded by some of how they admire my parents and I thanked God again for the heritage He has allowed me to have. Both Drew and I are blessed. We can only pray God helps us to pass on a good heritage to our children as well.
Many thanks to Bro. & Sis. Bullock for allowing us to come and share and for haing us into their home for some good fellowship and refreshments.

Our First Deputaion Services

This Sunday, March 21st, was a special day. Not only was it our 12th Anniversary but also our first deputation services. We began the morning out at Pine Grove Tabernacle with our friends and pastor Bro. Darwin Mowat and his wife Joan. What a beautiful way to begin our services. They were so warm and friendly. They even brought us Anniversary cards and Bro. Darwin prayed over us that God would bless our marriage, we felt right at home. They closed the service by having our family come forward and praying over us. We felt so blessed. Mrs. Joan is a wonderful cook and filled us with an awesome chicken dinner and a choice of pies. We appreciated everything. As for our first service there were a few bumps, starting with pictures disappering from our slide show before service but with some quike work Drew was able to correct that before we got started. Thank the Lord!
In the evening we were able to be with the Bible Methodist church family in Rock Lake. It was again nice to be surrounded by friendly, familiar faces. The kids did great but were feeling the long day. The Lord helped though the service and as we closed Bro. Titus blessed us with encouragement and prayer. It was wonderful to be able to talk with some I have know all my life but only get to see a few times a year. The words of encouragement were like gas in the tank-we left there feeling excited to keep going. We thank the Lord for His blessings in allowing us to have such a special start.
Next service is scheduled to be at Cedar Springs Pilgrim Bible Church on Easter Sunday night. We are looking forward to it.