The Kettle Miracle

So some of you know that I LOVE coffee!   I have been called a coffee snob by some but I don't know if I would go that far.  I have several different ways of making coffee but my favorite is to use my bodum (you can watch the video if you are visual)   For those who are not accustomed to using a french press to make coffee let me quickly give you a lesson on how to make the BEST coffee!   Boil water, put 2T per 8 oz of water, let brew for 4 min. (no more or it will be bitter)   Perfect coffee!!!

I won this for having an Epicure party.  It is insulated and  I love it!

You have the instructions so you know that the first step is right?   Boil the water.  Okay,I am Canadian and we love electric kettles.  They are a super fast way of boiling water.   I have one the kinds that shut off automatically.

So yesterday I go to make coffee,  I flick the switch and... nothing happens!!   No power!   WHAT??!  Oh no, no no.... I try it again.  I hit it (yes you read that right, I smack it on the side:  hard since that often works) and no power!  I try another outlet and still no power.  I sigh.  I think to myself, "Oh drat, I hope I can find another one here on the island!"  We don't have Walmart, and the things the grocery store gets in are often very random.

Now I know what you are thinking:  just put water in the pot and boil it.  I don't like that.  It takes too long and also sometimes when I pour the  boiled water into my bodum it splashes me.  So I opt to use my Moka Pot which is my second favourite way to drink coffee.

Still I am eyeing my kettle sadly.. What a shame.  What a shame!!  I had planned on taking it to my electrical friend Don to get him to test the plug.   I am just not willing to go buy another one!!  (we are on a budget plus I am cheap!)

So here we are now, this morning at 5:45.  I am ready to make coffee.  I just instinctively go to my kettle and click the button.  Nothing!!  Oh drat.  I repeat all the above steps:  I hit it hard, I try another plug in and I am bemoaning it.  I say O Lord this is terrible!   Then this thought occurs to me:  take out some of the water!  I think to myself, well why not?  It can't hurt!

 And guess what?  I do it and I try the switch and IT WORKS!!!!!!!   I burst out laughing.   HALLELUJAH!

Hallelujah!!!

A miracle?  I think so!   The Lord can do anything!!  I mean really why would taking water out of an electric kettle make it work?  I talked to my friend Don and he said he doesn't know why pouring water out would make it work.

Why would putting mud on your eye make you see?  (John 9: 1-7)

  Why would passing around bread and fish feed 4000? (Matt 14:15-21)

Why fill up large jugs with water to serve at a wedding feast? (Luke 14:7-14)

 Why was there a coin in a fish's mouth???   (Matt. 17: 24-27)

Because He loves to test us to see if we will actually do what He says!  It takes faith to obey. When He says something:  do it!

 I could have said, "Nah I am not taking water out of that kettle, that won't help!  It doesn't make sense!" I did it and then HE DID THE REST!   Nothing is too hard for Him. Many things that  Jesus asks us to do don't make sense ... to us.

I am going to make a second cup of coffee:  cheers and blessings to you and yours in the New Year!
And for the record:
Yes the water boiled but it didn't turn into wine... maybe next time!  

Because We Care Food Drive 2012

We are so grateful to all those who donated to Because We Care!!  We had several fundraisers at various restaurants and we want to say  to thanks Bananarama, Infinity Bay, Cal's Cantina, Blue Bahia, Mayoka Lodge for hosting them!

We are also grateful to those who came into the Made in Roatan shop and donated in our 'calabash' donation container.    We appreciate every donation.  And lastly, we thank our friends and family who send us very generous donations that really helped to make our goal of reaching 1,500 a reality.

To one and all:  thanks!
I personally would like to thank Nidia Webster for helping to organize and coordinate contacts in each community who  give us lists of the poorest of the poor.   Thanks for spear heading this Nidia.  We love you and thank God for you!!
This year  we had a two day drive with very long hours and I was once again astounded by the cheerful 'elves' who helped out tirelessly!!   What a team!!!!

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we fed about 1,500 families!!  

an awesome team of volunteers

 The first day of our drive we went into  Mud Hole, Corazal, Hottest Sparrow, Wild Cane, Man Trap, Brass Hill, Spring Garden, Isla Bonita, Flowers Bay, the Barrinche in West End.

the mom's waiting to get their bag of food and one sheet at Mud Hole

some gifts were small like sunglasses but they were still happy

even the dogs were happy!

it was good to visit with old friends and share His love

these kids at  Corazol were so happy with their toys

this little girl at Hottest Sparrow was delighted with this sweet sucker

Can you imagine making a living collecting garbage?  that is what these people do.  they were so happy to get food

the people of wild cane walking home with their bags of food

you can see there is just as much joy in giving as in receiving

Just to give you an idea of what happened at each location this is what we did.   There was a caravan of about 8 vehicles loaded with either food, sheets, candy or toys.   We would pull up to find people patiently waiting for us.   First things first was candy for the kids from Santa.   Then we would hop in the back of the truck and hand out age appropriate toys for kids from ages baby to about 10 years old.   After the kids were happily eating candy and playing with toys we would gather the adults and Nidia would check her list.   Each person was called forward and they would recieve a bag of food and essentials that would last about a week, and they were also given a sheet (donated from the cruise ship)  There was, of course, always more people there that were on our list and we are grateful to have extra to give to those who came.

Our second day we donned our santa hats, prayed for strength and grace and headed out to El Swampo, Crawfish Rock, El Higuero,  Milton Bight, Pollitilly Bight, Punta Gorda (thanks to Catherine and Alex for being willing to pick up the food for that) and Lucy Point.   I know that it because of the kindness and support of many of you, that kids went to bed with a smile on their faces, sweetness on their lips and a toy by their side.  I know Mom's were able to make food not only for Christmas Day but throughout the week.   But more then anything I know that many had HOPE that He has not forgotten them.   It was a special blessing to me to be able to share with many about His great love and His mercies that are new every morning.  No matter what:  He is faithful.

At El Swampo (photo by Marion Seaman)

Driving to Crawfish Rock

The kids sang to us, my favorite was "This is the Day that the Lord has made"

Crawfish character

Beautiful mom and baby.  we  were able to hand out clothe donations to many 

El Higuero

Pastor Alex and his wife from Punta Gorda took enough food for 60 families.

Our words cannot convey the JOY it was to give in this way and to support people who often live in such remote areas that they are overlooked.   The people hugged us, thanked us, thanked God and went home with HOPE!

Thanks again for playing a part!  I wish you all could have been standing beside us.  Perhaps next year??   :-)

Jumping IN!

a lovely day for a walk!

One of our favorite things to do on a Sunday is to visit with our friends at West Bay beach and then go for a long invigorating snorkel.  Well truth be told, I think the water is too cold these days and with all the rain it has been too murky.   But we still love to go to the beach and walk together, unwinding, visiting with friends along the way and enjoying some downtime.

One Sunday I noticed some kids jumping off the dock at the end of West Bay (by Fosters)   I went over to talk to them.  I asked if they would jump again so I could photograph them.  There was alot of attitude and cockiness about being able to jump.  "Oh yeah I kin do dat.   I kin jump alright!"  But was anyone actually going to do it??  I dissed them about being all talk and no action.   And one guy said, " Miss you gots lots a 'tude too."  Oh yes I do.  "So are you just going to stand there or are you going to jump??!"

They jumped!!!  Here are some photos of their exploits.

bob waiting patiently .. as usual

yes that was a belly flop!!!!!  OUCH!!

you can see by how big that splash is that she landed full out!