Sleeping bag wrestling with Daddy

Wrestling in the living room was the first celebration of the summer. Drew was trying to pin Kent. They looked like big caterpillars scooting around the floor. Ahh, Family time!

Daystar's class trip.

Well, I am happily back home with my family now but what an awesome trip we had. I took Daystar's 8 high school girls to Washington DC for a week, along with Sherly Nabozny, good friend and great navigator! We took off Sunday night about 9:00 p.m. and drove through the night, arriving at Gettysburg about 9:00a.m. We soaked in the history and felt moved as history became alive and more real to us as we stood where so many had fallen. Next we drove on to Arlington and watched the changing of the guard as well as some presentations of honor to the soldier by means of wreaths. We finished up our first night with The Wall and Lincoln Memorial. The next two days we took in DC and all of it's wonder.
After 3 days in the city we were all ready for some nature. We went white water rafting down the Shenandoah River then camped on a mountain (near Camp David). It was primitive camping with the only amenities being a pit toilet (housing a spider the size of my palm and a mouse who walked about the seat at will. I found out I can hold my bladder a long time.) and a pump. After a roasted hot dog and s'more supper we began devotions Sherly tuned it over to the girls and as they began their testimonies God settled down on that mountain top in a way that still brings me to tears. One by one the girls began to pour out their hearts and then started ministering to each other. Revival broke out and needs started being met. Sherly and I stood back in awe of how God was working in and through these girls. What a humbling and awesome
experience. Abby told of her fears and how she would start singing "Jesus, Jesus" and his presence would drive away all those fears. We wept in His presence and finished the evening by dropping to our knees ( at Abby's request), raising our hands and hearts before Him and praising God for who He is. GOD IS SO AMAZING!
We cleaned up camp and settled in to sleep. Some in a tent, some in the van, and the brave ones out under the stars. In the morning the girls found two 4" centipede squished under their pillows and I found one still alive in an unexpected place. I went to wash my hair under the pump and felt a twig in my hair I threw it on the ground and it crawled away. AHHHHHHHHHHHH! It had slept in my bun all night. Maybe it was God's joke on me after I pranked Jerusha the night before with a tuna fish s'more, yes, she bit it. That was funny! Whatever it was it was nasty. Also I was the one to have a snake (4 1/2 foot black rat snake) slither by my side the next day as we hiked up the mountain.
All in all it was an awesome trip. I thank God for the opportunity. If you really want to get to know people go on a road trip with them. There are always challenges but I am so proud of our girls and I will never forget meeting God on the mountain top.

End of the school year.

Well It's over, my first year as the upper learning center Supervisor. It has been a good year. Full of learning and growing. I never would have made it without my mentors and my husband standing along side, always ready with advise or just a hug of encouragement.
I find it interesting how you can go through a whole year with little problems and then at the end of the year, Wham, something crazy comes along. I think I learned more the last week of school than I did the whole year. I found out it isn't always easy being the responsible and authoritative one. I knew this before but somethings need experienced not just known. I learned what it's like to be disappointed by unexpected sources, and I learned I can make it through with God's and friends(including my best friend, Drew) help. I learned a lot of good things too. Girls I had tried to reach all year opened up during Convention. It was awesome! One way this happened was writing notes back and forth to a girl sitting 3 feet away, and it was nothing secretive it was just the way she felt easy communicating. I had forgot the art of note passing but I am glad she let me back in on it. I love ACE convention. It brings out so much about people you never would have known other wise. I was so proud to watch all of our girls medal at State Convention several of them medaled many times. More importantly I had the honor of walking up to the alter and praying with 2 of our girls. God is so Good. I can see God working in lives and I love watching that struggle of becoming a young lady and growing up, it's not easy, but I am so glad i can point them to a Heavenly Father who is there to guide and help and most of all never let them down.
He has never let me down either, not one time. I look forward to more years of teaching young people to strive to be their best so in the end, as our scripture says, " I have not run in vain, neither labored in vain." Thank you to everyone out there who held me up in prayer this year. I know God was listening.
The next step for me is actually one more school trip. Sheryl Nabozny and I will be taking 8 girls to Washington DC for 5 days. We are ending the trip with some white water rafting down the Shenandoah River. AWESOME!!! I am looking forward to it. The only glitch was when Katie came up to me and said, "Mom, what would be more fun, going on a trip or being with me?" She broke my heart. We are going to be away from our kids so much this summer it's crazy. God's gonna have to help all of us this summer. We will do our best to grab some good family time every chance we get. Until next time. TTFN
Dana

Taking one for the Team

Drew and I got our shots out of the way. Drew only had to have 3 because of the shots he received in the army but he was quick to volunteer me for a fourth shot that the nurse said was recommended but not required (so sweet of him). I will say that the experience was very pleasantly quick and painless. She was a great nurse. She was pitching spent needles in the bin before I thought she had even given me a shot. All the while she talked about when she went to Africa. She warned us that they would steal our hearts. We already know what that is like :) Drew hadn't had anything to eat so she made him suck down a little juice box before he received his. I missed that picture but was able to capture these lovely poses. Kent was along and enjoying being the one to watch instead of receiving for once.
Today(the day after) all four of the team are comparing sore arms. The shots weren't bad but the day after is a bit surprising. We all feel like our arms have been on the receiving end of a batting contest. Small price to pay. Eyes on the prize!

Visiting with the Chamberlin's

Bro. & Sis. Chamberlin arrived Friday night about 8:00 p.m. We had planned on giving them that first night to settle in and rest but as we shewed them to their room, conversations started and continued on until ..Oh, 11:00 p.m. We were so happy to have them here finally and both sides had so many questions, it was impossible to wait. Mrs. Chamberlin has so much knowledge and stories to tell it was like tapping into an oil field and finding a gusher. :) We soaked in every word.
I have to tell you about Kent ( my son). Our kids have shared our excitement about meeting the Camberlins, but I had no idea the reaction it would invoke on Kent when I called him in from out side and said, "Kent, The Chamberlins are here." He let out a whoop and started running and yelling to his cousin, "THE CHAMBERLINS ARE HERE! THE CHAMBERLINS ARE HERE!" Then he ran into the house, as if Santa had arrived and, much to my big eyed wonder, climbed up beside Mrs. Chamberlin (practically on her lap), wrapped her arm around him, and sat there for the next hour or so patting her hand and hugging on her while we talked. It was a greeting and a half.
We were able to spend the next three days with them, and in that time we learned so much stuff, it was enough to make our heads swirl. Everyone of us enjoyed every minute of it. They are wonderful people and we can't wait to get the four of us over there and start helping out.

Passport

Dana got her passport. Drew's didn't arrive with it but it should be here Monday. Every new step makes it closer and more exciting.The Chamberlins will be here, at our church, next Sunday. We are going to get to spend some time with them and be able to learn more about the mission and how we can help. We can't wait!
We ( the mission team) are trying to meet once a week for a prayer time together. We know that physical preparations for the trip are only part of it. The most important thing is knowing that we have prepared our hearts for the Lord to be able to work in us and though us. This trip is not about us, it is all about a wonderful Saviour, who has done a work in our hearts and has given us a desire to share His love and message with others. Pray for us as the time grows closer that God would make clear our path and keep us ever close to Him.

Our New Baby!

We have a new baby. Just arrived this week. It's a girl! She weighs about 80#'s and is as cute as a button. She is black and white with big, brown eyes and a big, pink nose. Yep my farmer man went to an auction and bought us a baby calf. A couple of days after he bought him, he prepared to get him fixed. As Drew got down in position to do the deed, he discovered that there was nothing to snip. "he" was a she. Hence the name Daisy not Buddy or Buster etc. (don't laugh at my names you should here some of the ones my kids come up with, God help their children) Anyways back to Farmer Drew, well there went that idea, but Daisy was much happier doing without the cruel discomfort Buddy would have had to endoer. So a good day all around.
Katie and I got to feed her a bottle tonight. That was cool, but you've got to watch out because when that bottle runs out a head butt is sure to follow, next comes the sucking on anything she can get her lips around-sleaves, skirts, fingers, whole feet. Yep she's a joy.

Check one,check two.

Our passports have been bought and the plane tickets have been purchased!
This makes things a little more real now.
We are looking at around 24-25 hours of travel.
Some of our stops include New York and Busssels.
Practicing for our 6 hour Layover!

Our Cameroon Plans

Dear Friends and Family, April 13, 2009 Everyone has moments in their lives when something happens that makes them stop and realize that this is going to change their lives forever. For Drew and I one of those moments happened about two years ago. The Chamberlins were holding a missionary service at our church, accompanied by three little orphans from their mission in Cameroon. As they sang and shared their stories they completely stole our hearts. As we sat in the service that day God began to do a work in our hearts. After the service we went home and sat around the table. After a few moments of pushing food around our plates Drew spoke up about how God had been talking to him, and I was excited to be able to say the same. Both of us agreed that we would be willing to go “right now” if we could. Well, we didn’t go right then and as life got busy, thoughts of the mission at Cameroon, though always there, were pushed further back in our minds. God is patient and His timing is perfect. Last year, as we spent a week at our Family Camp at Rock Lake, God began moving on our hearts again and this time it was much stronger and clearer, God was calling us to Cameroon. I cannot explain the overwhelming joy of seeing that God had a plan for us beyond anything we had ever dreamed, and knowing that He had prepared our hearts for this moment. From that time on we began seeking to make this calling more of a reality. We have been in contact with the Chamberlins and the EBM board and have planned a mission trip to Cameroon this summer.The mission we are going to help with is run by Victor and Claudia Chamberlin. They are in charge of a Christian school that teaches between 250- 300 students, as well as an orphanage that houses 15 children now, but has the capacity to house 60 children if they could find sponsors to support them. The Chamberlins have been faithful missionaries for many years and are now in their 80’s and desperately in need of some help. We are excited to be able to go and help out for a few weeks. We will be leaving for Cameroon around June 19th, and be there for about 3 weeks. We are blessed to be going with two of our friends, Sheryl Nabozny and her daughter, Haley, who also share a heart for missions. We will be leaving our children in the care of their grandparents for this trip. Kent and Katie are excited about the possibility of getting to live in Cameroon someday, if the Lord so leads, along with some reservations, like leaving cousins and friends for more than a week, but they are excited about being missionaries and helping the orphans and school children in Cameroon.We ask that, as we begin this journey, you would keep us in your prayers. We have many details to work out and costs to cover such as plane tickets, visas, passports, vaccinations, etc. We would also like to take over some supplies and needed items for the mission.We would like everyone to share in this adventure with us as much as possible, so we have set up a BlogSpot so you can follow along with us as we prepare, and later when we are over there. We will do our best to update with pictures and information as we have opportunity.We thank God for the way He is helping us, and are assured that where He has called us He will provide a way. If you would like to help us financially as we begin this journey we would greatly appreciate it. You can send your support to one of the addresses below. Most of all we covet your prayers and hope you share in this excitement by visiting our blog and letting us hear from you. Thank you for your time and prayers.
In His Service,
Drew and Dana Herring

You can send support to us directly by sending it to:
Drew Herring
2141 80th Ave
Evart, MI 49631

If you would like to receive a receipt for tax exempt purposes send to:
Evart Bible Methodist Church
3976 80th Ave
Evart, MI 49631
(Memo- Drew & Dana mission trip)

If you would like to find out more about our trip or the Chamberlin’sand their mission work, here are some links you can visit:
http://cameroon-thejourney.blogspot.com/Our blog for this trip
http://cameroonforjesus.org/This is the Chamberlin’s website.
http://www.ebminternational.com/This is the ministry that the Chamberlin’s work through.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limbe,_CameroonInformation on Limbe, Cameroon. Also feel free to contact us at drewherring78@hotmail.com

11 years and counting

Yesterday Drew and I celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary. Our song since the beginning has been.. Looks Like We Made It, by Shania Twain.

Looks like we made it,
Look how far we've come my baby.
I'm glad we didn't listen
Look at what we would be missing.
They said, "I'll bet they'll never make it."
But just look at us holding on,
We're still together still going strong.

You're still the one, still the one I run to,
The one that I belong to,
Your still the one I want for life,
You're still the one, still the one that I love,
The only one I dream of,
You're still the one I kiss goodnight,
You're still the one.

I am know there were plenty that didn't think we would make it, but thank God for the rest of you, who were true friends, that stood by us and held us up in prayer. Now today, by the grace of God, we stand together, still loving each other and enjoying every moment of lives that were meant to be shared together.

Along with that some of you may know that God has been talking to Drew and I about going to Cameroon to help with a mission school and orphanage there. We are planning on taking a three week trip over there this summer in June and trust the Lord to lead us with more future plans after that. We are excited and hoping to be able to tell you more specific plans soon. Your prayers are greatly appreciated. Until next time, and hopefully that wont be a 1/2 a year from now like last time, TTFN & ta ta for now.
Dana