Redeemed!

A Visit from Mom n Pops! During Purdue’s fall break Dad was able to get away from campus for a few days and visit us in Kingston. My whole family was able to visit in March of 2010 but my life looks a bit different than it did back then…we loved having Mom and Dad here and giving them the opportunity to see what normal, day to day life is like for Tashi and I. We spent time both at CCCD and LMG and also a long weekend in the countryside at Pauline’s. Hopefully we can do this again!

The story of Ruth provides a glimpse of Jesus, in that Boaz redeemed her though she had not a penny to her name. It was an act of faith by both, and blessed of God as they became the line of Jesus, our Eternal Redeemer.

In Hosea we also glimpse Jesus, in that Hosea was willing to obey God’s command to marry a sinful woman and then when she was unfaithful, he redeemed and reclaimed her.

Just as Ruth told Naomi “your people will be my people, and your God my God” so God commanded through Hosea that “not His people” can become children of the living God!

We too are REDEEMED! Despite our unworthiness, our complete lack of a penny to our name, and despite our unfaithfulness to the Lord, He has purchased us. Praise Him!

SNAPSHOT OF THE LAST FEW MONTHS Oct 7-12 – Mom and Dad Widmer visit!!! Oct 20-27 – Our Savior Deaf Church visits for a week and Hurricane Sandy hits Jamaica Nov 10 – ACWR partners with New Life Church of the Deaf for a service day at New Hope Children’s Home in Mandeville Nov 19 – Tashi and I attend the Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities Inaugural Disability Friendly Awards Gala, a black tie affair for which I had to rent a tux! But I did enjoy interpreting for the Prime Minister of Jamaica and Canada’s Lieutenant Governor Nov 23-24 – Tashi and I volunteer as officials for the 3rd annual National Deaf Sports Day Nov 25 – My first Thanksgiving without some form of large gathering Dec 8 – Appreciation Banquet for three retired CCCD Knockpatrick servants, Mrs. deMercado, Mrs. Jones and Ms. Wright; planned and hosted by Tashi and fellow alumni Dec 13 – CCCD Christmas banquet festivities Dec 15-16 – Weekend in the countryside Dec 18-19 – Travel home, then visit Leo and our Schrenk family and Matt and Tamara Dec 23-25 – Family Christmas time 26 – Go sledding! 18 – Celebrate Tashi’s 25th birthday 29 – Leman family Christmas 30 – West Lafayette in the morning, Indy in the afternoon, a visit to Robin and Peter Kim’s and then family dinner at home 31 – Jamaica bound!

VOLUME 3 ISSUE 10

All fancy at the JCPD Awards Gala!

49 Ziadie Avenue, Apt 2 Kingston 20, Jamaica, W.I. 876.587.3833 cell • blake.widmer skype www.blakewidmer.blogspot.com www.blakesjamaicapics.shutterfly.com

BLAKE AND TASHI WIDMER

OCT - DEC 2012

Pictures at Mom Bent’s during our weekend visiting the countryside

Redeemed! VOLUME 3 ISSUE 10

OCT - DEC 2012

Fall Happenings Fall is normally a fairly slow paced, uneventful time of the year but the past few months have been anything but slow paced! We had several teams come to CCCD, a half dozen different times where friends or family visited from the States, three formal dinner events, lots of random ministry and social events and we were even able to sneak in our first weekend marriage-care getaway. It certainly was a memorable few months and we are thankful for it, but sure were ready for the Christmas holiday and a chance to rest and recuperate.

US Address: 9036 Northridge Lane Battle Ground, IN 47920

BLAKE WIDMER

A PRAISE REPORT A wonderful time at home during Christmas. God’s faithfulness…his mercy endures forever and grace is sufficient! An eventful and memorable fall. Rest during the holidays and an excitement for what 2013 will bring to all.

Clockwise from top left: Our carrot field…I’m now a farmer! New Hope children. Saying goodbye to not only a cousin, but a dear friend, Mark, as he migrated to England. Holding precious Joy, one

of the babies at New Hope. Erin with her dad, Noel, who came down to help us deliver our fall ACWR sea container…these two make for good times! With Janice Anliker and her mother.

Daniel 4:37 At the same time

my reason returned to me

and… my majesty and splendor

returned to me. My counselors

and my lords sought me, and I

was established in my kingdom,

and still more greatness was

added to me.

Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise

and extol and honor the King of

heaven, for all his works are

right and his ways are just; and

those who walk in pride he is

able to humble.

It’s gonna be hard to pick these pictures, but we are thankful for the two weeks we had in Indiana and the memories made with friends and family!

Redeemed!

Christmas Highlights

49 Ziadie Avenue, Apt 2 Kingston 20, Jamaica, W.I. 876.587.3833 cell • blake.widmer skype blakewidmer.blogspot.com

BLAKE AND TASHI WIDMER

PRAYER REQUESTS: My brother Brad and sister-in-law

Amber will be visiting along with Roger Stoller and the Gridley team the last week of January

For energy and enthusiasm on the part of all of us staff at school as we start a new term, and pray for the students to be focused and desire to learn and improve themselves

We hope for a bit more consistency with the Tuesday Bible studies, last term we had a lot of date conflicts and changes always throw our kids for a loop…structure is key

Pray for Maria Lawrence, my principal. She is back from a time of rest and ready to go, please pray for her health and strength.

Pray for Kemoy, Semaj, Cheyenne and Chrystal as they begin new semesters in college.

Please pray for more finances to come in for Semaj. We have not received enough to cover her last term and already owe for the spring term. If you would be willing to help it would be a blessing. Contact me with any questions.

Join us in seeking the Lord’s face regarding discipleship and mentoring in the year to come!

We were able to all get together as Team Jamaica during Christmas, and ask that you continue to pray for the Plattners and Hubers as they adjust, in particular the Hubers as Chad recently became a minister.

Above Left: Leman family Christmas with Grandma n Grandpa. Above Right: With John and Brooke, Jersey

and Judah. So fun hearing Jersey call our names! Bottom right: Precious time with Team Jamaica!

Above: First annual Widmer kids pizza competition! Below: Sledding on Slayter Hill with siblings!

Above: Judah John sure loves his Aunt Tashi! Below: Super fun sushi dinner at Matt and Tamara’s

49 Ziadie Avenue, Apt 2 Kingston 20, Jamaica, W.I. 876.587.3833 Cell • Blake.Widmer Skype blakewidmer@gmail.com BLOG: BlakeWidmer.blogspot.com PICS: BlakesJamaicaPics.shutterfly.com

BLAKE AND TASHI WIDMER

Family moments, my how kids grow so fast!

Serving Through: Serving With:

Trips home are always bittersweet. Sweet because you see and spend time with those you love, bitter because you never see everyone you want and those who you do, you have to say goodbye. However, the sweet trumps the bitter and we loved every minute with our Schrenk and Kim families

Left: Story time with Amos, Esther, Nathan and Jesse. Above: Bonus, Mom and Dad Kim were in town so we got to catch up as well as spend time with Robin and Peter. Right: Meeting our newest nephew, Daniel, and

making memories with his big brother, Thomas, who we interrupted during his counting session for the picture.