Well it’s official The most rainfall ever recorded in this area. Last I heard we had received over 13″ in a two day period. Freeways are flooded, several fatalities, lots of damage to the roads just about everywhere. Here in Stanford we are still high and dry, however we have also been stuck here for two days straight. Roads in just about every direction are shut down due to flooding. I cant help but compare however these floods to those in the Philippines where we are about to spend the next 7 months. Most of the deaths here could have been avoided had people not tried driving through flooded roadways, or not jumped on a makeshift raft and attempted to float down a river that is 30-40 feet over its banks. In the Philippines however the majority of deaths occur as a result of lack of building regulations in impoverished areas. The reason there are no building regulations is quite simple. No one cares if these people die.
Stanford Village Flooding – Updated
Missiology in Deuteronomy?
Introduction
Chapters 17-27 of Leviticus are known as the “holiness codes” (Dillard/Longman, 75). This section of Leviticus begins instituting laws which the people of Israel were to be aware of and follow. Prior to this section, most of Leviticus has been about rituals, and instructions for the priesthood. As we enter chapter 17 however, the focus of the writer becomes broader sweeping as it begins to incorporate God’s vision for Israel to be a light to the nations. Specifically, within the holiness codes dealing with bloodshed, the repetitive mentioning of “aliens residing among them” brings to light the Missiological endeavors of YHWH throughout this section. Although there are certainly health benefits from the observance of these codes, it is my intention to show that prohibition on bloodshed and eating blood primarily served the purpose of setting Israel apart as a light to the world. [Read more...]
Our Life the last 2 weeks
Well I finally settled on a phone, and one of my criteria was that it had a good camera on it. So here are some of the images captured off the new phone. They also happen to do a good job highlighting our life the last two weeks.
Family Update
Ethan Jayce is almost 14 months old now. His birthday landed on Thanksgiving day this year and we had a double celebration out at Nana’s house. Joel’s mom was here visiting and was able to be apart as well, which was really special. His personality is really starting to show itself 
I often play the comparison game (in a healthy way of course;) with Ethan and Moriah. One strong similarity in the two is their sensitivity. He will cry if I even look at him wrong I appreciate this trait in my children but it can become very draining to handle! Though he is sensitive to correction, it hasn’t stopped him from testing the boundaries- whether that be climbing the stairs, pounding on any electronic he sees, or even pulling his sisters hair He’s got a wild side, that’s for sure. He seems a little more daring than his super cautious sister. One of his favorites is bath time- seems to LOVE the water (also contrary to sissy). His biggest obstacles to overcome at this point in his life are his continuous nasty ear infections which contribute to poor eating and sleeping habits. We are working on it all though and he is healthy and strong, so that it a blessing. [Read more...]
Family Update
I really enjoy the fall. Between the weather, the leaves, and all the events talking place there is just an abundance of things to be grateful for. Ethan is about to turn 1, Moriah is now 4, Rachel and I have been married for 5 years, I am now 29 years old and my parents have been married for 34 years, and the list can go on. Qolbe Nell, my new niece, was born on the 25th of September this year, the day before Moriah and Manny’s birthday bringing the grand total of grand children for my parents up to 7! For those who are keeping track that is 4 grandkids added in 15 months. It really is no surprise to me that thanksgiving comes in the fall.
Birthday’s and anniversaries are not the only thing that has been happening though. Our ministry made some big changes this summer and only sent out a few select people this past summer. Instead we had seminars here at the Nashville headquarters covering a wide variety of topics. Classes included: auto mechanics, soil and water testing, organic gardening, first aid and language training just to name a few. The institute is now half way through another semester, this is now the institute’s 6th year.
The changes from last summer have also brought about further changes for this next summer. Tentatively our plans for 2010 will have Rachel and I leaving in mid May and staying in the Philippines until December. This time is essential to the future of our ministry as we will be the start of a permanent ministerial presence in the Philippines. In December we will be replaced by another couple who will then stay until the summer of 2011. Please be in prayer for us as we continue to work out details and make the necessary preparations to spend that length of time abroad. We will continue to write updates here on olsonsr.us highlighting future plans and ways that you can be practically involved in our preparation.
Finally I posted, some recent pictures of our family. Check them out in the “Family of Four” gallery on our media page.
Ethan is growin' up :)
Ethan hit some milestones in his early development these last couple of weeks:) All in one week he started sitting up, rolling over (only in his sleep though lol), and cut TWO teeth (teething has been miserable)! he is getting to that fun age now! starting to interact with Moriah more, watching the two of them is becoming one of my favorite things to do. they love to laugh at each other. I can’t believe how fast he is growing. seems like just yesterday i was leaving the hospital with my new blessing. Ethan sleeps great through the night, but doesn’t nap so well during the day. guess you can’t have both He is a great kid, just like his ‘sissy’. 
Please be praying for our friends!
Another active summer is in hand for the community of G.O.D. International, as representatives from the ministry will travel to their respective regions of ministry to spend time with ministry partners and invest into further development work.
These trips are from May 12th – June 22nd. For updates from each region, we have created a Global Tracker. It’s posted on the front page (of the GOD website- www.godinternational.org) and will contain short updates every day.
Below is a brief overview of what will be taking place in each region.
Philippines
On May 12th staff members Mike and Trinidad Garner along with students Jason Carpenter, Craig Duffy, Alison Loope and Julie Cox departed for a 5-week intensive immersion trip focused in Olongapo City, Philippines. Olongapo, which will serve as the ministry’s initial hub for Southeast Asia, is home to a great deal of opportunities. This time will be spent in ministry to victims of the sex-slave industry, to the Aeta tribes in the surrounding mountain regions and investigating more prospects for development to take place in this region. [Read more...]
The Inconvenient Contradictions
An Article written by Father Shay Cullen (founder of the PREDA Foundation) regarding the recent acquittal of US Navy Marine Lance Corporal Daniel Smith
read more about this case here if you’d like: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8015773.stm
The outpouring of public concern and outrage over the acquittal and overturning of a rape conviction and a life sentence by the Philippine Court of Appeals against US Navy Marine Lance Corporal Daniel Smith, was less than expected. The public had been conditioned by the affidavit of desistance of the victim made last 8 March 2009. Soon after that, the young woman, Nicole (not her real name), departed to the United States with a special immigrant visa, if not a green card and a generous financial gratuity by way of compensation. A deal had been done. The complainant was neutralized and the court could proceed with the expected acquittal.
The Court of Appeals division 11 is composed of three female judges. They ruled that they had ignored the affidavit of Nicole, but that she was not an innocent provincial girl but a woman of “indecorous behavior”. More or less saying that the victim had asked for it and was to blame. The ruling said in effect that the lower court had been wrong in convicting Smith of rape because the evidence showed that it was a “spontaneous unplanned romantic episode”. Indeed! [Read more...]
recent quote from Moriah
setting: In our car on the way to dance class
conversation: Mo and I are spelling words together (like cat, dog, etc.)
Mo: “Mom, how do you spell the word TREEHOUSE?”
Mom: “T..R…E…” mo interupts
Mo: “No Mom, TREEHOUSE starts with the letter H”
Mom: “No it doesn’t Moriah, T-T-T-TREEHOUSE, starts with T”
Mo: “No it doesn’t mom, T-T-TreeH-H-House, it starts with H!”
(we go back and forth like this for a minute)
Mo finally states: “Mom, let’s spell BOOK instead, so we don’t argue”
LOL (lessons from a 3 yr. old:)