AUGUST 2012

Redeemed!

VOLUME 3 ISSUE 8

Meeting our nephew Judah John Widmer for the first time! He is such a content and happily-red-headedfor-now little fella! Aunt Tashi and JJ fell in love with each other right away!

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 Gods 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 MONTH 1 Travel to Indiana 3 Visit Julie Jahn, Tashis mentor and friend 4 Gateway Woods benefit auction in Leo! 5 Worship with Tashis home church family in Leo and spend the afternoon with Janice! 6 Hang-out day with our Schrenk family! 7 Day at the lakes with Matt n Tamara 9 Widmer Family dinner with Robin and Peter and Thomas, aka Jerseys betrothed 10 Family dinner with David and Kate Ringger , Kemoy and all the Widmers 11 Wedding in Indy of old co-worker and good friend, Robert Heeter 12 Worship with my Indy church family 12-17 Wonderful time of fellowship and fun with DTQ family in the Smoky Mountains, as well as a two-day Anniversary get-a-way for us 18 Widmer Family Fun Weekend, including boys golf outing and girls shopping day 19 Worship at my home church and then blessed with a Jamaican Team reunion including the Hubers, Plattners and Widmers 21 Family lunch at Grandma n Grandpa Lemans with Aunts n Uncles 22 Breakfast with my sis Hannah Young who I hadnt seen in two years! 23-25 Travel home, then to St Elizabeth 28-30 JAD Annual Bilingual Deaf Ed Session

Leo, Schrenk and Family Festivities

On Friday the third we headed for an evening with Mark and Julie Jahn, Tashis college interpreter and spiritual mentor. Saturday we caught up with lots of friends at the Gateway Auction and went to Leo on Sunday. Finally on Monday we got to make sweet memories with the Schrenks. Suzanna and Joanna were recently adopted into the family and we are so thankful for these sweet girls. Please pray for their transition. Tuesday we headed up to Lake James, visiting Fred and Anita Fifer and Marsha B. on the way, and spent a fun day with Matt and Tamara and Kates. What a whirlwind but SO worth it!

Clockwise from Top Left: the post-Tashi Schrenk kids. Tashi with her newest sisters, Suzanna and Joanna. Fun at the lakes with Matt, Tamara and Kates. The Schrenk 11.

BLAKE AND TASHI WIDMER

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

AUGUST 2012

Redeemed!

VOLUME 3 ISSUE 8

Family Dinners, Memories and Laughs

Our time at home (meaning mom and dads) was sporadic, but we made the most of it. I think we had an official family dinner every night we were there (thanks Ringgers and Kims!). Meeting baby Judah was a blessing and Aunt Tashi totally fell in love. We got to see grandparents twice each, extended family at a lunch and then had family and friends over quite often. I got to play ball with dad at the co-rec several times, that is always a special opportunity. We got a Widmer boys golf outing squeezed in and some backyard games of bocci ball and knockers. All in all, sweet memories!

John 7:37-39

In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water. (But this he said of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
A PRAISE REPORT Safe travels for us, Kemoy and Chrystal. A wonderful three weeks with friends and family and meeting our nephew Judah John! Kirk and Keri found a home and God allowed it to be in the amazing town of West Lafayette!

Clockwise from top left: Four Widmer Generations. Leman Grandparents. Jersey and Thomas making each other laugh (so cute!). Widmer kids minus Jersey plus Kemoy. Hanging out on the front porch watching the sunset (simple memories I often love the most). Widmer boys golf outing (I think I got last). Swimming with Robin, Thomas and Jersey Thomas. Indiana summer sunset!

A thought provoking conference Tashi and I attended, put on by her employer, Aug 28-30.

BLAKE WIDMER
US Address: 9036 Northridge Lane Battle Ground, IN 47920

Redeemed!
Team Jamaica in the States
As you all know, we are going through a lot of transition with Chad and Pam Huber and Kirk and Keri Plattner moving back stateside. What a blessing that when we go home to visit, all of us will be within a 30 mile radius! We were blessed to have them all over and to help Plattners move in to their new home! PRAYER REQUESTS: Kirk and Keri have moved into their new home in West Lafayette. We praise God for this provision. Pray for their transition to life here, and for Drew and Truitt as they go to school for the first time (well, in a sense this is a totally new world) Pray for our Team Jamaica and our obedience to the Lords direction through many changes. We have our ACWR leaders here Sept 6-11. Please lift our discussions and time together up in prayer to our Father who knows all. Pray for Semaj as she begins classes. She is already homesick. Pray for Kemoy as he starts classes today! Cheyenne is still waiting to hear back on a Scholarship. If you feel led to support, please contact me! Pray for Maria Lawrence, my principal. She is on a much deserved three-month furlough. Pray she rests well and for her son, Lornel, to be able to start college. Victoria Stoller (Gridley) will be interning for two months at my school. Pray for her safe arrival and smooth transition on Sept 20. Join us in seeking the Lords face regarding discipleship and mentoring in the year to come!

Above: Team reunion! Below: Great team shot (minus Erin) with a cool Indiana sunset for a backdrop!

Above: Smile Hubers! Below: Lucas had a ball trotting up and down the lane with a toy shopping cart

Above: You pushin or pullin? Man Kirk, you sure got a lot of books in here! It was a tremendous blessing for us to help Kirk and Keri move in to their new home!

Above: Plattners on Day One at their new homenow we just need to get Drew a shirt that matches this town!

BLAKE AND TASHI WIDMER

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

B LAKE WIDMER Work Team Coordinator 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

Serving Through:

Serving With:

Blessed by SOAR!
Serve. Obey. Abide. Reach. This is a ministry group from my home church, West Lafayette AC, that decided to SOAR to our students at CCCD by purchasing some toys. Led by Ryan and Hollie Meister, this group of 5-8th graders is truly all about relational ministry. The kids spend time together, having fun, certainly eating food, enjoying Christian fellowship and most importantly, learning about faith and putting it into action. Tashi and I were blessed by the gifts, but even more so we were blessed and encouraged to see such a tangible picture of Christ-likeness being modeled and instilled within this great group of kids. Lets SOAR!

Pray for Semaj, Kemoy and Petrona!

Although Tashi and I have our daily work responsibilities at our respective jobs, true ministry, at least from our perspective, is not necessarily related to the title we carry around and refer to when someone asks what do you do? So, now that a new year is coming, if someone asks what I do, my answer remains the same. Im a team coordinator at CCCD. Tashi is still a guidance counselor. True, both jobs create opportunities for ministry, but the task in and of itself is really not what its about. So, my job remains the same. But I must tell you, life looks a lot different coming up. Why? Because the people in it are changing. Most of them are the same, yes, but some key friends will not be there. Namely, these three pictured. Semaj and Kemoy are off to college in the States. Petrona is doing a 3-month internship in Kentucky with DTQ and then returns home to uncertainty. We desire to invest more in Petronas heart and soul when she returns, but we will miss the hole left by Semaj and Kemoy. Who else will God bring into our path? We have some guesses, but He knows. Would you join us in praying for these young adults, and also for those God brings into our life?

Semaj, myself, Tashi, Kemoy and Petrona at the DTQ Summer Symposium held at Eagle Rock Retreat in the Smoky Mountains. Love them!