Nursing Home Ministry

The LORD opened up the door for us to go and minister once again at Old Rectory Nursing Home. We were able to do a short devotion emphasizing the meaning of Christmas as well as have a time of worship lead by Shannon and Hannah. Please continue to pray for this ministry in the Nursing Home that we would be able to effectively communicate the love of Jesus to the residents there.

TEAM BREAKFAST

Last Tuesday we had our weekly team breakfast and Simon blessed us with some Traditional English Breakfast.

Christmas Day 2008

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Today we celebrated the birth of the Savior, we had a great time, as customary Sandra was up early to make fresh cinnamon rolls for all, they were a real treat. Also as customary Sandra baked a red velvet cake, although it wasn't very red, it was still yummy. We were all blessed by the gifts that we received.

We wish all a very Happy Christmas this year.

Christmas Eve 2008

Cookie Decorating

Day out at the Park!

Velarde Elf Christmas Dance

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

CCE Staff Christmas Party!

Tonight we all went out for Italian food for our staff Christmas party. We had a great time at Quo Vadis, an Italian restaurant in Exeter. Tamiko also joined us as she is back for a few weeks before heading back to Okinawa. She just graduated Bible College in Siegen, Germany.

The food was good, the coffee was good and the fellowship was good, we had a blessed time together.

Emmanuel Christian School Christmas Program

Eskimo Baby

New picture of Charis preparing to go outside. It has been cold here in England, but Charis is all prepared.

Day on Quay

Today we spent the morning at the quay. A quay, pronounced 'key', is a wharf or bank where ships and other vessels are loaded. A quay may be constructed parallel or perpendicular to the bank of a waterway.

Anyways, it was good fun out with the kids, until it started raining, which by the way is a rarity in England if you can believe that. Not only rain, but ice cold rain.

Well, it was good day, we were then off to find the world's biggest Christmas tree.

Velarde Christmas Fun

Today we went to the store and bought our Christmas Tree, the kids were so excited. Shannon decorated our doors with wrapping paper while the kids, Sandra and I decorated the tree. Merry Christmas to everybody.

Day Trip to St. Ives

On Saturday Sandra and I went on a day trip with Geoff to St. Ives. it was an amazing drive across Cornwall. There are many beautiful beaches all the way along the coast. Thank you Shannon for staying with the older 3 children.

We were out for the entire day, we had a nice lunch in St. Ives and looked at a few properties with Geoff around Newquay. Newquay is a small surf town in Cornwall. Thanks Geoff for the wonderful day out.

Christmas Newsletter 2008

Greetings! Just wanted to post our Christmas Newsletter for all to read, blessings!

First Injury in England (WARNING not for the sqemish)

Before

after

Back at the house

Well, it finally happened, our first visit to the A&E (Ambulance and Emergency). Micah had his hand smashed in a door by Silas. He handled the whole thing really well, he has a small fracture at the tip of his finger and big laceration on side that is facing down. They weren't able to suture it because it was a crush injury. He has been doing really well with the whole thing since it happened.

Our experience at the hospital was really good, we were in the A&E and out in less than 3 hours, including having an X-ray. I was quite impressed considering I have spent that long total in an American ER just waiting to have an X-ray. The system was very efficient and friendly.