After waiting way too long between blogs last time I'm coming in hot with another addition only a few short months later. It's great to be back at the keyboard and I'm ready to talk about the ministry, the family and all about these crazy pictures, that themselves are worth a thousand words.
It's been good getting deeper into the school year and kicking off another year of MK. I've been doing this for so long and it's nice to continue to adapt to the changing times and new generations. This group of MKs is unique and has some very adventurous people in it. We have a group that is very into the outdoors, more than many groups we have had in the past. I'm enjoying getting to know them and them getting to know me. I think we are off to a great start.
Diane had to say goodbye to her parents, who are now back in the Solomon Islands. For the first time, no kids went along with them. Here Diane is enjoying some Pokémon and Baseball memories with her dad. She was grateful to soak up any special moments she could before they left. It has been especially hard to say goodbye this time around.
Can you find the hummingbird? I am just loving my yard these days! It was so cool to catch a hummingbird enjoying the hibiscus during one of my times with the Lord.
You may think that we went on a trip just to see a dog... that was not the reason. Our dear friends, the Sieks, live in Austin. David is the one who first mentored me in my trips to Thailand. We haven't seen them in far too long. We thought we were going to Austin for a Spartan race but when that plan changed to another time, we kept the chance to go and see the Sieks. It was a great weekend away and really revived our hearts.
Look at Apex face... lol, just had to include this picture. I love having a home away from home for so many cool people.
We did a lot of YouTube worship to start the year, but now we've had some MKs step up and start a worship band again. It's so nice to have live music and to see the kids use and grow their gifts.
These amazing Hegemans made it possible for me to attend a Biblical Counseling conference with them along with two other members of our MK team. It's such a treat. Here we are celebrating Martin's Birthday after the conference at one of his favorite burger places. So thankful for them joining the team!
We get to have a great small group with these amazing MKs on Tuesday afternoons. Nadia had the idea to use this very nice space to meet in as we study Romans together. It's a lot of fun!
Asher and the VT cross country varsity team ran a great race at District and easily took first place propelling them toward a chance to go to State.
Serenity has been exercising so much and can now hold Bella with just her hand. She makes it look so easy. We got to enjoy a nice day at the zoo a few days before the Gebauers left. Many of their kids came to town and we got to enjoy time together the Friday before their departure. We tried to make the most of the last days we had.
Bella is still playing soccer! Go GP United. She is playing very well on a not so great team. She is learning a lot about how to be a good sport and deal with less than stellar coaching and players that didn't get to benefit of being a part of her excellent former team coached by the incredible Monique Arritt.
So fun to get the family together to farewell the great Ron and Roxanne. Many fun surprise visitors came in to say goodbye! It was a wonderful family reunion.
Woah look at the size of that pig's... well never mind...
We had a great guys night on Columbus Day or whatever is politically correct now. We played hard and then talked about how God calls us to use our gifts to serve on another. It was a great conversation! I was so impressed with the guys coming up with cool ways they can serve the group. If we want to be like Jesus then we are going to be servants of all!
Here are the amazing Spartans after the race. They volunteered and then they ran the 10K obstacle course/race the next day. I had another weekend of Biblical Counseling so I couldn't go out there and free my inner King Leonidas, but they had tons of fun.
You can see which kids I have that love Halloween and which ones don't care about it at all. It's fun to see them all dressed up and out to get some candy!
How did this adorable picture make it in here? Anyway, Aria is doing so well and it was so fun to snuggle her playful self that is finally off the oxygen tubes. She still breaths oxygen, but now more like the rest of us. She is healthy and strong and able to do a lot more exploring, bless her parents' hearts!
We enjoyed another wonderful year having Sean and Jordan over for October 31st shenanigans. They found a great place to Trick or Treat and then we watch Edward Scissorhands. A great night!
I had the joy of baptizing my cousin Sami's daughters, Ellie and Aideen, this past Saturday. They both gave such sweet testimonies. The water was so cold! Here's some of the beautiful event. After the baptism we went to the first ever FORT Fall Carnival.
The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the battle belongs to the Lord. Unless the Lord builds the house, those who labor, labor in vain. When the idea of this Carnival first popped into my head, I was very excited about it. The week of, I was very anxious and had many dreams about it. The night before though, I had a dream that gave me a lot of peace. This was a risk, it could have cost a lot and then flop mightily. Instead it showed me again how faithful our God is to do so much with little. We made more money than I could have expected with a modest turnout. And the people who came had such a great time! It was especially meaningful to me to have my Pastor and his wife and daughter show up. My team is incredible and so are all the members of my community that showed up to help and to enjoy the fun. This could become a special part of the yearly traditions that we enjoy here. So so thankful and so excited for what is next.
God has been teaching me about the power of Self Control through the lens of delighting in Him. When we love him and delight in him, he gives us the desires of our heart, which when we delight in him are centered around him. We do more for love than fear and as we cultivate a love for God who makes the burdens light and the yoke easy, it makes it possible for us to choose to do his will as we live surrendered to him. We remain in a relationship with a God we are in love with! Then the suffering becomes a part of the relationship that helps us know him better. We suffer for love and obedience, not foolishly chasing something lesser. You only dare to ask your best of friends to suffer with you, and so we suffer with our dearest friend, the Lord! Then the suffering takes on more meaning as we also see it as a conduit for God's comfort in our lives that also helps us to become better comforters. When we learn to receive his love, then we love his comfort, then we comfort. We are truly becoming like him!
I am so grateful for you all. Thank you for your prayers and support and friendship. Thanks for encouragement and joining me in this fun adventure with all its twists and turns.
Please Pray: For a greater and deeper understanding of God! For wisdom and humility in leading FORT. For blessings on the rest of the FORT events for the year (Talent Show Fundraiser, Journey through Middle Earth, and Broomball). For Diane's health. She is in chronic pain and needs a good medical answer, but I'll be okay with a miraculous one :).
Praise God: For great connections with overseas TCKs. We have been reaching out to our kids overseas and that has led to some great travel opportunities to get over to see them in person. Please pray about the timing of that. The Carnival was a success and we are having a great time getting to know our 7th graders and bonding as a youth group.
Love you all and words cannot express how grateful I am for you!
Blessings,
Caleb
If you want to support what I do a little or a lot, on a one time basis or with recurring gifts, the easiest was is to use Zelle. You can follow this link zellepay or scan the code below. That will start the process of getting you set up to use Zelle with your bank or If you already use Zelle it will direct you to the banking app you use and give you instructions from there. To send me money use my email caleb_robbins@sil.org. If you would like any help setting that up feel free to contact me directly! 214 558 8431.
Another way to donate to the ministry if Zelle isn't an option is via check. If you write a check to "Holy Cross Lutheran Church" and put "Caleb Robbins Ministry" in the memo line, it will get deposited into my ministry account. If you would rather set up a bill pay or have any other questions you can call the Church at 817-451-7561. Let them know you want to Support Caleb Robbins and his ministry serving Missionary Kids.
The address is:
Holy Cross Lutheran Church
4400 W Arkansas Ln
Arlington, TX 76016
Diane is my beautiful wife and the mother of my precious children - Creed 18, Asher 16, Liam 14, Echo already in heaven, Bella 11, and Serenity 9 years old.
