Orlando

Orlando is a wonderful place to go in the winter... I now understand why animals migrate, in fact, the WA that picked me up, referred to himself as a snowbird. Dale it was great getting to meet you! 

This past week was awesome, and I'm so thankful that I got to go and be a part of what God is doing here in Orlando with these transition seminars. The team here does a great job of member care, and the whole Wycliffe center here is really amazing. 

My first impression was spectacular! I stayed in a really nice apartment that had all the essentials, a freezer for my ice pack, and most importantly a Coffee maker. I spent most of my nights on the floor because the bed was too soft for my back and I woke up very stiff the first morning. The floor was kind to me though and I woke up feeling pretty good the rest of the week. 

Monday was relaxing, I slowly got up stretched and then was getting bored when I was called to a meeting. It was great to have human contact! I enjoyed getting to meet the wonderful lady (Jo Haag) who facilitates the program, and it was great getting to meet Ben, a young man who just joined Wycliffe. He ended up taking me on a tour of the center. 

After that I got my first of many amazing meals that have left me a much heavier traveler coming back to Dallas. One day we had three meals and four snacks... yeah it's good working with teenagers :). After lunch I got to meet my roommates. I didn't know if I was going to have roommates so I took the best room in the three bedroom apartment when I got there. I felt bad later when the two others joined me, but not too bad, it was nice having my own bathroom. 

Here they are bellow. Left is Mike who runs the youth program at JAARS and next to him is Carl who I knew from our furlough in Pennsylvania. In fact, having parents and grandparents in Wycliffe means that I 'know' a lot of people in every circle I go to... or at least they know my parents and remember me when I was... well never mind. 

It was really great getting to work with Mike! I picked his brain and was also able to glean lots of helpful resources. He is great at what he does, and is a kindred spirit in being a goofball... I think it might be a prerequisite for what we do :). 

Here are some pictures of the families and the teens we had. The Bitikofers and the Turners. Only three teens, which made it easy to get to know them pretty well. 

Bellow are some pictures from our many wonderful times together; time in class, doing a scavenger hunt, at the beach, at the mall, and at Gatorland. 

 







 
 

I couldn't leave out a few pictures of eating time! We spent so much time doing it :)... and they were some of the best times to connect and hear peoples stories. 

God really used this opportunity to give me some ideas for my group back home. Home sweet, sweet home I'm really looking forward to getting there. I'm writing this in the airport while I wait for many hours before my plane leaves.

 
The pictures tell great stories in themselves. Needless to say we had a lot of fun! Thanks for your prayers for me and my family and thanks for being a part of what I do! I'm so thankful for you all!

Blessings,

Caleb

A year! Wow!

1 Corinthians 1:26-31

26 Brothers and sisters, consider what you were when God called you to be Christians. Not many of you were wise from a human point of view. You were not in powerful positions or in the upper social classes. 27 But God chose what the world considers nonsense to put wise people to shame. God chose what the world considers weak to put what is strong to shame.28 God chose what the world considers ordinary and what it despises—what it considers to be nothing—in order to destroy what it considers to be something. 29 As a result, no one can brag in God’s presence. 30 You are partners with Christ Jesus because of God. Jesus has become our wisdom sent from God, our approval, our holiness, and our ransom from sin. 31 As Scripture says, “Whoever brags must brag about what the Lord has done.”

Well that sums up how I feel about this year... enjoy the pictures! 

This last week our service project took us to the North Texas Food Bank where we helped fill snack boxes to give to kids who are hungry and whose parents can't afford to feed them. It was striking to hear about all the hunger that goes on right next door. Something that we really try and demonstrate in our group is that we are all Missionaries not just our parents or those people who live over seas but all of us, right now, right here. I really enjoy getting to serve with these kids and it's always a highlight every month getting to go and make a difference together.

This year has given me so many opportunities to reach people and to do things that I never could before. It has changed me for the better, this job, this calling has given me time to really deepen my relationship with God. Getting to do what allows me to feel his pleasure in me regularly, brings tears to my eyes. I couldn't do this on my own, I shouldn't be here and feel embarrassed sometimes when I think about the kindness of the Lord. I was just a van driver with no clue how to raise support. I can't believe where I am today. I look back on the journey and I see God in every step and feel Him with every breath. I see the people who stood with me, believed in me and who God used to bring me to where I am now and I'm overcome with gratitude. I feel ordinary and foolish and yet by Gods grace I get to enjoy doing what he has made me to do.

I feel like I've been through a great year of firsts, I've done almost all the service projects and events at least once now. I've learned who to call and how to nag via e-mail. I'm excited for what God is going to do this next year in ministry, and I'm thrilled to have you guys on my team!

Pray! 

I"m heading off to Orlando on Sunday for a week. Traveling mercies, my back to stay healthy, my family at home, my purpose in going is to learn how to do a re-entry seminar here in Dallas for our incoming MK's. Pray that I learn well and absorb what God has for me.

I'm thinking about going back to school in the fall. Wisdom on where to go and what to study, wisdom on timing, our family will have grown by then.

Diane is in the last trimester. Pray for a safe and healthy end to the pregnancy and a beautiful baby to be born sometime in May. For Diane as she gets more and more uncomfortable.

Praise! 

I made it home safely and have navigated the treacherous waters of jet lag successfully and my back is finally on the mend again.

For a year here serving! Okay officially my year will be March 1 but I'm a little excited :).
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Gods kindness is inspiring, it reminds us of our freedom and releases our potential in Him. It breaks through our stubborn and calloused hearts and shows us the incredible awe inspiring love of God. It is a joy to be on this journey with you and to be led by such a kind and loving Shepherd.

I saw a movie about Rich Mullins recently and it blew my mind. I hope you all get to see it someday. It's releasing this summer on DVD. It's called 'Ragamuffin' and you can see the trailer on YouTube. Any way I thought I would end this post with one of my favorite Rich Mullins songs. I hope it encourages and blesses you! Thanks for being such a blessings and encouragement to me!

The Love of God

"There's a wideness in God's mercy
I cannot find in my own
And He keeps His fire burning
To melt this heart of stone
Keeps me aching with a yearning
Keeps me glad to have been caught
In the reckless raging fury
That they call the love of God

Now I've seen no band of angels
But I've heard the soldiers' songs
Love hangs over them like a banner
Love within them leads them on
To the battle on the journey
And it's never gonna stop
Ever widening their mercies
And the fury of His love

Oh the love of God
And oh the love of God
The love of God

Joy and sorrow are this ocean
And in their every ebb and flow
Now the Lord a door has opened
That all Hell could never close
Here I'm tested and made worthy
Tossed about but lifted up
In the reckless raging fury
That they call the love of God"

Thanks for sticking with me through this year... for praying for me through the struggles I've had with my back, yet another reminder to me of how much I need God and the body! For standing beside my family on my trips across the world. For praying me there and back again. For supporting me financially, every penny means so much to me! I see you all as a vibrant part of my ministry and of my life. 

Caleb Robbins

If you want to support what I do a little or a lot, on a one time basis (for a mission trip) or on a recurring basis, click on the tab "Supporting the Work" at the top of the page and search for Caleb and Diane Robbins. Diane is my beautiful wife and the mother of my precious children Creed 6, Asher 4, Liam 2, Echo already in heaven and Bella coming soon via a midwife near you :).

Thailand 2014

That clip from "Chariots of Fire" in many ways is what God taught me on my trip to Thailand. Not that I need to run in the next Olympics before becoming a missionary to China... but that we were all created by God for a purpose and when we are living in the joy of that purpose, we feel his pleasure. These last two weeks have been weeks where I have felt God's pleasure in my life in a way that I never have before.

This year's trip to Thailand was wonderful. I had a fantastic team and it was a real joy working together with my cousin Sami and my friends Michael and Michal, along with the team that comes from Austin. Michal was a perfect addition, immediately connecting with the girls in a way that I never could. Michael added worship to our afternoons and that turned out to be a real blessing. Sami  is my right hand man, always there to help when I need anything and also great at leading our group in fun games. I enjoyed teaching on a great old sermon from Matthew 5-7.

I appreciated getting to meet a new group of kids this year, as well as seeing some old friends. It was especially hard saying goodbye to one boy who won't be back to any more conferences. He has been a wonderful part of the group since my third year going. Every year is a new hello and another goodbye and I'm learning the joy of staying in the moment even when that intensifies the pain of leaving. I'm very grateful that I get to connect with so many of the kids on both sides of the ocean.

One of the unexpected joys this year was leading a small group with some fantastic kids who were back helping but had already gone through the group. It was neat getting to see them again and getting to know them better. It was also a joy getting to study things of the Lord with them and seeing God work beautifully in their lives.

God is so good and faithful.  He called us to this trip and got us there and back again with a myriad of special joys and mercies along the way. When we landed in Dallas there was snow on the ground, leaving a white carpet to welcome us. I have been slowly getting over jet lag. I suppose sleeping whenever I want isn't helping much. I feel like a very old man, going to bed at 8 pm and getting up at 4 am.

After touching down, I was whirled away into a weekend with my MKs here called 'Planet Wisdom' (a two day youth conference). It was great getting to see everyone again. Then Sunday was truly a day of rest. Now I'm getting back slowly into the ebb and flow of life here in Dallas. At the end of this month I'm leaving again for a week in Orlando to help with and learn from a re-entry seminar for MKs. I'm looking forward to seeing what the Lord does with it.

For now, well - I'm tired. Been up since 4 am!

I praise God for the trip, for his work, and for you who partner with me in making it all possible. I'm so glad to be back with my boys, wrestling and laughing and enjoying being a dad. I'm so glad to be back with my best friend, who happens to also be my wife.  It's great talking to her and spending time just being together again.

May God reveal to you what your purpose is and may you feel his pleasure as you live a life that brings him glory!

Blessings,

Caleb

The newest of all new years!

After many hours of shopping Diane and I got a little crazy and put on our Santa Hats and acted slightly goofy at the rest of the stores we visited. Here is a picture of me getting a Starbucks mug with a gift card I was given. You can see the crazy in my eyes :).

It was truly great having family in town. Christmas week was full of watching "Lord of the Rings" and visiting and eating and going on walks and just enjoying each other. The only downside was the family getting sick. We all came down either slightly or greatly with a form of the flu. I only had one night that was a little less epic than most, but my kids suffered slightly more. 

Just before the Christmas holidays Creed performed epicaly in his schools Christmas program. He had a line and everything. Here we are getting our picture with the little actor. Last year he was all decked out with a tie and vest, and this year he just decided to wear his pj's. 

One of the more fun events we do with the MK's is broom ball. Maybe some of you are familiar with it. I didn't play much growing up in Congo but I'm happy that the last six years working with the MK's have given me ample time to make up for that. As you can see it is quite fun! I wasn't going to play because of my back and such... but, well... you just have to do certain things sometimes... it was great and I didn't get hurt. 

The days went by and many good times were had, many walks and talks and such and before I knew it 2013 was gone and 2014 came bursting forth. So far this new year I have gone to Austin to visit my good friends down there who I enjoy going to Thailand with, I have seen my friend Joel move out of my place and into his own wonderful new place. I have enjoyed seeing the kids go back to school and I have enjoyed getting back into the swing of things with the MK's. It's been really nice to see everyone again! This past Saturday we went and served at a homeless shelter called Dallas Life. 

I really enjoy my job because I get to work with the best staff and we get to serve the best kids! It is really a blessing and I'm so thankful for all of you being a big part of it! I am overwhelmed by your support and your prayers and I'm humbled by a God who calls us to things that bring us life, who says to us "Be who I made you to be and I will provide for you". 

There is the beautiful family that I have to leave soon to go to Thailand. I will miss them greatly! Asher is posing perfectly in this picture... tilted head closed mouth smile, arm nicely around his brother. Creed is such a riot wearing his Superman cape to church... the kid loves to dress up and my hope is that God continues to make him into a SuperCreed empowered by His Spirit. There is that beautiful Diane who is carrying our next wonderful gift from God... this time a girl is Gods next arrow in our quiver. I'm so excited to have the blessing of raising a daughter. Such a good looking crew... Liam was in child care but he is good looking too!

I hope that 2014 provides an incredible adventure for us all, where we go higher and deeper along the paths that God has for us, where we learn to trust him more as the adventure gets more exciting and where we have firmly cemented in our minds that we are on the path with our best friend.

If God is for us who can stand against us?

Bless you in this New Year!

Caleb Robbins

If you want to support what I do a little or a lot, on a one time basis (for a mission trip) or on a recurring basis, click on the tab "Supporting the Work" at the top of the page and search for Caleb and Diane Robbins. Diane is my beautiful wife and the mother of my three precious children Creed 6, Asher 4, and Liam 2.

Christmas... the hap happiest season of all!

Since we last spoke... well so much has happened and so many epic pictures have been taken... but let's start from the beginning... or a reasonably good place to start, that offers something of interest.

I turned 31, and enjoyed having some crazy hair, for awhile. And, since then, I have enjoyed (to the delight of my wife) a trip to a barber. My first time to visit one, I really liked it, and it's good to be back to 'normal'. I had a great birthday! Thanks Diane for making it so special.

We really enjoyed having Kelsey and Patrick visit for Thanksgiving break. The Friday after Thanksgiving Kelsey took our family to a museum and got us a pass to go back again and again. It was so much fun, and Asher wanted a picture with almost every exhibit. Sorry Diane :).

A week after Thanksgiving saw snowmaggedon hit Dallas. Ice covered us and closed everything down from Friday to Monday. Finally on Tuesday schools reopened and we got to get out. So the weather was frightful, and the fire was delightful :). Our kids made smoores, and enjoyed playing in the ice.

The ice storm gave us plenty of time to get lots done around the house... and then we ran out of things to do, and put up all our Christmas stuff. The boys had a blast helping Diane with the tree! 

In the middle of the ice weekend we had our Family Christmas party, thankfully most everybody was able to make it there and back again (a Robbins journey). One thing we discovered at the party was how good our kids are at dancing? 



This past Friday we had our MK Christmas party. We had a lot of fun eating food from around the world and making gingerbread houses and just being together. I love my job!

This is such a great picture of Charlie getting into the Christmas spirit. Hot drinks for everybody. The animals have been getting a little crazier then normal with all this winter weather keeping them inside. 

One of the things I'm enjoying as my kids get older is their ability to be involved in church and school programs. Here are Creed and Asher in the church program. So cute... watch Creed keep the beat in the 'Drummer Boy' song. So funny. 

We enjoyed our last youth group meeting this past Monday. We did our annual tradition of singing and sharing with the retiree's at the Cowan Apartments. I always look forward to it every year. Then we went and watched a great movie called "The Star of Bethlehem". It's a documentary about... yeah you guessed it... the Star of Bethlehem. Really neat stuff! 

This week I have been enjoying spending more time with my parents in the mornings and getting odds and ends done around the office. This weekend my family will embrace with great joy the coming of family from North and South. They will descend on us like a mighty showering of Christmas cheer and bring mirth to all. At any rate I'm looking forward to seeing everybody and glad to have family around for Christmas. 

Thanks for sharing in this journey with me! I'm delighted to have you along for the ride! Next year will begin with some incredible adventures... the first being Thailand 2014. Thanks for your prayers and support as we look forward to what God has planned for us. For now I'm enjoying the 'calm' with my family looking forward to eggnog, pumpkin pie, and some great conversations around the fire. 

Thinking of this song as I bring a close to this entry, hope you take the time to read through the lyrics and they touch your heart as they have mine. God you are so awesome and amazing! Thank you for sending us your son! Emanuel.. God Is With Us!

Welcome to Our World by Chris Rice

Tears are falling, hearts are breaking
How we need to hear from God
You've been promised, we've been waiting

Welcome Holy Child
Welcome Holy Child

Hope that you don't mind our manger
How I wish we would have known
But long-awaited Holy Stranger
Make Yourself at home
Please make Yourself at home
Bring Your peace into our violence
Bid our hungry souls be filled
Word now breaking Heaven's silence

Welcome to our world
Welcome to our world

Fragile finger sent to heal us
Tender brow prepared for thorn
Tiny heart whose blood will save us

Unto us is born
Unto us is born

So wrap our injured flesh around You
Breathe our air and walk our sod
Rob our sin and make us holy

Perfect Son of God
Perfect Son of God
Welcome to our world

Merry Christmas from me and the whole family to all! 

And to all a good night... or whenever you read this, a good whatever :)

Thanksgiving 2013

So cute! I love this time of year! 

Dear faithful friends,family, and supporters,

It is Thanksgiving week here in the Robbins' nest. That means that Creed and Mark are off from school and I am enjoying being home with them. The rest of the family has work/school until Thursday. I'm really looking forward to having the house fill up with good company, as well as the smell of delicious food cooking. We will have Kelsey and David with us, along with my good friend Joel Satre (he's been living with us on and off since July) and his sister Jessica.

As I reflect on all the things I'm thankful for, I realize that you, my precious friends, family and supporters, are close to the top of the list. I was invited back to my old job last week to enjoy Thanksgiving meal with them, and it was great to see them all again.  It reminded me of how God's grace provided for me and my family then and has led me to the dream of doing what I do now. I'm overwhelmed by your generosity and love in making this dream possible for me.

Since I started this new life in March, God has been faithful.  My support, though not even, has averaged close to what I need on a monthly basis. The area where I'm having trouble, is keeping up with all the mission trips that I am privileged to be a part of (Guinea, Jamaica, and Thailand - total cost $6000). I am hoping to raise an additional $500 a month to compensate for all the travel I do throughout the year. The next mission trip that I am looking forward to is Thailand.

Thailand Cost $2500

If you are interested in supporting me in going back to Thailand (I will be gone the end of January and back the beginning of February) you can click on the tab 'Supporting the Work' at the top of the page.

Thailand is a special trip for me. It was the first thing that I did in the new 'era' of my life after the church I was attending closed. Being a part of this trip was instrumental in giving me the vision and the confidence to do what I do today. I have been able to be a part of this trip since 2007 and have built relationships that have lasted and provided for ministry opportunities on both sides of the world.

Last January I had the joy of being involved in a Thailand family reunion and it was so meaningful to be invited to that. I know the impact they have made on me and I'm so thankful for the impact that the Lord has let me make on them. It was the first time, since the photo below, that I got to see some of those amazing kids.

The youth from my first year to Thailand! 

I just celebrated my 31st birthday this past week, and it was so great to get well wishes from the kids that I get to see from all over the world. One of them was especially encouraging. I met her on my trip to Guinea this past year, and she and I are both sad that I won't be able to return this year. However, the reason gives me great joy! My wife is expecting our next child and Diane would like me there for the birth.

My wife braided my hair (against her better judgment) for my birthday. It was fun!

As I think about the life I have been called to, I think about the joy of living it for a God like our God. He is mighty and just and kind and merciful and joyful and wise and trust-worthy and faithful! Our God who loved us while we were sinners, saved us, freed us and led us on to a great adventure. I am thankful for the many missionaries I get to support and I'm thankful for the many that support me. Together we are following hard after a God who makes it pure joy to join Him in the work that He is doing here, before He calls us home.

Bless you all, on this Thanksgiving and beyond!

Caleb Robbins

If you want to support what I do a little or a lot, on a one time basis (for a mission trip) or on a recurring basis, click on the tab "Supporting the Work" at the top of the page and search for Caleb and Diane Robbins. Diane is my beautiful wife and the mother of my three precious children Creed 6, Asher 4, and Liam 2.