Jamaica!!!

 Miracles... do you believe in them?

When I think back on this years trip I think about miracles! I think about all the things big and small that have their origin in the supernatural. We so often think that a miracle is only when something happens big and instantaneous right in front of us. Suddenly the supernatural breaks through and someone is healed! Well, after this trip I think so differently about what God is doing, his incredible hand in the mundane things, the little miracles that build and build until someone who could never have had a house made of concrete and steel is resting under their roof while the storm rages outside. I think about the little acts of obedience and faith, the trusting and the moving that brought all of us together for those two weeks, I think about how God is always working, and there is so much beauty to see, if we only had the eyes to see it. Honestly, it makes me think that if we focused correctly we could see miracles in progress every day.

We landed on the Island and spent the next three days working harder than I have ever worked on a mission trip in my life. I am so proud of the team that went, these young adults and teenagers worked tirelessly moving stone and dirt, mixing and shoveling concrete, and reflecting God in their attitudes and love! It was hot and humid and wonderful.

Day 4 we went to Westhaven, an orphanage for the handicapped, and when we left one of the kids said that it was like heaven! I was so blessed by that perspective, it is a hard place to go. She said 'everyone accepts you there and doesn't care how you look or act, they are genuine.' It makes me smile thinking about it!

We enjoyed a small break from the work on the weekend and then were back at it on Monday, which is what my note bellow is about. Tuesday and Wednesday I had the privilege of working along side my cousin Sami in Flankers. We did some carpentry for a couple of people who needed a hand. We built a table and bench and a counter, most of it without a tape measure or square... this is Jamaica mon!

Thursday we got to see the roof poured on the house just before rain hit and then stopped while we dedicated the house and then came back. We had no water at Teamwork (where we stay on the island) so to have a shower in the rain was another amazing gift from God! The last couple of days were nice and relaxing with most of the ministry happening on a relational level. Saturday we got to go cliff jumping! Sunday we had the joy of seeing one of our dear Jamaican friends, Sunshine, get baptized!

Monday came and home we went! Being back has been great, but there is always some nostalgia when you leave a place you love. I'm really glad to be home with my kids, who are back in school, and with my baby who just grows and grows. I'm so proud of my wife, she is so strong and perfect for me! I am in awe of how she cares for the family while I am away. This time I planned a special surprise for her everyday I was gone as a small way to say thank you!

I have left the note I wrote bellow and under that are links to all my pictures! Thanks for being a part of this Miracle! I couldn't do this without your prayers and support, I'm so thankful for you and your partnering with me!

Blessings!

Caleb


The Musings of a Fool... 

1 Cor 1:27

"But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and the weak things of the world to shame the strong"

When I see Jesus...

Rippled muscle nesting gently behind smooth skin, a lion majestic and strong, a warrior with a sharpended sword, and arms used to battle, a saviour whose eyes sparkle with joy and love, lips that speak truth that cuts deep, and yet are gentle enought to kiss a babies cheeck. I see the one I need, the one who loves me, and the one I give myself to. 

My body was stiff from working, legs aching, my back was shaped like an "S" and my heart was grieving yet somehow hopeful. I cried out for a miracle and begged for mercy, "who am I, and how can I be that if I can't do what I feel I should?" I resigned myself to be grateful for whatever fell from the masters table, but I hoped for much. 

Monday broke forth, sun blazing through the windows and what wasn't was, the weakness melted away under the warmth of the rays that illuminated my room and strength rested there. The chance to leave fear behind and in its place to put everything I had into the dirt, cement, and grime that was the job site. 

A shovel was my weapon that day, and my strength flowed from deep inside. Bucket after bucket fell to my hand. The day waned but my resolve only grew. A pile disappeared and then the cement came to me. Every shovel full sent pain shooting through my body, and that pain fueled another stabbing of the shovel deep into the cement. 

"You ain't so bad! I'll take everything you have!" Then He showed me how he had come to me as a friend, and the lover of my soul. He came and answered my prayer. He gave me the strength to leave it all and serve Him! He didn't have to, but it was personal, it was love, it was intimate.  "Caleb this is between you and me, you can keep going until the job is done, my strength is made perfect in your weakness."

I rested deeply that night, my joy complete, the next day came and the pain returned, so did a smile, I was part of a beautiful miracle, and I knew that my wonderful savior would sustain me and I'm still smiling. 

On the day that wouldn't end, and the piles of dirt and cement that seemed to never end, I held church, I worshiped a God who looked at what wasn't and made it something, who used me and many like me, those who were willing to trust and obey and in so doing found that God is faithful. I worshiped without music or song, I worshiped deep in my heart with a shovel and covered in dirt and sweat, I worshiped because my heart was overflowing with joy! As I write my eyes are flowing with tears of gratitude! 

We need to look at our God and see the great I Am who can do anything and not look at the world and its troubles until he has strengthened us for the tasks he has given us. Our joy flows from his love that he pours out so freely. We must not live our lives being sad and discouraged. 

The surest mark of a Christian is... 

JOY! 

Jamaica 2014: Bus and outings

Jamaica 2014: Teamwork

Jamaica 2014: Worksite

Jamaica 2014: Westhaven

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 7, Asher 5, Liam 2, Echo already in heaven and Bella, getting bigger all the time. 

Jamaica 2014

A little catching up to do :)

It has been far too long, and there isn't enough space for all the pictures I would have to add, so this post will be me trying my best to summarize the last month or so of my life. It has been really great for the most part! I will give you links to pictures instead of adding lots of them to this post.

Vacation in Maine!

Maine Vacation

It was wonderful getting to see my brother in law Erich and his beautiful family! We relaxed with great friends in the beautiful northeast for 10 days and everyday was full, but not too full, of fun events. We went to the beach and children's museum and a lot of putt-putt golf. We ate lobster! We watched the World Cup, and enjoyed being together! The weather was fantastic, and the beauty was rejuvenating. So many good memories! My brother Luke and his new bride came to visit us for a few days while we were there, which was very nice.  The 6 of us played Pictionary and Taboo late into the night (we know how to party). I started a "Go USA" chant in a restaurant during the USA vs Guinea game! Everything went off smoothly until we hit Houston on the way home. Storms delayed/canceled many flights including ours. We got home in the wee hours of the morning, but if that is the only trial you have in 10 days, I suppose you can count yourself very blessed. Oh yeah poor Asher also gashed his head open while we were playing putt putt. He's fine now though. Every boy needs a few good stories like that!

Celebrate Freedom!

Celebrate Freedom

This is one of our favorite events of the year! We go to an all-day outdoor Christian concert at Southfork Ranch (where the hit show Dallas was filmed) and enjoy good music while playing cards and running around with the kids. They have a great area set up for kids to do activities and there is also plenty of open space to throw a football or kick a soccer ball. The night ends with a fantastic fire works show, which was nice to have since the show in Duncanville was cancelled this year. The two artists we really enjoyed seeing were Michael W. Smith and David Crowder. It was nice to have Micah and Nadia join us this year!

World Cup!

At&t Stadium

Diane and I have really enjoyed the World Cup this year, and the U.S. getting out of the group of death was especially exciting for us. The metroplex has really gotten behind the U.S. and was showing their games in theaters and at Cowboys Stadium for free. The big draw for our whole family was going to the stadium! It was great getting to see the Belgium game on the big screen! We had to leave after the game to get Mark to work on time... which is good since the over time was a sad loss :(. However, the whole experience was fantastic.

Odds and Ends.

I loved getting away, but it has been really nice to get back and hang out with these amazing MKs again. We are gearing up for Jamaica at the end of this month and getting ready for our big camp over Labor Day weekend. Monday nights have been going really well! The week before I left for vacation I was helping P.B.T out with some youth ministry. It was really great getting to help them out and getting to know some of their youth better. Nadia has been teaching some this summer and is doing a fantastic job. It is great seeing her stretched and watching her shine as she grows. We are going through the Beatitudes. We have had a few fun events. One highlight was getting to see some dear friends in town for a short while and go to Ellen's Amusement with them (where you can Go-Kart and Putt Putt and do batting cages and arcade). They have two MKs that are very dear to my heart! Yesterday we spent all day at Burgers Lake, which is a man-made lake with water slides and high dives and more. It is a great place to spend a day with the kids. My kids really enjoyed playing with all the MKs! So much wrestling, so little time.

We have enjoyed having David around this summer while he is on break. Mark and I got to drive down and see his school and help him move out and clean his apartment. That was also a great chance for Mark to get some driving time in! We are hoping to get him his license by the end of this month! David is gone for this month in Colorado but will get back just before I leave for Jamaica. I'm glad Diane will have her brothers around to help out.

This summer has been full! I'm also trying to read through the Bible in 90 days, which has been pure joy! God's word is so amazing and it gives me renewed joy and passion for what my parents and so many missionaries I know are trying to do in getting it translated into every language! I am so thankful for the part I get to play in their lives and in the lives of their children! I'm so thankful for the part you play! I couldn't do this without you and I'm so thankful for you and your support!

Bless you all!

Caleb

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 7, Asher 5, Liam 2, Echo already in heaven and Bella, getting bigger all the time. 

Asher turns 5!

I'm in such a weird stage of life right now with a new born again. It is great to have that amazing Bella, with her beautiful eyes and adorable gurgling noises, but it is also exhausting. I feel like my 'z' is getting popped every morning, and for those of you who have read the Garfield comics you know exactly what I mean. Coffee, I'm thankful for you this morning. My wife Diane! How does she do it? She was up early like the Proverbs 31 wife, taking care of the kids, watering the plants, and just being awesome in every way! I crawled out of bed, slapped together some coffee, (she had already heated up the water for me) and grumpily got the kids and Mark in the car, and headed off to drop them at school. Blessings flow, I just wish I had arms big enough to hold them all :).

Monday we had a staff meeting which was a wonderful time together. I'm so blessed to have the staff around me that I do! Monday my daughter also turned one week old, wow! Time is flying! The timing of the birth was ideal for my schedule right now (thank you God). We have a couple of slow weeks before we kick off the summer on June 9th.

I love Spring, and all the rain we have been getting this week is wonderful, however it was very sad to see that a baby Blue Jay had been knocked out of its nest and onto my driveway. It was dark and I went over to pick up whatever it was and gave myself some amazing goosebumps when what I thought was a leaf turned out to be a baby bird. Well, I thought that it was dead and it was late and so I went to bed. When I got back from work the next day I had to take care of this poor creature that was not dead, unfortunately. When I came back from doing that, I noticed that my cat had found a snake.

I feel like my house has turned into wild kingdom, the mighty jaguar goes head to head against the jungle python. Well maybe not :). 

Asher turned 5 this week! His birthday was Thursday May 29. I'll never forget weighing him after he was born and being so proud of my amazingly large child! Asher would love it if we lived in the wild because he is so curious about this amazing world God has created for us to enjoy, and he reminds me of that all the time just by being him! He loves to join me and Diane whenever we are building something or working on something. He loves to collect sticks and rocks and seeds and everything from the outdoors. He has been using old cardboard boxes/toilet paper rolls to make little guys named 'Dave' with stick arms. He is a joy to watch grow!  

I've been reading a lot more these days at work! I'm enjoying a book that is about being a better teacher. It talks about how the best teachers are those that are always learning, and it has given me a great desire to go back to school and get some more education under my belt. I'm excited about seeing what the Lord has for me in this area come fall. Please be praying with me about this. 

Pray! 

For Diane, that she heals completely from the birth and is able to get the rest she needs! 

For Bella, she has a cold :(

For Mark who is working at Panera and finishing up a heavy load of school! 

Praise! 

God for his blessings! A wonderful new daughter! 

For you who are faithfully supporting me and allowing me to be here! Thank you!!! 

For the rain! 

I just finished re-watching "The Fellowship of the Ring" and I'm struck by how well done it is and how well it stands up all these years later. The script is so powerful! Gandalf talking to Frodo giving such good advice is inspiring. 

“I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo.
"So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”

J.R.R. Tolkien

I know that some of you are facing some incredible trials! My prayers are with you, and I'm proud of your courage to face the times ahead, and to persevere through hardship. I think of my parents and the tragedy that is going on in the country where they used to work. I'm thankful for the example they are to me and my children. May we all persevere bravely through the hard times, and may we all find that we too have surrounded ourselves with a great fellowship to help us along the way. I'm so thankful for the fellowship that you provide! I couldn't walk this road alone, I wouldn't get very far without 'Sam', none of us would, or could. Thanks for walking with me, and letting me walk with you! 

Psalm 23: 1-4

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.  
He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,
 he refreshes my soul. 
He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. 
4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Blessings, 

Caleb

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 7, Asher 5, Liam 2, Echo already in heaven and Bella, fresh from the oven :) only 1 week old. 

Bella is Here!!!!!

Bella, you are welcomed very enthusiastically to this amazing world, the crazy Robbins world! We are so happy you are here to make our family a wonderful six! And, thinking about six, you were born at the most wonderful hour of 6:09 pm, which was very kind of you, much better than the am alternative! 

The story begins at 2 am Monday morning, May 19, when you woke your mom up, letting her know you were getting ready to come out and see what this crazy place you had heard so much about was really all about. Mom went to work from 5 to 7 am (yeah she is crazy, and I'm crazy about her). She came home and let me know she was having contractions and I wondered why she didn't let me know earlier! She knew I couldn't sleep if she had told me, and that was good enough for me.  She's so thoughtful like that. I went to work to get things ready for the MK Graduation that night, but eventually found out that I was useless because I was thinking about you so much! My kind boss let me off for the rest of the day, and the whole week even, so that I could spend more time with you! I quickly went home and around 2 pm your mom really started feeling that you were on your way. Then all of a sudden you were here, although your mom didn't think it was all of a sudden ;), and you have just made that day, and every day since so much better! You are so beautiful my Bella and I just love holding you and kissing you and thinking about you and I'm so glad to get to know you better and better each day. You have some amazing brothers to get to know and just the best mom anybody could ask for. You were 10 lbs 2 oz and 22 inches long when you came out. That makes you just a little smaller than Asher. That is pretty awesome my baby girl!

Okay, so we got this great red wagon at one of our Baby Showers and we have made it our amazing portable crib for the time being. Home birth is the great way to go, we were able to catch the Spurs game shortly after the birth and it was nice to just be home. Diane did so well through the labor and even had her water break in the bathroom, and not all over the carpet! She is amazing! 

This week has been a very tiring week, but a very fun and good week. Friday is always a welcome day in my book! So far this week I have taken my boys to the pool for some fun swimming time and then to Sonic and then Armstrong Park. It was 50 cent Corndog day at Sonic and that made it worth the trip alone. The pictures below are from our time at the park afterwards. With the boys gone in the afternoons, Diane has been able to get some good sleep! 

Well, my brain is foggy from being tired and I'm sure the pictures are really enough for most of you so I'm going to sign off here. Thanks for your prayers and support for my family. It is amazing having this precious little gift here with us now. I'm so blessed! 

Blessings to you all! 

Caleb and Diane and Creed and Asher and Liam and BELLA!!!! 

Rain in Texas... we make the most of it!

Rain fell and we made the most of it, and as the videos reveal it was a great time! I was thinking the other day how blessed I am to live in the community that I have right now. I hope that as you are reading this you are feeling the same way that I am. Times like this are very sweet and need to be treasured! I'm so thankful for you!

We are still eagerly awaiting the arrival of Bella! She is going to bring a wonderful spark to our lives and I'm so excited to meet her and welcome her into this incredible community! She is already loved by so many amazing people.

This past week has been a wonderful time of thinking and planning for what is to come. I really enjoyed serving at "Shoes for Orphaned Souls" on Saturday, as you can see in the video. Then on Monday night we said goodbye to our seniors, and gave them a chance to say whatever they wanted back to us. It was great getting to affirm them and let them know that they will be missed. It was our last Monday before the summer program because the rest of the month we are doing events on Monday night, first the Pool Opening and then Graduation. This is a bittersweet time of year for me because it was at the pool opening last year that I aggravated my back to the point that I was crippled for most of the summer. I'm not going to do that again this year! So after the senior farewell we did an MK debrief. I didn't know what to expect from the kids, but we ended having a good long talk about the year and I got some amazing feed back! I'm looking forward to taking some of the ideas and using them to make MK even better in the fall. 

Now the week is well on its way and we are all thinking... "will Bella show up this weekend?" Any way, I'm looking forward to a change of pace and excited to see what the next season of life holds, not only summer but father of four!

I love to ask people what God is teaching them, it's always great hearing what God is doing in there lives and watching them think about how to put it into words! So, I have been thinking about what God is doing in my life and I thought I would put it down in the words of Tozer from his book "The Pursuit of God."

"When the habit of inwardly gazing Godward becomes fixed within us we shall be ushered onto a new level of spiritual life more in keeping with the promises of God and the mood of the New Testament. The Triune God will be our dwelling place even while our feet walk the low road of simple duty here among men. We will have found life's summum bonum indeed."

I'm on a journey right now where I'm striving to keep my focus directly on God and seek to join him in what he is doing at every moment. For most of my life I have been focused on inviting God into my life. I'm really more interested right now in joining Him in His life, the Author of life. What are you up to today God and how can I join you?

Thanks for joining God in what he is doing in me! Thanks for your partnership in the ministry that God has given me! It is pure joy being on this journey with you!

Blessings,

Caleb

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 7, Asher 4, Liam 2, Echo already in heaven and Bella coming soon via a midwife near you :).

May is here... let the Star Wars puns begin...

After the year of back death, pain, monstrosity, terribleness, I feel overwhelmed with joy at the healing that God not only has enabled all bodies to be able to do, but specifically my body. The pictures below show some of the joy that I have been able to experience recently since my healing. Last year so many things were just plain painful and so I didn't do them and didn't look forward to doing them, and when I had to do them, wanted to get them over with as soon as possible... well it's a whole new year where God has given me a new lease on back life, I call it Back 2.0.  

So bike riding. My kids love to do it and I love to watch them do it. I have been working with Creed on riding his bike this year, sans training wheels. It is so much fun to run behind him and watch him fall...I mean, to watch him get closer and closer to that moment when balancing on a bike finally clicks. I remember learning to ride, and it was such a great feeling when it finally set in, and the saying is true, you never forget.

He went a few feet the other day on his own, and after pulling himself off the grass had the biggest smile and yelled "I did it!" I'm reminded of the whole C.S. Lewis example of how God delights in our small steps towards perfection but isn't satisfied until we reach it. I'm so delighted to watch my child grow, but I won't be satisfied until he's riding like a champ! Ah the joy of being able to run, and help my wonderful Creed learn to ride. I haven't been able to get a picture of this yet but I hope to add it to my next blog. Below are my other two boys having a blast riding their bikes! Asher calls his bike his "Bee" bike, because it has a huge bee logo on it. It's so cute... "can you watch me ride my bee bike" every day after school. 

Then there is the ministry, which I love. I mean who wouldn't love a job where as part of their work they get to go rock climbing with a bunch of wonderful MKs? I don't know, it sounds pretty amazing to me! Thanks again, by the way, for making this possible :)! 

This past Saturday we got to go rock climbing and it was so great! I love hanging out with the crazy and wonderful M's. 

Beyond Rock Climbing, I really enjoyed just hanging out with some of my favorite MKs this weekend. The college age ones who have long since passed through the youth group. Below is one of my female leaders, Nadia, who doesn't really have a fondness for cats, but you would never know it the way they love her. But, I suppose that is the way cats are, they are drawn to the people that don't really like them. Nadia is a great addition to the MK team. she went to the youth group and is now back volunteering (has been for a long time actually). I really enjoy working with her and have invited her to join me on my Thailand adventure, summer 2015, yeah she's that awesome! I know the kids will love her!  

Monday night went really well! I enjoyed speaking to the kids, "A Tale of Two Pharaohs" which you can listen to if you are interested by clicking on the "Caleb's Media" link in the upper left hand corner. After that we had a Jamaica Meeting, which I'm excited to be a part of because it means that we are getting closer to going back to Jamaica! This will be another great year there, where we will be spending most of our time building a house for some people who really need a new house. Think about trying to fit your whole family in your leaky tool shed. Yeah it's kinda like that. I'm really excited to have my cousin Sami with me this year. From Thailand to Jamaica, wherever you go, the "Lord of the Rings" taught us it's always nice to have someone named Sam along for the journey :). 

The trip will cost $1,800 and if you are interested in being a part of it ,specifically, you can click on the tab in the upper left hand corner "Supporting the work". That will take you to a donation page where you can type Caleb and Diane in the search box. All your support is appreciated and I am humbled by your willingness to stand with me. I still am in awe of the fact that because of you I get to do all these wonderful things! 

This week has seen the beginning of watering season for me. Yes I call it a season and I look forward to it being over. I bought some great sprinklers this year though, and I'm excited for the 'new' technology, at least that's how I'm spinning it to make it more palatable. I'm also really enjoying driving with Mark every morning. It means that I get up a little earlier than I would like, but it's good bonding time and I'm really enjoying it. We will get that boy his license one small drive at a time :). He's a really good driver! 

Please let me know if any of my links don't work! You all bring me such joy and I'm so grateful for you! I pray God's blessing in your life! It's a pleasure to be on the journey with you! 

Caleb and Diane and boys and soon to be a girl!