The Great Camping Adventure/ Creed turns 7

Unfortunately, for this great camping adventure I have no pictures, accept the ones in my head. I usually use my phone to take pics, but I just turned it off and left it in the tent, because it is also a phone, and who wants that while you are camping. 

Getting there was a breeze and at the last minute I decided to bring our dog Daisy. She lost ten years at the park, it was cool to see her running with a gleam in her eye, she got to smell so many great things and it was nice to have her. 

Texas weather is great, all week sunny and nice, we go camping and it's cold and cloudy. But, nothing could dampen our spirits, accept perhaps the deluge we narrowly avoided while leaving. The night before we were to leave we discovered that rain was on the way, the lightning and thunder kind of gave it away. So we packed our stuff up and got ready to bolt if we felt any rain drops. Just as soon as we finished and sat down by the fire again (it was close to 10 pm) the first drop hit. So we dashed around getting the boys in the van and the tent torn down and then after a prayer said our goodbyes and left for home. We got home close to 11:30 pm and felt very happy to be warm and out of the rain. 

Tyler is where I first really fell in love with Diane, so it seemed like the best place to propose. It was good to go back to the exact site where that wonderful "yes" was spoken and remember that sweet and exciting time. I used to camp at Tyler as a child with my grandparents, those may be my best memories of them. The delicious sausage cooking over the fire, the fun in the canoe, and swinging off the rope swing (which is no longer there). It was great getting to experience this with my own boys. They loved it and took it all in differently. 

Creed wanted to fish and fish and then fish. No one caught anything but it was great getting to show him how to cast and reel. It's really weird how we didn't catch anything with three noisy boys throwing everything they can into the lake :).  

Asher is my nature boy. He collected stuff from nature, then threw it in the lake, but he did keep a pretty interesting stick that he calls a 'praying mantis' stick. It is very dangly, and now has tape on it to help keep the legs? on, I don't know but he is very cute! 

Liam could sit by a lake and throw rocks, dirt, anything, into it from dusk til dawn. He didn't move unless we told him we were moving on. It was truly amazing! 

My best memory was walking around the lake with the boys. Two miles, and they all made it, although the running turned to walking and then, well, a slow mosey (we are in Texas after all). 

The adventure continued the next day when Creed turned seven! We had already planned a church service, and had the food and everything so it made sense to get back together in the morning. Everyone showed up at our place, and it was a great finish to a wonderful weekend.



Then after everyone was gone and the stuff put away and naps were taken it was CAKE TIME! Yeah we got the monkey an ice cream cake and it was amazing! Creed you are amazing and I love you so much and I'm so proud of you! You are truly a wonderful little boy who is becoming more like God every day. I love your honesty, your joy, and your desire for justice! You remind me of my favorite person so much (your Mother) and I'm so thankful that you share so much in common with her! I'm praying for you and your amazing year being a seven year old.

Thanks to all of you for your support, love, prayers, and friendship. I am so thankful for you and I know that a big part of why I have such amazing kids is because they have people like you praying for them! Thanks for being a part of my ministry! I couldn't do what I do without you and it means so much to have you with me. This week I got to meet a wonderful new family and welcome their amazing son into the MK youth group. Tomorrow we have a service day with the kids, we are doing a car wash and then some odds and ends in peoples yards.

Praises!

My back is so much better, I have been able to start working out again and doing yard work. I'm not in pain nearly as much and I don't have to see the chiropractor hardly at all!

For you!

Prayers!

For Mark as he finished up the year, I'm not sure that I see him sleep ever, that can't be good.

For Diane as she finished out the pregnancy, wow she is amazing, but in pain and I think ready to have this darling baby girl out rather than in.

I'm starting to plan my next teaching series and I would love prayers anointing that journey.

I saw this movie yesterday called "God's not Dead" and I think that I will leave this blog with a quote from the Newsboys song,

"My God's not dead, He's surely alive, He's living on the inside roaring like a lion!"

Amen, hope you embrace that today :)

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

Last trip was a Wedding!

What a whirlwind of a week! The wedding came and went and was a ton of fun and it definitely got the job done. They say you can't choose your family, well in many ways I guess that's true and makes sense, unless you're me and Luke. We chose each other as brothers, and while I haven't always been the best friend to the guy, I've always treated him like a brother. He stood with me when I embraced the adventure of being Diane's husband and I was honored to return the best man favors when he began his own adventure with Ishael. The story begins with a flight to New Jersey... 

Tuesday: Luke's birthday, he and Ishael picked me up and the pre-wedding errands continued, with Caleb in toe. The funniest bit for me was going to the bank and dealing with a very curt Wells Fargo attendant. The hilarity came mainly from the fact that right behind her was a sign saying how banking begins and ends with courtesy. So good! Stuff happened and we ended up at a surprise dinner for Luke at a really sweet restaurant. Big thanks to his Mother in law for picking up the bill! 

Wednesday: Luke and I enjoyed getting up in a lazy fashion, we played some Madden (my Xbox 360 came with me :). The place we stayed belonged to a wonderful family, the dad is a youth pastor! Ya it was awesome, his name is Luke and she lives up to her name, in fact they all do; Jewel! She brought us bagels and coffee and without milk I improvised with coconut milk... interesting choice on my part, maybe not the best one I've ever made. We packed up and moved to the B&B that was rented for us (thanks to Luke's parents) and worked on a bridal party gift (a beautiful cutting board). Then it was drive here drive there drive everywhere. Eventually, we had most of the groomsmen and found ourselves at the Tux Shop, which is actually the name of the shop. Then off to the Bachelor party, which I can't tell you about for fear of losing my job and support. No I'm kidding, we went bowling :)... and then ended up at Buffalo Wild Wings where Luke beasted the Blazing challenge. He killed it with time to spare (12 of their hottest wings in 6 minutes). 

Thursday: Up and at em nice and slow like. We ate some delicious pastry from a nearby bakery and then went to IHop for a wedding party meet and greet with pancakes. I got to meet the lovely lady I would escort down the isle, her name is Bambi and I'm sure she makes her fiance's heart go Thumper ;). I couldn't resist, I'm sorry. Then the rehearsal and the delicious dinner to follow. I love plantains and missed the memo about taking one first and letting others try them. Any way, it was a great time of getting to know the group, I even got to meet Luke's birth mom, which I really enjoyed. When we finally made it home we took some time to encourage this amazing man  and pray for him and his wife to be. It was so hard to get to sleep that night, not just because of the loud snoring :). 

Friday: Ahhhhh get up and get going! We suited up and made it to the wedding with an hour to spare and then it just all happened and it was awesome. John Piper married the lovely couple and it was great to get to meet this amazing man who has authored so many powerful life changing books. His wedding sermon was great! But what do you expect. Luke wept but Ishael put him to shame, needless to say I was ready with tissues throughout. It was so wonderful getting to be right there for it all. And then it was over and we were off to the reception. They got an amazing DJ and he did a great job. There was lots of dancing, I really enjoyed seeing Luke's dance with his mother. I was in an African dance (https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152340196422743) and you can watch it if you really want to. The time flew by but it was so rich! Finally we ended up at this mansion for pictures and then goodbyes! It was hard to say goodbye! Those of us who were left ended up going to Time Square, it was a real treat for me having never been before. I really enjoyed sharing that time with everybody. Then home and much needed bed! 

Saturday: Oh my goodness sleep I love you so much! Okay well eventually I did get up and then cleaned up the place. I was the sole survivor and got all my stuff together and the suits together and then got a ride to the airport and off to home. After a few delays I made it back into the loving arms of my own bride. 

Now I'm back to life here in Dallas for a little while. No more trips til June. This Sunday I really enjoyed getting to speak at my cousins baby dedication thingy. It was great to pray for their daughter and them and share a few things. I love being here and I love this community. This weekend I'm off again but this time the family is coming with me on a camping adventure. I can't wait to go fishing with the boys. Should be a good time. 

Thanks for being a part of this wonderful life with me. Your support and love mean so much! 

Bless you all! 

Caleb Robbins

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 :).
________________________________________________________________________

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.