LWC April 2016 DeRoos Drumbeat

For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:17

<<Salutation>>

Sad Day:

This past Tuesday, we said goodbye to Zachery and Olivia as they headed to the US, and prepare for the last trimester of Olivia's pregnancy. They wanted to get back in time to visit her family for a couple weeks in Maryland, and then still be able to fly commercially to Iowa. It will be a difficult adjustment for us as we have grown to really appreciate their involvement with the work in Haiti. On the other hand, we are happy for Olivia and her family as she gets the opportunity to spend time with them. Please continue to pray for them as they try to get settled in for the next five to six months and find a temporary home and work, and prepare for the new arrival.

It Doesn't get any better than this
...or does it?

One of the many blessings God has granted us is the special opportunity to minister along-side one of our sons and his wife. Since our return in January, we have had a number of opportunities to give Sunday morning messages, and it usually is either Les preaching in English and Zachery translating to Creole or Zachery preaching in Creole. As parents, it's so rewarding to have a child follow in your footsteps, and watch them respond to their own calling and vision as they seek to be obedient to the Lord. We find ourselves saying, "It doesn't get any better than this!" Then recently we had a visitor, our oldest son was down for a visit of about two weeks. It was his second visit to Haiti, but the two visit were almost five years apart. He was so surprised with all the changes. He was also remembered by the girls who were around during his first visit, and they had a great time getting reacquainted. However, one of the biggest highlights for us took place on a Sunday morning. Les had been asked to preach at the church of the Village of Hope, but offered the opportunity to Josiah. So for the first time we sat in the congregation and watched not one, but two sons be involved in the morning worship service; Josiah preaching in English and Zachery translating in Creole...so yes, it does get better...thank you Lord!

Farming is in full swing, we are plantvesting:

While the planting season is getting started and now under way in our home state of Iowa, we are in the middle of plantvesting. What, is that a typo or even a word? Well kind of, you see we have some fields that are being harvested, and others just getting planted. We just finished raising our first crop of peanuts. By all accounts, it was a very good crop of peanuts, and since the peanuts were intercropped with corn, we are now watching and waiting for the corn to mature. At the same time, we have just acquired some additional ground, and since the last half of April has received plenty of rainfall, we'll plant that field. It's really strange to be involved in agriculture in Haiti. Haiti has plenty of heat units all year-around, so the limiting factor is rain. If the good Lord decides to bless with rainfall, we can take advantage of planting almost any time of the year.

Glitches, Hiccups, Setbacks

After months of preparation to finally be able to begin giving a completed presentation on Moringa to the house mothers at CCH, my computer just quit. It shut down suddenly...no flashing screen or error messages, just a complete blackout. Les googled some troubleshooting advice, and tried all he could do...nothing. Our last hope was letting it sit for 30 hours so the battery completely drained...still nothing. We decided to send it with Zachery and Olivia who were leaving soon for the US. They are taking it to the person who can deliver it to the direct place the computer was purchased. Now it is a waiting game to see if they can rescue my information. Glitches are frustrating. Please pray that they are able to retrieve my work and that there will be no rebuilding of this lost information. Get the full story plus part 2 on our blog here.

Right now the girls are at the midpoint in their second semester. Last week and this week they have been in exams. So, please pray for them as they try to recall all the information they have learned and that they pass their exams.

During the summer months, I Catherine, used to continue with some sort of learning topic to keep our kids minds sharp and active but in a more relaxed, fun way, without a lot of mind bending information. I was hoping to accomplish this, this summer for the girls. I hope to fill a portion of that time with practical fun topics for learning.

It may not be summer yet but to fit in all the topics, I felt it necessary to start now, especially since we plan on traveling home in the end of June and stay through July for the birth of Zachery & Olivia’s first baby.

Oral Care Camp Week 2

This last month I have been teaching on oral care in an Oral Care Camp. The camp is a fairly serious topic, but it has been well received, and for the most part enjoyable. We just finished week 2 of our Oral Care Camp.

Not only is a picture worth a thousand words, but images are great for empowering, implanting and enhancing memory.

Showing them microscopic images of the "bad bugs / bacteria" that live in your mouth resulted in many wrinkled faces and gasps with all age levels. Every bit of information was building upon itself for the climactic ending that I will share in a moment.

After doing a quick review on brushing, when to change your toothbrush and how to clean your toothbrush (because it too harbors these bad bugs after brushing), we covered the how and why we should be flossing, because every part of the tooth doesn't get clean by just brushing. Two volunteers performed live demonstration of the two front teeth and Zachery using his arms to show how not to floss and how to floss.

At the very end we did an activity. I had them chew Red Cote tablets for 30 seconds and had them spit it out. They then were to return to the classroom to receive an explanation on the purpose of that tablet. An image was showed to them and an explanation as to what their teeth should look like if they had brushed well and what they would look like if they had not. It was truly fun to see them laughing and smiling at each other with red mouths and teeth. Word spread quickly after the first class about the Red Cote tablets. It was wonderful to see my class fill up quickly and not seem like I was "pulling teeth" to get them there. No pun intended.

After explaining the picture to them, we encouraged them to run to the bathroom and look in the mirror, then finish brushing their teeth where they had missed. They did just that. I should clarify that the younger girls were all smiles and giggling, but the older girls didn't want to open their mouths. When Les went to the girls living area, there were all kinds of girls grabbing their toothbrushes to do a better job.

Three of the house mothers were able to attend, but the others were busy preparing food. They had heard news about the class and wanted their own Red Coat tablets. I said I would arrange for a class with them another time and I would hand them their own Red Cote tablets then.

We invite you to see more photos of Oral Care Camp Week 2, scroll down and read all about Oral Care Camp Week 1, and catch up on other blogs on your way there by clicking here. We will have more fun things to share, so you will not want to miss out. For those of you who are already following, please forgive this repeat.

Please do follow us if you would like to keep up on more regular basis.

Strawberries

  This heart-shaped berry has been said to signify purity, passion, and healing. A close relative to the rose, this unique berry is the only fruit that carries it’s seeds outside. The ancient Romans believed that strawberries could soothe melancholy, fever, inflammation, throat infection, kidney stones, & many other diseases. But researchers have recently ranked strawberries as one of the 50 best antioxidant sources among commonly eaten foods. The following health benefits of strawberries will motivate you to grow your own strawberry forever: Here is a link to get your own organic seed for your garden.

1.     Blood Sugar Benefits: Several recent studies have found regular intake of strawberries to be associated with decreased risk of type 2 diabetes. In these studies, significant benefits do not emerge until frequency of intake reaches at least 2-3 strawberry servings per week.
2.     Anti-Cancer Benefit: Strawberries are best documented in the case of breast, cervical, colon, and esophageal cancer (Esophageal Cancer: Research shows that within six months, drinking water mixed with freeze-dried strawberry powder has been able to significantly reduce 80% of developing cancer cells within the esophagus’s of rats, and is projected to have consistent results in human esophageal cancer as well.)
3.     Combat Arthritis and Gout: Filled with antioxidants and detoxifying agents, strawberries can efficiently aid to eradicate inflammation and pain associated with diseases such as arthritis and gout forever. A recent study depicted that women who ate 16 or more strawberries per week had much lower inflammation levels. They were also 14% less likely to have elevated levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) within their blood, which indicates high inflammation.
4.     Healthy Digestion & Stored Fat Burning: Since they are filled with fiber, strawberries maintain regularity and cleanse the intestines. The red-hue in strawberries causes stored fat to be burned much quicker. Nitrate, in strawberries, encourages oxygen and the flow of blood within the body; this in turn inspires weight loss.
5.     Packed With Folic Acid: These super berries provide your body with folate. Without a sufficient amount of this B vitamin, you may be susceptible to conditions such as vascular disease, atherosclerosis, and a decline in cognitive function.
6.     Promote Bone Health: Strawberries contain potassium, magnesium, vitamin K which are important for strengthening your bones.
7.     Lower Cardiovascular Disease: Flavonoids (yellow pigments) lower LDL cholesterol and therefore reduce our risk of for heart disease and hypertension. Three or more servings of strawberries were able to decrease their risk of a heart attack by 32%.
8.     Huge Immune System Boost: Strawberries have a surplus of Vitamin C (about 113% of recommended daily intake) which is more than enough of what your body needs to reap the benefits. Consuming Vitamin C during stressful situations actually has the ability to decrease blood pressure to a normal level, preventing the development of hypertension.
9.     Increase Brain Function: Free radicals are to blame specifically to cause brain tissue to decline and neurotransmitters to become much weaker. Strawberries high in Vitamin C and phytonutrients counteract some of these conditions when consumed regularly. Iodine, another nutrient strawberry is abundant in, maintains proper nervous system and brain function. Anthocyanins also have the ability to improve short-term memory drastically.
10. Wrinkle Eliminator: Along with biotin, necessary in maintaining durable hair and nails, strawberries contain an acid which defends the flexible fibers in our skin and allows it to appear youthful.
11. Battle High Blood Pressure: Potassium and magnesium efficiently reduce high blood pressure, which can be spiked by sodium intake among other risk factors such as diet. Consuming strawberries regularly helps prevent hypertension, and also maintains healthy oxygen levels by enabling consistent blood flow throughout the body.
12. Diuretic: The strawberry fruit is considered to have cooling, calming, and diuretic properties. Strawberry fruits and leaves are used to treat urinary tract disorders. Yes, you can eat the leaves.

TIPS: 1) Wait to clean them until you are ready to eat them, rinsing them speeds up spoiling. 2) two days is the maximal time for strawberry storage without major loss of vitamin C and polyphenol antioxidants that stabilize oxidative stress. 3) The leaves and stem part of the strawberry contain benefits that are good for your health. One of the benefits of strawberry leaves is that they are a natural digestive aid.

“Let food be thy medicine, and medicine be thy food.” Hippocrates

Promoting a lifestyle of preventative care!

WELLNESS PRINCIPAL: Health comes from within. You cannot buy it in a bottle.

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