Overcoming Homeschool Challenges on the Mission Field

Overcoming Homeschool Challenges on the Mission Field

I'm not sure if you have ever had seasons in your life where you battle discouragement, your abilities and things going on in life that you can't control - but I have!

Homeschooling high school on the mission field has brought me to frustration and tears that I have not had since teaching the kids to read. Seriously! I am a numbers girl, but Algebra - ugh!!!!  I battle the desire to even want to relearn it to teach it. 

I can remember days when I loved homeschooling the kids.  Where did that joy go?  I certainly have NOT lost the love for my kids!!!  

My mind battles for freedom! I have done this already! Why do I have to do this all over again?!?!? I wasn't good at Algebra the first time around. Oh great, another question they have and I can't answer it!!!! Wait, we have to do a Science Project and Book Reports at the same time!?!?!? Lord, help me!!!!

I feel burned out.  I feel like I have tapped out on my abilities with school during these higher levels.  I feel like they deserve better!  They deserve sports programs & trained teachers..... and friends.   I am not quite sure what to do though.  We have no other options.  There is an international school here, but the cost is way, way out of our budget.  It would be $11.700 a year for my 3 older kids to attend!  I don't know how any missionary families have that kind of money.  

Your will Lord, not my will... That is where I am at.  I will not quit.  I will not give up.  We will press on in this journey, through difficulty.  We will praise God in the storm!  He is faithful!

This is where the Lord has me.  He has not brought provision for education elsewhere.  We have not been able to find a qualified tutor that we can afford. It's just me :) 

I remind myself that FEELINGS are MISLEADING.  Emotions come and go! 

 So hold on Amy, bend a knee and trust the Good Lord to get us all through this!!!  

Philippians 4:13 tells me "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me"

I will take that truth!

So, although I would love to have hours in the Word studying, mastering this foreign language in the country we have lived in for over 5 years, or go to different outreaches, read a book & use my creative side to express myself...I choose to accept the path the Lord has before me.  I am certain there are other people on more difficult paths than mine! 

James 1:12 says, "God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him."

I am certain that the Lord is good!  There is something in this for not only me, but my children.  They will see their mom press in when the going gets tough.  They will learn that we don't give up.  We will all learn to be thankful for what we have been given, even in hardship.  

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

My go to moves in this season:  

1. Prayer & Worship 

2. Coffee Date with Trent (my husband) for encouragement when his schedule allows 

3. Journal & remember the bigger picture. 

What are your Go to moves when you battle the call of Homeschooling?

Missionary Kids and some struggles we are praying through...

Parenting a Missionary Kid through Difficulty

Tonight is very much like every other night, but I catch a glimpse of brokenness in my oldest daughter's heart.  She is 14.  She is a missionary.  She pretty much grew up on the mission field from the age of 5.  She has twin brothers, age 15 & a younger adopted sister age 10.  We have had her sister for 2.5 years & we all love her so deeply!!!

Today's post is focusing on my 14 year old & some struggles she is facing....so I too am facing them as my heart aches for her.

She battles loneliness.  This is quite common from what I read with other MK's (missionary kids).  I can relate too as there was a season I walked through this myself.  God brought me through it & I know He will bring her through it too.

She loves her family, but longs for someone her age that is a foreigner.  Someone she can relate to.  She has grown up watching her brothers have each other.  For the longest time they ran around no problem.  But now that she is a young woman (taller than me!) she is really crying out to God to bring her a friend.  She loves her sister, but not quite the same for her to relate to the same things & struggles.

I have encouraged her that when God has called us, they too were called.  There is something precious in this season that she will walk away from stronger and more like Jesus.

I am very thankful for this season, even though it is difficult to let her grow through this.  As a mother, I want to fix it!  However, she is growing in her prayer life and intimacy with Christ.  The Lord is ministering to her in ways that will help ground her in her identity in Him through this.   In times of discouragement, I see her put on worship music & praise Him.  When she has "nothing to do" she will journal.  She has even used this season to memorize the sermon on the mount.

In her ideal world she would love to be playing on every sport offered at a high school somewhere, have an activity every night, and belong to a youth group full of girls her age.  But the Lord has her homeschooled and tucked away in a city of the Philippines.  We can't afford the Private Christian International School that is offered here - with their Missionary Discount it's super expensive!!!

So we both grow closer to God through this.  I pray that the Lord brings her a friend to be such a sweet memory of her childhood, but I am more thankful for her growth in the Lord during this season.

Any other missionary moms out there going through anything similar?  Please reply with ways that have helped your family :)

November 2016 Pruett Press!

FEED THE HUNGRY * HEAL THE SICK * MAKE DISCIPLES * REACH THE UNREACHED * CARE FOR THE ORPHAN

September 2016 Pruett Press

As children of God, it’s important to us to find any and every way we can make an impact for Christ. We use every means necessary to enlarge our mission field and make Christ known. If you follow us on Facebook, you may even see that Trent is working with our team to offer fitness encouragement & tips. It is just one way to reach more people by meeting a practical need. It’s fun too! Ha! So if you are wanting to up your game with a 30 day fitness challenge - look up what Trent and Wood are doing there on our Facebook page :) Maybe this can spark an idea for you too to reach others in your area of influence?

As always, we want to also report to you the different areas of ministry and keep you up to date there. We appreciate you and thank you so much for your prayers and journeying with us! We are actively looking for the property!

Prior to coming to the USA for a visit, we had our eye out for the ministry base. We were able to start budgeting with those searches. There were some strong possibilities, but nothing came of those. We are actively looking and are very excited to find the perfect ministry base!!! We have seen several properties that look like strong contenders. We are growing in patience as everything takes longer here in the Philippines. We are learning that in the search, we are meeting many people of influence and that is always a good thing! If you are in a place of waiting on the Lord, He might be doing more than you can see with your natural eyes in the wait. Keep the faith!
 Feed the Hungry - The Hezekiah Feeding Project This program is so much fun to sow into! These kids are full of life & growing in Christ!!! Not only are these kids getting a solid meal, Bible Teaching & academic tutoring every weekend….but they are also making an impact in the community. The Scripture where Jesus says, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” comes to mind. Our team at the Hezekiah Project serve with such a joy & their only desire is to see Jesus on the throne of these kids lives! Their lights are certainly SHINING!!! Praise God!!!!! Heal the Sick - House of Hope Ministry This ministry is not the easiest. We continue to go and pray for these children who have been told their cancer is terminal. We pray for healing & we pray for the families. We have seen God bring undeniable healing & we have great faith to see more healing come to these children. The picture here is of Malik. Can we ask you to join in praying with us for his healing? He has been diagnosed with liver cancer & we want to see this little guy completely healed!

Make Disciples - Several Weekly Bible Studies We have a few weeknight Bible Studies that we are doing here in Davao. It’s been such an encouragement to see our groups growing in passion & knowledge for Jesus! We even had a new member, Kim, of our Weekend Group that went out and bought her First Bible :) She was glowing as she shared how she went in and the Lord led her to the perfect Bible! It was so beautiful to see how the Lord is speaking to her through the Word of God! In our mid-week Bible Study we are really seeing Freedom be the theme. Testimonies of forgiveness & freedom of fear have been areas Holy Spirit has been focusing. It is so exciting to see the transformation those freedoms bring! Hallelujah!!!! Please reach out to us if there is an area we can be praying for you. It would be our joy!

Reach the Unreached - Muslim Province We now financially supporting a Filipino women that has currently moved into the mountains that has planted herself in an unreached people group area.  At her request we won't include pics due to the danger of someone find out that she is evangelizing in the area.  The city is Esperanza which is predominantly Muslim, and very dangerous if your preaching Christ.  I went and saw for myself and it's pretty hardcore.   Care for the Orphan - Looking for Land! We are so excited about this area God is allowing us to serve him in. We have much to do! We are actively looking for land (as we shared on front of the newsletter) & we are having meetings with people in the DSWD (social work system) to get things lined up & set up. So, much is going on in the wait!!! We appreciate your prayers :) There were cacao trees on the property & Amy thinks that if there is the possibility of chocolate on the property - it must be the Lord! Ha!!! We’ll keep you posted ;)

June/July 2016 Pruett Press

OUR VISION: *FEED THE HUNGRY *HEAL THE SICK *MAKE DISCIPLES *REACH THE UNREACHED *EQUIP THE CHURCH/CARE FOR THE ORPHANS PRUETT PRESS FLATWORLD

Discipleship and mentorship in the workplace is at the forefront of practical Christian living! Work for the follower of Jesus is worship. Jesus for 30 years worked as apprentice carpenter to his father, and for 30 years his expression of worship was in his faithfulness in the workplace:) CARE FOR THE ORPHANS The adoption of Liberty is moving along and please pray with us for favor in the system. In the future we are believing God for more orphans to be apart of our family and ministry. With the Land we are believing for will provide the ability to care for more orphan's who desperately need a family. Please pray with us for the Land and the provision to purchase it. HOUSE OF HOPE Praying for the sick is a responsibility and a privilege:). Please believe with us that healing will manifest in these beautiful children. Each week we pray for the children's healing; as well as for the parents who are walking through hell watching their child suffer. Pray with us for the miraculous! BASKETBALL OUTREACH We are seeing 50 to 60 kids each week come from the poorest part of our city, and play basketball and hear the gospel. Each week we are seeing kids come forward to receive Christ! Praise God!

HEZEKIAH FEEDING PROGRAM Each week feed and teach a 120 kids Math, English, Reading, and Writing. Caring for the helpless is the heart of Jesus and the duty of the body of Christ. We show the world the love of God more in what we do than what we say!

Your brother and missionary in Christ , Trent

April 2016 Pruett Press

We hope this newsletter finds you well. We are very excited to be visiting the USA this summer. Sadly we will not be able to bring sweet Liberty with us, but she will be in school and staying with our dear friends during our short trip. We hope to be able to connect with as many of you as possible. We are in a season of transition, and we are super excited about the things the Lord is doing!!! We are continuing in the current works we have been doing since we got here - 5 years ago & a few that are just a couple years old, but we have stepped out of leadership at LIFE Church. It was such a blessing to help pioneer that work unto the Lord. It's not always to step away, but it allows others to walk in their gifts and talents. We are excited to hear all that the Lord continues to do there as we have been directed to pioneer another new work with the abandoned and abused. We covet your prayers during the transition. There is more about this work at the closing of this newsletter below for those interested to learn more. Ministry Updates FLATWORLD Discipleship and mentorship in the workplace is at the forefront of practical Christian living! Work for the follower of Jesus is worship. Jesus for 30 years worked as apprentice carpenter to his father, and for 30 years his expression of worship was in his faithfulness in the workplace:) MUSLIM MINISTRY: There are places on this island that are very dangerous & just by our appearance we would not have the ability to go. In light of staying true to the vision God has given us, we are supporting a local Filipino to take the Gospel to this unreached area. We are so encouraged by their steadfastness & faithfulness. Due to their safety, we are unable to post pictures, their name and/or location. MENTORING & DISCIPILING: We are continuing to mentor those we have led to the Lord and we have now 4 weekly meetings where we are able to go through the Scriptures and encourage new and growing believers - Praise God! HOUSE OF HOPE Praying for the sick is a responsibility and a privilege:). Please believe with us that healing will manifest in these beautiful children. Each week we pray for the children's healing; as well as for the parents who are walking through hell watching their child suffer. Pray with us for the miraculous! BASKETBALL OUTREACH We are seeing 50 to 60 kids each week come from the poorest part of our city, and play basketball and hear the gospel. Each week we are seeing kids come forward to receive Christ! Praise God! HEZEKIAH FEEDING PROGRAM Each week feed and teach a 120 kids Math, English, Reading, and Writing. Caring for the helpless is the heart of Jesus and the duty of the body of Christ. We show the world the love of God more in what we do than what we say! CARE FOR THE ORPHAN The adoption of Liberty is moving along and please pray with us for favor in the system. We are believing God for more orphans to be apart of our family and ministry. With the Land we are believing for, we will provide the ability to care for more orphan's who desperately need a family. Please pray with us for the Land and the provision to purchase it. The Big Announcement! At the beginning of our missionary call, the Lord moved our hearts for the broken, abandoned and rejected. We actually believe our Missionary Call is best described in Isaiah 61. We have been faithful to the different areas we have been honored to sew into through the last 10 years, but have always had this part of God's heart in waiting for HIS RELEASE. We believe we have had a release from the Lord to pursue the broken, abandoned and rejected group NOW along with our ministry partners here locally - The Wick Family. The same day we were obedient to step aside from Life Church (which was very hard as we love that community deeply!), we were confirmed in this with a prophetic word from a dear woman at Life Church. Although Até Nida was very sad to see us move onto the work the Lord was preparing, she felt she had to be faithful to share what the Lord was saying to her. She speaks no English & we had an interpreter share Gods heart to us. WORD FOR WORD it is the prayers we have brought before the Lord periodically over the last 10 years in regards to this group of broken, abandoned and rejected. This prophetic word confirmed that we are to have a ministry base for our ministry. That we would have this land to take in these broken, abandoned and rejected children. We will be working with the DSWD here to take in up to 10-15 children ages 5-8 once we have facilities to care for them. We will take in a couple at a time. Most children that enter the system never leave. In the Philippines, it is shameful to have an adopted child. They will even go as far as to match children with perspective adoptive parents so they look alike. And after they are babies, it is unlikely they will find a home. Our team plans to be long term care for these kids by: Providing a Safe Haven - where we bring healing and restoration to their lives by the power of the Holy Spirit. Preparing them to be world changers in the destiny God has for them! We are so excited for these kids already and the destiny God has for them. Future Missionaries to the nations, the work place and/or wherever the Lord calls them!!!! We have actually already received 2 different monetary donations from FILIPINOS! Twice now the Lord has prompted 2 different people to give us $2,000 USD (that is a lot of money to anyone - but ESPECIALLY to a Filipino!). Both times they prefaced, THE LORD SAID to give you this money for your ministry. Neither of these people knew the vision of the land and work with the children! This was further confirmation in pioneering this new work. We were blown away how Holy Spirit it moving hearts in this already!!!! How can you help? We are looking to raise $100,000 USD to purchase the land and build the facilities for the work. We are looking to expand our team. We are praying for like-minded individuals and families to co-labor with us in the work. Prayer support! It is vital that we have a solid team holding the rope in prayer and intercession for our families and these kids. Favor with the government officials we will be working with. Share this vision with anyone you think would want to partner with us :)

Pruett Press March 2016

OUR VISION •Heal the sick •Feed the hungry •Make disciples •Reach the Unreached *Equip the Church FLATWORLD MENTORING As we disciple our business leaders are walking in the call to bring the kingdom of God into the workplace. Work is worship and the success of our business is for the glory of God! HOUSE OF HOPE It's a privilege and an honor to pray for these sick children! Cancer is something that strips hope from an entire family especially when it's a child. Our team brings the life and hope of Jesus to the darkest hour of these peoples life. HEZEKIAH FEEDING PROGRAM As we reach out to the poorest part of our city to feed the hungry the bible tells us that, "what we do unto the least of these, we do unto thee." When we the hungry children we are feeding Jesus:). BASKETBALL OUTREACH TO THE YOUTH Basketball has been an amazing way to monitor and disciple the youth in our city. I have rented out the best basketball gym once a week to the poorest kids in the city with a ref, score board, and shot clock. Giving these kids an authentic balling experience has opened their hearts to love of Jesus. REACHING THE UNREACHED Brining the gospel of Jesus into highly populated Muslim area is very dangerous. For the protection of our local missionary we cannot include any pictures. We are supporting Mea who deeply committed to Christ and seeing the gospel move through her people in the city of Esperonza. Please help prayer for her protection:)

January 2016 Pruett Press Newsletter

We are so excited as a family about this year 2016! Over the past five years that we have had the privilege of serving the Lord here in The Philippines God has been making our vision clearer with each year. Habakkuk 2:2 States "To write out the vision on tablets so that those that read may run with it!" The Lord has called us clearly to: 1.FEED THE HUNGRY 2.HEAL THE SICK 3.REACH THE UNREACHED 4.MAKE DISCIPLES 5.EQUIP THE CHURCH With each of these 5 pillars The Lord has provided a practical way for our team carry out each one. 1.FEEDING THE HUNGRY The Hezekiah feeding program: Each week children are being fed and worship & are taught a Bible story, English, reading, and writing. 2. HEAL THE SICK The house of Hope: families that have a child with terminal cancer. Our mission: pray for miraculous healing, and impart life and hope into the family. 3. REACH THE UNREACHED: we are partnering with local ministries that are given to see the unreached people groups of this nation receive the gospel. (for the safety of our team we can not disclose personal photos) 4. MAKE DISCIPLES We are raising up the next generation of Filopino's to advance the kingdom of God. 5.EQUIPPING THE CHURCH: We are planting a church along with four other missionary family here in our city! Trent

Refueled and Ready for what lies ahead...most of the time

So much has gone on in our world since I last wrote. 

QUICK RECAP:  We have been living in the Philippines for just over 5 years now. 3 of our children are now in high school. We have adopted a fourth child who is almost 10! The work of the Lord is moving forward. My mother found out that she had breast cancer. They caught it at the early stages and today she is cancer free!  My dad was also diagnosed with cancer. They found it late. He is a fighter and he is fighting. I hate cancer!!!

It had been 3.5 years since our family had been back to the USA. It was time, given all the different circumstances we had just walked through. Our adoption is still not final after MORE THAN 2.5 YEARS in the process. We are in it for the long haul & she is worth it :) We arranged for little Liberty to stay with dear friends as her new school year began and we headed off for the USA. Trent stayed behind to be with Liberty and joined us for just over a month later on. 

While stateside we were so blessed with many coming alongside the vision the Lord has given us. For a decade now we knew the Lord has given us a ministry base and now we are able to begin this leg of our journey with the provision to get things started. This will enable us to take in more kids who have been broken, abused and/or abandoned. We are so thankful to God for all He has done!!!

We also were able to catch up with many different loved ones and supporters.  Trent and I both were able to see his grandfather and my grandmother - both 94 years old! We got to love on and spend time with my (Amys) parents & brothers families. Precious time with Trents family side of the family too. We were not able to see  everyone though 😕

Cancer kinda takes center stage like that.  You don't want to miss a minute away from your loved ones. You want to treasure your time together. You become selfish with your time. But I think it is a good selfish. One most understand.

 During our trip home Dad went critical, or so we thought. We were given the advise to go to hospice. We were also given the counsel to fight as long as you can.  We had more up and down days. I battled my fears and fought for faith through each one. 

This whole trip the Lord has been speaking to me. He has been encouraging me to live for Him more than ever. 

This life is yet a vapor!

We aren't living for our vision. We aren't living for ourselves. We are living for Jesus, whatever the cost. 

We want to expand the Kingdom for Christ by doing our part. I am so excited to be a part of equipping these kids to walk in their God given destiny!!!

The future is exciting!!!

And my Dad has cancer. This breaks my heart into a million pieces! I live on the other side of the world and my Dad has cancer. 

"Remember Amy, this world is yet a vapor!!! Remember Amy, you have eternity with your Daddy!!!"  These are the things I have to remind myself. 

"What about my Mom!?!?!? She is exhausted and how can I not be here and help her?!?!?" I ask the Lord.

"I am with her. My grace is sufficient for you. My grace is sufficient for her. She will grow in me in ways she couldn't otherwise. Your mom is my daughter. You will be together for eternity". I hear spoken into my heart. 

Peace comes flooding in.

So while I have the peace of God most of the time, I am still a girl that loves her dad beyond words. I battle between knowing the "right things" to say and walk in that. The truth is freeing, but pain and heart ache still are felt. I believe in miracles and I still hold out hope for one for my dad. There is no instruction book for dealing with cancer. The only right way I can work out is on my knees. Trusting the Lord in ways I can't control or even understand. He is faithful. He is a good Father. 

So bring on the next leg of this journey! I am excited and refueled to return to the mission field. And Lord, steady my heart for the part that aches with leaving my loved ones back in the USA. Comfort and strengthen their hearts too ❤️

 

Just finished updating our newsletters here on the blog from the beginning of 2016!!!