Off To Africa!

Tomorrow (October 25th) we are scheduled to fly to South Africa.  We are excited!  Please keep us in your prayers as we make the transition to life in the bush...  We will do our best to put some pictures soon of our new surroundings.

Trying to get everything into 10 pieces of luggage...

As you might imagine, the last month has been quite busy in our lives...  Here a few pictures of some of the things that have transpired.

Most recently (October 5-17), we took a 12-day trip to visit Phil's parents in Guatemala.  We had the privilege of traveling with Phil's brother and family.

Typical Market Scene

Preparing to eat "paches" in banana leaves...

One of the churches in which Phil preached - Monrovia, Guatemala...

Grandpa telling a story...

Two wonderful cooks!

Phil preaching at Santa Rosa, Guatemala...

The Santa Rose church is up in the mountains, +/- 9,000 Feet...

Adin enjoying a "chuchito" cooked in a corn husk...

Two American Guatemalans :)

Our children with some of the children/youth from the church that Phil's parents pastor...

Prior to our trip to Guatemala, we had a big moving sale, and moved out of our rented house of 5 years.

Earlier in September, we had the privilege of visiting the Ark Encounter in Kentucky.  On the same trip, we visited in Indiana with Phil's Grandmother Geise as well as Phil's sister and family.

The Ark Encounter

Grandma Geise

Phil's Sister - Debbie Anderson

Geise Gazette Fall 2017

2 Years Old!

On Sunday (27th), our little Adin turned 2 years old!  What a blessing he is to our family!

Almost a U.S. Citizen!

Yesterday, August 25th, Amrie had her scheduled interview for U.S. Citizenship.  Please understand... this has been a four-year journey - including trips here and there for doctors' appointments, biometrics, previous interviews, lots of $$'s, and hours and hours of work!  Well, her interview went very well, and her application for naturalization was approved.  They even immediately scheduled her for her affirmation ceremony, and it is only two weeks away (September 8th)!  Our hearts are overflowing with gratitude and praise to the Lord!  Thank you to each one of you who prayed!

Amrie's U.S. Citizenship Process

After over 4 years, and a lot of paperwork, quite a bit of expenses, and plenty of waiting, we hope we are nearing the end of the journey for Amrie to become a United States Citizen!  On Friday, August 25th, she is scheduled to appear at the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services in Philadelphia, PA, for an interview.  If all goes well with that, then she will need to soon (hopefully) attend an oath (or affirmation, in her case) ceremony, where she will become an official U.S. Citizen after making a pledge of allegiance to the United States.  She has already received permission to maintain her South African Citizenship, so she will have dual citizenship.  Of course, both of these are earthly citizenships and are under the jurisdiction of her Heavenly Citizenship! -Phil

Family Canoe Trip

In the midst of daily life and preparations to return to South Africa, we took time out to go on our first, family canoe trip.  We covered approximately 10 miles of Penns Creek, which took us about 5 hours.  It was a beautiful day, and we thoroughly enjoyed being in the Lord's beautiful Creation!  We were blessed (3 or 4 times) to see two bald eagles (see picture below).  (Thanks to the Richard Hughe family for loaning us their canoe!  It was a great blessing)

At the helm...

 First Officer & Mariner

It was a beautiful day!

We picked one of the smallest islands in the river, and stopped for lunch.

First Officer & another Mariner

We "chased" them down the river.

Nap time!

Provisional shade for nap time.

Priya trying her hand at paddling.

Antonie made great progress at knowing how to steer the canoe.

Birthday Ladies!

April is a special month with both of the ladies in our household having birthdays!

4 Years Old!

Mommy made me a jumper!

Geise Gazette Spring 2017

Prosperity Gospel... No! Or, maybe... Yes!

I was blessed and challenged by this verse once again, in my quiet time with the Lord this morning!

"Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers." (III John 2, NKJV)

I pondered this thought, "If this prayer was answered in my life, and my general well-being was a reflection of my souls condition, would I be poor and sickly or prosperous, healthy, robust?"

The prosperity of our soul is directly related to our moment-by-moment abiding in the LORD. (John 15:5)

I also pondered the LORD's words to the people of Israel:

"I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;"

He continues with the recipe for life and true prosperity:

"that you may:

1. love the LORD your God,
2. obey His voice, and
3. cling to Him,

for He is your life and the length of your days..."  (Deuteronomy 30:19-20)

I will love your O Lord, obey your voice, and cling to You, for you are my life, my everything!

-Phil

A Special Couples' Banquet

We were very blessed to be involved in a very special couples' banquet last evening!  The preparations and serving thereof was definitely a labor of love on the part of the young ladies from our church (Millmont House of Prayer).  Thank you, young ladies!  Of course, the best part of it all was that I could enjoy it together with my best friend (aka my wife :)! -Phil

Snow Treasures!

We have been blessed with several blankets of snow this winter thus far.  Some of the treasures we have gained from these storms have been some quality times together making memories...

My Queen & Princess! -Phil

Delightful!

Our friendship with this unique character was cool and rather short-lived! :)

Six Years Old!

It is hard to believe that our firstborn is already 6 years old!  On January 24th, we celebrated the 6 years God has given Antonie.  He is a blessing to our home!

We have an annual practice of taking a picture with Papa, so that we can see the growth (not of Papa:) each year.

Christmas in Missouri

We had the privilege of spending a few days with my brother Steve and family during the Christmas Holiday.