JULY-AUGUST 2011

LIFE: Love Intentionally Focus on Eternity

VOLUME 2 ISSUE 7

Precious Moments: Our three nieces all together and getting acquainted. Jersey Rae (9 mo), Tiana (13 mo) and Martina (9)

In Hebrews 11:6 we learn that God rewards those who diligently seek Him. In the Gospels Jesus teaches that the greatest commandments are to love God and to love your neighbor as yourself. James writes that pure religion, pure worship, is centered on serving the helpless, the rejected. In Colossians 3 Paul encourages a heavenly focus, not earthly. What is the meaning of LIFE? To be diligent in seeking God, to live with eyes and ears perceiving the needs of the people around you and to have your hands and feet ready to serve. To share the love of Christ. John 10:10 - Abundant life. This is a newsletter updating you on the happenings of my journey, as I learn more about what it means to live LIFE!

Wedding Day - July 24th, 2011

SNAPSHOT OF JULY AND AUGUST 1-15 Work teams 19 Travel to MoBay to pick up the first group of family and friends coming for the wedding 22 Remaining friends and family arrive 23 Rehearsal 24 Wedding day! 25-30 Travel to the east coast, Portland, for a 5 day honeymoon Aug 1 Travel to Mandeville to meet up with Mom Bent, niece Martina, and teammate Erin Davis 2 Travel to the States 6 Gateway Woods benefit sale and then our US wedding reception 12 Leman family picnic in Francesville 13 Reunion with Jamaican friends in Peoria, then Warren Kloters wedding and then Kaitlyn Monfres testimony in Goodfield 14 West Lafayette church picnic and fellowship time with church family 20-21 Weekend in Illinois for Reed Yackleys wedding in Gridley and to fellowship with supporters David and Kate Ringger 23 Fly home to Jamaica 23 31 Getting settled and back to our jobs! We have nothing but praise and thanksgiving to offer for our wedding day. God blessed our day and filled our cups to overflowing. No, things did not go perfectly as one might wish for their wedding day, but God provided in amazing ways. We also want to thank our family, friends, ACWR teammates and CCCD colleagues for all the help and support we were given during the wedding week. So many willing hands jumped in and helped wherever they could. We thank you, and praise our Lord and Savior, for giving us a day we will always cherish and remember.

Mr and Mrs Blake Widmer

BLAKE AND TASHI WIDMER

49 Ziadie Avenue, Apt 2 Kingston 20, Jamaica, W.I. 876.587.3833 cell blake.widmer skype www.blakewidmer.blogspot.com www.blakesjamaicapics.shutterfly.com

JULY-AUGUST 2011

Love Intentionally Focus on Eternity

VOLUME 2 ISSUE 7

Selected Memories from the Wedding Week

Saturday was a special day, with a rehearsal luncheon where our loved ones shared memories and encouragement during moments that we will never forget. We took wedding party and family pictures after the wedding and prior to starting the reception. See more pictures later in September both on facebook and on my shutterfly site.

Titus 3:4-5 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.

A PRAISE REPORT Summer work teams accomplished many projects and experienced a fruitful trip. Safe travels for our friends and family who came for the wedding. A memorable week leading up to the wedding, and the Lords provision for the wedding itself and all that it entailed. Three great weeks in the States. Safe travels back to Jamaica and settling in.

BLAKE WIDMER
US Address: 9036 Northridge Lane Battle Ground, IN 47920

JULY-AUGUST 2011

Love Intentionally Focus on Eternity

VOLUME 2 ISSUE 7

August In America
A couple days after our honeymoon we re-packed our bags and headed north for 3 weeks. Highlights included our US wedding reception, a long weekend with the Schrenk family, an extended family picnic, family get-togethers with all my nieces and my nephew, a church family picnic, weddings of two good friends (Warren Kloter and Reed Yackley), sweet fellowship with friends and many more memories!

PRAYER REQUESTS: Consider sponsorship of a CCCD studentthe ministry is facing a serious loss of funding which has led to staff and vocational programs being cut. For $32 a month you can contribute to the ongoing needs of our schools and provide children with a Christ-centered education. Contact me for more information or email info@cccdjamaica.net For Tashi and I, focus on Christ being the constant foundation in our relationship Growth and understanding of our changing roles and responsibilities Learning how to communicate with each other on a new level Pray for new ministry opportunities as a married couplewe are not sure what God is doing but we hope to start a Bible study in our home in the near future, and simply are waiting on the Lord to bring the people. Decision for a vehicle for our team Some students have still not come back to school, please pray that whatever obstacle is in their way, that the Lord would remove the obstacle or provide a way around it, so that all our students can have the opportunity to learn and grow, academically, physically and spiritually

Left: OurMoms Right: My older sister (Robin), younger sister (Katie) and all my nieces and nephew!

Top: With our Schrenk family Middle: J-Mates reunion at Warrens wedding Bottom: Beautiful Indiana sunset that greeted us upon our arrival on Aug 2

BLAKE AND TASHI WIDMER

49 Ziadie Avenue, Apt 2 Kingston 20, Jamaica, W.I. 876.587.3833 cell blake.widmer skype blakewidmer.blogspot.com

BLAKE WIDMER Work Team Coordinator 49 Ziadie Avenue, Apt 2 Kingston 20, Jamaica, W.I. 876.587.3833 Cell Blake.Widmer Skype blakewidmer@gmail.com BLOG: BlakeWidmer.blogspot.com PICS: BlakesJamaicaPics.shutterfly.com

Serving Through:

Serving With:

A Huge Mini(van) Blessing!

One of the more significant challenges of living overseas is what to do when you are back home in the States. For the last couple years it hasnt been too hard to borrow a vehicle from my family, but its never a guarantee. This becomes an even greater challenge when you bring your in-laws with you. We had seven people total, including Andy and Tanya Smith and their two daughters, Martina and Tia, Pauline and Tashi and I. We had quite a travel schedule for the seven of us, and I wasnt sure how we were going to make it work. The day before we arrived I asked my mom what she thought we should do, and she said, Oh, Randy and Mara Leman (my cousins and ministry supporters) plan to let you borrow their mini-van for the week everyone is here. Wow, that would be perfect, I thought! I picked it up from their house and they had it all cleaned up and ready to go. It proved to be a tremendous blessing to us, and I am very grateful for their willingness to help. Logistics can be a nightmare, and this is one I never had to worry about! Thanks Randy and Mara!

Tashi and I with my cousins Grand Caravan