Here is a sneak peak of her awesome shots…….more to come when she officially sends them our way!

With great joy we announce that our new family ministry website is now open!!!!  33:11 Ministries has been a vision of our family for quite some time, but many details had to line up to make it just what God had planned.

We toiled behind the scenes to learn more about websites from our great friend Robert Staddon with Abundant Designs.  We are so grateful for all of his help, patience (we are not too tech savy) and education.  Thank you also to Keri Perry, who helped deign each of our covers. She taught us more about photos, jpegs, and images than we could imagine.  Thank you Keri for your creativity!!! We spent countless hours writing and editing and editing more.  THANK THANK THANK YOU to all of our friends and family who ate our food for the sake of “editing” recipes

Just yesterday the delivery truck pulled up and began to unload box after box after box of our newly printed Menu Planning Cook Books.  Hot off the press from Antioch Printing and the Iverson family.

Sean’s book is “in the works” and due out this summer- we are still editing it.  This has been a desire of Sean’s for a long time, to equip Dads with practical tools to help them disciple their children.  Now, it is just around the corner. So continue to keep your eyes peeled this summer for “Table Talk” by Sean.

Please feel free to pass along this post and our blog/site to anyone who would find it a blessing.

And to all of you faithful “editors” of the menu planning cookbook~~ your free updated copy is in the mail!!! Thank you again for serving our family this way!

Click to check it out   33:11 Ministries

With Joy,

Jill (on behalf of all the Martin family)

Recently we have had different families over for dinner on a few different nights.  Sean taught the kids a lesson on standing firm in your faith and what the shield of faith is all about.  He passed out shields to each kid, made of foam board and rope handles, and passed out soft foam balls to all the kids. It’s a simple game that ALL KIDS can play, no teams, no big rules or strategies, no big concepts to understand– just guard yourself with your shield and throw the ball at others when able.

LET THE GAMES BEGIN and LET YOUR SHIELD PROTECT YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The pictures below are from different nights and different families, but the lesson was the same.  (Note: in one picture Sean is under “attack” from ALL the kids!!! THAT was hilarious!!! Thank you little Joshua for helping protect him with your shield!!)

We recently had Robert & Becky Cooley (their link is to the right on our blog).  They are missionaries with AIM in Lima, Peru.  Not too long ago the Cooley family was living here in CT just like everyone else.  When Robert, as an elder and father, went as a chaperone on a church mission trip.  After a few year had passed, they sold all they had and moved to Peru to build the church there.  Close to their arrival God used a huge natural disaster to open doors for their ministry.  A massive earthquake left many without homes.  The Cooley have used this trial in many lives as a wonderful opportunity for service, generosity, and showing the love of Christ to all people.

We had them over for dinner to share their story with our children.  They have come before and shared WHY they went to Peru, so this time they shared about the some of the hard trials they face in their ministry.  The struggles of helping to heal generational patterns that keep people from freedom in Christ.  They also shared about using everyday things (like STRING) to build connections with children and families.  They taught our kids about STRING FIGURES and how they use it in their ministry.  (there are many free downloads online for free tutorials on string figures to share the gospel)

Becky teaching the kids string figures.

Josiah worked hard to figure out the “Apache Door” which can be used to teach about Straight is the gate and narrow is the path principle with the importance of Decisiveness in life.

Sophie learned the “Broom” or “Crows foot” which can be inverted to a Palm Tree to teach  about Flexibility in trials

Robert showed the kids many photos of their ministry in Peru.  What the people are like and their needs. Some pictures of people who are part of THE WORLD RACE with AIM.

What a blessing to learn and grow some more, as well as build lasting friendships with friends around the world!!!

The New Tribes Missions, that Randy and Dianna are a part of, also has a wonderful DVD documentary series written for children in mind.  It follows the everyday life of one missionary family that left the US and all they had, took their four young boys and moved across the world to Papua New Guinea.  The series is called Growing Up Wild

The link to see it is HERE: Growing Up Wild

Each summer we try to pick a theme or something fun and different we might not study during the typical months of the school year.  Last year we did Answers In Genesis apologetics class for kids, plus their Creatures that Defy Evolution series (found by clicking on the Answers in Genesis link above).

This year, we are using Growing Up Wild with our children as a fun, education, adventure for Jesus learning opportunity this summer.  Jungle living, snake battles, crossing gorges, climbing mountains, getting to your home by missionary plane and then helicopter, all while learning a foreign language, creating an alphabet for it, translating the bible and telling people about Jesus…… seriously, WHAT could be better???

An activity that the WHOLE family can participate in.  Everyone got to drip a tap or two, hammer in the taps, and connect the tubes to the bucket.

 Jamie LOVED the power of the drill!! She was amazed to see the sap drip out right away.  Little Joanna wanted to help with everything (note the tongue sticking out for concentration )

Joel liked the drill and really wasn’t interested in the sap– power tools!!  Sarah INSISTED on pulling the cart with all the supplies.

Sophie was the hole inspector, she has a good eye for detail.  Jacob drilled holes once all the little ones had “moved on” to running in the grass

Our Sugaring Team!!!

Josiah found a lower jaw bone of a deer.  With a lot of Coyotes on the property, skull bones are found often.  Last month, while on a walk with Nauna & Nat, Josiah found a raccoon skull.

A roasting oven/crock (18 qt)– a busy mom’s way to cook down sap into maple syrup Works like a charm- holds a lot, cooks slow, no burning issues, no need to hover. Perfect.

 Look at that glassy surface…… a vision of goodness

Tune in soon for the end result

What a great first impression!  Our children will never forget the lesson and example the Wilkes children all had as they served that week.  WE, the parents, will never forget the example that MR & Mrs Wilkes set by choosing to serves as a WHOLE family in ministry.

Well, that young man was Joshua Wilkes, along with the rest of his wonderful siblings.  Their whole family taught that week.  And that was how our two families met. We have enjoyed building a friendship with them over the years.  This past fall, Josh got married to Lisa, and our children could not wait to call them “Mr & Mrs Wilkes”.

A few weeks ago, we have much joy-filled anticipation as the NEW Mr. & Mrs. Wilkes were coming to ur home for a visit!!!  The kids gave them tours, played games, learned a great new game called “Bible Runner” (thanks Josh), colored pictures, and more.  It was simple family fun.  We couldn’t have asked for a better visit!  Thank you Josh and Lisa for visiting our home along your travels.