JANUARY 2012

A Living Act

VOLUME 3 ISSUE 1

Two of my brothers! Carlyle Gabiddon and I became friends in 2005 when he stayed at my Mom and Dads house during a Hands in Praise tour. One of his highlights was taking a picture with my brother Brads 68 Camaro. Brad and Carlyle worked together doing tile workthey did awesome!

In Acts 18:24-26 we hear of a young man named Apollos, full of passion and boldness in proclaiming Jesus, though he only knew of the baptism of John. What was he lacking? Aquila and Priscilla, mere tentmakers, hear him teaching and recognize that Apollos needs further teaching. So they pull him aside and mentor him, solidifying his foundation. This account is a whopping three verses! And yet in contains such a powerful and kingdom building principle, as well as is the fulfillment of the Great Commission! (Matt 28:19-20) DISCIPLESHIP! It is the great Living Act that we are called to live in our very own journeys. Both being discipled (learning) and discipling (mentoring others). Will we ACT?

Family Time!
January came quick, and before I knew it the time had come for the Gridley ACWR work team. I always love this week of fellowship and learning, but it was extra special to have my brother Brad and his fiance Amber here with us. Brad came in a day early and stayed with Tashi and I, helping me fix a few broken drawers and install a new shower curtain rodsuper nice to have Paradigms own handy-man helping around my house. The other 41 team members flew in on Saturday, and although it was awesome being with all of them, it was even sweeter to be able to spend time with Brad and Amber, or Bramber as I like to say. I honestly didnt know Amber super well and Tashi had never met her, so it was really a blessing to spend time with them. One highlight was that they came over Saturday night to watch the Saints play against the Detroit Lions and we were able to relax and eat popcorn together. We will get to see them again in just a few weeks at their wedding, but really pray that they decide to come on the Gridley team each January!! Im sure I can come up with some more handy-man jobs!

SNAPSHOT OF THE LAST MONTH 2 Travel from Top Hill to Kingston 5 Philip Ajamian, a frequent visitor and a goof riend, visits for a couple days 6 My brother Brad flies in 7-14 Gridley ACWR arrives and spends a week serving, learning and growing together 13 Ministry team from the ACWR group visits The Nest childrens home, part of the Salvation Army ministry in Kingston 17 CCCD Board meeting in Mandeville where I was able to catch up with Marc White and a few other acquaintances from the board 22 Dr Buzz and the dental team arrives 24 Escort some of our students to Knockpatrick for the annual Audiologist visit 27 Dental team leaves 27-4 Chuck and Mary Priest, supporters of the ministry, spend a week getting to know the students and staff and determining where and how the Lord would lead them to partner with the school

Brad, Amber, Tashi and I saying goodbye until March!

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

JANUARY 2012

A Living Act

VOLUME 3 ISSUE 1

2012 Kick-Off with ACWR Gridley Team

January and the New Year started off tremendously well with the blessing of the Gridley work team that Roger Stoller brings each year. The team of 42 landed with 40 Christians and by the time they departed Jamaica, praise be to God, there were 42 Christians leaving. We are all continually in the process of sanctification and I think we all drew closer to the Fathers heart through our time of working, worshipping and sharing life together. Along with the extra blessing of having my brother and future sister-in-law on the team, there were also some of Tashi and my extended family joining the team. Carlyle Gabiddon, a young man I met years ago, used to go to the Kingston CCCD school. He had many friends on the team and with a natural talent for installing tile, we were blessed to have him stay with us and work with the team during the week. Also, Kemoy Campbell stayed with us and each evening after school would join us for evening fellowship and worship. I originally connected to Kemoy through David Ringger, who was also on the team. And with Jordan still living with us, we had three little brothers sharing life with us and the team. It was a blessed week and pray that the relationships which were begun and strengthened can continue to become like a spiritual house, fitly framed!

Acts 18:25-26

Apollos was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.
A PRAISE REPORT Semaj received her Visa and was able to fly up to Georgia and start college life! A wonderful week with family and friends on the Gridley team and for the two souls that surrendered at the Cross and confessed belief in Jesus and turned to Him with repentant hearts! Dental check-ups and hearing tests/aid-fittings for our students!

Top: Tashi and Erin got to spend quality time catching up and being with each other! Bottom:Kemoy, Carlyle, Tashi and I and Jordan enjoyed a great week together!

Tashi and I celebrated 6 months of marriage!

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

JANUARY 2012

A Living Act

VOLUME 3 ISSUE 1

New Shoes and a Fresh Coat of Paint

Friday the 13th was the work teams Off-Day where we take them to Dunns River water fall in Ocho Rios and allow them to be tourists for the day. However, this year an opportunity came up to provide shoes to orphans and do a small service project in their boys dorm. I offered the idea to the team, thinking a few would be interested. In a matter of minutes I had over 15 people signing up. In the end, we couldnt even take everyone who wanted to go. I was really impressed that so many would choose to fore-go a day at the beach in order to serve! Our school (CCCD) had a few dozen shoes left over from the Samaritans Feet team that came last fall. We decided to duplicate their program and give the shoes to those in need (orphans), including washing their feet (as Jesus modeled for us) and sharing the Gospel with them. It may have been a bit chaotic with the young uns but I believe love was shared. The group also painted the boys dorm room and fixed the bed springs on some bunk beds. Its tough to always know how to come into an orphanage for a few hours and do something that actually makes an impact, but at the end of the day we just have to trust God to do HIS work.

PRAYER REQUESTS: Safe travels to and from Jamaica for our ACWR Jamaica support team, Loren Dettwyler, Alan Roth and John Huber on February 9th and 15th For the Holy Spirit to lead and provide in our ACWR team discussion during the Feb 9-15. We have lots to discuss and much of it will be about the future of our ministry, God help! For the Lords direction of our teammates, Chad and Pam Huber and their family as they seek the Lords face and His will for their future Pray for Semaj Barrett. She has begun classes at Harvest Deaf Bible College and though she is doing well, the transition has not been easy, as one can imagine. She is very alone and uncomfortable at times, please pray! Pray for CCCD. Questions and concerns for the future are prevalent, and only faith in the Lord and obedience to Him will help. Pray for Tashi and I for safe travels to the States and back (Feb 22March 7) for my brothers wedding Pray for my brother, Brad, and soon to be sister-in-law Amber. They plan to be joined in holy matrimony on March 4th. Pray for an awesome time with family and a blessed wedding memory for my big bro

Top left: Jeremy Gerber paints with a young orphan Bottom left: Jackie Huber washes a girls feet Right: A very happy and sweet young girl shows the new shoes she received

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:

Meet Shantwana!
You may recall a blog post and a brief newsletter entry about Shantwana back in Sept/Oct. Well, this little rascal and new owner of the CCCD Kingston Miss Attitude Crown has grown leaps and bounds. Yes, she still packs a lot of attitude and few eye-rolls, but her walls have come crashing down and she is a little sweatheart. Not only can she be super sweet, but the girl is incredibly bright. By the end of the year she will quite likely surpass some other younger students who have been in school for 3-4 years. From refusing to take a school picture a few months ago, she will now gladly pose for the camera, and from refusing to even shake my hand, shell now run and jump in my arms. What a bundle of joy and potential! Because Shantwana is new to CCCD, she does not yet have many sponsors. If you are interested in developing a relationship with her and watching her grow, please e-mail me or childsponsorship@acwr.org for more info. I will be happy to keep you update on her progress and send you pictures whenever you want.
Getting her hearing tested and responding to auditory stimulus.