Sorry it's been a couple weeks since I posted anything but I've been super busy.  Keith and Jennifer went out of town for a few days and we watched all the kids...which kept me VERY busy!!!    Last Sunday we were blessed with 42 in the morning service!!!  On Thursday evening we had 9 here for Bible Study which was a blessing!!!   Due to the Icy Road conditions we were unable to have services today.  We actually have had our first significant ice and snowy conditions last night and today.  The wind is suposed to pick up tonight which will cause drifts and blowing snow.   

There are 2 ladies that need prayers.  Ms. Joshua (she is 80+ yrs. old)fell Thursday and fractued her elbow and broke her hip. They did surgey and put a pin in her hip and she will need physical therapy.  Another lady that lives behind us was in a terrible car accident right after Christmas and was in ICU for several weeks and has now been transferred to another hospital.  We visited her yesterday...she is still in critical condition and needs our prayers!!  Also, the father of one of the little girls that comes to church died from alcohol poisoning....such a waste of a life.  So sad!!!  Remember this little girl and the family he has left behind. 

It amazes me at how the Lord supplies for us in some of the most unusual ways.  Wednesday was Food Bank delivery day.  After the delivery came, Doyle was over at the church sorting out the boxes and someone knocked at the church door.  It was the Reservation Game Warden.  He asks if we could use any Elk Meat.  Of course Doyle told him Yes and told him that we had a Food Pantry.  Well.....he said that there was an overabundance of Elk up toward Minot and they had gotten some and taken it to Mobridge and processed it and were giving it away.   They were going to just leave us 1 box but since we had the Food Pantry...they left us "3" boxes which totaled almost 200 POUNDS of FRESH Elk MEAT  (steaks, roasts, ground..ect)!!!!   Praise the Lord...He sure is good to us!!!!!!!!   I had never tasted Elk meat until our friends from Dulce, NM brought us some...and it's really delicious..especially cooked on the grill.

Lord willing and weather permitting, Doyle and I will be taking 3 days off this week for a much needed rest together. It will be the first time in 4 years that we have been anywhere together other than Bismarck!!  We are so Thankful that the Lord sent Keith and Jennifer so this possible.  Before we could not leave the property for fear of vandalism.  We are sooo excited and are going to enjoy the time away together. 

Thanking the Lord for ALL he has done,

Sis. Sheri

So Thankful that everything seems to be back to normal with most of our kids feeling much better!!!   We had 36 at church Sunday morning and 29 Sunday evening.  The Children that we pick up on the Van were all excited to get back......sure did miss them the past 2 weeks!!!!   

Our weather here has been VERY unusual for this time of year.  Most of the time by the middle of January we have had several snow storms....so far we haven't had our first one yet!!!   Not complaining....just enjoying the warm weather (has been in the upper 40's to mid 50's) while it lasts!!!

We are excited to see what the Lord has in store for us this new year....looking for growth in the church and souls to be saved!!!  We're praying that some of our supporters (and anyone else) will plan trips up this way!!  Would like to have VBS this summer....praying a church (one or more) will come up for that. 

Thank you for your love, prayers and support.    Sis. Sheri

Praise the Lord....Kaden was released from hospital on Friday afternoon....makes it much easier for all of us.  Katelyn is still coughing really bad but her fever has finally broke.  Now "Weasie" (Keith and Jennifers 3 yr. old Foster Boy) has begun running a fever and coughing.  Please remember Katelyn and Weasie when you pray.   Everyone one in our household (mine and Doyles) seems to be well at this point after several of them went through the cold and cough.  

We are looking forward to a good day tomorrow and anxious to see all the Bus Kids again!!   

Thanking the Lord for His healing hand!!!     Sis. Sheri

Urgent Prayer request!!!   Keith and Jennifer's 2 yr. old Foster Son has been in the hospital since Friday. At first they thought he had pneumonia....turns out he has a very BAD case of RSV.  He's been on oxygen and they will not release him for 24 hours AFTER he had been without Oxygen.   Today he started running a fever again so they will do Xrays and check for pneumonia.    Please pray for Kaden.

Yesterday Katelyn (Keith and Jennifer's 22 month old daughter) started running a fever so Jennifer took her to the hospital and Kadens Dr. checked her out and he's pretty sure she RSV also.....but her oxygen level was Ok so there is no need to hospitalize her at this point.  Please Pray for Katelyn that she will not have to go in the hosital !  

 Also....Saturday/Sunday Lexi (our 3 yr. Old Foster daughter) was sick and running a fever.  So....Sunday morning, with Jennifer at the hospital with Kaden, me at home with Lexi....we were unable to run the Van for Sunday School because there is no way one person could have handled 35 or so kids from the age of 3-11 by themslves (the Deasons did not come).  But there was church for the adults with 6 in attendance.  Keith did teach all our kids a Bible lesson.  Lexi is better today...Praise the Lord!!!

So 2012 started out a little rough for us....but we are praising the Lord that He is able and His Grace if sufficient ALL the time!!!!   Please keep all of us in your prayers....this RSV is a rough Virus and Kaden may be in the hospital for several more days.

We are Thankful for all the blessings from the Lord in 2011 and look forward to this new year serving the Lord in Cannon Ball!!

Sis. Sheri       (oh yes.....Doyle made it home fine!!)

Wow....what a BUSY 3 days we've had.   Friday was the Christmas Party for the children at church.....Before the Party we took them Christmas Caroling to some of the Elderly People here in Cannon Ball.   We had 45 show up to go caroling and along the way gained 6 more!!   What a blessing it was and the children really enjoyed it. I did take pics and will try to get them posted within the next few days.  We then had our Christmas Party and ALL the children got Presents.  A group from one of our supporting churches had asked for the names of the children that came to Sunday School.  I sent them a list of 45 names....and ALL 45 of those children received a gift card for $20....these and other donations we had received purchased gifts for every child.  But the Lord wasn't through....He had even greater plans!!!  Friends from Dulce, NM had arrived on Thursday evening and  their truck was loaded down with presents from our wonderful Missionary Friends in South Dakota on another Reservation.   There were so many gifts we decided that we would drive thru Cannon Ball and go by every house in the Village passing out gifts to all the children!!!  We did this on Saturday afternoon and it was so much fun and such a blessing!!!  What a MIGHTY GOD we serve!!!!!!!!!!

Today was also busy as I celebrated Christs' Birth with my family (Keith, Jennifer, their children, our Foster Children and the couple from Dulce,NM). Doyle is down South (TN/GA) for Christmas with our 2 daughters and their famlies.   Grandma Angie, Grandma Joshua and her daughter and son-in-law came and had Christmas Dinner with us and then we loaded our Church Van along with Keith's Van and all went to church in Selfridge, ND (about 50 miles away) where Bro. Deason is the Pastor. 

Thank You Brandon and Patience, Jake and Bailey, Nichole, Jeff, Carey, Bro. & Sis. Bausell and Vincent & Lilllian Veneno for helping to make this Christmas special to the children here in Cannon Ball.  Also, Thank You to the churches and individuals that donated to help make this Christmas so wonderful. It showed these Children that they are Loved not only by us, but by people they have never met and all because of the Greatest Gift of all.....our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ!!!  

Looking forward to the New Year and the things that the Lord has in store for Cannon Ball!!!

Sis. Sheri  (Please pray for Doyle's safety as he travels home Monday & Tuesday...I sure do miss him!!!!)

Yes....this weekend we had some snow....maybe 3-4 inches along with some VERY cold temperatures.  But our attendance was still good Sunday morning with 38 here.  This year instead of doing a Christmas Cantata, I am taking the kids caroling to the homes of the elderly and shut-ins here in the community.  They have been practicing Christmas songs with a CD...so Sunday morning I told them we were going to sing the songs WITHOUT the CD so I would know how well they knew them and how they sounded without the music.....what a surprise I got!!!  They sounded really good....I was so proud of them!!!!!  They are really excited about going...I don't think any of them have been caroling before. 

Thursday CPS brought us 4 more children, ages 6,8,9 and 10 to keep on a temporary basis.  They are suposed to leave today.  This has kept us extrememly busy the past 5 days!!!   Because of the extreme cold weather, they were only able to go outside once for a short time.  But the Lord is good and we have all managed thus far.  Keith and Jennifer have helped out alot!!!

When I started writing this, about 10 minutes ago, it was 10 degrees.  It is now 8 with a wind chill of minus 1.......think I'll get back under that electric blanket for a little while longer!!!!

All of you down south.....enjoy your "Warmer Weather" and I will enjoy my "White Winter".............Sis. Sheri

The past 2 Sundays the Lord has blessed us with good attendance in the morning and evening services.   Yesterday the Grandmother of some of Keith and Jennifers Foster children attended both services and said she would be back next weekend.  We are planning a Thanksgiving meal for next Sunday afternoon.  There are so many things I am Thankful......all of our supporters that pray for us and make it possible for us to be here, the many ways that the Lord supplies our needs, being able to spread the Gospel through distributing tracts, the Food Pantry that enables us to help the needy in the community, the Van that the Lord has blessed us with to pick up CHildren and adults for church services, the Faithful Adults that attend our services that give us encouragement when we need it along with all the precious children that come so anxious and smiling to Sunday School...the list goes on and on.   I am Thankful for my wonderful Home Church and Pastor that I know prays for us and is there to help and encourage us.  But most of all I am Thankful for Jesus who died on the cross for my sins that I could live eternally in Heaven!! 

Looking forward to the coming Holidays,     Sis. Sheri

First Sunday in November...next to the last month of this year...my how this year has flown by!!!   The Lord has been good to us and the church has grown this year and we are sooo Thankful.  We had 43 this morning with ALOT of our regular children missing....the Lord just keeps giving us new ones to take the place of those that are missing!!!!!  If we could get them all here at the same time we would have well over 55-60  Sunday mornings.   Evening Services are growing also.  We are just praising the Lord for what He is doing!!!  During the winter months we have moved the Thursday night Bible study back into my house so we don't have to heat up the church building....I like it better in the house anyway so I can fix refreshments for those that come and we can have a time of fellowship afterwards. 

A very dear preacher friend of ours passed away, Brother Frank Ledford.  His funeral is today in Murphy, NC.  Please say a prayer for his wife and daughters.  Bro. Frank performed our wedding ceremony over 40 years ago and he was our Pastor for many years in Ohio and GA.  A great man of God and he will be missed. 

During this season of Thankfulness....I am especially Thankful for the fulfillment of Gods promises to us as we serve Him here in North Dakota.  What are you thankful for?

Sis. Sheri

My heart is heavy today for a  dear family here in the village.  The Mother called this morning and told me that her oldest son was in a tragic car accident and was killed.  He hit a bridge and burned up in the car.  Please remember this family when you pray.  

Sis. Sheri

Sunday was a beautiful sunny day with a good attendance both services....in fact...we broke a Sunday evening record with a high of 39!!!!  Sunday morning we had 34.   Sunday afternoon one of the funeral homes from Bismarck held an Appreciation Dinner at the Community Center and we thought that our Sunday evening Attendance would be down because of that...but the Lord blessed us with just the opposite!!!!   God is sooooo good.

Doyle and Keith are beginning to prepare the buildings for the cold weather that is just around the corner.  Right now the nights are getting into the 30's and the weather reporters are talking about snow showers VERY soon!!!  Some of them are prediciting a harsh winter this year with significant snow amounts.  The elderly people all say the signs are for a bad winter.  Of course, the Lord is in control and is the only one that really knows!  I LOVE the winter and snow and am looking forward to the first snowfall!!!!!!!!!

I haven't mentioned the Foster children in several weeks.  Doyle and I only have 4 now....Jada, Charleze, Junior and Lexi are still with us (we've had them for a year).   Keith and Jennifer have a little 2 yr. old boy named Kayden and last week 4 siblings were placed with them...Hosea (3), Alexis (6), Ally (9) and Averian (11).    Since neither one of us have alot of room we help each other out in the sleeping arrangements....the girls (5 total) sleep at our house and the boys (4 total) sleep at Keith's.   Works out well for both of us.  All but the 3 youngest go to school. 

Last week Fed-EX made a delivery and the driver noticed the sign on the back of our church van which says "If you died today are you 100% sure you would go to Heaven?   You can be...follow me."      He said.....I AM sure because I am a Christian.    What a blessing that was!!!!!

It is wonderful to be a Christian and serving the Lord!!!       Sis. Sheri