Family Week Kentucky

So, way back in the beginning of April, Dad, myself, Deborah and Quentin went to Family Week Kentucky.  Family Wk is put on by the same group we went to Israel with.  So a lot of the people that were there we had met in Israel last fall, which was awesome.  

A couple days before it started we flew to my Grandparents in North Carolina and visited them and my cousins for a couple days.

One day, while I was shopping with Grandma, Dad, Grandpa, Deborah and Quentin  put the boat out in the pond to try drain it so they could fix a leak.  The drain didn't work or something but they had fun.

I don't think this is how you put a boat in the water...

We borrowed Grandma and Grandpa's fifth-wheel and truck to drive up to Kentucky so Quentin put some kind of sealant on it before we left.  (p.s. why does blogger make all the pictures so blurry??? aghh)

One of  the main reasons we flew all the way the Kentucky was for Devin and Barrett's wedding.  They had their Betrothal in Israel while we were there.  It was beautiful wedding.  Unfortunately we didn't get many good pictures of it.  In fact that was pretty much the theme of the whole week.  If you're having  fun who wants to stop and take pictures?  Mom wasn't very happy with that though:) 

They tried to make their wedding as much of a mirror of Yeshua coming back to get his bride as possible. All anyone knew was that Barrett was going to come for Devin on Sunday.  No one but his father knew what time on Sunday just like in Matthew 24:36 where Yeshua says "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, but my Father only".  So we all just hung out at the campground all day waiting for the shofar to sound then we had an hour to get ready for the wedding ("and He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet (shofar), and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, and from one end of heaven to the other" Matthew 24:31).

  The guys riding through camp blowing the shofars and yelling "the bridegroom is coming".

Everyone waiting for Barrett.

The groom and his bride.

After we all gathered at the campground and Barrett came we walked up to the amphitheater.  There was a lot of people there and it was a fairly long walk so we quite a few cars piled up behind us.

It was a great way to start off the week:)  The rest of the week was awesome.  I got nice and sunburned but had a great time hanging out with old friends from Israel and new friends that we just met.  

Volleyball and four-square games were constant.

The Friday we were there was Passover so we had a wonderful Pesach meal with the Hilton's and Wahlberg's.  Keeping up with our theme, these are the only pictures we have.  Oh well, you can just take my word for it, it was great.

After family week we drove back down to grandma and grandpa's and spent another day with them.  Then we flew back up to Alaska.  Right now I'm really missing the heat that was down south.  It is freezing up here in AK.  It was snowing a couple days ago.  It's not supposed to snow in May!  I think I say that every year though and it always snows:)

Passover, Unleavened Bread & First Fruits

Praise Yeshua (Jesus), our Redeemer, our Salvation...

Passover is a celebration commanded by God. It commemorates the escape of His chosen people, the Israelites, from Egypt and Yhwh's protection from the Angel of Death. Yhwh's perfect timing caused Yeshua to become our salvation as He again saved us from eternal death on Passover.

Our small fellowship celebrated the Passover together again this year. We've kind of been taking turns leading the celebration and this year it was the Martin's turn.

As the lady of the house, I got to light the candles to start off the celebration.

Teri carves the lamb as we look on.

Paul &Sarah

The kids dipping the celery.

David Martin breaking the unleavened bread.

Children are an important part of the Passover service. In Exodus 12:26 & 13:8, God specifically tells us to explain to them what and why we are celebrating. Traditionally this is done by having the kids ask questions during the dinner.

Below Benjamin is asking his question with a little help from Quentin.

Caleb, reading his question.

Joshua

Passover starts the feast of Unleavened Bread. For seven days His people are to eat no leaven. This is to remind us of when His people had to rush out of Egypt so fast they didn't have time to raise their bread. I have gotten into the habit of making challah bread on Friday evenings to start our weekly Shabbat. Friday is Anna's day to cook and she is in the habit of making pizza every Friday evening. Because we were in the midst of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, she made unleavened pizza and I made a special unleavened bread with a little cinnamon and sugar spread on for fun.
The day after the Shabbat during the week of Unleavened Bread is the First Fruits celebration. We are commanded to wave the first fruits of our harvest in thanks to Yhwh on this day. As believers in Yeshua it is important to note that He rose on the celebration of First Fruits. It is a beautiful picture of His resurrection. The First to be resurrected to eternal life. We celebrated at Regina's house (she has a huge living room) with dancing and dinner.

Lavonne watching the little kids take a turn with the flags.

That's me in the dress, keeping up with the youngsters. Not only did we have a great time of worship, but it's really good exercise too!

Passover

We hosted the Passover meal for the group of Believers in Nondalton. It wasn't an entirely traditional Seder, we wanted to follow the pattern that God laid out for the Israelites on the first Passover as they left Egypt. Paul gave a short study on the Passover emphasizing how Jesus became our Passover Lamb, how He died to atone for our sin and then how He rose on the Biblical Holiday of First Fruits, perfectly fulfilling one of YHWH's appointed times.

Then we we ate together.

Exodus 12 describes how the Israelites were to prepare for that first Passover. We didn't go so far as to put blood on our doorposts nor did we have a lamb to roast with its head, legs and entrails. We did roast some lamb over the fire however, and we ate as it describes in verse 11, ready to travel with their staffs in hand The boys cut enough staffs for all the men to have one. Acting out the Bible really impresses it upon young minds.

Sarah wanted to hold a staff too, such a cutie!

A few days before Passover the Martin's were working on an instructional dance video. It was a gorgeous day to praise and worship God on the lake

Passover

Sunday night when we got back from Port Alsworth we had the passover super with the Martins.

This is Mom and Dad waring prayer shawls that the Martins brought:)

Anthony reading one of the four questions:)These are Matza crackers that don't have any leaven in them.

It was lots of fun but we did not get done till 10:30 because some of us didn't get back from Port Alsworth till 8:00. The next day David Martin gave us a mini concert of songs he wrote.
Cute picture for the day:) This is Benjamin and Julian peeking at each other through the hearts on the quilt rack Grandpa R made.