March Update

Plattner Family Update - March

Last month, the monkey and fish, this month, starfish. I am assuming we have all heard the story about the man throwing starfish back in the water after a storm. Facing the job of saving thousands of starfish and the futility of the task, the man responded to a detractor who could not understand why he was saving some when he couldn’t save them all “It matters to that one.” A blog post on “Reflections Today” by Lifesong for Orphans recently touched us. A short video clip was shared addressing the needs of foster care and how we can help. My heart was touched by this cry for help as we reflect on a wonderful experience foster parenting over two years ago. The phrase from this video that pricked my heart expressed that “every child needs to feel accepted.” As we grew up in homes of Christ-centered love, to not be accepted was something we never experienced. Even in those junior high days when best friends turn to enemies and back to friends during one recess, we knew we would always go home to parents who’s arms were waiting to receive us. From this we had a healthy understanding of our Father’s love. We understand that in our sinfulness we can return to a Father who meets us with arms opened wide. Now, two years after our fostering experience, we are again surrounded by children who have not experienced acceptance in their society and often not by their own family. Many of these children come from homes where their own parents aren’t willing to learn how to sign to them in order to communicate and many are abused. With their Easter break approaching this coming week, the children will tell us that they have no desire to go “home” where they are not accepted and some will receive the message of rejection as their parents will not come to pick them up. Pray with us for these children that God will put a hedge around them as they return to their families for two weeks. Pray for them that God will open their eyes to His acceptance and love for them.
After a winter of mostly back-to-back work teams, we are excited to enjoy a time of “catching up.” Catching up will mean work projects for ACWR and CCCD, connecting with our team, family time, and …. We have enjoyed our winter serving at the Montego Bay campus. We once again wrestle with our feelings as we leave behind the children and staff here and move back up to Knockpatrick. We often consider the idea of being settled on one campus, while at the same time recognizing the many blessings we have received by connecting with both campuses. In many ways, we would not want to trade the relationships we have on both campuses and would struggle not being able to spend extended time with our friends on both campuses. But, we are trying to remain open to CCCD’s needs and God’s plan for our ministry.
As we are in the time of celebrating Easter, we are celebrating the new life that we see all around and inside of us! Last week New Life Church for the Deaf hosted a revival. Some who attended surrendered their lives to Christ. We pray that from this new life we will see growth. Continue to pray with us for deaf Christian leaders to be raised up in Jamaica. We are also seeing new life as five (maybe six) of us moms from our deaf community are expecting.
*Bianca and Nigel are due in May and expecting their 3rd girl!
*Erica and Cresmore are due beginning of the fall. Erica has been very sick but improving a little.
*Ketecia and Richard are expecting this fall. Pray for Ketecia with a high-risk pregnancy. She is on bedrest for the remainder of the pregnancy.
*Chad and Pam Huber are expecting #7 in August!
*Kirk and Keri are expecting #3 in July!
In Sunday Chapel with the kids, we read Isaiah’s experience in the temple when he was allowed to get a glimpse of the glory of God. In a world in which our culture can turn our Father into a “quick fix,” “an investment,” or an “everyday Joe,” we were called to see God in the fullness of who He is. We were reminded recently that God doesn’t sit up on the throne and fret about the problems He sees below. He is sovereign! We need to remind ourselves of this as we see problems and issues around us that make us worry. The future of CCCD and even our future in Jamaica consists of question marks that are bigger than our minds can comprehend or fix. CCCD has been greatly impacted by the financial crisis in the States and decisions are being made that will have profound affects on the future of the ministry. We similarly face the reality of being less than a year from fulfilling our work permit and at a crossroads regarding our future. Pray for God’s wisdom, guidance, and provision knowing that these problems are not even labeled “problems” to our Father.

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. Psalm 46:1-3


Love,
Plattners

Bluffton Apostolic

In our last post, I mentioned the team we hosted from Bluffton, Indiana. The team was comprised of graduating seniors and some of their parents. This definitely sent us on a flashback to the spring of 1997. Separately, our churches took their senior Sunday school classes to Jamaica. While not knowing it at the time, that experience was the start of a developing worldview that influenced many decisions that the Lord used in our calling back to Jamaica. On Saturday morning before the team was to fly out, they met for devotions and each person reviewed their week. Similar to our experience 12 years ago, we saw hearts touched and softened by the experience. Also similarly, we heard parents urging their children to live out the high calling of the Christian life. We were moved by the parents expressions of love, passion, and yearning for their children. At the same time, we heard the kids express gratitude and thanksgiving for their parents in recognition of the fact that they have been given something that most of the world does not experience. So, we found ourselves in the middle of these expressions. It felt not long ago that we were in those seats with hearts softened and recognizing the extent of our blessing for the first time. And, it feels not too far away that we will be readying ourselves to send off our children into life with a love, passion, and yearning that they may choose the high calling of serving Lord Jesus. It was an amazing experience and left us with our hearts swelled with love, respect, and thanksgiving. We rejoice at an amazing week of fellowship. While we hurt more and long more for the fellowship that we once experienced and tasted again this week, we also realize that it is for this time that we are to learn these things and serve Him here. So, we pray for grace that He may receive glory through these experiences and understandings that He blessed us with so that we can use them to bless others. Amen

Sports Day

A big tradition in Jamaica is an annual sports day. Sports day involves a competition between different teams that are made up of the student body. The kids are broken up into "houses" all year and do various competitions. The competition is ongoing, but this week it started with dramas on Wednesday night. It is a big deal and one of those events that the kids look forward to all year. We are also hosting our first Apostolic team of the year and they are from close to our home in Indiana. The team from Bluffton has been great and we have loved the fellowship. The week has gone to fast with so many exciting things and so we are trying to slow down to savor the time. You can check out some pictures here.

Teach us to count the days
Teach us to make the days count
Lead us in better ways
'Cause somehow our souls forgot
Life means so much

Every day is a gift you've been given
Make the most of the time every minute you're living

Football Boys

Let me give you a back story. In the midst of the worldwide movement of Soccer (Football in Jamaica), the phenomenon has still not reached my hometown. I grew up with no exposure to soccer and last time I checked, it has still not reached rural Illinois. So, in raising my kids, I have had very little interest in exposing them to Soccer. But, we moved to Jamaica where soccer is king. Last week, my kids exposure to soccer continued to expand. The Hope College team is led by the soccer coach, they brought a bunch of soccer gear, and they played lots of soccer. To make a long story short, I think my boys have been completely indoctrinated as soccer is becoming an everyday thing. In the midst of March Madness, I am trying to reorient them to the real king of sport, but I think I am losing the battle. You can check out some more pictures by clicking here.

Community (Hope College)

Romans 12:9-13
The Real You (Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.)
meets Real Needs (Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;)
For the Right Reasons (Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;)
In the Right Way (Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.)

I have always liked Chip Ingram's definition of community, "The Real you, meeting real needs, for the right reasons and in the right way." This past week we were blessed by a team from Hope College in Holland, Michigan. They stay at a hotel in Montego Bay and so we have more time in the evenings. This was also a team that we had last year and some of the kids were the same. One of the distinguishing characteristics of the team is their focus on building community. While the group works hard, their focus goes beyond the work. The work groups are switched daily so that everyone gets to work together. They have daily conversation questions. The team is fun and have a real heart for the kids. Thanks to the Hope College team.

The Little Train Engine that Could

The other week while we were at Knockpatrick, a team stopped through to check out the school. We learned that the group worked for a linguistics organization named SIL. The organization does alot of the research and legwork for organizations like Wycliffe Bible Translators. Anyways, they were touring the island to study the sign languages of Jamaica. They informed us that they would be traveling to Montego Bay soon and so we offered for them to stay with us as we would be in Montego Bay as they were passing through. Everything worked out as we moved down to MoBay. On Thursday, they arrived and stayed through Tuesday. The group consisted of a couple, Jason and Elizabeth. And, a single, Christy. Elizabeth did her Grad work at Gallaudet University and has a strong understanding of deaf culture. Christy is deaf and is very open, honest, and willing to share about her perspective on things. We tried to take advantage of the opporunity to try to close the gap of our ignorance regarding deaf culture. It was an awesome opportunity and we learned so much. The group was fun and we enjoyed having them around for a few days. I caught a quick video of Christy reading a "The Little Train Engine that Could" to Drew. Drew hides his ability to sign and his ability to understand sign. I am not saying that he understood all her sign as she was reading the book, but it was interesting that he kept with her for as long as he did. There are certainly times that we wonder and pray that God will use his growing gift of being bilingual.

Hands and Feet Ministries

We just finished a week with Hands and Feet Ministries. The group was mostly from Pennsylvania. This was a team that we hosted last year and it was great to get reacquainted with some wonderful people. I think it was the biggest team that we have hosted and so it is safe to say that we are using our day of rest for REST. The team left on Saturday morning while our next team had arrived on Friday and so while Hands and Feet were leaving, our next team was literally waiting to start work. It is common that we drop off a team and pick up a new team on Saturday. It is not common that I say goodbye to one team and begin work orientation with the next team 60 seconds later. Anyways, we praise the Lord for His Sacred Rhythms that give us a weekly sabbath. To Him be the glory as we "Sabbath" together. You can see some pictures by clicking here!

A Meal of Our Favorite Jamaican Recipes

If you are interested in going a little out of the ordinary with your meal planning, add a little Jamaican flavor to your meal!

Jerk Pork (Kirk's favorite)

jerk sauce (Can find in large or international grocery store.)
5# pork shoulder
Make shallow cuts into pork. Rub sauce onto pork and marinate overnight. A "true Jamaican" would cook over low heat on a charcoal grill also using pimento branches to enhance the flavor. Can substitute pimento branches with aromatic wood.

Rice and Peas (Drew's Favorite)

2 cups of long grain white rice (cooked to direction)
1/4 c. red peas (red kidney beans)
coconut milk
1 clove garlic
salt to taste
Soak peas for 2 hrs. Boil peas with water, coconut milk, and garlic. Cook till tender, about 30-40 min. Add to cooked rice and season with salt.

Sauteed Cho Cho (Keri's Favorite)

2 # cho cho, aka: choyote (May be able to find in a large or international grocery store.)
2 T olive oil
salt and garlic to taste
Peel chocho using gloves. This vegetable can cause skin reactions! Remove seed from center and cut in 1/4" thick pieces lengthwise. Saute with olive oil until tender. Season.

Fried Plantain (Truitt's Favorite)

2-3 ripe plantains (May be able to find in a large or international grocery store.)
cooking oil to deep fry
In deep frying pan put in oil 1/4" deep. Peel plantains and cut lengthwise into 1/3's. Cut each 1/3 into half pieces. Fry in oil until tender (only about 1 min. each side).

The truth is that Jamaicans never cook with a recipe! Just add a little of this and a little of that; no measuring cups and spoons involved.
Enjoy!

Podcast -- Truitt James

For the last couple of Birthdays, I have recapped the boys' year in pictures compiled in a small video. Today, I realized that I had not done one for Truitt's 2nd year, which finished on January 22, 2009. So, here is Truitt's 2nd year in pictures and we will let the pictures speak for themselves.

State of the Plattners

This past week we traveled back up to our home in the mountains. We had a break from work teams here in Montego Bay and had responsibilities to fulfill at the Knockpatrick campus. Drew is becoming too accustomed to moving every few months. After a couple months here he's asking when it's time to move there. Hopefully this won't result in long term effects of not settling down anywhere for more than 3 months.
We did have a productive time up at Knockpatrick. Kirk had duty for supervising meals and evenings with the kids which is never uneventful. We did Chapel on Wednesday night, which is always a little nerve wrecking. We just pray that God intervenes with our signing and makes it miraculously clear to them! We had a doctor's visit for baby and all is well. No, still don't know if boy or girl!
We also had the opportunity to host a small team of 3 from Wycliffe Bible Translators. It's amazing to see God's hand at work through different people with different gifts coming together to reach the deaf of Jamaica. Next week we will have the privelage to host a child sponsorship team from the AC church. This is truly how ministry works. Every part of the body being used to reach the broken, the deaf, the blind, the sinner.
So now we're back to Montego Bay and welcoming our new team of 47. We enjoy each new week and the opportunities we have to meet people from around the States. Continue to pray for us to grow in signing and in our relationships here that we can minister more effectively.

Batman and Robin

Laurel and Hardy
Simon and Garfunkel
Tweedledum and Tweedledee
Abbott and Costello
The Smothers Brothers
Bill and Ted
Rocky and Bullwinkle
Lone Ranger and Tonto

Anyways, you get the idea. We are afraid we have a twosome on our hands that could end up in the history books. It has been a blast watching them begin playing together more and more. Whether it is their boat (suitcase) on the high seas (two chairs) or it is Drew taking Truitt off on an adventure in the wagon with all their books. We praise the Lord for our twosome and we pray that they can make all of the right kind of History.