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My parents, Sam and Florence Sasser, were missionaries in the Marshalls Islands, serving together for over 11 years. They planted churches and built and directed a Bible school called Calvary Bible Institute. When they first arrived in the islands, there was no running water and no electricity. The planes that landed on the island had to fly over the grassy landing field twice before landing. Once, to scare off the pigs and chickens on the landing strip and the other to land! Life was truly a great adventure there.

After 11 years of service in the Marshalls, Mom and Dad moved to Hawaii, pastoring a church on the island of Oahu for 5 years and ministering all over the South Pacific after their time in Hawaii. They were still involved for many years in helping the Marshalese in many practical and spiritual ways. They visited the islands often and when my father passed away in 1995, his heart was buried in the Marshalls as he had requested in his will. He loved the Marshalese people with a passion beyond words.

My mom, along with my brother Terry Sasser, returned to the Marshall Islands after my father’s death. She remained there for another 11 years, serving the people a combined total of 22 years. In April of 2008, Mom moved from the Marshalls and in with our family. She is basing Charismedia Ministries (the name of her ministry) out of Kansas City. Mom is still helping the Marshalese people by translating important materials into the Marshalese language. She also travels to churches both nationally and internationally, bringing awareness to the needs of the Marshalese people. Mom also travels frequently to Springdale Arkansas where she is involved in helping the Marshalese community living there. There are over 20,000 Marshalese who have settled in Springdale, making that the largest Marshlaese community in the United States.

This picture of me, my brother Terry Sasser and my mom, was taken at the airport in the Marshall Islands. I joined my mom in the Marshall Islands and flew back home with her to Kansas City in April.

My brother, Terry, and his wife Amy, both live in the Marshalls and have four children. They adopted our Teyolla and Keyolla’s siblings. Terry and Amy love the Marshalese and have done so much to help them. They write grants that benefit the islanders and help the schools there with supplies and after school programs. They built a Science Center there that includes all types of sea life, everything from live sharks to turtles, various types of salt water fish and giant blue star fish. They also work alongside the Marshalese government in many different areas. They have provided much help to the islanders in regards to issues such as teen pregnancy and awareness about Aids and STD’s and are now planning to build a home for girls who have been abused.

As if Terry and Amy didn’t already have their hands full…they formed an Olympic staff and got the Marshall Islands into the Olympics for the very first time this year. The Marshalese are competing in swimming, Tae Quon Do and track and field events. We are excited and we know the Marshalese are having a great time being involved!

Mom, visiting the grave where my dad’s heart was buried.

Joanna and her mom, Marso, live in the Marshall Islands. Joanna was born with no eyes, only eye sockets. This was very traumatic for Joanna’s mom Marso, and Joanna’s father Solomon, as they are very poor and are not able to get Joanna the help she needs. Joanna and her family live in a tiny shack with many children. Joanna also suffers with swallowing and sensitive stomach issues. She chokes easily on food and many times her parents have to massage her throat to get her food to go down properly.

My husband Derek and I are going to begin raising money to bring Joanna and her mother to the states in February to get Joanna some of the help she needs. If any of you are interested in helping this precious family financially, please contact me at reneeloux@ihop.org and we will be more than happy to provide you with a tax receipt. Also, if any of you know of an Oncologist who might be willing to donate their services to help Joanna, please let us know. Thanks in advance for considering the needs of this precious little one.

Joanna’s little cousin has such a precious little spirit and she sure loves her cousin, Joanna!

Thanks to all of you who read our blog and who faithfully pray for us! You are a blessing! Have a wonderful day and God bless you!

After returning from the Marshalls in the early ’70s, my parents continued traveling and ministering around the globe, as well as taking many trips back to the Marshall Islands. When my father passed away in 1995, my mom returned to the Marshall Islands as a missisonary for another 11 years. She recently moved in with us this past April. We are so blessed to have her in our home. She will continue to work out of Kansas City, interpreting valuable teaching materials for the Marshalese people as
well as sharing the needs of the islands to various churches worldwide. The largest stateside representation of Marshalese people are in Springdale Arkansas. There are over 20,000 living there!

My brother and his wife, Terry and Amy Sasser, along with their four children, continue to live in the Marshall Islands, working in community efforts, helping to raise the standard of living in a land where there is an 80% unemployment rate. Their focus is especially in educational and medical areas. They rely on grants to help them in their incredible work. They are a tremendous help to the people and I’m so very proud of them. My brother also, recently, got the Marshall Islands into the Olympics this year. They will be competing in various swimming events, Tae Quon Do and Track and Field events!

After listening to Mike’s awesome message this morning, my mom, Keyolla and I went home, sat down for lunch and noticed all the empty chairs around the dining room table. We sure miss our family! It’s just not the same without them here.

I miss Telma’s high pitched laugh that seems to go on forever, Tey’s little one liner jokes, Sophia’s dancing and swinging from anything that’s in her path and KK singing at the top of her lungs!
Of course I miss my husband’s great hugs, talking over a cup of Starbucks (is there any other coffee?), beating him at Scrabble (now the world knows Baby), beating him at Scrabble (oops I already said that didn’t I … hee hee) and just talking about how awesome Jesus is to us! Are we rich in love or what?!!!

So, in honor of my precious ones that are all gone from home right now, I’ve posted a few pics below, with a little somethin about each of my loves under their pic. Unfortunately I don’t have a new pic of Derek with all his spikes (hair) in place
so you’ll have to look to the right to see his handsome face. Isn’t he gorgeous?!!!! I love you baby! You are simply the best!

This is Pal, our faithful doggie. He loves to just hang out and is happiest when the whole family is home at the same time! Aren’t we all? Needless to say, he’s missing everyone, so, the wag in his tail isn’t to happy right now!

KK is our hambone. Can you tell? She’s provided Derek with many a story for his messages! We miss your beautiful songs sweet darlin! What a voice! Wow!

Sophia, is such a delight! She has a tender heart and a sweet spirit. She is also a master tree climber, the greatest of all monkeys! She’ll be up in a tree so high, looking over the city and I’ll shout out, “Ok, darlin that’s high enough.” Derek will shout up to her and say, “You can go a little bit higher love.” That my friends, is the difference between a mom and a dad! We love you Doodles!

Our twins, Teyolla and Keyolla, keep us laughing all the time. They are so awesome! Keyolla has decided she wants to grow her hair long again because she misses being able to fool people. Everyone can tell them apart now. Aren’t they just awesome?!!! Our girls are beautiful inside and out!

Our Telma loves books! She devours them! What a love! Her laugh is infectious and her heels are really high… ha! I miss you darlin and we are still believing for the big miracle! We are so proud of you!

Last but not least is our little Rudy. He is Derek’s biggest thorn in the flesh right now. Rudy thinks he’s my son. At first, he didn’t like anyone but me. In fact he looked at everyone else like they were monsters. He was terrified! He has warmed up to Soph, KK and Telma and so they are now on his “love list.” My Mom however, literally crawls around on the floor under the table trying to get him to warm up to her. She deserves a medal for trying the hardest to win his love. We actually thought one could find a sermon in there somewhere…. God faithfully pursues us until he wins our hearts! Here’s the biggest miracle of all… Rudy actually licked Derek’s face the other night, he licked and licked and kept on lickin. Derek’s left cheek looked like a raisin by the time Rudy was finished with him! Could revival be on the horizon for this little guy? We all hope so!

I didn’t include a picture of my mom in this post because she is who I will be featuring in my next blog in the next couple of days. I’ll include pictures of our trip out to the Marshall Islands and a story and pictures of a special little blind girl named Joanna that we are trying to get help for.

All photos above are courtesy of Shelley Paulson! Isn’t she amazing? Take time to look at her site (shelleypaulson.com) and call her up for a photo shoot. You won’t regret it!

It looks like the date we will be traveling to get “our boys” has now been changed to sometime in October. Our wonderful stateside adoption facilitator, Andrea Roberts, told us that the adoption office in Ukraine will be shut down for the month of August so this will cause some delay. We are bummed for sure but we know the Lord’s timing is always best and we will keep trusting that He is in control!

If any of you would like to become acquainted with some beautiful special needs children that need a “forever home,” be sure to go to the adoption website, reecesrainbow.com. The precious children on this site have been diagnosed with either down syndrome, or other special needs conditions. Some of you might feel led to adopt one of these “priceless ones.” For those of you who may not feel led to adopt, would you prayerfully consider giving a donation to one of these children’s adoption funds, to help someone else to be able to adopt them? If so, there is a place to do that through PayPal on this adoption website. Thanks in advance for any help you can give!

In Proverbs 24:12 it says this. “Once our eyes are opened, we can’t pretend we don’t know what to do. God who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls, knows that we know, and holds us responsible to act.”

God bless you today, with an even greater understanding of His awesome love for you!

Rudy, is our Bichon Frise. He’s only 1 1/2 years old and is full of energy. He loves to chase and wrestle Pal. If Pal gets tired he gives Rudy a gentle warning bite and Rudy knows that’s his clue to stop. Rudy is having potty training issues right now and Derek is not very happy with him. He’s warned Rudy that if he doesn’t change his ways, it’s out the door he goes. KK our youngest, responded to Derek’s statement with one of her own. “Daddy, if you give Rudy away, I’m afraid I won’t talk to you for a week!” Derek then had to talk to KK about respect/disrepect, KK apologized and proceeded to tell “Dadddy” why she thought everyone should have a little more patience with Rudy.

Last night Derek and I were laying down and reading. Rudy jumped right between the middle of us and started licking Derek’s hand nonstop. It was getting pretty funny after awhile and Derek finally rolled his eyes and stroked Rudy’s head. Then, Rudy proceeded to lick Derek’s face for a long time until Derek finally patted his head gave him a couple strokes on the neck. Our twins think revival has taken place… ha! At any rate, if any of you have any ideas on how to get Rudy to do his business outside (all the time), we would welcome your wisdom! He’s getting some extra training this week.

(photos of Rudy and Pal courtesy of Shelley Paulson)

If any of you would like to watch TheCall DC live, you can do so online, on August 16th from 10AM to 10PM on God TV.

We love you Meemers! It’s pretty quiet around here without you, Soph and KK! Have a blast! We’re praying for you!!! Remember Psalm 91. You’re the best Sweetie!!