Summer Time Fun!

We have been so busy having fun this summer!  Here are some of the highlights!

 Nana taught us a neat trick at Red Lobster

 PJ Party in Mimi's bed!

 

 Best Friends 

 Moon Dough (flour and baby oil)

The kids' first time bowling.  They didn't understand letting one person bowl twice and then letting the next person bowl so we gave up and I let them bowl one right after another.  In the end, it looks like Silas won :)

 

 Fun playdate with Kenan 

 The kids turned into cows before we got to Chick-Fil-A!  This earned us some free food!

 Playing in the mud puddle!

Hehe

Fun in the water

The twins have really impressed us with all they are learning to do in the pool.  Gabe and Eden have figured out that they can touch the bottom of the pool in the shallow end although Eden has to be on her tippy toes to reach.  Last year, Eden would not jump into the pool, get her hair wet, or allow you to let go of her while in the water.  This year she's jumping in the water and holding her breath to go under.  Gabe is learning to swim.  He has figured out how to kick himself under the water and is beginning to propel himself forward while holding his breath!  He's a little bit taller than Eden so he has an advantage to learning to swim.  Silas is still a bit too small for his life jacket so he isn't able to control his body while in the pool.  He won't let anyone let go of him while in the water.  It takes a lot of courage for him to jump into the pool.

Our Mini Vacation: Rumbling Bald Resort

At the end of the summer, Daryl's company provided a long weekend vacation for their employees to the Rumbling Bald Resort on Lake Lure.  This trip couldn't have come at a better time, right before Daryl and I leave for Mozambique. 

 We didn't really spend a lot of time at the lake because the kids loved the pool, water park, and lazy river.

Saturday was a rainy day so we decided to find something fun to do, indoors.  We  didn't realize that we were going to have to drive for an hour but we found a neat place for the kids to play that allowed them to dress up, slide, and bounce on inflatables. 

 On our way back to the cabin we stopped to eat at Golden Corral.  The kids discovered cotton candy and love it!

Daryl's company had a photo booth and a nice dinner for everyone that came to the lake.  We even won an iPad mini!

Daryl's Ordination

Daryl sought to be ordained by a panel of pastors before we leave for the mission field.  This process is quite consuming and very labor intensive.  Daryl studied, read, and prayed a lot before sitting before a panel of eight men who asked him Biblical questions.  At the end of the questioning, we were dismissed to the hallway while they deliberated.  When we came back into the room, they informed us of their decision to ordain Daryl as a pastor.

The following Wednesday, was Daryl's ordination ceremony.  John Clagett gave a charge to the church and Rob Decker gave a charge to Daryl using 2 Timothy 2:3-4.  The men on the panel prayed over Daryl and encouraged him as he continues the process to full time missions.

Those on the panel include several pastors from our church: Rob Decker, Lead Pastor, Shean Phillips, Young Adults Pastor, Jared Hoots, High School Youth Pastor, Tim Gerber, Children's Pastor, and Dick Lockheart, Care Ministries Director.  Other panel members include John Clagett, former pastor and Bible professor, Chris Byrne, Senior Pastor of New Friendship Baptist, and Scott Wilkinson, Senior Pastor of Summer Oaks Presbyterian.

 

 

 

 



 

 

 



Farewell Piney Grove Elementary

 

For the past 5 years, I have been teaching 5th grade at Piney Grove Elementary School.  PGES has been in my life since I was young, having attending the school during 1st and 2nd grade (my 2nd grade teacher later became my coworker).  While in college, I interned with Mrs. Debby Pegram in Kindergarten, then student taught with Mrs. Suzanne Brookshire in 5th grade.  After graduating college, WSFCS went on a hiring freeze which forced me to look for a job in surrounding counties.  After teaching in Davidson County Schools for a year, I ran back to PGES with the hiring freeze was lifted and found myself fortunate enough to teach 5th grade with the friends I had made while student teaching.  The past 8 years have been very memorable as it has been during these years that I have been engaged, married, and later adopted all 3 children while being a part of the Piney Grove family.  When we entered the process to go to the mission field, I knew the day would come when I would have to say farewell to these friends and the memories we've shared together.  Piney Grove will truly hold a special place in my heart.

 

My 5th grade family (left to right): Suzanne Brookshire, Natalie Rempe, Teresa Sweeney, and Jessica Medley.  Those not pictured because they've moved on to other grade levels or schools: Elaine Laws and Jamie Lloyd.

June 2013 Newsletter

Wow-wee!  A lot has happened since we last sent out a newsletter.  Our first big piece of news (and a huge praise) is that our house sold!  God’s timing was absolutely perfect during this trying time but He once again taught us to wait on Him.  Before we had even received an offer on the house, Leah had already given her notice at work that she would not be returning to teach in the fall.  Not sure how we would pay our mortgage with only one income, God intervened and provided for us!  Please rejoice with us.  We’ve had our house on the market for about 2.5 years!

In April, we attended our 2 week Appointee Orientation Training, in Colorado and we left with our hearts full and our to-do list a mile long!  Those 2 weeks were spent fellowshipping with other new missionary appointees, learning about WorldVenture, preparing our speech for the New Missionary Celebration Service, learning about the next steps in our adventure to the mission field, and worshipping God while receiving encouraging words from staff, team mates, and friends.

We’ve prepared a small presentation that we would love to share with you.  If you are interested in hearing more about how you can partner with us on this journey, send us an email or visit our website.  We love talking about what God is doing in our lives and how others can come along side of us to experience God’s goodness every step of the way.

Daryl, Leah, Gabriel, Eden, and Silas Burnette

DLBurnette@worldventure.net
www.worldventure.com/DLBurnette

Prayer Requests:
1. Please be in prayer for Daryl as he prepares for the ordination process in early July.  He will be ordained at Triad Baptist Church in Kernersville on July 10th.
2. Please pray for God to help us transition to full time missions work.
3. Please pray for the rest of our Mozambique team both on the field and those on home assignment.

Praises:
1. Our house sold!
2. We had a safe trip to Colorado for trainings
3. Leah's job has ended as a teacher.
4. God has provided 3% of our monthly support!

FAQs
Q1: What’s next?
A: We are very busy planning, studying, reading, and preparing for full time missions.  This includes many trainings, readings, and fund-raising.  We are taking a 10 day trip to Mozambique, in August, to meet other team members, explore school options for the kids, see ministry to children-at-risk first hand, and confirm God’s calling in our lives.

Q2: When are you leaving?
A: When God is ready.  While in Colorado for our trainings, we received our budget and we are relying on God to supply all of our needs.

A Day in the Park with Family

Today we were able to spend the day playing with the kids' birthfamily.  It's always a lot of fun for the kids to see their siblings and birthmom. 

 Silas and his sister, Ty

 Silas and Rachel

 We got to meet the kids' half brother, Anthony, for the first time today.  He's 14 years old and is almost finished with his first year of high school.

 He is really good with kids.  He jumped right in and started playing with his brothers and sister.  He's quiet but a lot of fun.

 Anthony is helping Gabe ride Junior's bike.

Gabe, Anthony, and Junior

The End of Spring

This year, Gabe and Eden have been in Puggles which is the 2 year old Awana class at our church.  They have loved going to Puggles on Sunday night and they will miss their teachers, Ms. Misy, Ms. Amanda, and Ms. Tammy.

 

 

This time of the year also signifies the end of their first year of preschool.  They had "Beach Days" at the end of the year to celebrate the fun they've had and to take advantage of the warm weather.

 

 

 Their preschool year ended with a spring program.  Gabe and Eden painted bowties and hair bows to wear while singing patriotic songs.



We were very blessed to have the twins in a class this year that celebrated adoption non-traditional families.  In addition to having their cousins, Abram and Lila Ruth, in their class we met Malachi and Nolan who are also adopted.