New Springbok Fan

Upon Brian return from Africa, he brought Pippin a Sprinkbok Rugby team shirt. Now Pippin is a fan!!

House Projects

Have a new bathroom now. Pulled out the typical mobile home bath, sink and mirror fixtures; and now have tile shower and floors and porcelin sink and fresh paint....it all looks much better.

Last month we worked on our bedroom. Painted the walls and it makes such a difference. Pulled up the carpet and layed out some flooring and am now getting prepared to deconstruct another bedroom while I have the help of Shawnean. Hate carpet!!!

Little by little getting the place a little more comfortable to live in.

Sooo Cool!!

It's amazing the way the Lord leads paths and makes us aware of His outreach.

While Brian and Norm were in Africa, they made contact with someone who happened to be a former classmate of Brian's, who happened to be minister of agriculture in Swaziland, and was able to help Norm and Brian with just what they needed to check out.

While in South Africa they came across Tammie's Dad's books being used to reach out to the people in that area.

Always a joy to witness our Lord in action.

Big Four

Kaiya's birthday was a great reason to pack up Pippin and myself, travel from Orlando, FL through Dallas, TX airport (he's a great traveler and the layover went by quickly with all the attention he received as he pranced through the terminal), and arrive at the Amarillo, TX airport to be able to spend 10 days with the family in Canadian, TX.

Happy Birthday, Kaiya!!!

Making do!

You can take the man out of the 3rd world country, but you can't take the 3rd world ways out of the man.

When one of the wheels came off the farm mower and the shop still hadn't repaired it, Brian found a solution to be able to mow in the meantime. So now you know another purpose for a dolley.

8 Weeks to 19 Weeks

My Baby has grown so quickly!!

Happy 4th of July 2009

Had a great day spent with Momma, Uncle Bobby and Aunt Joanne.

Feasted on 3 types of BBQ'd meats, all types of tangy creamy sides, and topped off with a yummy dessert!!

30 Years!!

Hard to believe we've been married to each other for more years than we had single years!!

Still crazy after all these years!

Happy 30th!!!

Texas Bound

We finally received word that Daddy's tombstone was finished and placed at the cemetary. Momma; my sister, Sherry; Brian; Pippin; and I set out with Daddy's urn to Texas.

The kids (Shawnean, Ashleigh, Wesley) and grandkids (Kaiya and Liam) surprised Pops (Brian) by appearing out of the hotel room next to ours upon our arrival.

It was nice to have them all there as we gathered at the cemetary.

Along the way we were able to visit friends and family, a 2nd cousin with her husband and children that I'd not even met before,

as well as visit a few historic sites.

A memorable trip for sure!

10 Days in the DR

Brian spent the last 10 days in the Dominican Republic. The goal is to be able to make a trip each quarter to spend time with the onsite team members and be of help and encouragement in whatever way possible.

He was blessed to be there again while groups were there and meet new people as well as catchup with those who've been before.

I'd asked Lisa to keep an eye on him and each time he was found out on the soccer field to tell him, "Tammie said not to let you play soccer". Apparently she had to do that several times! He said he was MAINLY being goalee and that wasn't as wearing. I guess so cause he came back without retearing his muscle or gaining a new injury.

Happy Birthday, Brian

DANGER ZONE!!

Poor Pippin has to go through such an obstacle course in our yard.  And I thought I just had to guard him from predators like owls and foxes.

Hmmm...guess I'll have to ask Wesley about this!

Our Gracious Host

During our time in Walls, MS, we (that included Pippin) and the Lambs (that included Harrison); Brad Gautney; Martin Staelens and his two boys, Alberto and Charlie; and David Woodside all stayed at Norm's sister's, Yuvonia, place.  

What a heart of hospitality!!  Lovely, lovely lady....thanks, Yuvonia!

MGM Conference

It was great to see so many who have championed the Manna ministries be there and to dream along with us as we step onward in what the Lord has placed before us. 

 

May Conference Agenda
10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Laura Beth Lamb - MC
 
Welcome - Brian Wallace

Introduction - Who is MGM? 

Section I: Why we do what We do
Wrapped in Love & Relationship - Brian Wallace 
Passion for God/A Place for You - Brad Gautney 
Community of Believers - Norm Curington

BREAK FOR LUNCH (11:15ish - 12:15)
Section II: Our (BIG) Dream Jobs
MannaDR 
MannaHaiti
MannaAfrica 

BREAK

Section III: Join the Path - Ways to Serve
Join the Path in the Field 
Join the Path through Local Program Champions
Join the Path through Volunteering with MGM 
Section IV: Admin/Wrap-up 
Section V: Feedback/Q &A/Connection Time (all involved)

We want to thank you for your participation in the May MGM Conference, all those who were able to attend, and those who have been lifting us up in prayer.

Pippin Meets Harrison

Second TIme Around!

Aunt Jojo's peach cobbler is still um, um, good even the next day! Yesterday we celebrated our liberty and honored the men and women who've helped make that possible for Memorial's Day.

We had a spread set before us...

Pippin loved hanging out with everyone...

And Momma dusted off the piano fingers. Nothing better than time spent with family!

Excited

It's amazing how "things" continue to reaffirm what God has laid on our hearts.

The excitement we feel when we share what's happening with the ministry with others and their positive responses.

Doors that open up to people and places to help the ministry "grow".

In a week we and the MGM staff will be having our first conference in Walls, MS. There are several who have notified us of their attendence....and that excites us!!

See you there!

Rain

Rain has finally come to our neck of the woods in Florida. A VERY welcome relief.

Brian tells me how much he's enjoying it, and the line I can always expect to hear when we get rain..."This'll really make things green". He goes on to tell me how much he misses the DR rains.

I think he's forgotten!!!

Introducing.....!!!!!

After sifting through some really "great" (?) names:

Mel
Taco
Samson
Wallace
Tootsie Roll
Joaquin
Socrates
Cutie
Bobita
Wallie


the most fitting for my little guy is............PIPPIN!

Same But Different

Brian has a garden he started, and I wanted to get some herbs and some flowers going myself.

Okay, I follow instructions well. I do the steps, the order and the instructions to a T, do it the same as Brian. So why are the results so different?!

BRIAN'S RESULTS

TAMMIE'S RESULTS

"I've Been Everywhere, Man"

9Brian's back from his road trip that took him from central Florida to Texas, across to Arkansas, up to the Kansas/Missouri border, back to Arkansas and then down to Florida again...and he loved it!! There's talk of doing all his trips by driving instead of flying. He said he loves seeing all the different terrains of this country.

He was able to connect with many that have done service projects in the DR as well as meeting new folks all very interested in the expansion of the outreach work of Manna Global Ministries (MGM). He enjoyed his time at the Levy Youth Retreat and was able to chaperone quite a few of the sessions.

It's nice to have him home for a little bit!!

Not a Replacement

Here's a gift from God to help my aching heart. What a joy he is and I'm reminded all over again of being a new "mommy"!!

Now the part I'm not good at...naming! Any ideas?

Springbok

The Springbok is an antelope, the national animal of South Africa, which the South African rugby team has been named after.

Brian got a Springbok uniform for grandson, Liam, when he last visited his family.

Furture player?

Proud Pops

Where, oh Where, has My Little Dog Gone...?

...oh where, oh where, can he be?

When I wake in the morning and look over at his bed, he's not peeking out of his covers at me.

When I work in the kitchen and turn to give a morsel of cheese to him, he's not there.

When I turn around and he's not doing his silent ninja appearance, I miss him.

Gone 4 days now.

Our Busy Schedule

Brian's back from his DR trip. All went really well and he enjoyed reconnecting with the team down there. The only mishap was a terribly sprained tendon while (you guessed it) playing soccer. He is supposed to do some PT at home, but do you think he's got time for that!

His upcoming trips are across the USA. He'll head to Texas with some belongings of Shawnean's and Jono's on a trailer that he's pulling behind his truck, (having the extra benefit of being able to see the grand kids while there!!), then to Arkansas to share "his story" at a youth retreat in Levy, then to Little Rock to see students at Harding, (still pulling the trailer behind him), as well as one of our favorite peops, Tom Martin. From there he'll go to Missouri (yep, the trailers still ther), to meet with fellow mission minded brother in Christ, Brad Gautney, to continue to work and plan on MGM (Manna Global Ministries).

Me? Yeah, I've been busy too. Being Brian's co-worker keeps me hopping, but Shawnean and I made a road trip to TX with her two dogs.

It was great spending that time with her and to see Wesley, Ashleigh and the grand kids, Kaiya and Liam.

My Momma's Birthday

Happy Birthday, Momma!!

Present: Aunt Joanne, Shawnean, Helen (Birthday Girl) Tammie and Brian
Wow....70!!! Looking good! Love you, Momma.

Brian's Back from the DR

Brian's back from the DR and had a great trip. Cory and Laura Beth Lamb's transition of their 2 years coming to an end has gone well, and their replacements the Cordobas, Porfirio and Carlas and family, are adjusting very well.

The two new missionary couples, Rich and Audrey Amy and Kyle and Vicki Graham, that arrived in January 2008 are going full swing and are being a blessing to the DR work. See their updates at the "similar links".

The Children's Home boys' house mom, Belqui, turned in her notice and there's now new house parents, Nicolas and Virginia Casimero, that have been a God send.

Of course Brian took in several soccer matches with the home kids and neighborhood kids as well as with the group. It was during one of these matches that he heard a snap and when he hit the ground and couldn't get back up realized the sound had come from his leg. Once back in the states the Lord blessed us with someone to x-ray it and were relieved to find out it was not a snapped tendon but a very bad sprain. He's got physically therapy exercises that he's been instructed to do and hopefully will be up and running like new.

Continue to Pray

Brian went to the DR for the FHU team this week and will be returning to the States next week.

It was a year ago that one of the FHU team members, Shane Ruiz, went missing at sea in a tragic accident and Brian wanted to be there for the group and the DR staff. The same group members that had come a year ago returned this week as well as Shane's older brother, Michael, and had a memorial service at the beach. Please continue to keep the Ruiz family and friends in your prayers.

For more MannaDR happenings, visit:
http://mannadr.org/

Sighting of the Wallaces

Hopefully there's some of you that faithfully checked out the blog hoping to find an update, any update that would clue you in to what's been going on with us. Well, we're back. In order to avoid writing a novel of what's been going on since our last entry, I'll note a few of the notable personal happenings since our last entry.

September:
Birth of our grandson, Liam, blessed our lives.

October:
Tammie spent the month in TX with the grand kids and in FL with her parents.

November:
My dad, known as "the cutest Grandad in the world", breathed his last breathe of this earthly air and inhaled deeply of the presence of our heavenly Father.

December:
Went to New Zealand for the graduation and wedding of our daughter, Shawnean.

2009
January:
Moved to the US to be a help to my mom.
Brian went to help his mom and dad in SA after complications arose when his dad fell and required back surgery.

February:
Doors opening for us to remain involved in mission work.
Daughter, Shawnean returned to the US, when her NZ visa expired.
Tammie turned 50!!!

March:
Son-in-law, Jono, joins Shawnean with his USA visa.

This month, Beacon Light Ministries will be changing it’s name to Manna Global Ministries, which will be an expansion of the current work in the Dominican Republic through MannaDR as well as work in Haiti and other countries. Directing the Manna Global Ministries’ efforts while trailblazing a new missionary training program are Brian, founder of MannaDR, and Norm Curington, current missionary in Rio San Juan, DR and former director of Beacon Light Ministries. Brian will serve as the president of Manna Global Ministries. These combined endeavors will give vast new opportunities through missions, discipleship, worldwide relief efforts and simple everyday Christian fellowship. The goal with this new organization is to mirror the example of Christ’s love for His people on earth.

SO...exciting things are ahead and I'll try to keep you posted!

Is it possible?

Is it possible to sum up how much someone has meant in your life in a blog post. I don't think so.

Cory and Laura Beth did a great job of throwing a farewell party with a video and memory book to express how much the McClouds have meant to all of us here in the DR.

Father, thank you for blessing us with Tj and Holly!