Another Father's Day, love to my hubby and my dad

It's Father's Day and time to celebrate two of my favourite dads.

7 things I love about my husband as a father to our children 

1. The most loving dad ever, right from their birth.
2. The most caring. I love how he cares for our children. He was and he is still involved with their everyday life, home, sports, recreation, studies, church, etc. 
3. The most accommodating. He accommodates their faults and he's always gracious to them.
4. The most encouraging. He encourages our children through their struggles and life challenges.
5. The funniest. He always finds time to crack jokes with them, tease them, laugh, go out with them, even though he's capable of putting them in their places whenever necessary. 
6. The most hard working dad, by far the strongest, the humblest and most helpful in our home.
7. God-fearing, Jesus lover, fun-loving and nominee for passionate dad award 2015  :)

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And my dad... 

1. Very caring. He looks for us and loves to connect with us. We are his world.
2. Very jovial. Dad is 93 years old and he cracks me up (makes me laugh) every single time I speak to him.
3. Lover of God. He brought us up to follow and serve Jesus Christ. 
4. Big lover of education and fame. One of the great legacies he gave us is education.
5. Lover of people. Dad loves to make friends. He's able to engage with all sorts of people, no matter their tribe and tongue 
6. Very intelligent and an orator. Needless to say he's a great historian-he's 93 years old (lol)
7. Great singer and lover of music. Inside out artistic. I don't know any of us who doesn't have this trait too. (Even his grandchildren and great grandchildren) 

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Ich liebe Euch :) Je vous aime, mon mari, mon père.... love uuuuuu!!!

Family Christmas Letter 2012

Dear family & friends,

It's that time again!

Our hearts are full of gratitude.
Our Maker and God has seen us through another year!
All glory to His majestic name, alleluia!
We are grateful for life and abundant life at that!
We are grateful for you, our families and friends.
We are grateful for the rain and the shine.
We are grateful for the smooth and the rough times.
We are grateful for the honour and the opportunity to serve God in 2012.
We are grateful for all our God has done in our lives and in your lives too. His mercies last forever!

We are grateful to God for our daughter, Angelique. She is 17 years old.
High school was full on for Angelique this year as she worked hard for series of assessments, projects and tests. She finished her HSC/year 12 in November and will start University next year.

We are grateful to God for our son Emanuel. He is 23.
(Aka J. Dwight), Emanuel continues to evolve as an artist- writing, singing, and performing at different levels. He has added more single tracks and mix-tapes this year. His group "Dream Big Music" is made up of talented young artists with great enthusiasm. They also work as solo artists showcasing their individual styles and trying to make headway in the music industry.

We are grateful to God for our siblings and parents in far away home and in other countries. It will be 20 years next year since we left home!! 1st to Austria and then here in Australia where we have been since 13 yrs! Grateful!

Hopefully, we will travel home again next year to be with them.

We thank God for the ministry. God has also been faithful despite the challenges we faced in 2012. Emphasis is still honoring God, loving people, sharing the gospel, making disciples and training leaders for nations' transformation. We are thankful that a lot was done in this direction this year and we continue to see positive responses. To God be the glory!

We have settled down into our new location at Kingsgrove. Indeed, having a permanent structure has helped put systems back in place.

We are so thankful to God for everyone who constantly supports us in various ways.

Our West church is doing great.
We are grateful for the dynamic team that's in place at Liverpool, headed by Paul and Ezinne Chibukwo. Praise God!

We have made some more connections in the communities. We started a breakfast club in a nearby high school. We have been asked by the school authority to put up a mentoring program for the kids in the club. This can only be God's doing and an answer to prayers. PTL!
We are taking it one step at a time.

We are still so grateful for the privilege of serving on the Apostolic Board of Every Nation Churches in the South Pacific region.

As we celebrate Christmas, we think of you, our families and friends. We really miss you!

We remember those who have lost their loved ones, especially in recent times. May the Lord of Christmas, our Saviour Jesus Christ, comfort them all. May their mourning be turned into dancing again in Jesus' name. May the peace of the Lord flood their hearts and home in this season.

As I stop here permit me to share some excerpts of Boney M's version of "Long time ago in Bethlehem" with you.
"Hark now hear the angels sing a King was born today and man will live for evermore because of Christmas Day...(...)For a moment the world was aglow all the bells rang out there were tears of joy and laughter people shouted let ev'ryone know there is hope for all to find peace".

Be blessed in this season and also in the year 2013.
Love you!

Joshua, Yinka, Emanuel & Angelique Opadiya

Bon anniversaire Cheri. De tout mon coeur.

Bon anniversaire Cheri. De tout mon coeur. 

Every year gets better than the last. 

Feels really good to be loved by youuuu!

Depuis 26 ans, on a essayé d'etre le couple parfait 

And we will still keep up the effort, surement avec l'aide de Dieu 

Et voila pourquoi together, nous sommes heureux et béni. 

I pray there'd been more time

Pour moi, de t'aimer, mon amour. 

Our marriage is made in heaven! Haha! 

So much time est déjà passé, my love, 

Since we met and married. 

Mais Le 'feeling' est toujours là. 

I cherish ton amour et ton friendship . 

Please stay near and love me more as I love you 

Mon Dieu! Je te remercie 

For my amazing and wonderful husband 

Qui Tu m'avais donné il ya 26 ans 

J'en suis reconnaisante. 

May you bless the rest of our lives together 

Comme mari et femme. 

Aujourd'hui and always!

"Don't ask me to leave you and turn back. 

  Wherever  you go, I will go;

  Wherever you live, I will live.

  Your people will be my people

  And your God will be my God" (Ruth 1:16)

Please pray! This kind of news needs our prayers

Today, just before our morning devotion, my husband broke a 'not so good' news, our friend and co-pastor, Amy has been diagnosed with breast cancer!
At first, i was speechless and then i went "Oh no!" Stupid cancer!
I tried to reach Amy but she was with her doctor.
I was so apprehensive. My hubby and I prayed that the cancer cells will die supernaturally and that God will flood Amy's heart with his peace.
I was pensive and was eager to talk to Amy and just wanted so much to tell her how much i love her.
I went straight to check Amy's blog almost convinced that she would have mentioned something about her new plight.
Below is what i got from her blog. Please follow the link, read and keep her in your prayer.
Link: http://matrondownunder.blogspot.com/2012/02/this-is-what-is-happening.html

CHRISTMAS GREETINGS FROM THE OPADIYAS

PEACELOVEJOY

Dear Family and Friends,

Happy Christmas! It is December 25, 2011 and all is well. We have much for which we are grateful to God.

Here’s the scoop on the Opadiyas Family and what we’ve been up to this year.

Emanuel, is still fully immersed in his music. He continues to do gigs and releases music video clips. He also collaborates with his 'Dream Big' group and they are doing well for themselves.

Angelique is in year 12 and will sit for her HSC exams in 2012. Yeah! She was made a school prefect, something we are very proud of her for.

Joshua and I marked our Silver Wedding Anniversary this year and we took time off to Europe and Nigeria. We thank God for a great time!

On the Ministry side, we spent most of our time making disciples, teaching, 'building', reaching out with the gospel of the kingdom and raising leaders.

We have also been privileged to serve alongside other leaders on the Apostolic Board of the ENSouth Pacific region.

We had the opportunity to host the South Pacific Summit in Sydney-Australia for the first time! We hosted many guest speakers and leaders from the region and outside the region as well.

We were finally blessed with a facility where we now meet for both our weekly activities and our worship services, after searching for 2 or so years without success.

As I was typing, I was thinking of you dear friends and family. My heart goes especially to those who are facing one form of challenge or another. To think that God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son for us brings a lot of joy and comfort. Hold on to hope and know that we are praying for you and your 2012. May Jesus Christ be praised!

Joshua-Debo, Yinka Emanuel and Angelique.

Family and Ministry: Give us nations oh God!

Family and Ministry: Give us nations oh God!

Give us nations oh God!

I see... I see...


Give us nations for our inheritance oh God!

“Jesus author of all nations, Saviour of the world,


You are high upon the throne. All the mountains crumble


Kings of the earth made humble at the name of Jesus.


Let your kingdom come, let your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”


Lord, today we pray for nations! Use us for nations' transformation; physically, spiritually and culturally O God!

I pray for Nigeria O Lord,

Nigeria belongs to you.

I see the inhabitants of Nigeria loosened from the grave clothes of corruption

I see a nation with working systems and structures

I see tarred roads everywhere, running taps, 24/7 electricity supply;

I see well equipped hospitals, I see schools, colleges, unis where quality education is given

I see God fearing and selfless politicians

I see... I see...

Here we are, Lord use us for nations' transformation

We want to make a difference in our generation

Not for any self glory Lord but for your kingdom advancement and for your glory

Let us be your hands, feet and mouth

Use us for Australia too Lord

Let your kingdom come, let your will be done in the South Pacific nations

I see the inhabitants of Australia putting God in his rightful place

I see a God fearing people

I see a people free from sodomy

I see a people free from sexual perversion and idolatry

I see a nation where everybody rises up on Sunday mornings to worship their Maker instead of worshipping sports

I see the schools with hired Scripture teachers teaching the children the way of their Maker

I see families made of up fathers, mothers and children

I see... I see...

October 2nd ‘11