The highlight has to be the visit of our home church team Westwood and Christ Central. A few other friends have come as well, you will never know how much it meant that you CAME. We needed the encouragement more that we realized. Sharing time and worship and prayer with that group was a special gift we truly appreciated. New friends have been a blessing too, two families from Texas spent the summer, the Glass's and Jones' have been so generous to let us enjoy their house on the beach on occasion. We are ever grateful for Karen and David, and the passion they have for ministering to the people here. They have been open to ideas and the change it has been for them to include us has not been easy, I'm sure:) We all love each other and time will teach us how to serve most effectively together.
God has shown us that humility is His way, not ours, but His word and His presence continue to guide us almost hour by hour. Not much has gone as we expected, but we are learning that's ok. We have made some friends here we will learn much from...Aldolpho Lopez, the block maker and builder and his family at the end of our road joined the team from Westwood in ministry the week they were here. We also met several other families in Hope Creek, we can't wait to know better. Our time at Light of the Valley Church has proven fruitful and we will have a family out this weekend. Making friends in a new place is something God was preparing us for in our previous moves, but it has been a long time. Most exciting for me, I will start a girls precept study with 9-10 yr olds in Steadfast, next week on "How to study your bible". Pray for that.
We are always looking for opportunities to disciple and God has proven faithful to provide them. Our neighbors across the road have a little girl, Josenia, who has been a friend to us all, she is loving and thoughtful, visits just to spend time on the porch. I gave her a Jonah bible study and she completed in 2 weeks what should have taken 6!! And most exciting of all, Laura and I are going to study together!! Pray we make that happen, I'm feeling the Senioritis even from here:)
Todd is pouring into the boys that come out here to work and they have surprised him with their insight sometimes. Edward and Clifton are growing spiritually, reading daily a bible that Ashby left them. A surprise addition to the team has been Alex Guerra, who graduated from LOV last year, he asked to come work and has fit right in. God is bringing the ones He would have here. Pray for the family moving in next week as caretakers, Marian and Victor with their 4 children. God has been working in there lives as well and He is bringing us all together for His purposes! I might just kiss their feet!!
Laura is excited, this weekend we will have the girls who graduated Standard 6 here to enjoy a day of fun at the river. She has enjoyed this month with no school and will start when we get back. She is missing Ashby and Neely, they were great company to her especially, giving her some time away from Mom and Dad. However, she came up with our family acrostic we had challenged each team to do...Serving Together Or Never Ever...pretty appropriate for this family adventure.
We miss our boys like crazy and though we knew that would be the hardest, knowing it hasn't helped any. They are fulfilling Gods call on their lives, Michael as a new husband and Steven, preparing for the mission field. We couldn't be prouder of them, but it is hard to not communicate whenever we want. I especially miss getting to know Amy more.
All in all, we didn't know what to expect and wisdom may have been not to move in the middle of the busiest time, but I'm sure God is using us. That is as much as a Christ follower can hope for on this earth. And I still have to pinch myself with the privilege to call this place home for now...
Pray!
For our house in Alabaster to sell
For Todd's truck to sell
For new believers and discipleship here
For Gods direction on specifics of school ministry for this year
