Ministry Update
Although May was a slower month for us as far as meetings were concerned, the Lord has kept us busy with many activities and unexpected places of ministry. We were able to attend my Sarah’s brother Micah’s graduation from college and from there we were off to Virginia for a meeting with Pastor Nate Clark. Then it was the throes of moving. Now tomorrow, I fly out to the American southwest where I will be in two different churches, one in NM and the other in AZ. After all the hard work I have been doing for my wife (see below), it will be refreshing to get back to mere 14-hour days at teen camp.
Family Update
Many of you may be wondering what has been going on in our lives, and I must say, we have been so busy! This spring, we had a full schedule complete with many answers to prayer. I have felt guilty for not sending out an update in so long, but I just never took the time to sit down and tell all that has happened. So… here is the latest
Some time ago, the Lord began to move in our hearts about making some major changes. After much prayer and counsel, we made the decision to move our “home base” to Indiana. In March we began looking for a house, and on May 5, we closed on a three bedroom ranch in Connersville Indiana. There were mixed emotions about the house – excitement about our very first home balanced with the sobering realization that we now have a house payment and all the additional expenses that come with being homeowners. At this point, we are still planning to travel in the fifth wheel – we will just have a place to spread out when we are not in meetings. We will officially become Indiana residents in after our Family Camp with Emmanuel Baptist Church in July. It is sad to be leaving Emmanuel after fifteen years, but the Lord has given us another wonderful church in which we can have a part. Our home church will be First Baptist Church of Laurel, Indiana.
This past week, we took possession of our new home, and began making it our own. This entailed much “elbow grease” from many different people. We painted every room, stripped wallpaper, put up bead board and trim in all the bedrooms, and tore up all the carpet. It was a blessing to have beautiful oak hardwood floors under al the carpet, and the house now looks totally different than it did a week ago! Paul’s parents and another couple from their church, Doug and Carol Sanders put in many hard, hot hours painting and working under my slave-driving conditions! We are so grateful for all of their help—it would have taken us weeks to do it all ourselves! A few others—Andy, Jaimy and Jeff—helped us unload our belongings and do some miscellaneous jobs, and we appreciate them all! The Lord has blessed us with so many good friends here already.
The children are so excited about their new house – the girls have their own room, and so do the boys. We were not in the house five minutes before a “no boys allowed” policy was instated in the girls’ room! We also have a full basement, which doubles our living area. We have had some unexpected (covered up) problems already, but we will work our way through those eventually. It has been wonderful to be in the house, and not be stepping on people every time I turn around! I am thrilled to have a chance to decorate for the first time ever! The house, except for the kitchen, which was highlighter yellow, was white all the way from floor to ceiling. Paul said it was my “blank canvas” for inspiration. It has been a lot of work, and there is more to be done, but I am so grateful for what the Lord has given us, and for a husband who is willing to go the extra mile to make the house pleasant!
School is out for the summer, and we are all breathing sighs of relief. The schedule of school every day and church every night can be quite exhausting, and we are enjoying every minute of our vacation! All of the children are growing so quickly. It seems that every time I turn around, someone’s clothes are too short, or the shoes are too small. Abigail has lost her first tooth, and has several more wiggly ones. Esther will celebrate her fourth birthday in just a few weeks. On Mother’s Day, we had the blessing of seeing both Abigail and Esther baptized. It is such a joy to see our children trust Christ and follow Him in obedience! Please pray that the Lord would continue to work in our children’s hearts and that they would follow His leading in their daily lives.
Please also pray that the Lord would fill our fall schedule. We know that whether or not we have meetings, the Lord will provide for our needs, but we do so enjoy the work He has called us to do. Pray for safety as we travel and for people to be saved as we minister. Pray that God would use us to encourage the hearts of pastors and congregations where we minister as well.
Thank you for your prayers and I will try to be a little more regular in sending out updates than I have the last few months.
