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Angela has asked that I not clutter up your in-boxes with too much "blah blah" since she's starting to write her "General Newsletter" more frequently.
So, not too much preaching here but I need to quickly report some prayer answers. God provided abundant provision for September when the month was looking scary at the beginning. Little by little our faith is growing in this area! Back to school has gone well with all 5 of us now settled into our routine, with a sense that, while challenging, we won't be crushed by academics or schedules. ;c) Finally, the student who boards with us 3 nights each week has been a delightful addition to this introverted family. We pray she feels the same! ;c) The fuse box in our house has been upgraded for free by an electrician who goes to our church. That's a big relief and now we can begin to build on a more stable foundation for other improvements.
On to prayer requests!
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- Schedule - We are slowly beginning to add things to our weekly schedule. Most of this revolves around the school and the church. With this, we are beginning to build the relationships necessary to step out in ministry areas more. Pray for wisdom as requests come for our time or interesting opportunities arrive. October is already looking like things will be picking up. We always want to keep our priorities in mind as we begin to engage more deeply.
- Relationships - As I mentioned, relationships are starting to be built (for all of us), and that is a true joy! There are some truly fantastic people here and we have felt so welcomed. Rachel, in particular, has a peer group that she's missed for awhile now. That is so important for her! Thank you Lord! As we (Angela and David) need at least some of our relational support to come from closer than 1000 miles away, it's important that a few of these relationships develop more deeply. Pray for the eyes of our hearts to be opened to see which of these relationships God is leading us to invest in more deeply.
- Language - A praise report is that Rachel has had some real advances in language already in one month owing to her smaller class size (5 students) and the addition of our boarding student. On the other hand, Noah's language gap is being challenged more right now. This is good, but he needs grace to persevere and a particular motivation. Pray that friendships would develop for him in class that make him talk! Like most young boys, he's more interested in making "cool noises" than in having deep conversations!
- Health - Angela has been feeling run-down for a few weeks now and that is difficult as the schedule picks up and as we're asked to participate in ministry opportunities for which we have a heart...but for which we need energy! Please lift up our health and stamina. Just looking naturally, we know that season changes and of course the move and new adjustments also can play a part. Pray also for an understanding of where this is coming from.
- Heart For Kids - Right now, our ministry opportunities are being drawn from the school...which means youth and children! Angela thrives in this world and I tend to run in terror (give me a boring adult conversation any day!) To give you an example of where I'm at: As parents in this Christian school, we're required to come and do practical work on a regular basis. I was prepared to come and clean some toilets, but Angela volunteered us to watch the lunch room for the elementary kids once a week. Every Friday is our day (today). We've done it once, and this morning I woke up ready to petition again for some toilets to clean!
Be that as it may, I recognize that one of the things that God is doing in us (me!) in this season is instilling a heart for children and youth. In leading worship for both the elementary and Jr. high chapel services, Angela and I will be come known to these kids. This is a huge open door for us to touch their lives as we get to know them further. Pray that my heart will be drawn deeply to these children. As a task, I may never like lunch duty, but I want to see this time with those kids with my heart.
- Ministry Teams - October is shaping up to be a month were we also have some contact with our relationships in ministry outside of the immediate region. These will be key times piratically and relationally. Pray for God's guiding hand on these ministry relationships.
Finally, speaking of these relationships further afield, our team and dear friends in England (whom we were with in Scotland) are going through a transition time right now with the beginning of a new YWAM school, some staff members leaving and some new ones coming. It's proving to be a very difficult time for them in several areas. As this is the team we feel closest to and which functions in a very apostolic way for us, would you do us a favor by praying for them? Simply pray for grace and unity in love for the "England Team" during this difficult time.
Thank you for your effective prayers!
David (for the rest of the family)
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