Judah Hatton, Class of 2021
| When we first moved into Amdu our son, Judah, was nine-and-a-half years old. Being the first born, the trail blazing fell to him. Making friends and becoming comfortable in unfamiliar settings required a huge amount of courage. Feelings of awkwardness and fear and boredom had to be regularly overcome with a determination to shine as a light for Jesus even if only by example. Judah made this decision again and again through the years he has spent growing up here in Amdu. We’re so proud of the great example that he has been to his siblings. And we delight in the friendships they have formed and enjoy, largely as a result of a big brother’s willingness to blaze another new trail. Now Judah is preparing for another courageous step. He just turned eighteen and will be the first of our kids to step out and begin life on his own. Judah’s absence in our home is going to leave such a hole in our lives. He has delighted our hearts from the start. He was talking long before he was talking. He knew what he was saying as he poured his baby talk out. And even though we didn’t understand we just enjoyed watching him express himself. We praise God that he has captured Judah’s heart. Pray that Judah would become a true mouthpiece for God and the good news of Jesus Christ. Judah’s laugh and the joy that bubbles out of him unhindered has brightened our days immensely. He has grown up but never grown out of childlike joy about life. We love this about our son! Pray that the joy of the Lord would be his strength and the joy of God’s presence would be his stay. When God made Judah he gave him musical ability and artistic talents. Pray that God would direct Judah in how best to hone these talents to honor the LORD. Judah desires to follow hard after the Lord Jesus and this thrills our hearts the most. Pray that as Judah plans his course that he would yield himself fully to the way that God directs his steps. As with all of us, Judah has had his share of failure and setbacks while navigating his teen years and so he needs his family to continue to pray for him and encourage him. You have been doing this faithfully for years as you have lifted our family up in prayer, and the work God is doing here in Amdu. We know that you will treasure the opportunity to minister in the same way to Judah personally. To understand some specific ways you can pray for Judah and to hear his perspective on growing up in Amdu and about his plans for the future watch this short film. |
Graduation Gifts
Some of you have asked about how to send a gift to Judah for his graduation. The easiest way to go about this would be for you to write a check to Benjamin & Missy Hatton with ‘Judah’s Graduation’ in the memo line.
Please mail checks to:
Jerry Cusimano
4171 Sheffield Drive
Jackson MI, 49203
U.S.A